Questionable Sales Tactic by Lazydays

[kedanie]

We have been looking to upgrade to a Tiffin Phaeton for some time. Looking for a good used late model coach. I found a couple listed on the Lazydays web page and inquired. I found it odd that they were listed as "arriving soon" with some basic data.

Well, after being contacted by a sales rep from the Tampa store, we started exchanging emails and phone calls about the coach we were interested in. The sales seemed a little high pressure to the point that they were asking for a deposit on a used coach and had yet to even provide a photo of the coach. I ignored this and continued the discussion even going so far as beginning to talk about prices on their coach and our trade. Keep in mind that they are in Florida and we are in New Mexico.

After quite a bit of talk, they still had not provided any details about the coach and were still asking for a deposit. Finally, I told them that that was not going to happen. Then, today they called back and once again asked for a deposit. I, once again said that that wasn't going to happen. At this point I was told that most likely they would not be able to have anything for us as they would be sold to someone else.

Keep in mind that the deposit was supposedly 100% refundable. But, they apparently wand a deposit to stand in line for chance to buy one of their used coaches when it finally arrives.

I'm sorry, but that's not for us. I guess we'll go look elsewhere.

Keith

[BigD629]

I think it a common practice nowadays. I purchased our Nexus Phantom 28P at Camping World in Chicago, I'm in Oklahoma. After talking to our salesman by phone and through email, once we started negotiating price they asked for a deposit. Since we knew this was what we wanted, I gave them my CC info. When I flew in to pick it up, I discovered they never even ran my CC.I guess they just wanted to make sure I was a serious buyer. I would never leave a deposit if the RV wasn't on their lot yet.

[pigman1]

Sounds like a seller's market. In 2008 DW and I saw and drove a number of Allegro Buses in La Mesa, Tucson. We liked the Bus but were not interested in the models we viewed and drove, and told them that we would be in the area for 3 months or so.We told them that if they got one in that was closer to what we wanted, to call us.

Five days later we got a call from them that they had just about what we wanted. We returned to Tucson, checked out the unit completely, and started negotiation which eventually led to us owning the coach. Somewhere in that process we found they had driven the rig in from the east coast just for us to view.

These guys were interested in selling a rig and did well to make sure I had the opportunity to buy. If your dealer thinks they have multiple buyers for a used Phaeton, they just don't care. It'll sell and your particular salesperson just is trying to be sure he sells it, with you putting your money down to give him the sale.

If you've been shopping, you should have an idea how hard it is to find what you are looking for. Make your decision accordingly, even if you have to hold your nose while writing the check. Difference between a buyer's and seller's market.

[randallb]

Coming from the other side I will commend LD on their business practices. I sold them our 2008 HR twenty-one months ago. I did the deal entirely on the phone and by e-mail. I delivered the RV to Seffner and made an additional $1500.00. I live exactly one 75 gallon tank away. I never drive hard but still got in one day early. It took them 45 minutes instead of the 30 minutes they promised to process the check. Remember this is with me arriving a day early. Not bad service from a dealership that large. My RV is still for sale at the dealer LD wholesaled it to for $6500 more than I got for paid for it. I have no experience buying from them but selling to them is a breeze.
Randy

[mockturtle]

Mr.Mark wrote:
Keith, since you are in the west end of the country, check out PPLmotorhomes in Houston and MOT (Motorhomes of Texas) in Nacogdoches, TX. Also, Motorhome Specialists in Alvarado. Much closer and lots and lots of coaches to pick from.

Good luck, sorry to hear of the 'hard sales' routine.

MM.

X2

[J-Rooster]

Keith, just keep doing what your doing! You might want to go to the website of DeMartini dot com to look at the type of coach that you might be interested in. DeMartini RV is a high volume California RV Dealer.

[peaches_cream]

OP said they refuse to put a refundable deposit on any unit they cannot see, so they can shop elsewhere. :@

[Sully2]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Just one of many complaints about shady sales tactics at LazyDays. Very few of the locals, including me, will deal with them.

A buddy of mine had the same sort of BS pulled on him from a large dealer in Tucson....so its not just Lazy Days....its the SALESMEN!

[krivanj]

Having bought two RVs from Lazydays, I will tell you a couple things I have encountered or observed.
While searching for our present RV, I would go online to Lazydays, put in all the parameters I was looking for, and the list would show up with seven or ten that fit. Looking at details for each, as soon as I clicked on them, most, if not all, would say they were sold, or arriving soon.
When I found one finally that looked promising and did not say sold, I contacted a salesman. He told me since I could not get there to until four days later to look at it, to put a $250 deposit on it to hold it. I did that. Later that week I found another that said arriving soon, and called to ask when it would arrive. The salesman looked it up, and said it was there now, went out to look at it, and called me back to say it was so nice I should switch my deposit.
I did, and when I arrived at Lazydays several people were looking at the first one we considered. It was still in the exchange lot, where customers move from their trade in to their new one. We bought the second as it really was a nice Rv.
While there, we watched customers going up to the trade in entrance, where there are always four or five in line to check in, and making offers (I am not making this up) to the folks in line. I talked to people who told me that had happened to them.
So, I have seen them sell. They have about 120 salesman and it happens fast. Several years ago we were with our friends who were negotiating to buy a Bounder and the salesman's cell phone rang. After answering it, he said, sorry folks. That one's just been sold.
I am not making any of this up.

[Hjudge49]

I bought my coach from them in 2007, same deal coach was just coming in, gave them a $500 refundable deposit to hold it until I could get there to look at it. By the time I got there, there were 4 more deposits in line for the unit. If w hadn't put down the deposit, no coach. I don't see this as an unusual sale technique.

[down_home]

......

[Ozlander]

msmith1199 wrote:

darsben wrote:
I am not sure it is a questionable sales tactic. I can see both sides of the street here.
You are reluctant to give a deposit sight unseen.
The salesman ON COMMISSION ONLY is spending non-compensated time on a maybe sale from what 3000 miles away. Does not take much of a leap to wonder if the person taking up your time is serious or just gathering information and buying somewhere else. It is in my mind analogous to what independent small stores are going through with internet stores. People come in take lots of time ask lots of questions then go home and order the product for a few bucks less online. Or to put it closer to home go to Camping World and gaather information then go home and order from Amazon

The salesman is trying to feed his family

Can't feed his family by chasing customers away.

Can't buy a camera by chasing the customers away.

[Bird_Freak]

I tried to buy a new Pace Arrow from them in 2004. Price was decent and after all the normal sales tatics were over they sent me the paperwork on the coach. It was a used unit they were trying to pass off as new. Bought a new one in Alabama for less money.

[peaches_cream]

Deleted- Useless Info: :@

[afrescopXx]

darsben wrote:
I am not sure it is a questionable sales tactic. I can see both sides of the street here.
You are reluctant to give a deposit sight unseen.
The salesman ON COMMISSION ONLY is spending non-compensated time on a maybe sale from what 3000 miles away. Does not take much of a leap to wonder if the person taking up your time is serious or just gathering information and buying somewhere else. It is in my mind analogous to what independent small stores are going through with internet stores. People come in take lots of time ask lots of questions then go home and order the product for a few bucks less online. Or to put it closer to home go to Camping World and gaather information then go home and order from Amazon

The salesman is trying to feed his family

What the....???? The saleman's first job is to satisfy his customer. There are many dealers doing business from the Internet on a national basis. Heck, LazyDays has a "Fly and Buy" program. So, your position is that if a potential customer calls for information the salesman's duty is to blow them off and wait for a walk in?

I wish I had your wealth and ability to take on faith a mirage RV.

[Ventureman]

Seems to me a few photos and a VIN number would show "good faith" on their part.
There are lots of units out there and lots of buyers. Likely with patience and persistence you can find something closer that you can get to in a day or two if it looks good.