When buying a new TT how do you negotiate

warranty work is only the first year. at that point you don't really need a dealer relationship. I say go where you can get the deal!

We've only purchased twice, but in both cases purchased from an out of state volume dealer at a significant discount. For our current TT, I wanted to purchase from a local dealer for many of the reasons mentioned above (local relationship, service, etc...). I knew exactly what my unit would cost from the out of state dealer, walked into the local with a price and told them that I wanted to buy from them if they could come close to the deal I had. She looked me in the eye and told me to buy out of state because her dealer owners would never let her get within $7,000.

In 10 years of camping I've had rigs in for service twice - once for tires (planned well ahead) and the other for an axle issue. Given the fact that I no longer live where I did when we bought, point of sale was meaningless, and I've had no dofficulties.

Do not expect warranty and service to be viewed or handled the same way they are with Auto's.
Dealers all have their own way of handling/prioritizing service work.
Some will tell you they will work on your unit, but then not tell you that it will be months before they even look at it.

As to pricing and discounts, my best suggestion on finding something close to actual sales price is to use either RV trader or RVT.com.
Use the advanced search function, and then narrow the field to the exact make model you are interested in and see what they are listed for by other dealers.
grand design

Also be aware that all dealers do not sell the same way. Some will offer what seems a very good price, then when the contracts come, there will be thousands of dollars in add ons.
Typical for some would be ,,,
Shipping,,,,, $750
Prep,,,,,,,, $450-$700
Documentation,,,, $399-$799
Pre delivery inspection and walkthrough ,,,$450
And they may demand that you use their financing to get a certain price.
None of these are required, so adjust your offers accordingly.
Some dealers price their units straight up, no fees or add ons. When shopping online or on lot, check on how they run their business, as a car salesman, you know what to look for.

We have always dealt with a ma and pa Jayco dealer here in Mi. Their store is near our northern house. I was told by an experienced TT owner to never buy from a huge store or one that others have had problems with. I got the better deal and saved a couple thousand on the deal. I have bought 6 trailers from the same dealer and always got great service.

That is the current situation in the RV game. I would continue to price shop and forget the warranty. If you have a very major problem, then worry about returning to the selling dealer. With the incredible wait times and poor service, my opinion is that a warranty should be thought of as a sales gimmick.

It's true to a degree...purchase there, service there is priority over those who didn't buy there. At my local RV dealer, I could always get in for service because I bought there. I've seen others walk in (locals) and are upset they can't get an appointment for a month. However, I've also seen folks on the road, passing thru, and got in/out same day because they are travelling. So, you can still get quality work done, but sometimes their own customers are priority.

I don't like that mentality, but its there. Also, like a car dealer, I doubt you'd buy a new Chrysler and then go to your local Chevy dealer for service. If you buy a Jayco and want it serviced at the Forest River dealer (most dealers carry many brands, but in this example let's assume they don't sell Jayco), they can do it...but warranty work might be an issue.

22 percent off is a good place to start. Some here will say 30 percent is the norm. Start with 35, or 30, and go from there. Find same model elsewhere to price compare. I found that building a relationship with my local dealer is a big part of it too. They know me by name after 20 years of buying from them. With our current Class C motorhome, I did find the exact same model a few grand cheaper out of state. But, in the end, I felt my local dealer (lower volume vs. the higher volume dealer I just mentioned) would serve me better. And they have.

I leave on this point: I've never told a dealer, car, RV or otherwise, that I'm price shopping. If you sell cars for a living, you know it can be a waste of time...unless you make the sale. I guess I go in open minded, get a feel for the dealer and see what best price I can get vs. (in my own words) telling them you are most likely not buying and just want a price.

My 2 cents. Others may have better feedback.

One time I needed a significant repair due to my own negligence. I was about 100 miles from the dealer so I drove down there and because I had purchased my motorhome from such a dealer I was given priority on the repair. This was not a warranty so I paid for it myself.