Forum Discussion

deerslayer's avatar
deerslayer
Explorer
Sep 30, 2014

So appareantly there are too many used 5th wheels

Haven't been looking hard but I am always up for a deal, DW and I would like a little more room inside our rig since we are traveling farther away and for longer amounts of time. Our rig is a 2012 chaparral, near mint condition with only one minor imperfection to the exterior(drivers side plastic fender caulk is pealing) I am really particular about my stuff, and have more wax on the 5vr than most people will ever see in there life. Anyway I came across a left 2013 cougar, heavily discounted since its a left over. Looked at it this weekend, spoke to the salesman, said we were very interested, but the cap was faded and he had to check with the owner and service about getting it fixed before I would buy it. Called the salesman Monday morning to reconfirm how serious I was and what I brought to the table. Well I waited all day Monday for an answer, finally got a call after bugging them on my way home and was told "sorry, sales manager isn't interested in the deal since he doesn't want your trade, we have too many used rigs on the lot. WOW so now since the season is about over they will most likely have a 2013 on the lot well into 2015! Mind is blown at this point, kinda irritating really, there loss as I will now go back to my chaparral dealer and no one else! Guess my local money is good enough for my local dealer! really a shame!
  • Sandia_Man's avatar
    Sandia_Man
    Explorer II
    Sep 30, 2014
    Not as surprising as one would think as the dealer usually knows what they are doing in terms of their side of the deal. They sell a new leftover 2013 which would have to be severely discounted and gain a used 2012 where the owner wanted max trade and it now sits on the their lot until next year where by the time it sells 2016 RVs are coming in.

    If you really want the Cougar all you have to do is let your current rig go at a price where it makes sense to them. By the time they can sell next year it would be 4 model years old, or if it feels better to get more for your trade pay near MSRP for the Cougar and it will be yours. It is simply a numbers game and it is no different in the automobile industry, I've heard of many dealers turning away nice trades if the deal is not in their favor.

    Put your nice rig on craiglist and sell it yourself, the banks I do business with have no problem lending money on used vehicles as it is no different than buying used off of a dealer's lot. Only time I buy from a dealer is when we buy new, every used vehicle the bank just gave me a check to pay the owner, they get the title either way until it's paid off. Good Luck!!!
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2014
    JMHO, dealer probably figured you knew too much about RVs and he wanted bigger profits on it. Most liiely didn't have anything to do with your trade. I have walked into dealers that listed their RVs at MSRP. Tried to tell me they only made a couple thousand on an RV and if they took a trade wouldn't make any money except on service later. When they start lying I move on. However, A local dealer here doesn't deal on RVs but he has a great service department and he is honest. I still go for service.

    An attorney told me one time, if you ask questions you know the answer to you will find out very quickly about individual honesty.
  • blackeyed1's avatar
    blackeyed1
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2014
    When we were selling our 5th wheel, I went to a consignment place. He said 5th wheels are not selling well and had a number of them on his lot. He normally charged 10% for consigning, but was going to accept 7%, plus a fee to preview it. We sold it ourselves, saving the 7% and got our asking price within 2 months. As with vehicles, I never trade them in. If you price them right, they will come.
  • C-Bears's avatar
    C-Bears
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2014
    I wouldn't get mad at the dealer, I just wouldn't do business with him. A lot of folks don't try selling their own fivers or trucks for whatever reason. I can tell you that it is easy and sometimes quick. Price it right and put it on Craig's List.
  • Jayco-noslide's avatar
    Jayco-noslide
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2014
    I'm surprised they didn't just make you a really low offer for trade-in. No matter where you try to sell it, be prepared that your's has really depreciated. You will always get really beat up buying new and only keeping it a year or 2. I would hang on to it for several more years and at least spread out the depreciation. Or Sell it on your own but you'll have to price it lower than you want to.
  • jesseannie's avatar
    jesseannie
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2014
    I don't understand why you are upset. That is what business is about.
    You made an offer they chose not to deal. If you really want the new rig make another offer or sell your own.
    An independent business is not required to take your trade if it doesn't make financial sense to them.
    jesseannie
  • Me_Again's avatar
    Me_Again
    Explorer III
    Sep 30, 2014
    Sounds like a dealer that is not paying someone flooring cost! Chris
  • Veebyes's avatar
    Veebyes
    Explorer II
    Sep 30, 2014
    Sell it yourself. If it is in great condition a buyer should not be too hard to find unless it is a very common model & in great shape or not, there will be pressure to push the price down.

    Still, you should be able to do better than what a dealer will give, though you have to do the work marketing it.

    Once sold, go shopping with cash in hand. Who has the stronger hand now?
  • deerslayer's avatar
    deerslayer
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2014
    fj12ryder wrote:
    I'm not sure what's to be so upset over. The dealer should be aware of what he can sell, and what he can't. He has a left over 2 year old unit that he obviously can't sell, so why should he take a 3 year old unit in trade?

    You made an offer, he rejected it. That's the nature of the business. I'm sure you wouldn't be upset if you made a cash offer on a new unit and he turned it down.

    Or was it just being put off and not replied to?

    Little bit of everything to be honest, and its just odd to me of a dealer not taking a trade. I worked in the auto industry for a long time, never saw a dealer not take a trade. I could see if my rig was 25 years old or just trashed and they really couldn't do anything with it.
    When I purchased my current rig and traded in my sunline TT the owner of the dealership, service manager and detail guy all came to me separately and thanked me for taking such great care of the unit and how they didn't have to do anything to it but put a sticker in the window. Like I said its there loss, I will most likely be back in another coachman by the end of the year of first part of spring
  • billmac's avatar
    billmac
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2014
    There could be many reasons for this to have occurred. Maybe the dealer knew his unit had issues that you would not let slide. You already found one. I always try to roll with the flow and figure it just wasn't meant to be.

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