Why don't dealers want to order for customer request??

[LetsRV]

Looking to downsize. Have been RVing for approx. 20 years. Pretty sure I know what I want.

Currently have a motorhome but we have decided (after lots of soul searching) that we would like to downsize. Have decided on a Class C. Even narrowed it down to two: Winnebago Access 26QP and/or Four Winds 26a. These units offer what we need (just the two of us) inside and very reasonable storage outside.

Now all of that said, the one deal killer is that we want a front entertainment center (not the cab over bed). We realize dealers don't order them this way as most buyers are young families wanting the sleeping space. At least that's what they keep telling us.

We have talked with three dealers in our area: 1. After visiting the lot and explaining what we want. Sent me an email for the unit on the lot. Responded that we were not interested in that unit but would be interested in ordering. Asked what pricing difference we might expect between two different units if we factory ordered. Never got an answer the email.
2. Showed no interest after we said we didn't want anything on the lot but would not be against ordering one and waiting for it.
3. Camping World, gave us a brochure for the Itasca (said it's just like the Winnebago) and a build sheet to fill out. Got home and found the brochure to be 2013 and so was the build sheet.

Really, it's this difficult to buy what you want ????

[wcjeep]

Dealer does not want to get stuck with something custom should you change your mind. Dealer would eventually have to discount the custom order rig later at a loss.

Call manufacturer. Find your preferred unit at a soon to be happy dealer.

[Dakzuki]

PSW wrote:
And its not just RVs. Cars? I went to the local Jeep dealer three miles from my house and said look, here is exactly what I want. A dealer a hundred miles away as it. I'll take it if we can agree on price. I don't need to see or drive it. Never heard back from them. Jeep Grand Cherokee all tricked out, red, special tow package, etc. So, I went a hundred miles and bought it. Strange way of doing business in my opinion.

I didn't have that problem when I bought my last new car and my brother recently bought a new car without that issue either. Both of us waited a few days for the car we wanted to be brought in from another dealership...in my brother's case the car came 150 miles. Customer service is still out there.

[dicknellen]

Another thought, in 2003 we wanted a Class C with the entertainment center in the bunk area. Most dealers now display they units on-line, I searched dealers within 1000 miles and found what we wanted at Porters RV in Coos Bay. Made the deal over the phone, they held it until we could see it and give our final approval. We purchased it stayed at a local RV park for a few days to check it out. Good people to deal with, but I don't think they are a Winnebago dealer now. Dick

[tatest]

You may not be getting past the salesman. The salesman wants to sell you something NOW. His commission may not be paid until the deal is closed, and his kids have to eat.

That being said, this time of year could be a bad time for ordering. Builds might be backlogged several weeks or more with outstanding orders, one of the parts shops or suppliers could be backed up building something else, or you might be wanting a model year no longer built.

You can get built what you want at some of the factory-direct sellers (though at least one will not stray from his own options list) if you are willing to wait for it to be built. This wait may be longer than for some of the larger manufacturers, or it might be shorter if they've already started on something that has not been pre-sold.

As someone mentioned, it is somewhat the same with ordering cars (and to some extent trucks) today, except that there is almost no custom building in that industry now (all options are in packages) other than for fleet customers. Many car dealers don't want the special order business, but will check the regional inventory to see how close they can get to what you want.

I don't think most RV manufacturers work on a regional inventory system, but talking with a Starcraft regional manager, I think that company at least will try to help you find which dealer has what.

Winnebago, in particular, does custom builds. There is a custom vehicles division to do the design and engineering. You might have to talk to them directly, then order through a cooperating dealer. Not all dealers are this cooperative, especially when starting on a project that may not be finished and paying off to them for two to six months. But I think you are talking about options on a standard model, rather than a custom build.

[PSW]

It just seems to me that as much as these things cost you should be able to get what you want. Yes, people back out of deals and that is why you should expect to pay a big deposit to make sure you take the rig when it comes in. I was talking to a regional sales manager of a major line of motorhomes about two years ago. He told me "let's face it: RV dealers are twenty years behing the times as far as how they deal with customers". I think he is right. And its not just RVs. Cars? I went to the local Jeep dealer three miles from my house and said look, here is exactly what I want. A dealer a hundred miles away as it. I'll take it if we can agree on price. I don't need to see or drive it. Never heard back from them. Jeep Grand Cherokee all tricked out, red, special tow package, etc. So, I went a hundred miles and bought it. Strange way of doing business in my opinion.

A lot of RV dealers still operate like mom and pop operations and are so laid back that anymore and they would be horizontal.

Incidentally, Phoenix Cruiser will sit down with each customer and trick out their motorhome like they want it, within reason. Factory direct only. No dealers.

[mpfireman]

SCVJeff wrote:
Call and ask CW why they gave you a 2013 build sheet? Its likely nothing has changed and that sheet is still good.

Not sure what you intend to do with a full bed width of space behind the entertainment center though.

Most dealer now are ordering 2015 units, as for the 2014 units , they probably were last built by mid June. I know when we special ordered our unit, in mid May. by the time we received our unit in mid June, some of the next year units were already on the lot.

[Bumpyroad]

go to the dealer, see a salesman, sit down and order exactly what you want. don't take no for an answer, see sales manager, etc.
if they won't cooperate, you don't want to buy from them anyhow.
bumpy

[Steve_911]

X2 on the Nexus. I emailed with an inquiry, and got a phone call from one of the owners of the company, who answered my questions in a professional friendly maner.
Just saying.

[Dakzuki]

The dealers you have been working with suck. You should be able to order from a build sheet and negotiate that price. I did just that. I also got quotes from Lichstinn and Lewis RV in Ohio. Lewis was cheapest but a local dealer was less than $1000 over (when presented with the Lewis quote) so I stayed put. I got mine from Roy Robinson up here in Marysville. The salesman Ray was pretty low key. Poulsbo kept trying to sell my something I didn't want.

You want 25% off MSRP.

[PghBob]

I believe that Coach House, Nexus, and Lazy Daze will all build at least some of their models with the front entertainment system. I believe all are custom builders and you order direct from the factory. Build time can vary, recently heard that Lazy Daze order-to-delivery time is 9-12 months. I agree with the OP that when spending a pile of cash, one should be able to get what they want. Good luck.

[LetsRV]

Just a note: I'm not looking for anything custom. I just want the front entertainment center, which is a mfg option on just about any Class C.

Tracking, while you present some interesting issues I don't agree with all of them:
1. I'm not kicking tires I'm ordering a motorhome.
2. I'll know what the option(s) cost before I order. That's what the build sheet is for.
3. True, reflection on quality of mfg. Don't tell me 4 weeks when you know it's going to take 6. I'm happy with the 6 if you tell me up front.
4. Mfg problem. What does dealer do when he orders stock units and they come in wrong?
5. I don't want custom, I want offered option.
6. This will happen with any sale on the lot, no matter what it is.
7. Pretty likely in my opinion. They'll have the only front entertainment center on the west coast... 🙂
8. I would expect to put down a non-refundable deposit so the dealer will make money any way it goes down.

Tracking, I understand what you're saying -- it's more work.
Gee and here I thought that's what they were there for. Apparently most sales folks are just paper pushers and not customer service oriented. Nobody's fault, just the way the industry appears to have headed.

When we bought our present MH (2001) sales folks bent over backwards to make sure it had exactly what we wanted. It did and we've had it 14 years. Other than downsize, still love the rig.

[GrumpyandGrandm]

You've got some bad dealers. I have ordered 4 out of the last 5 RV's we have or will own. 3 FW and 2 MH. Our current SENECA was on the lot and exactly what we wanted but all the others we had to wait for.

[pigman1]

You just have to be persistent and do not quit trying. We had a 2008 Allegro Bus that we bought off a lot. Although we liked it we wanted something different. We started looking for a number of special things on a replacement coach and approached Bob Tiffin to see if it could be done. At first he said they wouldn't build what we wanted. A year later when we asked them again, he waffled but again declined. A number of months later we had a dealer approach a senior factory rep again, and this time they agreed. From that point it took over 4 months and 2 calls from the factory (one from Bob) for the engineers to complete the design changes and start the build. In the end, we got exactly what we wanted and are absolutely delighted with it. Just don't settle for what you don't want. The right people will get it done for you. You just have to be willing to keep trying and, of course, pay for it.

[dicknellen]

www.lichtsinn.com Dealer & Parts in Forest City Iowa
We had a friend who used Lichtsinn, got a good price & ordered what they wanted and did a fly in to take delivery. They have both Winnebago & Itasca. Ordering now it would be a 2015. Dick

[SCVJeff]

Call and ask CW why they gave you a 2013 build sheet? Its likely nothing has changed and that sheet is still good.

Not sure what you intend to do with a full bed width of space behind the entertainment center though.