Typical RV sales behavior

[bacil]

OK, i know this has been mentioned before but i need to put this to my ow perspective and would like to know your opinions.

As i mentioned elsewhere i am currently in Europe sailing and finishing some deals here. So i chose to communicate with some RV dealerships over the email and told them upfront what our plans are.

I have asked 3 of them for details of an RV in this order

1. MHSRV for HR Vacationer 32A - i got response first day, i got their draft of contract and build sheet of the unit. Then asked for several details for which i have never heard back (even though i even agreed to $2k deposit if i like the answers, pending personal visit and review of the unit). This was last Friday

2. RVcountry for HR Navigator XE 35M - i got one response with build sheet, none of my other questions was answered and no response ever since. This was on Monday

3. i94RV for HR Vacationer 32A - one generic answer with link to their website with the pictures (same as on RVtrader) never got any other response back. This was week ago today.

Is this normal ? are they not interested in my business ?

Again from my experience when we have someone interested in purchasing yacht, we would jump through the hoops to answer all their questions and more.

SO it seems really odd behavior from sales people.

[bacil]

jplante4 wrote:
Maybe you need a buyer's broker in the US.

#1

#2

Now I haven't personally vetted either of these, but it may be an option for you.

Have you tried PPL Motor Homes in Texas?

This is good idea i will get in touch with both of them and see what they can do for us. it only Month now so pressure is on 🙂

And no i haven't yet i will check online

[azdryheat]

bacil wrote:

minnow wrote:
RV sales are at a record pace. Dealerships are selling plenty of RV's to customers that walk in their doors. They don't need to sell an RV to someone via correspondence and will not make the effort to answer questions. Frankly, they don't need your business.

Thanks, that confirms what i thought. And i will find dealership that does want my business :-). Although i would not want salesperson with this mind set working for me 🙂

The salesperson does not work FOR you.

[westernrvparkow]

bacil wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:

bacil wrote:
Well i even tried to call MHSRV without any luck either (even waited till after 9pm here which would in their case translate just around noon) and no response apart form the receptionist telling me to wait (i have waited for 5 min and then gave up).

But to mitigate the "scam" i have agreed to put down the deposit even without seeing the unit, so they can be sure i will turn up.

What other options i have ? I cant think of any short of flying there and back.

PS: i am not set on New its just the question of layout, and i haven't found many used ones i would like

Putting down a "deposit" is the basis for most of the scams out there. One variation, send them a fake cashier's check, drawn on a foreign bank for the deposit. Contact the seller a few days later with a sob story and ask for the deposit to be refunded. Seller returns deposit, cashier's check bounces next week (because people do not realize out of country checks can take weeks to clear) and good hearted seller is scammed out of that deposit amount. It really doesn't turn a scammer or a lookie-loo into buyer. With the internet at our fingertips dealers have to sort thru literally hundreds of inquiries to make one sale. Very few people buy sight unseen. For dealers, the good leads are ones where they can envision the buyer actually gracing the dealership doors in the very near future.

Agreed, thats why i proposed credit card deposit so they will know immediately that it cleared. Only stipulation i had was that it is pending the personal tour of the unit and that if i should find it unsatisfactory it would either be refunded or used on another unit in their stock or order. I think its more than fair.

Again boat example comes to mind, small entry yachts are about the same price. We normally take $5k deposit on the day they say yes and we draft contract and reserve the delivery date in factory, then 30% of price due when factory confirms the delivery and accepts the config and reminder 30 days before the delivery date. (usually at escrow account until inspection is done and customer takes delivery).

Is it same or similar with RV ?

$5000 deposit will cost the dealer around $200. Refund it, an additional fee of about the same amount. They also have no interest in removing a vehicle from inventory while they wait for a buyer to come in and look it over. If you were dealing on a $500K rig, had made the dealer clearly aware of both your ability to buy and your intention of buying that exact rig, the situation would change. I would expect a similar situation in boats. Yachts are one thing, 19 foot open bow runabout are another. On a fairly generic, relatively inexpensive and widely available model like you are considering, you are closer to a Bayliner than you are a Carver. At that end of the market you aren't likely to get the service you are expecting.

[IBcarguy]

RV salepeople are pretty lazy and aren't very intense or excited about a prospect that is out of the country and not a buyer today. They want instant gratification (commission) and they're not too interested in chasing an unlikely prospect. In their mind, it's too much time and effort to invest in a lead that probably won't lead to a deal. That's the way they think. They would much rather take an "up" on the lot and work for "today" deal.

[jplante4]

Maybe you need a buyer's broker in the US.

#1

#2

Now I haven't personally vetted either of these, but it may be an option for you.

Have you tried PPL Motor Homes in Texas?

[bacil]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

bacil wrote:
Well i even tried to call MHSRV without any luck either (even waited till after 9pm here which would in their case translate just around noon) and no response apart form the receptionist telling me to wait (i have waited for 5 min and then gave up).

But to mitigate the "scam" i have agreed to put down the deposit even without seeing the unit, so they can be sure i will turn up.

What other options i have ? I cant think of any short of flying there and back.

PS: i am not set on New its just the question of layout, and i haven't found many used ones i would like

Putting down a "deposit" is the basis for most of the scams out there. One variation, send them a fake cashier's check, drawn on a foreign bank for the deposit. Contact the seller a few days later with a sob story and ask for the deposit to be refunded. Seller returns deposit, cashier's check bounces next week (because people do not realize out of country checks can take weeks to clear) and good hearted seller is scammed out of that deposit amount. It really doesn't turn a scammer or a lookie-loo into buyer. With the internet at our fingertips dealers have to sort thru literally hundreds of inquiries to make one sale. Very few people buy sight unseen. For dealers, the good leads are ones where they can envision the buyer actually gracing the dealership doors in the very near future.

Agreed, thats why i proposed credit card deposit so they will know immediately that it cleared. Only stipulation i had was that it is pending the personal tour of the unit and that if i should find it unsatisfactory it would either be refunded or used on another unit in their stock or order. I think its more than fair.

Again boat example comes to mind, small entry yachts are about the same price. We normally take $5k deposit on the day they say yes and we draft contract and reserve the delivery date in factory, then 30% of price due when factory confirms the delivery and accepts the config and reminder 30 days before the delivery date. (usually at escrow account until inspection is done and customer takes delivery).

Is it same or similar with RV ?

[bacil]

kerrlakeRoo wrote:

bacil wrote:

kerrlakeRoo wrote:

bacil wrote:
My questions weren't even technical. I asked for after sales services detail, warranty document and one technical bout the type of batteries and charger used in the rigs. So at least two of these they should have readily available as they have to deal with this on daily basis.

To a large extent salesmen don't deal with anything on a daily basis other than getting your signature. You would likely be shocked how many dont own, and never have owned one of what they sell.
The Holiday Rambler website does have the owners manuals available for download at the bottom of their homepage, and it does cover many questions. Specific brands of batteries, and even the converters are likely subject to change with them as with any other manufacturer, whoever offers the best deal on appliances etc likely gets the business.

I have already downloaded all the manuals, brochures, specs, diagrams i can find. These were just concrete questions for those specific units, something i can't get anywhere else - technical ones.

But the warranties etc. i bet everyone is asking for that when they buy a new RV. so they should have all the docs available. I know we have all the boatbuilders warranties even drafts for most common insurance policies that we show to customers how to insure their new yachts (we don't broker insurance)

Did you try to contact James that I mentioned earlier? I am also dealing with him on a new unit, but in person. I had liked him better than most I have run into, and he seemed willing to answer any questions. I would like to know if you tried to contact him on this and got the cold shoulder from his dealership also.

Yes i have not long ago, but they don't have any of the models in stock so i will wait for their response, lets give them at least a day and i will let you know.

[westernrvparkow]

bacil wrote:
Well i even tried to call MHSRV without any luck either (even waited till after 9pm here which would in their case translate just around noon) and no response apart form the receptionist telling me to wait (i have waited for 5 min and then gave up).

But to mitigate the "scam" i have agreed to put down the deposit even without seeing the unit, so they can be sure i will turn up.

What other options i have ? I cant think of any short of flying there and back.

PS: i am not set on New its just the question of layout, and i haven't found many used ones i would like

Putting down a "deposit" is the basis for most of the scams out there. One variation, send them a fake cashier's check, drawn on a foreign bank for the deposit. Contact the seller a few days later with a sob story and ask for the deposit to be refunded. Seller returns deposit, cashier's check bounces next week (because people do not realize out of country checks can take weeks to clear) and good hearted seller is scammed out of that deposit amount. It really doesn't turn a scammer or a lookie-loo into buyer. With the internet at our fingertips dealers have to sort thru literally hundreds of inquiries to make one sale. Very few people buy sight unseen. For dealers, the good leads are ones where they can envision the buyer actually gracing the dealership doors in the very near future.

[kerrlakeRoo]

bacil wrote:

kerrlakeRoo wrote:

bacil wrote:
My questions weren't even technical. I asked for after sales services detail, warranty document and one technical bout the type of batteries and charger used in the rigs. So at least two of these they should have readily available as they have to deal with this on daily basis.

To a large extent salesmen don't deal with anything on a daily basis other than getting your signature. You would likely be shocked how many dont own, and never have owned one of what they sell.
The Holiday Rambler website does have the owners manuals available for download at the bottom of their homepage, and it does cover many questions. Specific brands of batteries, and even the converters are likely subject to change with them as with any other manufacturer, whoever offers the best deal on appliances etc likely gets the business.

I have already downloaded all the manuals, brochures, specs, diagrams i can find. These were just concrete questions for those specific units, something i can't get anywhere else - technical ones.

But the warranties etc. i bet everyone is asking for that when they buy a new RV. so they should have all the docs available. I know we have all the boatbuilders warranties even drafts for most common insurance policies that we show to customers how to insure their new yachts (we don't broker insurance)

Did you try to contact James that I mentioned earlier? I am also dealing with him on a new unit, but in person. I had liked him better than most I have run into, and he seemed willing to answer any questions. I would like to know if you tried to contact him on this and got the cold shoulder from his dealership also.

[bacil]

kerrlakeRoo wrote:

bacil wrote:
My questions weren't even technical. I asked for after sales services detail, warranty document and one technical bout the type of batteries and charger used in the rigs. So at least two of these they should have readily available as they have to deal with this on daily basis.

To a large extent salesmen don't deal with anything on a daily basis other than getting your signature. You would likely be shocked how many dont own, and never have owned one of what they sell.
The Holiday Rambler website does have the owners manuals available for download at the bottom of their homepage, and it does cover many questions. Specific brands of batteries, and even the converters are likely subject to change with them as with any other manufacturer, whoever offers the best deal on appliances etc likely gets the business.

I have already downloaded all the manuals, brochures, specs, diagrams i can find. These were just concrete questions for those specific units, something i can't get anywhere else - technical ones.

But the warranties etc. i bet everyone is asking for that when they buy a new RV. so they should have all the docs available. I know we have all the boatbuilders warranties even drafts for most common insurance policies that we show to customers how to insure their new yachts (we don't broker insurance)

[kerrlakeRoo]

bacil wrote:
My questions weren't even technical. I asked for after sales services detail, warranty document and one technical bout the type of batteries and charger used in the rigs. So at least two of these they should have readily available as they have to deal with this on daily basis.

To a large extent salesmen don't deal with anything on a daily basis other than getting your signature. You would likely be shocked how many dont own, and never have owned one of what they sell.
The Holiday Rambler website does have the owners manuals available for download at the bottom of their homepage, and it does cover many questions. Specific brands of batteries, and even the converters are likely subject to change with them as with any other manufacturer, whoever offers the best deal on appliances etc likely gets the business.

[bacil]

My questions weren't even technical. I asked for after sales services detail, warranty document and one technical bout the type of batteries and charger used in the rigs. So at least two of these they should have readily available as they have to deal with this on daily basis.

[Ralph_Cramden]

minnow wrote:
Well Ralph then let's just chalk it up to laziness on the part of the dealerships then as to why none of the OP's contacts have shown much interest in making a sale.

Well you have to chalk it up to something but IMO it's not because they are so busy they can't take a few minutes to pick up the phone or fire off an email. Even if it's not responded to the same day, the next would work. It sure as hell should not take week. I would not be skeered to lay money down that one of the reasons is whoever the OP is talking with does not know the answers or knows what they're selling to begin with.

Off the top of my head I can list 6 dealers in PA,MD,and OH that would answer any question in a timely manner and if they did not know the answer would be on the phone to the factory to get it. In fact at one you would be hard pressed to get a certain sales guy to quit calling and emailing you. Too bad none of them carry what the OP is interested in.

[gbopp]

The dealers can't use their high pressure sales tactics when dealing with you by email. 😉

[bacil]

ependydad wrote:

bacil wrote:
2. RVcountry for HR Navigator XE 35M - i got one response with build sheet, none of my other questions was answered and no response ever since. This was on Monday

What's the website for RVcountry? I'm betting I've dealt with them also and had a similar experience.

it is www.rvcountry.com