We're in the market for a new travel trailer, and have found a Keystone Hideout that we like. A dealer about four hours away has it available for $15,995 ("show pricing") and verified that this is their final price (at least via email). A local dealer has the exact same model with the same options listed for $18,995. When told that I could drive four hours to get it for $3K less, he "checked with the manager" and lowered his price to $17,249--still $1255 more.While I plan to provide a counter that still brings the price down towards the $16K mark, I'd like to know how much should getting it from a local dealer factor into my lowest/final offer? Researching forums, it appears that having a good relationship with a reputable local dealer is the key to getting timely warranty maintenance. I suspect that any maintenance on this trailer would be done with the local dealer (though another local dealer in town does Keystone warranty work, although they only sell other Keystone brands)--I don't really plan to drive eight hours round-trip to get warranty work done.Thoughts? Thanks!-Will

I would show him the cost of the other trailer..many tell him if they meet it or beat it (that's up to you) you will buy it... At that point, Offer a hand shake, that shows him your ready to make the deal.. If they know your ready and serious , they will /should meet your number....

We got the last 3 out of state, the last one about 800 miles away. I know a lot of people with TTs and not one ever broke down at home so what good is your local dealer when your away from home?

I bought new 1 1/2 years ago. I took basically no problems to them (no walk through) in return for a lower price. The warranty was virtually useless as well, since it would involve hours of driving to the nearest dealer, vs just fixing it yourself. I've never gotten, or sought, much warranty consideration, my whole life, other than ordering something and getting the wrong item exchanged for the right item, or a broken item arriving. Warranties seem to run out before the normal life expectancy of anything, and are fraught with exclusions, so I always make price a consideration over warranty. Like you, I always offer the closest dealer a fair offer, based on what the market will sell it for. $1200 seems like too much of a difference. My experience is that warranty work on an RV is hard to redeem, since you're traveling, and it would disrupt your vacation to take it in hours away, etc. I also bought a new trailer once, had it delivered, arrived with broken window. I simply asked for a replacement window that I would replace myself, they never did anything. Same with my recent motorhome. Cracked fridge vent from delivery trip hitting a branch. Nope, that's not covered! Easy to fix, so I cut my losses, despite showing them photos of the damage. This forum is a very broad swath of good people, and I have seen many, many opinions that would counter what I just said. They would have the necessary patience and skills to pursue their legal rights and maybe get things done that I would just 'write off' and fix myself. So, it's really up to you. Lower purchase price= lower sales tax and lower insurance cost, and lower property tax if you're unlucky enough to be taxed annually on the RV. I say learn all you can about maintenance and the various systems onboard, and take it to the closest dealer for catastrophic warranty work (unlikely). Load all the component manuals onto one of your electronic devices, and you'll be way ahead, either way, since you will be able to troubleshoot many problems that some might take to the dealer.

IMO, local dealer is worth just a little bit more than whatever the gas and time expense would be to go buy it from the cheaper dealer. Using our own TT purchase as an example, we found the exact same model our local dealer had for 3K less at a wholesaler half way across the country - so easily 700 in fuel to go get it and a couple off days off I didn't want to spend on just going to get our new TT. To me, it was easily worth paying 1500 or 2k more than the cheap far away deal just to save the gas / hassle. I showed the wholesalers quote to the local guy and we renegotiated down 2K -- not worth 1K to drive half way across the country.Now, if it where only a few hours / dollars in gas difference, then sure, I drive a little to save more.One thing I have learned is that any decent dealer will treat you right for service and warranty - whether you buy a unit from them or not.

Thanks for all of the great (and fast!) replies! I'm on-board with adding the cost of round-trip fuel to get the trailer to the local price, with a slight bump up to support local business. But $1200 is much more than would be worth it. (Round-trip fuel costs would be $175 tops.)

How Much is Local Dealer Worth in Purchase Price?

25 Replies

Ron3rd
Explorer III
Mar 27, 2015
I got my local dealer to match rvwholesaler.com's price.
obgraham
Explorer
Mar 27, 2015
I would have made the same decision you did.

To me, if you pitched the local dealer against the distant one in a pricing battle, then chose the distant one, I think the majority of local dealers would then tell you to flake off if you needed some urgent warranty work done. Or at the very least, put you to the back of the line.

And I think that's completely fair. Support your local folks if there is a way you can. But that's just me. (Yes there are limits, but not for a grand.)
C7XR7
Explorer
Mar 27, 2015
With an new automobile purchase I'll travel as far as the surrounding states to get the best deal on price for the same vehicle. Not sure I would do that for a dealer bought RV. I would ask my local dealer to meet the non-local dealers price or I would move on and not dicker over it if he refused. Be sure there are not "added costs" with the out of town dealer.

I've purchased my last few vehicles over the internet and phone. I tell the selling dealer that if we arrive at a price and at closing the deal it is one penny more I will walk away from the sale. This has always worked so far. You have to mean it.
bikendan
Explorer
Mar 27, 2015
we couldn't find any of the local dealers willing to come within even $4000 of the Midwest dealer that we ended up buying from.
all threatened us with the statement that they wouldn't do warranty work if we bought from another dealer.
so, we made a 4000 mile RT, to pick it up and still saved $4000 even after trip costs.

Forest River found us a number of local dealers willing to do the warranty work and we never had any problems getting the work done.

so, IMHO, if the local dealer won't get close to the other's price, i would forget them. the manufacturer will help you find someone to do the work and often times, you can use an independent shop for the work and the manufacturer will reimburse you. if you get pre-approval.
wradar
Explorer
Mar 27, 2015
Well, thanks in no small part to the information you all provided, we're now the proud owners of a Keystone Hideout that we got at our local dealer! Again, thanks to everyone for their insights.

We ended up countering with $17k out-the-door, and they agreed to it. Picking it up next week. :)
ependydad
Explorer
Mar 27, 2015
My dealer was a big fat ZERO.
Lantley
Nomad
Mar 27, 2015
midnightsadie wrote:
larryjm said it all. dealers are pretty much worthless.

Its really unfair to paint with a broad brush. While I agree there maybe no good dealers on No VA where Larry JM is from.
There are a few good dealers out there.I have had poor service and great service.
Claiming they are all bad is sort of like saying all RV'ers are pretty much worthless. Might as well lump us all into one worthless bunch
paulcardoza
Explorer
Mar 27, 2015
Well....... With a NEW RV, there will almost certainly be some issues that crop up in the first few months of ownership. Poor quality of all the manufacturers make this all but certain.

So, you have to decide in your own mind, what dollar figure will justify having the dealer nearby.

We spend 8 months of the year in our Cyclone. When we bought it last May, we needed 3 separate warranty repairs. The dealership sent a tech to us at the campground (30mi)! That's the type of service that is worth a bit of a premium, but not $1200 IMO.
RVcircus
Explorer II
Mar 27, 2015
I'd give them the chance to match the price in person, but that's about it.
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Mar 27, 2015
$1200 more if I like the local dealer and have confidence in their service instead of an 8-hour drive. See what kind of a lifetime discount on parts and service the local guy is willing to give you. 15% would be good.