Motorhome Sales People

rockhillmanor wrote:
IMHO that's why it makes more sense to buy used 'right'. So when you want to upgrade there is no loss factor. Been doing it for years and have not lost a cent yet. There is a sweet deal out there for every privately owned used RV, you just have to look for them.

I agree with this post IF you know the complete history of the coach your wanting to buy!

In defense of dealers.. Though this is a very weak defense.

When YOU presonally sell a vehicle and it turns out to have an issue that makes it less than roadworthy... Well, about all you have to say is "I did not know" and you are covered.... Example. .Brakes still stop it,, but just. Or tires are very old and cracked and likely to fail.... SOON.

The dealer, when he sells a vehicle, has to certify it as road safe or "Tow truck it out of here only" If he sells a ride and the brakes do not even make it home. HE is in trouble.. With one exception I will mention.

The brand new car was totaled before it got home with THE OTHER GUY ran the stop sign and T-Boned it (not the new cars fault).

Thus he is entitled to a mark up.. about half of what they usually take in my not very humble opinion.

Executive wrote:
I find it interesting some folks really are concerned about their "trade in" value... I've never worried about that as I do my research before I go to the lot. I feel my coach is worth X amount, their coach is worth Y amount and the only number I'm concerned about is the difference between the two....

@mrubaum....You feel you coach is worth $155,000 (X) and the dealer's coach is worth $400,000 (Y) then the difference is $245,000. Knowing that figure, it doesn't matter what they offer you for your coach, you simply offer them $245,000 plus your coach....they can write up the contract however they want, but the number's the same....

While I'm one of those guys who prefers to trade my stuff in, I know what I can afford and stay within those parameters. It took the dealer three months to call me back and meet my terms on the Executive, but I bought it and I'm sure we both were happy.....Dennis

I like your plan, but if $245k is number you would agree to, then what you really want is the lowest price possible for the new rig, and then take the $245k from that number and whatever that comes out to on the old one then you take that. And this may depend on what state you are in, but in California we have a huge sales tax that is based on purchase price and then your annual registration is going to be based on a percentage of the value and that value starts with what you pay for the new motorhome.

I have heard stories of people paying MSRP for the new motorhome, because the dealer gave them such a great deal on their trade. The only reason you would need to do that is if they are having to arrange that deal so the trade in value covers what you owe on the old one. Then you may be stuck.

Executive wrote:
I find it interesting some folks really are concerned about their "trade in" value... I've never worried about that as I do my research before I go to the lot. I feel my coach is worth X amount, their coach is worth Y amount and the only number I'm concerned about is the difference between the two....

@mrubaum....You feel you coach is worth $155,000 (X) and the dealer's coach is worth $400,000 (Y) then the difference is $245,000. Knowing that figure, it doesn't matter what they offer you for your coach, you simply offer them $245,000 plus your coach....they can write up the contract however they want, but the number's the same....

While I'm one of those guys who prefers to trade my stuff in, I know what I can afford and stay within those parameters. It took the dealer three months to call me back and meet my terms on the Executive, but I bought it and I'm sure we both were happy.....Dennis

Couldn't agree more.

I'm always amazed when someone arbitrarily decides that a given company is making TOO MUCH MONEY on something, when those people know little or nothing about the business. It's not like anyone is forcing anyone into that transaction. Once this society decides that they can place limits on how much money a business can make, ANY business, it's over...and I'll be one of the ones first in line heading for the hills.

Don't like the "evil" banks?...don't do business with them. That's what credit unions are for. Don't like the price someone offers you for something?...don't sell it to them.

Jim

Yes rightly said ,any how dealers will make their profit.Many dealer request to meet personally for negotiation ,but contacting multiple dealer is more helpful for best price and great deals.

Some dealers just don't want your trade so they low ball you knowing they can wholesale it out to another guy and make a small profit.

In addition, I think people are unrealistic in their expectations sometimes.

They want 25-30% off MSRP of the new coach and close to low NADA on the trade.

If you want that 30% off the new one you better sell your existing coach yourself. Don't want to do that do you? Why not? Because its PIA to sell a semi expensive motor home on the secondary market for anything close to NADA. Yet you expect the dealer to pay that and try to resell it for a profit? Come on.

Bottom line in trading is you are using the dealer because its convenient. You can still get pretty good deals when doing it if you're persistent and use a high volume dealer but in the end you aren't getting the "best" deal because the dealer has much more risk.

They don't want your POS motor home sitting on their lot depreciating and if you want them to take that risk you pay for it. End of story. Many dealers DO NOT WANT YOUR COACH.

Executive wrote:

C) Salesman tell less than the whole truth

And some customers tell less than the whole truth when trading in something also.

Surely you exaggerate down by ~ 2/3 but if you said 25% I might have believed you. You want to sell your rig then do it.You want to trade then you have to deal with a dealer somehow somewhere.

I find it interesting some folks really are concerned about their "trade in" value... I've never worried about that as I do my research before I go to the lot. I feel my coach is worth X amount, their coach is worth Y amount and the only number I'm concerned about is the difference between the two....

@mrubaum....You feel you coach is worth $155,000 (X) and the dealer's coach is worth $400,000 (Y) then the difference is $245,000. Knowing that figure, it doesn't matter what they offer you for your coach, you simply offer them $245,000 plus your coach....they can write up the contract however they want, but the number's the same....

While I'm one of those guys who prefers to trade my stuff in, I know what I can afford and stay within those parameters. It took the dealer three months to call me back and meet my terms on the Executive, but I bought it and I'm sure we both were happy.....Dennis

Macktee wrote:
In a capitalist society, why would you be against people making money on their investment. You invest in T bills, stocks, bonds, or what ever and want to make as much profit on that investment as possible. Why should Joe Blow investing in a RV, Car Sales, Restaurant, Football team, etc. not be able to do the same. Now we all know that there are unscrupulous people in any and most industries, but not all of the apples in the basket are bad. JMHO Macktee

Very refreshing to see some folks in this country still get it. Capitalism is not a dirty word, it built the greatest economy the world has ever seen. Making a profit is what businesses do. They take a risk and invest money and must make a profit to succeed. They are allowed to charge whatever they want for their goods and services (excluding what the fascists control through govt edict). The consumer on the other hand can choose where to spend their money based on service, quality and price.