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

[Deano56]

msmith1199 wrote:
That's sounds like a little bit of a bait and switch. On the deposit it probably is refundable like they say, but it's just a tactic to try and get you committed to them. They think once you send money they have the hook baited and set, and all they have to do is reel you in. I personally don't respond well to the high pressure sales tactics, and I walk away from them. I once got into a shouting match with a car salesman and a sales manager (it's a long story) and walked out of the dealership. The next day the sales manager called me to apologize and agreed to sell me the vehicle under the terms I was asking. I told him I would not take his car if he gave it to me for free! I don't do business with people who resort to those tactics.

X2

[xctraveler]

Generally if they "have a unit coming in" it means they have sold a new unit and are waiting for delivery to make the exchange. They ought to be able to give you the VIN at the very least, it must be known to them.

Phaeton's are among the most popular DPs and I see relatively few offered for resale. Owners tend to keep them. We wanted a 36' Phaeton DP and at the time we were looking 2.5 years ago, there were only 3 on the East Coast unless we wanted to wait 12 weeks for a new build. Not in the cards for us at the time. Thus there would be high demand for such a coach.

[D_E_Bishop]

My DW had seen an ad for the FR3 and wanted to go see the 25' model. I called Mike Thompson in Santa Fe Springs, CA and asked if there was one on the lot, there was so we went down to look. For an entry level 25' rig is was so-so but the folding bed was not functional and we figured if it failed before being sold and the Dealer couldn't get parts to fix it, it was not for us.

The Saleswoman that was dealing with us showed us a longer one and next to it was an Itasca. I looked in the Itasca and then went to find my wife and the Saleswoman so my wife could see what I really wanted. At that point the sales gal excused herself and said she would be right back, even offered to bring back some bottles of cold water. She never came back and some dude who called himself "Tex" came out to deal with us. He couldn't answer my question so he made up answers. We walked and went to lunch. I still want that Itasca but not from a sales staff that uses that "lets switch salespeople and use our closer on them" tactics.

AFAIK, LD is high volume, high pressure and not to interested in saving you anything. I called and asked for a price and they wanted way too much info including Bank account number and SS# before they would give me a price. Oh yeah, they would call back with the price in a few minutes. Do you think they might want to run my credit before dealing with me?

[kedanie]

Hjudge49 wrote:
If you had your coach for sale, and someone called and asked you to hold it for a week or so and let them come look at it, would you agree? What if you turn down another buyer before they get there, then they decide not to buy? Without a deposit, it's first come first served. I see nothing wrong with asking for a refundable deposit to hold a unit.

That is understandable for coaches actually in their inventory. What you need to understand is that they are asking for a deposit to hold a coach that isn't even there yet. I would assume that they are coaches that are going to be traded in at some point in the future.
If it was a coach that was actually on their lot and they could provide photos and details, I could understand the deposit issue. What I was told was that if I wanted to buy a coach from them, I needed to give a deposit to have a chance at buying it when it finally arrived.

Keith

[Hjudge49]

If you had your coach for sale, and someone called and asked you to hold it for a week or so and let them come look at it, would you agree? What if you turn down another buyer before they get there, then they decide not to buy? Without a deposit, it's first come first served. I see nothing wrong with asking for a refundable deposit to hold a unit.

[msmith1199]

JALLEN4 wrote:

afrescop 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

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.

A salesman's "first job" is to sell units. The satisfaction of the customer is job #2.

Then they won't last very long!

[kedanie]

reubenray wrote:
I have been looking at those same Phaeton models wondering when they would finally post some pictures. From reading these posts it appears that whenever a good trade-in that is coming in there are a lot of people interested in it. So it becomes a bidding war for it. This would be no different from buying a used house.

It also appears to be a lot of luck in finding a particular model. It looks like first come/first served. I would also be very hesitant on putting down some money on something that I could not at least see some pictures. Did Lazy Day's provide any option on these models at least.

I was unable to get anything from them that wasn't on their web site. Lots of fluff about how wonderful their buying experience is along with how good the dealership is. I tried for 5 days to get more information and was left with nothing but requests for money to hold the unit when it finally arrived.

Will keep looking elsewhere. I'm Sure that something will pop up eventually.

Keith

[reubenray]

I have been looking at those same Phaeton models wondering when they would finally post some pictures. From reading these posts it appears that whenever a good trade-in that is coming in there are a lot of people interested in it. So it becomes a bidding war for it. This would be no different from buying a used house.

It also appears to be a lot of luck in finding a particular model. It looks like first come/first served. I would also be very hesitant on putting down some money on something that I could not at least see some pictures. Did Lazy Day's provide any option on these models at least.

[JALLEN4]

rockhillmanor wrote:
They passed laws years ago to stop that practice.

If a dealership 'advertises' a vehicle and it is not 'physically' on their lot (doesn't matter if they say coming soon)it is now against the law to do so. It was called bait and switch with a fictitious vehicle.

If you take the advertisement and the listed vehicle stock number in the ad and report them you can make them give you that vehicle or comparable one for that exact sales price and/or they can loose their license also.

Could you possibly clarify that statement with a source. Forty years in the business and never knew it was somehow illegal to advertise an incoming unit.

[JALLEN4]

afrescop 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

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.

A salesman's "first job" is to sell units. The satisfaction of the customer is job #2.

[peaches_cream]

Also, all the Camping World Centers throughout the US have a large inventory and very competent salespeople. They will be happy to service you with a smile. :@

[Nutinelse2do]

If you are going to be in Phoenix for a couple months next year, you should not have any problems finding a coach you will be happy with.
There are a ton of dealers out here....
Orangewood RV
La Mesa RV- who has a show at U of Phoenix stadium all winter.
Plus a bunch of dealers in Mesa.
If you are not comfortable with LD, just move on.
There are plenty of other dealers that will be happy to have your business.

[rockhillmanor]

They passed laws years ago to stop that practice.

If a dealership 'advertises' a vehicle and it is not 'physically' on their lot (doesn't matter if they say coming soon)it is now against the law to do so. It was called bait and switch with a fictitious vehicle.

If you take the advertisement and the listed vehicle stock number in the ad and report them you can make them give you that vehicle or comparable one for that exact sales price and/or they can loose their license also.

[lj2654]

I have been at the lazy Days in Seffner a few times. It depends deeply who you get for a salesperson. Most of the used DP's I found were overpriced and non I really liked. That was when I decided I would get a better coach looking privately and avoid the sales person approach.....much slower and easier that way for me.

[bshpilot]

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.

+1 ! with links....

Motor Home Specialist (south of dallas/fort worth) has a fantastic reputation (even here), as does Motorhomes of Texas (north of Houston).

PPL has a huge inventory (having recently merged/expanded), all of their inventory is consigned. PPL is on the south west side of Houston.