The good news is we are shopping for our first TT. The problem is dealer pricing on used rvs is hard to figure. I found a really nice 2005 Terry 260 bhs. The dealer has it discounted to 11,999 from 14. NADA is 8500 low retail to 10500 high retail. My credit union will finance 90% of NADA low retail, which is what I figure to be a solid target price. Am I wrong? I feel a bit delusional expecting the dealer to come down another 40% off theirdis ounted winter price to the price I think I should pay. I am good at negotiating cars but I'm not used to seeing prices this inflated.

That is high but remember it is HIS trailer. If he wants out of it badly enough he will negotiate, otherwise keep looking. There are lots out there

I think I would start at the low end and max it out some where in the region of $9250 depending on the condition. JMHO

Never hurts to ask. Use the same techniques that you have been successful with negotiating for cars - it's basically the same thing. There are so many factors that the dealer may or may not have built into his price, but you can be sure there is plenty of wiggle room. Make an offer to get things started, and see where it goes .... you can always just walk and look elsewhere ....

Bill & Kate wrote:Never hurts to ask. Use the same techniques that you have been successful with negotiating for cars - it's basically the same thing. There are so many factors that the dealer may or may not have built into his price, but you can be sure there is plenty of wiggle room. Make an offer to get things started, and see where it goes .... you can always just walk and look elsewhere ....x2

A lot of prices on used trailers is high. Part of it is what they paid for a trade in. In February 2013 I received $21000 for a trade in. They added $1000 to that amount and put it on there lot. Now March 2014 the trailer still sits on there lot and after 2 price reductions, it is listed at $17000. Not sure if it will sell but I guess I got a good deal with the amount they gave me.

Dealer pricing way over NADA! | Good Sam Community

Brett_K
Explorer
Mar 08, 2014
We went shopping today. Ugh! Everything used was really used. Dents, decals falling off, stained carpets, and dried/cracked tires. We checked out a 28ft 2012 Shadow Cruiser. Decent shape but there was a dent on the side plastic. Asking price was 26k. We left! I think I will start searching more for private party sales where there are less games.
rvhippo
Explorer
Mar 08, 2014
mich800 wrote:
Devils advocate. If it is always the dealer trying to screw someone, where does the high NADA come from if no one is purchasing for this imaginary average high value.

There are people paying high NADA.

Some are trading in, and the dealer is inflating the new price so he can give the buyer a higher trade in value.

Some are buying at this price because the dealer can provide financing that a bank won't.

Some are paying way, way too much. These people get seriously, seriously underwater on their unit. You can see these people when they try to sell their unit in a couple of years and their used price is much higher than what the wholesale-dealerships will sell you a new unit for.
Mickeyfan0805
Explorer
Mar 08, 2014
When we searched used, in 2010, we found the same thing. The used units were so overpriced that we simply couldn't justify going used. We were looking at Hybrids and ended up buying new from a 'wholesaler' for only $3,000 more than the best deal we could manage on 6-8 year old units (we negotiated three at three different dealers).
2008Wildcat
Explorer
Mar 08, 2014
The dealers can play the same game as all of us consumers.

Ask whatever you want, and let the next guy figure out what it is really worth.

I guess no one here ever wanted more money for their trade in than it was really worth? How about private sales? No one ever start higher than it was worth to get what it is really worth?
SprinklerMan
Explorer
Mar 08, 2014
The NADA information comes from ............the dealers themselves . Nada doesnt get info from private party sales , they dont get it from DMV . The dealers give them the info. Now do you think that the dealers are 100% honest ? Nada is a guide and in my opinion , the "low" price is overpriced , the "high" is a joke
mich800
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
Devils advocate. If it is always the dealer trying to screw someone, where does the high NADA come from if no one is purchasing for this imaginary average high value.
Huntindog
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
You gotta understand the game. The dealer likely took it in on trade. And gave the previous owner a lot on paper for it. which was made up for on the inflated price of the new TT he bought. This made the previous owner feel really good.
Now the dealer is doing the same thing with the used TT. He is expecting someone to come in towing a real clunker, and expecting a fortune for it. So this TT is marked up so that he can do this,,,, even if he has to pay someone to haul off the clunker.

Never do trade ins. Real money talks loud. If you are paying cash,,, the dealer will be much inclined to discount the TT a lot.

This goes for buying new as well.

I have always sold my old one myself. I price them well, and the first person that looks at it has always been the buyer. Last time I had backup offers. I can sell my old ones for good prices, because I bought them at good prices.

I paid 15,500 OTD for my 2001 Wilderness new. Most dealers were in the 26-30K range for them. Ten years later most dealers were selling that TT for 15,000!! I priced mine at 9,500.00 on Craigs list and took the first call 15 minutes later. The next day he was the new owner and I had to tell two other people that they missed out.
RonWSl
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
Not unusual for a dealer to artifically inlfate a price then "discount" it, with the "discount price" still often being more then the FMV of the item. Depending on the condition I wouldn't pay more then the mid-range of the NADA. Odds are the dealer picked it up for about 75% of low NADA retail. Money talks and.... . Make an offer at the $8500 price and he may take it - be prepared to walk away. More RV's for sale then RV buyers.
Judy_D
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
Yep I hear you , I just decided to keep our trailer. We had it for sale with intent to trade for a new one. There offer was way to low , and there new model was over priced. Ours is paid for and nothing wrong with it so we will just keep it. and best of all no payments. My sugestion is to keep looking, maybe even private sales instead of a dealer. Good luck
Judy D
OhhWell
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
Your credit union's policy to fund 90% of low NADA is to protect themselves through collateral value of the TT. It doesn't mean that is a guideline on what you should expect to pay. They expect that you will put some of your own money down on the deal as well.

With that said, it wouldn't be a bad place to start negotiations.