Forum Discussion

bassin39's avatar
bassin39
Explorer
Aug 17, 2015

RV shows

Are the prices at the RV shows typically better than what I would get now from a dealer? My dilemma is I pre bought tickets to the Hershey RV show in September. And booked a hotel room. We are looking for our first RV and have found one we really like at a dealer by us in New Jersey. We will be living in it in Florida and would need it shipped down there as we do not have a truck yet. As of yet I have not found this model in Florida. It is a Jayco 377rlbh 5th wheel. The dealer up here gave us what we think is a good deal for the one on their lot. There are a couple of options it does not have that we would like. But nothing major. Things like a fieldstone fireplace. Minor things but it will be our home. So do guys think I should wait til the show or pull the trigger on this one? Do you think we could either get the price matched or even lower at the show? Thanks. Hope this wasn't a stupid question but we've never been to a show. Hoping the Jayco people there might point us in the right direction.
  • rekoj71's avatar
    rekoj71
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2015
    I temporarily worked with a guy who was the sales manager at a large dealership who put on several shows a year. He told me that he liked doing shows cause it made a sense of urgency to buy and brought in a lot of people who would be shy of going to the lot especially when they don't know what they are really looking for. He also told me that at the shows they tend to advertise their best price, but can't haggle too much more than that, but if you went to the dealership you would have to do more haggling but that he would still come down to that best price to get the deal done, and make you feel like he was working with you.
  • Anmacc2's avatar
    Anmacc2
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2015
    I am an RV show, boat show, car show, junkie! I love them all! They tend to bring: the units that will draw attention... All shiny and bright with all the bells and whistles. They also bring the middle of the road which is where most people aim. Then they bring the units that they really want to move for whatever the reason and do something to make those seem more attractive... " Special show pricing, all inclusive packaging, etc...." They also give you the line that they don't want to bring the unit back to the shop. Bull donkey! I've never seen anyone drive their purchase out of the show. Go. Take good notes. Take reps cards and contact info. Make sure you're getting the unit you want, not based on the excitement of the deal. Once you've decided which unit you want then have a serious conversation about it without all the BS and rhetoric. The reality is you want to buy but just as true is that they want to sell.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    Aug 17, 2015
    I would go to the show, get the best pricing and use that as leverage. You can always order one from your local dealer - or any dealer - spec'd the way you want it at a price you can get anywhere.
  • mikensallyt's avatar
    mikensallyt
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2015
    Lots of great info here and recommendations. Dealers wont actually give you what you really want though. They are only interested in their profits. They can always sell the same to another for the price that they want. Don't give up but get your best deal, take your time and don't be pressured.
  • Veebyes's avatar
    Veebyes
    Explorer II
    Aug 17, 2015
    If going to a show with the possibility of purchasing I sure would do some research before going. I'd line up my list of strong possibilitys & get some dealer prices first so as to have good comparissons.

    If making a long trip to purchase at a show, I'd factor the trip costs in with it too. Deduct what the trip would cost simply going for a look. The air, the hotel, the rental car etc. would add up pretty quick.
  • NYCgrrl's avatar
    NYCgrrl
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2015
    Veebyes wrote:
    If going to a show with the possibility of purchasing I sure would do some research before going. I'd line up my list of strong possibilitys & get some dealer prices first so as to have good comparissons.

    If making a long trip to purchase at a show, I'd factor the trip costs in with it too. Deduct what the trip would cost simply going for a look. The air, the hotel, the rental car etc. would add up pretty quick.

    Agreed all the way around.

    There are RV shows within a 2 hour drive to me but since manufacturers I'm interested in never participate in the Herkimer, Nassau or Suffolk County shows, I don't bother visiting just for the new RV smell.
  • RRinNFla's avatar
    RRinNFla
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2015
    If you are not going to buy until the first of the year, an if you are convinced you want to buy at a show, consider waiting until the Tampa show in January. Then you would have a dealer closer to what you want. I am convinced that whatever deal you can get at home, you can get in Florida or anywhere else.

    Some dealer, somewhere, wants your business bad enough to give you the "show" discount.

    Another consideration. RV's are like cars. When the new models come out, the old ones go down in price.
  • bassin39's avatar
    bassin39
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2015
    Thanks everyone. Great advice. I have other dealers in Florida working on price for this model for us. The show is less than 2 hours from us so it's no big deal. We're pretty sure about the RV we want but still want to go look at all the accessories and different models. Just for fun. Since we are in no immediate rush I will use that to our advantage to get the best price I can. And maybe we will get lucky and wait long enough for this model to be last years model. Thanks again.
  • NYCgrrl's avatar
    NYCgrrl
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2015
    RRinNFla wrote:

    Another consideration. RV's are like cars. When the new models come out, the old ones go down in price.

    Also like I phones. I'm waiting patiently for September when the 6 plus prices should plunge.
  • steveownby's avatar
    steveownby
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2015
    bassin39 wrote:
    Are the prices at the RV shows typically better than what I would get now from a dealer? My dilemma is I pre bought tickets to the Hershey RV show in September. And booked a hotel room. We are looking for our first RV and have found one we really like at a dealer by us in New Jersey. We will be living in it in Florida and would need it shipped down there as we do not have a truck yet. As of yet I have not found this model in Florida. It is a Jayco 377rlbh 5th wheel. The dealer up here gave us what we think is a good deal for the one on their lot. There are a couple of options it does not have that we would like. But nothing major. Things like a fieldstone fireplace. Minor things but it will be our home. So do guys think I should wait til the show or pull the trigger on this one? Do you think we could either get the price matched or even lower at the show? Thanks. Hope this wasn't a stupid question but we've never been to a show. Hoping the Jayco people there might point us in the right direction.


    The Tampa Super Show in January is at least as big as Hershey. If you are still looking at that point, go down & make at deal with someone there.

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