Reasonable Prep Fees?

Give them 3 or 4 days I bet they will call you an take you up on that

Lol. Show up with $9k and a trailer hitch. Tell them to have air in the tires and a title.

I agree with everyone that prep fees are stupid and I also agree that it doesn't matter at the same time. If the total price is X and that price is acceptable to me, what do I care?

We'll that now gives me insight into this dealers business practices and it concerns me that I will drive 100+ miles to get the shaft in some way at the time of sale. If the dealer were down the street it would less concerning.

Anyway, I offered to split the cost with them and have not heard back. So if I want the trailer, my only choice is to proactively follow up with them, which weakens my position further.

Dealer Prep fees are just another way that they try to build more profit into the deal. Personally, I think it's deceptive and wouldn't pay it. If they want more for the trailer they should raise the price and not try to sneak it in the back door. Some of these dealers think people are stupid.

So you are saying it would be a good deal if the trailer price was $10,053 and the prep fees were $0?

It wouldn't slap me in the face. I wouldn't care if he charged $5k for the trailer and $5k for "prep fees" or what ever else he chose to call it. If the combined numbers are a great or even good deal and you want the trailer, do the deal.

95jersey wrote:
This is my thinking. It is about a $14k trailer in my desired configuration, so even at $10,053 the price is still good, but that really leaves sour taste in my mouth before I even get in the door. The dealer is 132 miles from my house, so I'd have to travel a good 2-3 hours to get there on top of this. I'd hate to drive all that way to be bate and switched.

On the face of it, the $1000 "prep" fees are unreasonable. But hee is the question. Is the trailer cost plus "prep" fees a good deal or not? If it's a good deal, go for it. It it's not a good deal, walk away.

The key is the "out the door" price. It doesn't matter what the prep fees are, it doesn't matter what the new trailer price is, doesn't even matter what the trade in value is (should there ever be a trade in).

The dealer can make the numbers fall on any line he wants, doesn't matter.

95jersey wrote:
I found a small leftover RV for a good deal $9000, but the dealer wants $1053 in prep fees. While the RV is priced well, the prep fees sound pretty high for a $9k trailer. What the heck do they prep for $1000??

I am sure they used the low ball price to bring you into the showroom, but by adding $1053 feels like a slap in the face.

So my question being new to RVs, what is a reasonable prep fee?

when I purchased my trailer Used last year...

the $1,000 prep... was a New battery, new converter, New propane tanks filled., pressure tested roof for leaks, testing all appliances , 60 day warranty.

and I got them to cut the prep price in half.
and within 1 week.. they had to replace all the brakes. under warranty.

and this was after the negotiating a sale price.

95jersey wrote:
What the heck do they prep for $1000??

Your wallet to be a lot lighter!

Prep fee's are not reasonable.
When ever a dealer tried to pull that on me I simply told him I don't pay that and asked for the bottom line. That's what you should negotiate from - the bottom line.

and you,d do a better perp job they they will. check the tire age before you spend any money.