Charging for a PDI??

[Free_Range_Huma]

We completely missed this in our negotiations, but our customer quote worksheet lists these "options"

Clean for delivery $0
PDI $1300
New owner school $0

I expect expect them to clean for delivery.
"New owner school" is the part where they take hours to make sure you know how everything works and you can even stay over night if you wish. Sounds great to the uninitiated, but we all know EVERYBODY does this.

$1300 for a walk-through inspection? Really??

Has anybody seen this before?

They're actually doing a few things for us that they really shouldn't have to, which we negotiated up front as part of the overall sales price.

But we're prepared to walk over this $1300 charge (haven't finished the financing--which was approved--taken delivery, or signed anything yet except this "customer quote"), unless anyone can tell us they think it's reasonable.

Karen

[monkey44]

Seems that in the era of 'price shopping' on all big ticket items the dealers/sellers have decided to list every operational chore as a fee.

Document Fee
Prep Fee
Explain Fee
Walk-thru Fee
Tire Check Fee

We can continue here, listing everything anyone can think of so it can ADD to the cost AFTER the price is negotiated. But you get the drift.

All these are knowable "cost of doing business" and should be counted in advance when a dealer prices a sale.

Think about car and truck sales, same thing. And, ever pay attention to your cell phones and smart phones. The advertised price - the one they tell you - is, say $50 a month. THEN, taxes - that's a given - but then access fee, and line fee, and repair fee, and empty box fee, whatever the company can label, it adds a fee. AND, we pay it, because a lot of us are brainwashed (I don't exclude myself here either) into thinking if it has a name, we pay.

It's a way to raise the actual price and leave the deal price in that column.
Most just accept it on small ticket items, it's not worth the battle ... but when you think it through, two dollars in 'fake charges' on five million customers is ten million dollars in the cell phone bank accounts. Pretty nifty bean counting f you ask me.

Once I agree to a sale price on truck / RV - nothing beyond that comes out of my pocket except taxes, RMV fees, etc. There has been more than one time Monkey has "left the building" ... sometimes we get a call back, sometimes not, but anytime you make a deal, you can bet you will find it somewhere else.

I believe once a deal is done, that's it - we've done the deal, and I always honor my end. But not when some trivial 'cha-ching change' tries to pop in afterwards. That always appears to me as "unreasonable extra" ... unless dealer can prove to me it's legitimate mistake, and I made it. Not only do think that's ethical, I also believe it's fair.

[huntram]

When we bought our 5th wheel in 2011 (the one in my sig line) the dealer in Irvine,Ca wanted $400 for the pdi. Of course that included some tp, an electrical adapter and propane. I said I wouldn't pay it. He explained that all dealers charged it but built it into the price. I proceded to buy my Cameo from Terrytown in Grand Rapids, Mi for $30K less with no pdi charge. I still got my propane and adapter but had to buy my own toilet paper. 🙂
The trailer was set up great and in 1 1/2 years of full timing have not had any problems.
Brian

[Ex-Tech]

noe-place wrote:
It's the same "add on" car dealers hit you with, ie; paint sealer, scotch guard, undercoating and all that******that adds another thousand dollars to the price of a car. If they don't drop the charge, then I'd go elsewhere.

No, it's none of those.
It is, however, the same thing called Dealer Prep that auto dealers charge for.

[Ex-Tech]

A PDI (pre-delivery inspection) is not a "walk-through".
It is the procedure a tech does to test all of the systems and ready the RV for delivery.
Depending on the unit being a towable or motorized, the PDI usually takes 3- 5 hours.
Also, some manufactures give dealers an allowance for the PDI.

[ependydad]

fla-gypsy wrote:
All that ever matters in any purchase is the bottom line cost. How the seller breaks down that agreed upon price is totally irrelevant.

KilroyGuy wrote:
Too much anger! Anyone who thinks that they are not paying for labor for dealers to prepare a rig and demonstrate it to the customer just doesn't understand business. You are going to pay for all the services you receive. Whether it is RVs or cars or candy bars, prices are established as a total of all costs plus a profit. It isn't complicated or worth getting upset over. Now, what is inappropriate is when charges start getting added on to a price you were already given --- that's a great time to walk!

I agree with both of the above. Negotiate a price and then that's it. The dealership has to make money and pay people - I don't care if they write:
"Camper cost: $50,000"
or write:
"Camper cost: $40,000"
"PDI: $9,000"
"Customer walk-thru: $1,000"

At the end of the day, $50,000 is the price. Even if you don't see the fee listed- you're paying for it. Almost never is a business going to sell a big ticket item a loss. They have costs that they incur and are going to recoup it one way or another.

It all came down to negotiating an "out the door" price. There is literally no wiggle room for me once we agree on that price. Be it car, truck, camper or other.

[KilroyGuy]

Too much anger! Anyone who thinks that they are not paying for labor for dealers to prepare a rig and demonstrate it to the customer just doesn't understand business. You are going to pay for all the services you receive. Whether it is RVs or cars or candy bars, prices are established as a total of all costs plus a profit. It isn't complicated or worth getting upset over. Now, what is inappropriate is when charges start getting added on to a price you were already given --- that's a great time to walk!

[bid_time]

Depending on what you signed and a few other things, are you prepared to lose your deposit?

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I would never pay to inspect something I was going to buy - but maybe I'm not understanding what they are charging for?

[Bumpyroad]

I just draw a line thru that type of add ons, they can take it or leave it. I am used to a standard $100 "processing" charge locally for a new car, but saw in the Richmond paper an ad that the given prices do not include a $495 (I think that was it) processing charge. :s
bumpy

[D___M]

RV dealers use the phrase "PDI". Car dealers use the phrase "Dealer Prep" Both rip offs.

[fla-gypsy]

All that ever matters in any purchase is the bottom line cost. How the seller breaks down that agreed upon price is totally irrelevant.

[ependydad]

Never mind.

[peaches_cream]

Another "great" reason to avoid dealers. Purchase only from individuals and you avoid this plus the lack of customer service. Individual customer service is exactly what you get when you make the deal. Take it or leave it.

[beemerphile1]

Free Range Human wrote:

...PDI $1300
New owner school $0

I expect expect them to clean for delivery.
"New owner school" is the part where they take hours to make sure you know how everything works and you can even stay over night if you wish. Sounds great to the uninitiated, but we all know EVERYBODY does this.

$1300 for a walk-through inspection...

You are making a common mistake. The Pre Delivery Inspection (PDI) and the walk through are two different things.

The PDI takes place before the buyer ever arrives at the dealership and can take a full day of a technician's time if done correctly.

The factories have about zero quality control. They rely on the dealer doing a quality PDI before delivery. During that PDI some warranty issues will likely be found and corrected before delivery to the customer.

You and every new buyer pays for the PDI. Either it is included in the price or charged separately. The total cost of the purchase is important, not the breakdown of costs.

The PDI is often the difference between a quality dealer and a slipshod one. There is no excuse for delivering an RV to a customer with roof leaks and things not working.

I occasionally see complaints on here about buyers having lots of problems with new RVs. It is usually the fault of a sloppy dealer doing a sloppy or no PDI.

TIP: Insist on a pressure leak test as part of the PDI.

Edit: I see where you stated this is a used RV. The above is for new RVs but some points may still be valid on a used RV.