Deposit on MH purchase?

msmith1199 wrote:
I would never put down a deposit that wasn't 100% refundable, and I don't think I've ever been asked to. The two motorhomes I bought it was clear the deposit was refundable. The only reason they ask for a deposit (unless it's not refundable) is a sales psychology thing. Once you've got money on the table for some people it helps to persuade them to go through with the deal versus asking for their money back.

Yeah CW told me mine was refundable too. Then they said they deposited it in error. Then they said they orderd the MH and it's non refundable. Both of them were lies. I got my money but I had to fight for it.

Did they really think after all that I was still going to buy it from them?

I would never put down a deposit that wasn't 100% refundable, and I don't think I've ever been asked to. The two motorhomes I bought it was clear the deposit was refundable. The only reason they ask for a deposit (unless it's not refundable) is a sales psychology thing. Once you've got money on the table for some people it helps to persuade them to go through with the deal versus asking for their money back.

When we asked the dealer to bring the MH in discussion to the lot closest to our home we were asked for and gave a $1000 deposit, on our credit card, and the agreement said 100% refundable.

I, too, have given 1000... by credit card. When the RV did not pass inspection to my standards and the Dealer refused to refund (saying they were out expenses and time), I told them I'd have no trouble at all back-charging them through American Express. They, that day, refunded back to the AMEX.

I put a $1k deposit on a MH at a CW once. They started screwing around with the deal with adding fees and other things they never disclosed so I found what I wanted somewhere else cheaper. When I asked for my deposit back, they tried to refuse. Said they deposited it depsite never ordering the MH. I had to bring in the office of the attorney genral in PA and file a complaint with the BBB. They quickly refunded with an apology. That said, I bought both my MH's (somewhere else) so far with $1k deposit and one of them was even ordered. Nether of those other places even deposited it (charged it) until we picked it up. I'll never deal with CW again.

Usually the purpose of a deposit is that you have not yet confirmed that the used coach is exactly what you want. In other words, you want the coach but only if it passes your final inspection or only after the requested deficiencies are repaired. In that case, you fully intend to complete the purchase but if something goes wrong, on the dealer's side, you want to be able to recoup your deposit. I would keep the deposit to a minimum unless you have dealt with the dealer before and fully trust them. Dealers have been known to go bankrupt and deposits lost.
Naturally this is for a used coach. If you are ordering a new coach from the factory, the deposit will vary but you should expect to leave some deposit with the dealer with a specified time frame for final delivery of the coach that you ordered. You do not want to leave a deposit with an open ended delivery date since it could conceivably drag on for years. Again, deposits left for a new coach can be lost if the dealer goes bankrupt so keep that deposit to a minimum.
Basically before you leave any deposit with any dealer for anything, you want to do your homework to insure that your contract will be fulfilled completely.

They were comfortable holding mine for 1k. I refused to give them one until they made it fully refundable for any reason or none. I made them say that on the contract and they did not like it a bit. When I got up to leave they saw it my way. Remember you have to be fully committed to walk away or you will get screwed! There are a lot of great RVs out there. Don't get emotional. Good luck.

derouen6 wrote:
Are most deposits refundable ?

Depends. They hate doing that.