Probable upcoming dealer purchase: negotiation advice?

[wepeterson47]

We're looking at a quite popular model made by Outdoors RV. I begin with this to make the point that it may be a seller's market. Regardless, anyone have any tips, advice, or links on negotiating with a dealer on $?

FWIW, this will be our first new RV purchase from a dealer (other purchases have been private party).

Thanks in advance.

wep

[Annaoinga]

It's true. Know what you want to pay Out the Door and stick to it, we made an offer today that they came back 12000 over our bid and we said no and left. They called us just as we were getting back on the interstate and said OK they would accept our bid. So stick to your guns!

Unfortunately I had not done ANY research on this model since I wasn't thinking of used ones or even this model. We just low balled a price and now I'm freaking out.

I've got to do my research!!!! NADA says we are well under low retail so that made me feel better. What else can/should I check??

It's a 2012 Alpine in really good shape with a washer/dryer combo that Is NOT VENTED... I read vented is more efficient but is it a deal breaker??

Please help!!
Anna

[ependydad]

My biggest advice is to negotiate an OUT THE DOOR PRICE. The price that I negotiated was literally the price that I brought a check for at closing time. There were no surprises, nothing unexpected, etc.

For me, I used the Internet dealers to establish a fair price. Since I was ordering, I then contacted 4 "local" dealerships that carried the brand with the exact set of options that we wanted. I was comparing apples-to-apples and was able to get the price that I wanted.

http://www.learntorv.com/2013/12/how-i-negotiated-for-my-rv.html

[WyoTraveler]

robsouth wrote:
Wife always just figures out what she will pay and just tells the dealer "I will pay X amount for this trailer. Take it or leave it." Has worked twice. They want to jabber but we just get up and head for the door. They hate to see a possible sale walk out.

It really does work. Sometimes I just get up and walk towards the door and back towards my seat, pacing a bit, before I go out the door. Love to watch them squirm. For us it is kind of fun shopping and dealing. :B

[C-Bears]

wepeterson47 wrote:
We're looking at a quite popular model made by Outdoors RV. I begin with this to make the point that it may be a seller's market. Regardless, anyone have any tips, advice, or links on negotiating with a dealer on $?

FWIW, this will be our first new RV purchase from a dealer (other purchases have been private party).

Thanks in advance.

wep

We had only purchased from private individuals until our most recent one.

If you are trading in your old RV then I would do a lot of research on the value of your trade and the actual value of the new RV you are looking at. Do not pay any attention to the MSRP of the new RV, many of the "sticker" prices are 30% - 40% higher than what that RV can actually be purchased for.

After doing this type of research I had a "dream number" in mind that I would love to trade for. The dealer's first offer was slightly less than that! I couldn't believe it. We still negotiated because I wanted G614 tires, built in surge protection, and a Travler top mounted sat dish.

If you are not trading anything in, then start a nationwide search for the new model your want. You may find it extremely cheap several states away. If nothing else you can use that as a bargaining chip with your dealer.

[paulcardoza]

Well done! Patience and discipline are key if you want to get the best deal for your money. You proved that!

Halmfamily wrote:
We are picking upbpur new FR Sierra 360PDEK tomorrow, yeah. I researched this trailer for well over 6 months. Using the internet I was able to figure out what I thought was a fare price. Went to my local dealer and they would not come within $4000 of my price. No problem found another dealer three hours away in Georgia who met my price. After negotiating I asked them to put a Fantastic fan in the kitchen and vent covers on both fans. After a little grumbling they agreed.
It pays to research and be firm on your price. I know buy local, did on my first unit, but $4000 is a lot of cash. Make sure your dealer is reputable especially if going out of state. Ours has done everything we asked and has fixed six warranty issues before we have even seen it. Good luck.

[midnightsadie]

do your home work,get on the net and see what there selling for, type up your offer out the door price and go see them. I love to digger price with these guys, most times I know more about the rv than the sales guy, get your fienaning some place else.

[Halmfamily]

We are picking upbpur new FR Sierra 360PDEK tomorrow, yeah. I researched this trailer for well over 6 months. Using the internet I was able to figure out what I thought was a fare price. Went to my local dealer and they would not come within $4000 of my price. No problem found another dealer three hours away in Georgia who met my price. After negotiating I asked them to put a Fantastic fan in the kitchen and vent covers on both fans. After a little grumbling they agreed.
It pays to research and be firm on your price. I know buy local, did on my first unit, but $4000 is a lot of cash. Make sure your dealer is reputable especially if going out of state. Ours has done everything we asked and has fixed six warranty issues before we have even seen it. Good luck.

[path1]

Drug home wife's Arctic Fox last Fri. Your dealer might be different but with us very little wiggle room with price, a little yes but not a lot.

If you haven't figured it up yet, your going to have to buy some goodies you might not own. Once you get the price down as far as possible see if you can get them to throw in stuff like hitch, controller, bike racks, hoses etc. Some RV goodies are marked up a lot. If you can get dealer to throw them in, they know that they are throwing in at their (wholesale) cost and you know you don't have to pay big RV retail mark up price. Or gift card from them.

Other info...We called our insurance but didn't have all the info they wanted (at time of sale) and insurance company said that's Ok. First 30 days from date of sale it is covered when "legally hitched". However, right now parked at house(unhitched) so it is not covered as I type. So make call to your insurance company to see how your insurance works.

If your financing, see if a local credit union has better deal.

If they have a school, pay close attention and ask if your not sure. Just about everything they go thru are things if done wrong and you mess something up, your warranty is useless, they'll just say mis-use not covered under warranty. Take notes in order to make yourself check list.

(Amazing how much they can get for a wobbley box on wheels isn't)?

Hope you have many happy travels.

[darsben]

robsouth wrote:
Wife always just figures out what she will pay and just tells the dealer "I will pay X amount for this trailer. Take it or leave it." Has worked twice. They want to jabber but we just get up and head for the door. They hate to see a possible sale walk out.

My solution varies a little in that I have a piece of paper with my name and phone number on it. I hand it to salesman as I say I will offer $xxxx plus tax and fees from the DMV for the rig. It is a take it or leave it offer. Please go see if this is okay. If not I am leaving.
Left once and they called within a day.
Now the thinking at the moment is around 30% off MSRP. But then they want to add all sorts of fees on. Be careful when signing the contract.
Some dealers have different MSRP for the exact same model so that is another thing to be wary of. See if the builder website has MSRP listed.

[robsouth]

Wife always just figures out what she will pay and just tells the dealer "I will pay X amount for this trailer. Take it or leave it." Has worked twice. They want to jabber but we just get up and head for the door. They hate to see a possible sale walk out.