Why Go To RV Shows?

If it's an RV show like you just described, I wouldn't go.

However, we like to attend the Hershey RV show. There are a lot of people but, there is also a lot of RV's and displays.

I go to see what is available. You can see a lot in one day and at one location.

Agree with your plan in your situation.

Depends on the event/venue.

When we were in the market for a coach, we went to an FMCA Convention-- it happened to be up your way-- Redmond, Oregon.

We were able to not only look at the coaches on our short list, but also to drive them back to back on exactly the same road, same conditions.

Can not imagine that kind of comparison would be available by going from dealer to dealer.

Let's face it, ALL coaches drive OK on smooth road with no wind. We wanted an "apples to apples" comparison on less than ideal roads and chose to drive in the afternoon when there was a cross wind.

We go to the Toronto RV show and there are probably close to 100 dealers and just about every brand and configuration of RV out there. I think that the one the OP goes to is so the local dealers can move inventory. We have one here like that as well and it is at the end of the year so they do not have to carry the inventory over the winter.

We go to RV shows for the "toys".. the vendors with gadgets & accessories, new items, and novelties.....
It's also interesting to look at the coaches.... perhaps to get a "project" idea for our 2001 Tradewinds....or to have confirmed for us why we like ours better..

The big advantage is not having a salesman in tow that is trying to sell you a particular coach, fishes for how much money you make, has no idea what he is selling, and can't answer simple questions about the coach you are looking at.

"MOST" RV shows, at least the ones in DFW Texas area, you can look at most of the various Makes and Models at one site. How much Gas and money and time would you spend trying to drive to all the various dealerships in your area? Our Dealership as well as others, the PRICES at the show are usually lower to help spur sales. Our dealership will honor the show prices at least 2 weeks after the show for people that wanted to think about it. We do NOT force or make a potential customer feel that if they do not purchase right then, they are out of luck. Some dealers do not do that, but most will allow time to think and then purchase. There are also lower financing that is offered by various lenders at the shows to help the dealers spur sales. There are also "deals" and options that are included at the Show if purchased during the show. It costs a lot on Money for a dealer to invest in a show, so they have to do something to get the sales. The OEM's do not fully sponsor the shows. They contribute, but the dealer has to spend thousands of dollars in moving and set up and display's and then take down and moving the units back to the dealership. Funny thing is, in Texas, You CANNOT sell Autos at Auto shows. But you CAN sell RV's at RV shows. Doug

Same reason I go to car shows, gun shows, swap meets, garage sales, craft shows etc.

TO LOOK.

We go to the Rosemont rv show near Chicago. It's so big no lines except for Airstream, I go up and down so many stairs my knees are sore but it's fun. Plus it's in February when there isn't much going on rv wise in the northern states. ??

The Washington, DC show - actually held in Virginia, near Dulles Airport - has a lot more dealers than the OP experienced in Vancouver. It's an opportunity to see a lot of RVs in a few hours. Maybe you can do most of your research online, but some like to look, even if not interested in buying that model or class, or already bought and aren't in the market at the moment. It's cheap entertainment, and the Virginia State Parks give out a brochure with a half-price camping coupon, which pretty much recoups the admission fee for the show.