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Are you a fan of buying at RV Shows?

NekkidFish
Explorer
Explorer
I have talked to a number of people locally, and a few of them are fans of two big dealerships, whereas other folks say they think you get better deals at the big RV Shows?

Anyone have any input on this?

Thanks! Jules
2014 Coachmen Leprechaun 319DS
Let the adventures begin!
41 REPLIES 41

Dog Folks wrote:
ford truck guy wrote:
NekkidFish wrote:
Dog Folks wrote:
Go to the dealership when all the higher pressure, high preforming salesman are at the show.

If you have done your homework, you can squeeze a little more out of the salesmen/mangers left behind at "home."


Ooooh, I like that idea!! ๐Ÿ™‚


Not to poke holes in this idea....but.... MOST of the important , decision making managers are usually at the shows...you most likely will get someone who does not have the power to accept that low price you may offer.....


Maybe, maybe not. That is how we bought ours.


I was only going off my experience.. knowing all the folks at 2 local dealers.. and seeing them at shows.. I had to wonder if the parts guy is running the showroom :B might be a GOOD DEAL ! Glad it worked out...
Me-Her-the kids
2020 Ford F350 SD 6.7
2020 Redwood 3991RD Garnet

mgirardo
Explorer
Explorer
When we bought our Hybrid Travel Trailer we bought it at the Atlantic City RV Show in March of 2005. We had been looking for a few months and had visited a couple local RV dealerships. We were fortunate to meet a knowledgeable representative from Forest River when we went to the show. We spoke with him about their Shamrock and Rockwood lines. We ended up going with the Rockwood because the Dealer was closer to home, about 15 miles away.

We left the show and did some research. The salesman told us if we decided to purchase it to give him a call and he would get us back into the show to sign the contract. We talked about it for a while, went to the Dealer and looked at the model we liked that they had on the lot. We spent a long time in it checking everything out. We talked about it some more and decided to buy it.

We bought it at wholesale price. We compared the price with the online RV Wholesalers and found that the price we were quoted was within $500 of the online Wholesalers. The dealer was true to his word and got us back into the show. Eight weeks later we were in the dealership taking delivery.

That worked for us because the dealer we bought from was local. This past January we went to the Tampa RV show, just to see what has changed in the last 5 years. We had no intention of buying at the show. After seeing the show prices there, we were glad we hadn't planned to buy there.

-Michael
Michael Girardo
2017 Jayco Jayflight Bungalow 40BHQS Destination Trailer
2009 Jayco Greyhawk 31FS Class C Motorhome (previously owned)
2006 Rockwood Roo 233 Hybrid Travel Trailer (previously owned)
1995 Jayco Eagle 12KB pop-up (previously owned)

Dog_Folks
Explorer
Explorer
ford truck guy wrote:
NekkidFish wrote:
Dog Folks wrote:
Go to the dealership when all the higher pressure, high preforming salesman are at the show.

If you have done your homework, you can squeeze a little more out of the salesmen/mangers left behind at "home."


Ooooh, I like that idea!! ๐Ÿ™‚


Not to poke holes in this idea....but.... MOST of the important , decision making managers are usually at the shows...you most likely will get someone who does not have the power to accept that low price you may offer.....


Maybe, maybe not. That is how we bought ours.
Our Rig:
2005 Dodge 3500 - Dually- Cummins
2006 Outback 27 RSDS

We also have with us two rescue dogs. A Chihuahua mix & a Catahoula mix.

"I did not get to this advanced age because I am stupid."

Full time since June 2006

The last RV show I attended we saw a family sitting comfortably in a $200,000.00 MO-HO... while their youngest was on the bed jumping off onto the floor.. The bedspread was laying in a ball,,
Me-Her-the kids
2020 Ford F350 SD 6.7
2020 Redwood 3991RD Garnet

Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Explorer
The models at RV shows have every available option installed. Go look, but leave your checkbook at home.
Retired and visiting as much of this beautiful country as I can.

Oaklevel
Explorer
Explorer
Do your homework period.......

Our dealer does not do shows & beats "show prices" all the time. They have low overhead & pass along the savings. Old building (Old 60s-70s VW dealership building) & 4 employees. For us they beat the "show" price of another dealer considerably.

Shows here are always in the spring, when they are trying to get rid of last years models.

Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Explorer
I was at the FMCA RV show in Pomona CA in early 2004. Two dealerships came up to me while I was looking at a Fleetwood Expedition motorhome. The 'sticker price' was around $162,000. One dealership said they could get it for me at $112,000. Another said they can beat that price by $8,000. But I really did not know what they would have given me for my Bounder as a trade, so I declined both, and having just paid off the Bounder (by refinancing it into my much lower home mortgage loan at just 4%) I did not want a $1000 a month payment on a newer motorhome.

Anyway a couple of years later I see a 2004 Expedition on sale at a dealership for $134,000! I guess that the original owner did not hear about the $112,000 sale price at the FMCA show! They might have still owed over $130,000 on the RV if they paid even a discounted $150,000 and put $20,000 down. Tax, reregistration and other fees come out of the $20,000 down payment, and the loan can be as high as the asking price again! The first couple of years on a 15 year loan, you are barely paying more than interest payments, not to much each month goes towards paying down the loan!

Happy hunting!

I wonder why they have the RV show at the end of camping season? I would want to buy in the spring, not the fall. . ..

Fred.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a

Porsche or Country Coach!



If there's a WILL, I want to be in it!



I havn't been everywhere, but it's on my list.

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Ramblin_Recks
Explorer
Explorer
NekkidFish wrote:
IDman wrote:
If you buy a model that is at the show, you can be assured that 5,000 people have walked on the new carpet, spilled drinks and crumbs, and let 2,000 kids bounce on YOUR new mattress.


Yuck!

To this point, we have seen allot of broken items inside RVs at shows. Everything from chairs, recliners, tables, steps, toilet, shower doors,etc.. For us, shows are a great place to look, research, and dream.
George and Ann
2012 Dodge 3500, SLT Big Horn,CC,DRW,Cummins HO, EB ,4x4,3:73, Retrax Pro, Q20
2014 Cedar Creek, 36CKTS, 640W Solar, MPPT60, Magnum 2000
Retired Army, but still working....until 2016

Allworth
Explorer II
Explorer II
No!
Formerly posting as "littleblackdog"
Martha, Allen, & Blackjack
2006 Chevy 3500 D/A LB SRW, RVND 7710
Previously: 2008 Titanium 30E35SA. Currently no trailer due to age & mobility problems. Very sad!
"Real Jeeps have round headlights"

Campfire_Time
Explorer
Explorer
In my neck of the woods, several dealers run "show specials" for a couple of weeks after the show.
Chuck D.
โ€œAdventure is just bad planning.โ€ - Roald Amundsen
2013 Jayco X20E Hybrid
2016 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab Z71 LTZ2
2008 GMC Sierra SLE1 Crew Cab Z71 (traded)

NekkidFish
Explorer
Explorer
I do plan on researching and shopping through the winter. I already know we will go to the Cincy/Dayton RV Show, and the one that is in Louisville. I've also got the names a few big dealers here and in Louisville that we will visit.
2014 Coachmen Leprechaun 319DS
Let the adventures begin!

spoon059
Explorer II
Explorer II
I'll offer a different opinion.

If you have already done your research, know what you want and have gotten several prices from local dealers then I don't see the harm in making a purchase at a show. I've never done it, but I heard a salesman suggest that the manufacturers give special incentives to the dealers to sell during the show and the dealers can then, in turn, offer a better price.

Armed with the knowledge of exactly what you want and the best price you can get OUTSIDE the show, why not try to make a deal at the show. Worst case scenario they don't offer a great deal and you smile and walk away.

Now... if you are talking about purchasing a trailer that was used at the show, I want a good amount off the best price I could find. As others have said, you've had a lot of people trampling through, pulling on things, spilling, not wiping shoes, kids slamming doors and pushing buttons, people pulling and picking on things, etc. If I was to purchase a floor model trailer from a show, they would have to knock at least 15-20% off the lowest price I could get elsewhere AND I would have a very detailed PDI and point out any defects before signing and get it in writing that they will fix the defects or offer a greater discount.

I wouldn't buy on impulse at a show though, that isn't my style. I'm one of those guys that researches for months or years before pulling the trigger.
2015 Ram CTD
2015 Jayco 29QBS

NekkidFish
Explorer
Explorer
IDman wrote:
If you buy a model that is at the show, you can be assured that 5,000 people have walked on the new carpet, spilled drinks and crumbs, and let 2,000 kids bounce on YOUR new mattress.


Yuck!
2014 Coachmen Leprechaun 319DS
Let the adventures begin!

NYCgrrl
Explorer
Explorer
BuckBarker wrote:
My daughter signed the paperwork for a new TT at a show in MI several years ago. The deal was done till they got a call from the dealership telling them the salesman made an error in the price and they wanted $7,000 more. Well, they didn't know who they were dealing with. My daughter and her husband picked up their new rig 2 days later and no extra money changed hands.
I really wish someone would try to tell me that a signed contract and price wasn't good. Some people are sooooooo silly and think you are following in their footsteps.

Glad your DD and hubby learned at the feet of a master.

BuckBarker
Explorer
Explorer
My daughter signed the paperwork for a new TT at a show in MI several years ago. The deal was done till they got a call from the dealership telling them the salesman made an error in the price and they wanted $7,000 more. Well, they didn't know who they were dealing with. My daughter and her husband picked up their new rig 2 days later and no extra money changed hands.