Rip off prices from RV Dealers

[Spade_Cooley]

We took a trip along with our neighbors in our travel trailers to the Alabama Gulf Coast last week. While there both of us had issues with our travel trailer toilets due to improper winterizing. Next year we will both due a better job and use the pink stuff throughout the entire system rather than simply blowing it out. We needed to replace our toilet mechanism and found a useful You Tube that showed us how to do it.

We both purchased the new valve system from a reputable dealership in the area for $56 with tax and installed it ourselves. When I get home I see the same valve is for sale on Amazon for $9.99 with free shipping. I know these dealers need to make a profit to maintain their store but this much of a mark up is outrageous.

[FlatBroke]

I’m having more and more problems with local businesses. Items not in stock, even when it shows in stock on their website. More and more employees not knowing jack xxxx about there product or where its located. Grumpy rude customer. Inadequate parking. No cashiers available. Sorry locals but Amazon is my go to for shopping. If it’s a couple of dollars higher I don’t care.

[bgum]

I recently replaced a WFCO converter charger for $213. The dealer wanted $296. Did it myself as I'm sure the dealer wanted $150 an hour and 3 months.
No folks prices are out of whack but the party will end and businesses will close.

[BarabooBob]

A business has to make a profit. They have all of employees to pay wages and benefits as well as taxes on the property, interest on all of the product that they have on the shelves, etc.
If I need assistance from the dealer about an issue, I talk to them and use their knowledge to determine what needs to be done, and then I buy the parts FROM THEM because I picked their brain to know how to do the repairs.
If I can research on youtube to get my answers, I will buy on line. I don't expect the dealer to answer my questions and then buy on line.

[JaxDad]

dodge guy wrote:

Spade Cooley wrote:
While there both of us had issues with our travel trailer toilets due to improper winterizing. Next year we will both due a better job and use the pink stuff throughout the entire system rather than simply blowing it out. .

On the winterizing with air. You may want to get the word out, because people seem to think blowing out with air has no consequences! I’ve always used rv antifreeze and have never had an issue.

You make it sound like people doing something wrong means nobody should then do it either.

I know quite a few people who should never drive anything more than a golf cart, in big open places.

By your logic seems you believe nobody should drive a vehicle.


BTW, I winterize my rigs only with air, usually no less than once per month all winter long and have for 20++ years. Never had a problem yet.

[ferndaleflyer]

One of the worst rip offs is for those electric step motors. I have seen dealers want $325 for one and at one of those so called "rip off" parts stores you mention one can be had for $35--$50.

As for the $150 hour labor rate, the bad part is they use a flat rate system to determine how long it takes. Might take 30 min to do the job but the book says 3 hours so even though it took $75 worth of real time you get charged $450 because the book says it takes 3 hours.

[schlep1967]

I once paid $425 for a converter I could have got for $225 online. Poor phone reception cost me that one. I couldn't check online prices. Had I known what they cost online I would have bought a $30 battery charger to get me through the weekend.

As for the $150 hourly rate, IF they are paying full benefits to their employees, it's a reasonable cost. If not paying for healthcare, they are making too much.

[ChuckSteed]

Blowing out the water system with air should have removed the water in the PEX line to the toilet if you held the toilet pedal down for a while while blowing air thru the water lines... Assuming you also opened the low point drains.. The weak area is usually the water pump because blowing out with air does not remove the residual water left in the pump head valve area...

RV dealer ships are a rip off with many parts and CW stores are world famous for jacked up parts prices...

Local auto parts stores such as Oreillys, Autozone, NAPA are also just as bad if not worse.. I buy all my auto parts and RV parts on line..

I will not pay $60 for a $20 part that I can usually get in one day

Some percentage of markup on parts is fair but what is currently going on is noting more than pure greed.

$150 an hour labor rates... give me a break

[dodge_guy]

Spade Cooley wrote:
We took a trip along with our neighbors in our travel trailers to the Alabama Gulf Coast last week. While there both of us had issues with our travel trailer toilets due to improper winterizing. Next year we will both due a better job and use the pink stuff throughout the entire system rather than simply blowing it out. We needed to replace our toilet mechanism and found a useful You Tube that showed us how to do it.

We both purchased the new valve system from a reputable dealership in the area for $56 with tax and installed it ourselves. When I get home I see the same valve is for sale on Amazon for $9.99 with free shipping. I know these dealers need to make a profit to maintain their store but this much of a mark up is outrageous.

Yes, the dealers mark stuff up astronomical!

On the winterizing with air. You may want to get the word out, because people seem to think blowing out with air has no consequences! I’ve always used rv antifreeze and have never had an issue.

[midnightsadie]

been this way for fifty years.I know your pain, I don,t buy from a dealer if I can wait for the part.or over night it.but some times you just gotta pay.

[RetiredRealtorR]

Spade Cooley wrote:
We took a trip along with our neighbors in our travel trailers to the Alabama Gulf Coast last week. While there both of us had issues with our travel trailer toilets due to improper winterizing. Next year we will both due a better job and use the pink stuff throughout the entire system rather than simply blowing it out. We needed to replace our toilet mechanism and found a useful You Tube that showed us how to do it.

We both purchased the new valve system from a reputable dealership in the area for $56 with tax and installed it ourselves. When I get home I see the same valve is for sale on Amazon for $9.99 with free shipping. I know these dealers need to make a profit to maintain their store but this much of a mark up is outrageous.

Since you apparently know their cost of doing business, how much of a mark-up is fair?