How do RV dealers do it?

[Frank55]

I have been looking at various wwb sites, searching for a new 5th wheel. Every dealer will show an MSRP of one amount and a discounted price that is 10k to 15k less. Are the dealers inflating the price or do the makers leave that much profit margin? It looks kind of shady to me.

[Grit_dog]

wa8yxm wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
LOL

If you are laughing at my comment that some products are marked up 50 times over cost.... I it would take me less than 2 minutes to find the name of the product.. And hope you do not get sick, it is a pharmaceutical product. There are several other pharmaceutical products where the price has doubled, tripled or more over night (5x in one case) OVERNIGHT. now the cost of manufacturer did not change so why did the price go up 5 times?

Because it is a "You got to have this or you die so prepare to pay pay pay pay pay. and on that last one I don't even have to research. I KNOW the name.

No man, wasn't laughing at your comment at all. Just the banter and conspiracy theories surrounding MSRP.

[wa8yxm]

Grit dog wrote:
LOL

If you are laughing at my comment that some products are marked up 50 times over cost.... I it would take me less than 2 minutes to find the name of the product.. And hope you do not get sick, it is a pharmaceutical product. There are several other pharmaceutical products where the price has doubled, tripled or more over night (5x in one case) OVERNIGHT. now the cost of manufacturer did not change so why did the price go up 5 times?

Because it is a "You got to have this or you die so prepare to pay pay pay pay pay. and on that last one I don't even have to research. I KNOW the name.

[Ralph_Cramden]

spoon059 wrote:

Mickeyfan0805 wrote:

joelc wrote:
I read something one time that there is no such thing as as MSRP set by an RV company for a rig. They are all made up and set by the RV dealer.

I have read that claim many times on these forums, and it certainly seems to function that way, but I have no way to verify its accuracy. It remains a mystery to me.

Its on the internet, it must be true... right?

I know for a FACT that Jayco lists MSRP for their trailers. Go to Jayco.com right now and you can research a camper, build it how you want and you'll get their MSRP. Now, that number means nothing... but at least you have a an even starting point. I got 36% off MSRP when I bought my trailer.

Other manufacturers don't specifically advertise their MSRP. Not sure if you can contact the manufacturer directly and request an MSRP or not. Regardless, it still doesn't mean anything.

This is not made up and set by the dealer. If it is another dealer 200 miles away is very good at printing them that match his competitions printed up document.

For what it's worth, we paid less than 20K out the door for the unit in the top photo, roughly 35% below the suggested retail, and it did not take much negotiation to get it. The conversation was something like...."I am interested in a Roo 23WS and will not pay more than $20K for one..........OK, when would you like to come in and place the order?"

At one time I also had a document that I can't find given to me by one of the dealers I was talking to at the time, that came from Forest River and matched the suggested retail for options listed in the docs in the pictures, but had another column that listed the dealer cost for each option.






It depends on the manufacturer as to what info you can find.



If you pay anywhere half close to MSRP....you left a lot on the table.

[ktmrfs]

note that the "MSRP" is usually a typed up sheet of paper, often generated by the selling dealer. Who knows where the numbers came from. Used to be that way on cars until the "Maroney" sticker was required (1958?). It required the mfg to print a price sheet with a VIN number along with all options and a list of standard equipment, warranty statement and that this sticker be placed on the vehicle only to be removed by the purchaser. Purpose was to keep dealers from publishing phoney MSRP and price lists. AFAIK no such document is required for trailers. (Or at least wasn't required a few years ago). However it does look like some mfg are making real MSRP stickers rather than dealer printed ones. Maybe they are finally realizing it makes sense to have known fixed real MSRP stickers.

[John_Joey]

Much like buying a few items at Khol's. You leave with a small bag that you purchased for $25. As you're walking away the teller says "you saved $140 today." :R

[Grit_dog]

LOL

[wa8yxm]

Back in the 60's the standard industrial markup was 2.5. that means something costing a dealer 100 dollars carried an MSRP of 250. But some stores only marked up 2.0 so they sold it at 200. You saved 50 bucks.

Today in many cases the markups on many products (NOTE: I am not specifically speaking of RV's but am specifically of other things) 3,4,5, 50 or more.

So a "Dealer" who marks sometown below MSRP may have negotiated a better price from his/her supplier or may just be counting on volume to make up for the loss of per-item profit.

ALso on RV's you have "After sale" sales and service.. Very high profit stuff.

[bikendan]

delwhjr wrote:

I highly doubt that what we see edited on that show is the whole thing. It would not surprise me that they setup the units we see after the buyer has already bought or decided on a unit. Much like some of the house hunting shows. It would also not surprise me that all the talking is post purchase and re-edited to look like it happens before going to the dealer. It would also likely be that what they actually paid is not what is quoted on the show; they have to get something for appearing you would think.:B

we were temporarily living in a house that was chosen for House Hunters. the DW got to meet the director and the couple. the couple told her that they had already bought their house but their agent contacted them and asked if they'd be willing to be on the show. the show picked two other houses that were similar and the couple "acted" as if they were interested in all three.
when the DW asked the director, he said all these house hunting shows do the same thing. he said it would take too much time to follow a couple around, looking for houses. they just contact local realtors to ask if they have people who've just bought a house, to see if they'll be on the show and act like they're shopping for a house.

[troubledwaters]

oops - wrong topic

[spoon059]

Mickeyfan0805 wrote:

joelc wrote:
I read something one time that there is no such thing as as MSRP set by an RV company for a rig. They are all made up and set by the RV dealer.

I have read that claim many times on these forums, and it certainly seems to function that way, but I have no way to verify its accuracy. It remains a mystery to me.

Its on the internet, it must be true... right?

I know for a FACT that Jayco lists MSRP for their trailers. Go to Jayco.com right now and you can research a camper, build it how you want and you'll get their MSRP. Now, that number means nothing... but at least you have a an even starting point. I got 36% off MSRP when I bought my trailer.

Other manufacturers don't specifically advertise their MSRP. Not sure if you can contact the manufacturer directly and request an MSRP or not. Regardless, it still doesn't mean anything.

[Mickeyfan0805]

joelc wrote:
I read something one time that there is no such thing as as MSRP set by an RV company for a rig. They are all made up and set by the RV dealer.

I have read that claim many times on these forums, and it certainly seems to function that way, but I have no way to verify its accuracy. It remains a mystery to me.

[joelc]

I read something one time that there is no such thing as as MSRP set by an RV company for a rig. They are all made up and set by the RV dealer.

[ppine]

Rv sales are seasonal. They deal in volume. The MSRP is just a starting point.
People want the perception they are getting a deal on a item that they use discretionary spending to purchase.

I bought my Ford diesel in Feb. It was last year's model so I did my homework, and offered $500 under the dealer invoice (not the MSRP but what they paid for it). They took it. The transaction took 15 minutes.

[noteven]

Wikipedia article about MSRP Clicky