We're about a couple weeks away from buying a new fiver--looking at either the Keystone Mountaineer 290RL or the Grand Design Reflection 303 (REALLY like this one!). Both come in right at $48K MSRP. Couple of buying questions:Is there a great deal of difference in "haggle room" between an "on the lot" unit or ordering a new one from the factory via the same dealer? (neither has the second A/C and that is a must, we are in the Tucson area and will be traveling summers in the southwest)Realistically, how much of a reduction from MSRP can one expect without going through six months of back and forth? I HATE THAT GAME! I've read somewhere that profit margins run about 35% and to expect about 20% from MSRP as a point to shoot for-- everybody wins. Is that at all realistic? If you would weigh in on this question very honestly I'd really appreciate it--and that said, I know some will have gotten screaming deals on a year old unit that had sat on a lot for 15 months, or because they 'know someone', or....well I think you know what I mean. I'm looking for some reference point from where I sit--never bought one before, don't have any contacts in the business, etc. and don't want to drive away with my new fiver only to find out that I should have gotten it for several thousands more off; nor do I want to get into a stalemate with the dealer over a figure that is unrealistic. Give me your best folks.......we are so jazzed about joining the "on the road" community!!!!!!Bob

Many buy at 30% off retail. However, much depends on how high the dealer set the MSRP. Many RV manufactures do not set this price but let the dealer set it. The dealer can add the second air however if it is added at the factory the second air MAY be ducted like the first one is. This might be worth checking out. If the unit has been on the dealers lot for a few months he may make a better deal because after a certain amount of time, he must start making interest payments on the unsold unit.

we are looking too.. making final decisions on a 2013 Keystone Alpine today. we live in Texas, dual a/c required here too. its the end of the model year, so now thru end of January the dealers will be unloading left over stock.. these are the slow sellers. but the longer they sit, the more they will want to unload. (but the less choices you will have)where we are, we can get the same trailer, exact same options, for $8-13k cheaper by traveling to Michigan. (same sales tax, so its only the trailer).. We are going up anyhow for a family thing by car, so it is just take the other vehicle to save 12k!.. 64,900 vs 52,900. hm.. what to do?!(there is ONE known value in the calculation, the texas dealers have to pay to GET them to Texas.. transportation is about $1800 each unit). (yes the fuel costs are different, 37 vs 16 mpg in the dually, 10 towing 12k lbs, but at most around $400 different. to save 12k?)my negotiating style is to offer what I WANT the deal to be, and be prepared to walk out, and see what the counter is. The 1st Counter offer is usually about 75% of where they can go. Be outlandish, worst they can say is No. (and if you don't ask, the answer is already No).Sam

We bought a Grand Design Solitude in June. Grand Design is a new manufacturer and I believe they are selling a little lower than other compatible models trying to get a foot hold in the market place. With that said our dealer didn't have a printed out MSRP for us to deduct from, just a dealer "sale price". Also we had a motor home to trade-in. Not all 5th wheel dealers sell MH's, so we eliminated a "middle man/broker" in the deal. We feel we got a fair deal on the swap and we know the dealer made a lot between the two rigs. Dealers have to make money to be there next time or for service. What's equally important is the service dept. I would rather pay a little more and get good service after the sale than to get a deal and the rig sits in the service parking lot for 3 months because of this or that. I realize that you don't want to be called a "sucker" after you leave - nobody does, but look at the big picture when deciding what is fair. Hope this helps.

Do your research, offer your best deal, and know what you are willing to spend for any particular unit. And if the dealer doesn't want to meet your price, WALK OUT! No matter how much you "love" a unit, it's not worth having buyer's remorse when you pay too much for it.

We were able to negotiate about 20K off MSRP which was about 35%. I don't really know if that's good or bad since this was the first time to purchase new but it felt like a good deal and we got everything we wanted.

How low can you go? | Good Sam Community

ddschuman
Explorer
Sep 03, 2013
We were able to negotiate about 20K off MSRP which was about 35%. I don't really know if that's good or bad since this was the first time to purchase new but it felt like a good deal and we got everything we wanted.
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Sep 03, 2013
Do your research, offer your best deal, and know what you are willing to spend for any particular unit. And if the dealer doesn't want to meet your price, WALK OUT! No matter how much you "love" a unit, it's not worth having buyer's remorse when you pay too much for it.
el_Rojo
Explorer
Sep 03, 2013
We bought a Grand Design Solitude in June. Grand Design is a new manufacturer and I believe they are selling a little lower than other compatible models trying to get a foot hold in the market place. With that said our dealer didn't have a printed out MSRP for us to deduct from, just a dealer "sale price". Also we had a motor home to trade-in. Not all 5th wheel dealers sell MH's, so we eliminated a "middle man/broker" in the deal. We feel we got a fair deal on the swap and we know the dealer made a lot between the two rigs. Dealers have to make money to be there next time or for service. What's equally important is the service dept. I would rather pay a little more and get good service after the sale than to get a deal and the rig sits in the service parking lot for 3 months because of this or that. I realize that you don't want to be called a "sucker" after you leave - nobody does, but look at the big picture when deciding what is fair.

Hope this helps.
sdetweil
Explorer
Sep 03, 2013
we are looking too.. making final decisions on a 2013 Keystone Alpine today. we live in Texas, dual a/c required here too.

its the end of the model year, so now thru end of January the dealers will be unloading left over stock.. these are the slow sellers. but the longer they sit, the more they will want to unload. (but the less choices you will have)

where we are, we can get the same trailer, exact same options, for $8-13k cheaper by traveling to Michigan. (same sales tax, so its only the trailer).. We are going up anyhow for a family thing by car, so it is just take the other vehicle to save 12k!.. 64,900 vs 52,900. hm.. what to do?!
(there is ONE known value in the calculation, the texas dealers have to pay to GET them to Texas.. transportation is about $1800 each unit). (yes the fuel costs are different, 37 vs 16 mpg in the dually, 10 towing 12k lbs, but at most around $400 different. to save 12k?)

my negotiating style is to offer what I WANT the deal to be, and be prepared to walk out, and see what the counter is. The 1st Counter offer is usually about 75% of where they can go.
Be outlandish, worst they can say is No. (and if you don't ask, the answer is already No).

Sam
dbbls
Explorer
Sep 03, 2013
Many buy at 30% off retail. However, much depends on how high the dealer set the MSRP. Many RV manufactures do not set this price but let the dealer set it. The dealer can add the second air however if it is added at the factory the second air MAY be ducted like the first one is. This might be worth checking out. If the unit has been on the dealers lot for a few months he may make a better deal because after a certain amount of time, he must start making interest payments on the unsold unit.

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