Nervous about dealers

You have nothing to worry about. RV dealers are just as trustworthy as used car salesmen (and Tow Vehicle salesmen).

Dealers will tell you anything. They want to sell and then it's yours to deal with. Pick what you want. I agree with the comment, don't give money until you have the trailer. Go over it well and get anything fixed that you feel is wrong before you take it off the lot. Dealers like to sell and do not like to deal with issues later.

I have been shopping for a used RV and stopped in this dealer over the weekend. Everyone was nice....of course....they gave me a totally rehearsed sales pitch (which I would not have recognized if my father had not been a salesman all his life).

When they just kept going with THEIR pitch and brought me the sales manager who negotiated the great deal no other dealer can beat (every dealer claims this), for a new unit of course, and continued to ignore everything I said, it became clear I was not dealing with people, but sharks.

The request for a $100 credit deposit was like the icing on the cake. If their pitch had worked this was the end. If it is fully refundable why ask for it at all?

Personally, I would not buy from them because if a salesperson is trained to ignore what is best for the customer there is a clear problem with the philosophy of that dealer.

At least the other dealers I stopped at were straight with me rather than showing me a taped up damaged unit that was used, then playing a switch game to convince me no good preowned travel trailers exist.

bassin39 wrote:
We are ordering it with the options we want. And now my next question. I said they want 100.00 deposit. Then they will check the financing and if approved we put down $1000.00. then start the payments when the RV comes in and we take possession. So this means they want $100.00 upfront just to check our credit? I never did that when I bought my cars.

I would imagine that Florida dealers deal with your situation more than others. The $100 to check your credit sounds unusual (we didn't have to do that when we financed our Motorhome) , but if that $100 is refundable and can be applied to the down payment, then it's probably not anything to worry about. They probably want to know you are serious about purchasing.

Look at it from the Dealer's point of view - you can look them up by reading online reviews, checking the better business bureau, etc. The only thing they have on you is your credit report. The dealer should be more nervous than you. You aren't even in the same state or part of the country they are.

-Michael

70 going on 40. It'll be awhile.

bassin39 wrote:
Hey down the road, love your quote. Jimmy Buffett fan? The plan is to hook the fiver up to the truck and see Jimmy in every city. Eventually.

Better hurry Jimmy is 70 next year

We are ordering it with the options we want. And now my next question. I said they want 100.00 deposit. Then they will check the financing and if approved we put down $1000.00. then start the payments when the RV comes in and we take possession. So this means they want $100.00 upfront just to check our credit? I never did that when I bought my cars.

yrusoslo wrote:
I would go to the Hershey, PA.
RV show next month and buy a show RV. Great savings.

Definitely not true... Prices are usually higher at shows (especially Hershey) because dealers anticipate instant gratification buyers who haven't done their homework and don't know the prices for the trailers. Dealers bring their inventory... its not manufacturers transporting them from Indiana. On top of paying for the unit and paying to have it shipped from Indiana, the dealers have to pay to be at the show and pay to have the trucks shipped from their lot to Hershey. They charge more to cover those extra costs.

I knew what trailer I was buying and went to Hershey, Timonium, MD and Dulles, VA shows and got quotes from dealers. I already had an RVDirect quote in hand and was getting quotes for THOUSANDS more. I eventually bought from a local dealer for close to RVDirect pricing.

OP, Check prices from RVDirect (if they carry the make/model you want). They will offer really good pricing with no haggling. They have a brick and mortar store in Orlando. I'm not sure of the name of it, it might even be the one to which you are referring. Give the minimal down payment (via credit card so you can dispute it if there is a problem) and do a thorough walkthrough before you pay for the rest. They can order with the options you want, the color scheme you want, etc.

If you want certain things write it on the sales order and get a copy with their signature - including the refund of your money if they fail to meet your requirements. If they can't - they won't sign it. But your deposit might be a little low.

bassin39 wrote:
If they come back with a good price, I'm only going to give them $100.00 deposit to approve the credit. If approved, nothing else until the unit comes in and we approve it.

They agreed to this? Most dealers will want a substantial down payment to order anything. $100.00 is nothing in the grand scheme of things. As for the taxes, if you have a Florida residence and are going to get a Florida registration, a New Jersey dealer can handle the Florida Taxes. If it is going to be registered in New Jersey, the Florida dealer is going to have to follow New Jersey law and either charge you New Jersey taxes and forward them on to the state or you will have to pay them directly. Where you buy doesn't have any bearing on the taxes. It is determined by your state of residence which determines where you must license the vehicle.