Best place to but a new rv? RV shows, dealer, rallies?

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

precioustime wrote:
Where can you bargain for the best deal, RV shows, an rv dealer? Does it help if large crowds are looking for an rv or just go to a dealer during quiet times. I realize it depends on your ability to bargain.


moved from Rallys, Shows and Gatherings

IMO - great for looking - but for *purchase*, *NONE* of the above!.:(

Looking.
Get out and decide what brand and floor plan you like.
If you're looking for a MH - more things to consider such as powertrain, etc.
Fifth wheels and TTs much easier.
Collect brochures, take notes.
Try to look without a salesperson on your elbow.
If he/she waits outside to answer questions - that's great.

Narrow your list to two or three brands with floor plans you like.
Use "MSRP" and/or show "special" prices *ONLY* as a guideline to what you can afford - or are willing to spend.
Keep in mind - depending on the type of RV, you usually will spend at least 25% *less* than the MSRP.

Now the easy part! (It really is!).:)
Get thee onto the internet, and email (or check) prices from dealers near and far (including the supposed "Wholesalers") for *EXACTLY* what you want. Apples to apples.

The *BEST* price is now your "benchmark".
Call that dealer to verify what you were told on the internet.

Now - shop your benchmark price around to dealers in your area.
Will they beat or meet that price - or how close will they come to it?

Then it's up to you to decide if the *best* price is worth traveling,
or do you prefer a closer dealer for a few (or a lot) more dollars.

BTW - *NEVER* found a show "special" I couldn't beat with very little effort.....and yes, I *did* "travel" 1500 miles out-of-state for *my* best deal. You want to go camping, right?

Lastly - if you will buy a unit in stock (off the dealer's lot), you are in a totally different negotiating "position" as opposed to ordering. Depending on where you live and the time of year - there are plenty of - "Gotta have it NOW" - buyers in competition.
Buyer beware!.:W

And....consider a used unit from a private party!
*Great* deals on any/all kinds of RVs are out there - however, you do have to be a bit more "versatile" on the brand/floor plan you want.

~

This is the very BEST advice you will ever get regarding buying an RV. I am in total agreement!

B.O.

precioustime wrote:
Where can you bargain for the best deal, RV shows, an rv dealer? Does it help if large crowds are looking for an rv or just go to a dealer during quiet times. I realize it depends on your ability to bargain.


moved from Rallys, Shows and Gatherings

IMO - great for looking - but for *purchase*, *NONE* of the above!.:(

Looking.
Get out and decide what brand and floor plan you like.
If you're looking for a MH - more things to consider such as powertrain, etc.
Fifth wheels and TTs much easier.
Collect brochures, take notes.
Try to look without a salesperson on your elbow.
If he/she waits outside to answer questions - that's great.

Narrow your list to two or three brands with floor plans you like.
Use "MSRP" and/or show "special" prices *ONLY* as a guideline to what you can afford - or are willing to spend.
Keep in mind - depending on the type of RV, you usually will spend at least 25% *less* than the MSRP.

Now the easy part! (It really is!).:)
Get thee onto the internet, and email (or check) prices from dealers near and far (including the supposed "Wholesalers") for *EXACTLY* what you want. Apples to apples.

The *BEST* price is now your "benchmark".
Call that dealer to verify what you were told on the internet.

Now - shop your benchmark price around to dealers in your area.
Will they beat or meet that price - or how close will they come to it?

Then it's up to you to decide if the *best* price is worth traveling,
or do you prefer a closer dealer for a few (or a lot) more dollars.

BTW - *NEVER* found a show "special" I couldn't beat with very little effort.....and yes, I *did* "travel" 1500 miles out-of-state for *my* best deal. You want to go camping, right?

Lastly - if you will buy a unit in stock (off the dealer's lot), you are in a totally different negotiating "position" as opposed to ordering. Depending on where you live and the time of year - there are plenty of - "Gotta have it NOW" - buyers in competition.
Buyer beware!.:W

And....consider a used unit from a private party!
*Great* deals on any/all kinds of RVs are out there - however, you do have to be a bit more "versatile" on the brand/floor plan you want.

~

I'm a newbie here, wife and I got back into camping after 10 years. Our experience was...
No dealers in our area, nearest is 80 miles away. We started out picking out several brand name units with floorplans we liked. We were leaning toward Forest River Lexington's, Winnie Aspect, Coachman Concord's, ect. Went on RV Trader and found hundreds of new units, all "discounted" from the msrp, and still there were substantial differences in price between dealers on the same unit. Looked at a lot of used units, criteria being no more than 2 years old with low milage, both from dealers and private owners.
You will be shocked when you see how much a 1-2 year old unit depreciates--much worse than a car/truck. Many we looked at had 3,4,5 thousand miles on them, bearly broken in. We found a private owner 250 miles away selling a 2012 Forest River 283ts with only 1510 miles on it. They had gone from a 5th wheel to this, paid cash, used it one time and didn't like it. It was garaged with many upgrades, even a $1000.00 Roadmaster Sterling hitch. MSRP was right at $100,000.00, he had paid $84,000.00. His asking price is so low I don't want to say, but we went to see it, and immediately bought it.
What I'm getting at is that there are some real deals/bargins out there, you just have to search. Don't be in such a rush to buy new. Keep your options open and don't buy on impulse. Make an offer even if it seems low even to you. We looked on the Trader for 2 months solid, getting to know prices/options/availability ect. before buying. Even made some low-ball offers via internet. Had two that didn't take the offer, but 2 weeks later accepted , but by than we'd found our "jewel"
Grumpy

Get prices first from RVDirect.com and RVWholesalers.com. Then you know what you could thereoretically buy the rig from. Take their quote to your dealer and allow them to match the price. That's what I did on my new trailer. I was ready to order from any of those sources. No games, just showed the dealer what I was willing to pay. He could take my order now and save everybody a lot of time. He did.

I like the "sale" price at the shows. It gives me a better idea where to start with negotiations. But when we bought ours last time, there was too much going on at the show, we were able to get started on negotiations but I had to walk away. We went to the dealer the next weekend and were able to talk one on one without all the distractions. At the show the dealers were too busy to hash out the details and besides they always will honor the "sale price" next weekend.

the RV shows that i've been to out West, are way more expensive than regular dealers in the Midwest.

a lot depends on where you live, what timeo of year it is and what dealer you're talking about.

i've found dealers like RVW and RVDirect are cheaper than any RV show i've ever been to.

I cant stress "do your homework" enough. Remember NADA does give you RV info also. I usually go in ANY dealership (car/boat/RV/ETC) with the KBB and/or NADA price in my head. I usually have a price that Im willing to pay, yet I offer a price a few hundred lower. Usually we meet somewhere in the middle of those two figures.

I get prequalified. Sometimes some dealers will play shell games about having to use their bank to get the printed price. I always like being able to not have to worry about finance as another negotiating tool against me. Of course, cash is best, but sometimes it might be wise to finance part of a rig, especially if it something one will have for a while.

The dealer

Order new

Get what you want

Know what each item cost

Bargain in good faith (no silly price match games), and make it clear you expect the same

Learn before you go knowledge is power , power is money in the pocket…

Never be afraid to walk away

Our dealer does not go to the shows.... went to the show saw the show price, saw what the internet price of yet another dealer was........ Ordered our camper through our dealer beat all of the other prices........... Our dealer only has 2 sales people, both are not always there, & one service tech, & an old building (low overhead)..........

There is no right or wrong way to buy..... other than to do your homework........