offering a price on a used motorhome

I find that RVT and RVTrader can also be high for dealer sales. Probably the trade-in markup as someone previously stated.

Research and having a good understanding of the condition of the rig are you best friend. Being able to point out what's wrongs and how much it will take to fix it are powerful negotiating tools.

If you have made what you consider to be a reasonable offer and still can't come to terms, walk away. If the offer was reasonable, the dealer won't let you get far.

IMHO, the key to successful negotiation is RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH..!

You've started your research by looking at NADA guides, but that's only a START!..finish by looking at similar SOLD coaches through eBay, yes, they have a SOLD section, go to PPL's website and look at their SOLDs. They list several thousand. Look at RV Trader and other publications and go in armed with all your research. You should have a pretty good idea of the VALUE of the coach you're looking at. Drop a couple thousand off and make the offer. You can justify your price with your research backup. Quite often, if you make an offer too low, the dealer will simply show you the door as they feel you are not a "real" buyer. This means your negotiation just went into the toilet, because if you then come back with another offer they will feel they have the upper hand in the deal.....just my experience.....Dennis

I would not be at all embarrassed to offer $40-$42,000. Of course they will balk but keep the conversation going about seeing some others and grumble about old tires, cosmetic issues, color, some missing options you really want and may need to add etc. Just keep them talking and ask about financing rates and terms whatever. Then be OK to walk out on friendly terms letting them know you have an open mind not an open wallet. You can always come back if you don't find anything better.

"siguccs"........I understand what you're saying. I don't agree with offering some crazy low ball numbers. I feel it makes you look like a jerk. I would rather have an intelligent back and forth based on numbers, especially if you buy. If you're a jerk, you'll be treated like a jerk after the sale, which could bite you in the butt if you need something fixed.

You need to do some homework and see what that or a similar coach is selling for elsewhere. Typically, that dealer bought that coach at a wholesale price, probably around $45K to $50K. He listed it high because he knows the next buyer will want to dicker with him on the price.

Politely show them the NADA listing and tell them you feel the price should be closer to $50K - $53K. When we bought our current coach we traded in a really nice 2005 DP. I knew what it was worth in a private party sale and was realistic about what the dealer would be willing to pay so he could still make some money. I also knew what the new coach should sell for. I had a number written down on my NADA printout that I thought the deal could be done for. After some negotiation the dealer's number and my number was only $500.00 apart. We made the deal.

bobtucker wrote:
50K is a good offer.
Take a look at PPL website and see what they have sold for.

Send me the check and your Yugo chassis Class C. will be at your doorstep in a couple of days. How can you say $50,000 is a good offer when you have no idea what the rig is, what condition it is in or anything else about it.
The asking price could be ridiculously high or an insanely good deal. Perhaps it is an overly inflated price to allow the dealer to play the trade value game. Perhaps it is a super good low, low price because the dealer couldn't floorplan it when he traded for it, and so he has $69,000 of his money tied up in it, he needs that liquidity, and he is much more interested in the return of his money, than the return on that money. (sorry, Will Rogers, I stole that wonderful quote).
Most likely, however, it is close to a fair price because he does want to make some money while at the same time doesn't want to scare away prospective buyers. If a price is too high, people just move on without giving it a second thought, hence most dealers are going to price their inventory within a band that is considered reasonable.
Research and then make an offer you are comfortable with. If you make a ridiculous lowball offer, the dealer is going to ignore you. A smart businessman isn't going to negotiate an offer that is not reasonable. A lowball offer is a request for the seller to lower their price for no reason. He isn't going to get into a bidding war with himself, lowering the price time after time until you finally decide to actually make a real offer. He is much more likely to say "Thanks, but we are too far apart. If you want to raise your offer to something more reasonable, maybe we can talk turkey."

CW had a DP asking $69,900. They dropped to $59,900. I offered $52,000 and they said OK. Wife said no though. She did not like the DP which is her prerogative. The one I bought from an individual started at $21,000 and took $16,000 cash.

Don't worry about being embarrassed by making an offer you are willing to pay. It is all about how much they have in it and are willing to take for it.

I will not pay more than 20% below NADA low retail. I know folks will say I'm full of s..T but that's the way I do it. I've been successful 3 times and there are a lot of people on these forums that do the same thing. If I can't them that far I will walk. There is always another deal. My current coach wound up at about 30% below low retail.

I made what I thought was a real lowball offer when I bought my Newmar. They accepted immediately. I have always thought I overpaid. That was 11 years ago and I still think of that.

Just an observation---NADA pricing is historically high. Seems to me asking more makes no sense.

Ask whatever you want. Negotiation is a process of determining the Next Best Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement. The dealer will counter offer based on his need for a profit margin. You will counter based on your ability to pay and need or like for the RV. At some point you will both come to an agreement or one or both of you will walk away. No harm no fowl.