Buying online wholesale-service local

[ford_truck_guy]

Really trying to decide on buying a Cedar Creek 38RD from Jeff Couch's RV Nation , but hesitant because of local service...
Local folks cannot come close to the dollars , if I pull the trigger , it would be close to $9,000.00 savings to me.
I called local service folks and said I was being transferred for work , and would they be able to become my home service facility... Was told by BOTH dealers close that they will NOT work on any trailer they do not sell..
This has me concerned... What do you all do ????

[goducks10]

If we decide to go with a Silverback, then Jeff Couch will be our 1st try. Our location adds another $3,000 for shipping and the local dealer is the only one in our state besides another 250 miles away in another state. They pretty much have a monopoly on them. The local has a 29IK for $70,755 MSRP on sale for $57,900. Couch has the same 29IK for $44,895. Even figuring shipping at $3,000, the local dealer is still $10,000 higher. No way will I give them monopoly money.

We bought our current 5er 300 miles away. Only one warranty issue. An independent local RV shop that was suggested by the manufacture did the work.

The way I see it is unless you have catastrophic issues then most can be fixed by the owner. After 1 year (unless you get the FR extended warranty) you're on your own anyway. Hard to give the local dealer $10,000 just so you can have possible warranty work done locally and then after one year you pay for the work anyway. I'd take my chances.

[spoon059]

OP, $9000 is a LOT of money. You should be able to find independent shops that would be happy to get business and cash that warranty check. I know that is true with Jayco at least.

I would contact your manufacturer and see if they can recommend independent shops. Fixing RV's is big money. RV dealers have a lot of overhead and carry a LOT of inventory, therefore their margins are tighter. An independent shop doesn't have tens of millions of dollars of inventory sitting on credit every month, doesn't have millions of dollars of parts in inventory, etc. The independent shop also doesn't have a backlog of minor repairs to guarantee money coming in.

[ol__yeller]

That $9,000 savings would pay for a lot of repairs if needed. I considered buying "wholesale" but found a better used rig locally. I have since had it in a couple dealerships since for minor repairs and none turned me away because I didn't buy from them. I think you are getting scare tactics from your local folks.

[mich800]

Bamaman1 wrote:
My selling dealer's labor rate is $125 an hour for shop and body shop. And they don't discount it for warranty work either.

I'll avoid them anytime I'm paying for something--unless absolutely necessary like for a wheel alignment. Many job tasks are on video on U Tube.

Just curious. How do you know what they are paid for warranty work. Or are you stating you are on the hook for the amount the mfg does not pay?

[Dave_H_M]

I live in IL and bought in MI. Only saved 5500 bucks though. :R

I will not bow down to local stealers.

[bikendan]

ford truck guy wrote:
Was at another dealer today , tried using the couch numbers as leverage... They said that couch numbers are not good to use... When the unit comes in to them , they turn it around to you.. No In servicing.. No prep... No nothing....as is....?

Sounds like BS to me.
we did the same kind of thing. The local dealers said all kinds of lies to not have to come down in price.
the Midwest online dealer that we bought from, did the prep, 2hr PDI and even installed our Equal-i-zer WDH for free. We had bought the WDH from RVW.

[ford_truck_guy]

Was at another dealer today , tried using the couch numbers as leverage... They said that couch numbers are not good to use... When the unit comes in to them , they turn it around to you.. No In servicing.. No prep... No nothing....as is....?

[Bamaman11]

My selling dealer's labor rate is $125 an hour for shop and body shop. And they don't discount it for warranty work either.

I'll avoid them anytime I'm paying for something--unless absolutely necessary like for a wheel alignment. Many job tasks are on video on U Tube.

[IDman]

The story of not working on anything they didn't sell is a crock! They say that to scare you into buying from them.

I have bought two TT from dealers in other states but have always been welcomed by local dealers if I needed something.

If your local dealers won't work on you rig you bought elsewhere, use a mobile repairman. They are more reliable and also less expensive.

[midnightsadie]

I think this I only work on what I sell is a come on,.I,ve never been turned away, money is green in the states and there all hungry.

[bikendan]

We bought from a dealer 2000 miles away from us.
They got us in tour with the Forest River rep found out brand, that found us a number of local dealers that would doing the warranty work.
Never had an issue.
one didn't ever need sell FR products.

[Winnebago_Bob]

Ran into this a time or two over the years.

30 years military here - we didn't have an option to buy local and then stay local - we moved all the time. Often made me angry.

Not much you can do about it. I chose not to give them my business.

[moresmoke]

I just recently bought a TT from a local dealer. I am quickly coming to the conclusion that it makes no difference where I bought it from, my chances of getting service are slim to nil. I am happy with what I paid, but next time I wont hesitate to shop the wholesalers. I'm gonna end up fixing everything myself anyways.

[Lantley]

Understand the issue is real. However give the local guys a chance to match or come close if the refuse take a ride for the savings. Use mobile or independent guys eor warranty work. You may have to pay them first and get reimbursed but they are alternatives to your local dealers