OK....I think it's a pretty well know fact that MSRP's for RV's are pretty much up to the dealer to dream up.....correct me if I'm wrong here.Question is, when looking to buy a trailer do you use the dealer MSRP as a starting point or use the number that all dealers post as their "sale" price.I've researched a certain model and even though each MSRP is different, the posted price seems to average out the same.The 'sale' price is what I applied my 35% off offer to a dealer, and my goodness it was like I had kicked him square in the butt, with him saying, "You're asking for over $20K off our sale price when it's already 20% off MSRP"I explained that even though my offer was aggressive I was basing it on what the average posted price for the unit is.....no response as of yet from him :)Anyway, some clarification would be appreciated.Thanks

I used this as a starting point then shopped other dealers, internet dealers, etc. until I came to a price that I thought was fair for both of us.

I would average all the MSRP's you see for the model with the options you want. You can't average an MSRP for a base trailer with the MSRP's of fully loaded optioned out trailer. Once you get an average and they should all be within a few thousand of each other start at 35% off this number and go from there.

I use the MSRP that the manufacturer publishes as a guide but then I research dealers prices on the same or similar units to get a scope of what they are selling for. If I find a unit that I am actually wanting to buy, I will make an offer to my dealer of choice and take it from there.Fortunately I have many RVing friends who I can also bounce costs off of relative to their units.Essentially I learned over my many years of buying 'stuff' that the lowest price is not ncessarily the best overall value. Things like after-sales service and accessories often come into play.

Like me you have another consideration, the exchange rate. We got a great deal a couple of months ago. I think the reason we got a good deal was timing. We purchased when the dealer was slow. We purchased a unit they had in inventory. Maybe they bought it when our dollar was higher. They also gave us a good trade value because of our weak currency at the time. We shopped around and found quite a difference between dealers. Based on the currency exchange at the time and US list price we realized a discount of more than 30%Good luck.

Google that model number and find the prices being advertised nationwide. Then use the lowest you can find to negotiate with the dealer. Some dealers post only the MSRP prices on their web sites. But many post their sale prices, which will be well below the supposed MSRP prices. You may get them to come off the sale price some, but you will not get another 20%-35% off the advertised sales prices if they are already well below the posted MSRP.

MSRP question.... | Good Sam Community

SoundGuy
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
Bumpyroad wrote:
when I was discussing this issue with my salesman who I have done business with for over 20 years, I mentioned how much off retail? He said they don't price anything in that manner, everything is based on their cost plus whatever they need added on.

Exactly my point ... why this should be such a mystery to so many is, well ... a mystery. :h. Each dealer will have his/her own set of circumstances different from those of another dealer which all play a role into determining just how much he or she is willing to sell that product for. Don't like it? - then shop another dealer. :S
Community Alumni
Feb 11, 2016
As said above, look at prices from all over the country to get a good base price. Keep in mind that the transportation costs are included in the price. A trailer being sold near the factory would have significantly lower transportation costs over one that's been shipped all the way to BC.

The lowest prices I could find were from dealers around the factory. The only problem was that I'm about 1200 miles away. I found a dealer down here that matched the price and added the cost of transport from the factory with no markup. His transport costs were just about equal to mine if I had went up there to get it.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
when I was discussing this issue with my salesman who I have done business with for over 20 years, I mentioned how much off retail? He said they don't price anything in that manner, everything is based on their cost plus whatever they need added on.
bumpy
SoundGuy
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
Mike E. wrote:
"MSRP = Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price ... what part of this definition tells you the dealer sets the MSRP"

Well, the fact that there are very few RV manufacturers (Jayco is one I know of) who post MSRP's on their sites (unlike the auto industry) it gives the dealers the ability to come up with an inflated number, put in their "sale" deduction which brings it back down to the real value of the trailer whilst making you think you're already getting a great deal. "We can't go any lower...it's already our sale price." Not really...:R

Using the link above (thanks BTW :)) pretty much confirms this theory. They add say 30% to the price which becomes their MSRP, subtract that 30% (or less in some cases) and there you have it....their "sale" price now has come back down to the actual MSRP.

JMO but you're being naive falling back on the ubiquitous 30% "rule" and ignoring the many other factors every dealer will use to come to his own bottom line selling price for every trailer he sells, a price that will almost assuredly be different than another dealer's selling price for the "same" unit. This process is further complicated here in Canada by the ever changing exchange rate which alone can greatly influence the dealer's final selling price and will obviously vary depending on when he bought the unit in question and how many units he may have purchased at the time. Believe it, you nor anyone else will ever truly know what any dealer actually paid for any given unit and is the reason this process of purchasing a unit for your own use is called "negotiation". But hey, believe what you want, it's your money. :W
mtofell1
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
Like someone else mentioned, get online and find your model at as many dealers as possible and get an idea of what the MSRP really is. I just purchased a couple weeks ago and when I mentioned that I knew the dealers set the MSRP the salesman freaked out saying there was no way. So, do they? Who knows but nothing would surprise me.

Once you get a good average for MSRP you should be able to pay somewhere between 60-80% of that. The wide range depends on brand/manufacturer, model year and location. Remember there is a lot of shipping charges for trailers. Especially further away you are from where they are made (usually the mid-west but not always).

For reference I just paid 31K on a 5th wheel with an MSRP of 47K. I was super happy... dealer was desperate with it being the end of a winter month and wanting to move something.
Mike_E_
Explorer II
Feb 11, 2016
"MSRP = Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price ... what part of this definition tells you the dealer sets the MSRP"

Well, the fact that there are very few RV manufacturers (Jayco is one I know of) who post MSRP's on their sites (unlike the auto industry) it gives the dealers the ability to come up with an inflated number, put in their "sale" deduction which brings it back down to the real value of the trailer whilst making you think you're already getting a great deal. "We can't go any lower...it's already our sale price." Not really...:R

Using the link above (thanks BTW :)) pretty much confirms this theory. They add say 30% to the price which becomes their MSRP, subtract that 30% (or less in some cases) and there you have it....their "sale" price now has come back down to the actual MSRP.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
SoundGuy wrote:
Mike E. wrote:
OK....I think it's a pretty well know fact that MSRP's for RV's are pretty much up to the dealer to dream up.....correct me if I'm wrong here.

MSRP = Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price ... what part of this definition tells you the dealer sets the MSRP? :h W

when I went to the factory in PA to select my first MH I went into a couple and tried to find the window sticker. after some hemming and hawing the rep. said that was applied based on what the dealer wanted. so MSRP was not being set by the Mfr.
bumpy
WyoTraveler
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
wing_zealot wrote:
I used this as a starting point then shopped other dealers, internet dealers, etc. until I came to a price that I thought was fair for both of us.

I agree totally. Plus always concider add ons which can vary the price.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
Mike E. wrote:
OK....I think it's a pretty well know fact that MSRP's for RV's are pretty much up to the dealer to dream up.....correct me if I'm wrong here.

MSRP = Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price ... what part of this definition tells you the dealer sets the MSRP? :h

MSRP is merely a number provided by the manufacturer as a starting point ... how a dealer may set pricing and what you'll end up actually paying will depend on a great variety of other factors as well that the dealer will take into consideration but is information which you won't have any access to ... which is why the process of purchasing an RV is called "negotiation". :W
BB_TX
Nomad
Feb 11, 2016
Google that model number and find the prices being advertised nationwide. Then use the lowest you can find to negotiate with the dealer. Some dealers post only the MSRP prices on their web sites. But many post their sale prices, which will be well below the supposed MSRP prices. You may get them to come off the sale price some, but you will not get another 20%-35% off the advertised sales prices if they are already well below the posted MSRP.

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