Commit to Purchase TT- What is expected?

[DTay2014]

We are thinking about driving to OH this weekend, from NC, to purchase a travel trailer.

Question: I'm sure we will be asked for a deposit before arriving and seeing this unit in person. From your experiences, what do you suggest that we commit to before actually inspecting the unit on site?

For example, should we avoid transferring any amount for a deposit before seeing it? Should we commit to purchase via email if the PDI and any fixes are completed to our satisfaction?

[coolbreeze01]

DTay2014 wrote:
We are thinking about driving to OH this weekend, from NC, to purchase a travel trailer.

Question: I'm sure we will be asked for a deposit before arriving and seeing this unit in person. From your experiences, what do you suggest that we commit to before actually inspecting the unit on site?

For example, should we avoid transferring any amount for a deposit before seeing it? Should we commit to purchase via email if the PDI and any fixes are completed to our satisfaction?

No, and No Good luck......

[loulou57]

popeyemth wrote:
"...The odds look pretty good someone else might buy it. ..."
Seriously ?
In this market?
At this time of year?
With this weather?
PM me with how much you are willing to wager on that.

The thing is, if the OP wants the trailer, he better be prepared to lose it. It is his own personal choice whether to take the chance. He is willing to travel to get it, why would someone else not do the same? Would you guarantee him that it won't sell? How many people lately have said that they have just bought a new unit?

I did suggest he not sign any offer to purchase or give a deposit. If the OP really wants the TT then it may be in his best interest to give a refundable holding fee to guarantee it will be there when he arrives. He has nothing to lose as long as he shows up he will get his fee back.

[popeyemth]

.

[loulou57]

goducks10 wrote:

popeyemth wrote:
What's the odds of someone buying a particular unit in the window the OP has before he arrives?
In this market, this time of year, with this weather?
A "holding deposit" or any deposit before the fact is ridiculous.
It's a marketing ploy to get one mentally and emotionally committed to the sale and to create a false sense of urgency.

Exactly.

When we traded in our last TT on our current 5'er from a dealer that was 300 miles away it was done over the phone with both units sight unseen. Never gave them a penny till we signed the papers after the PDI.

The odds look pretty good someone else might buy it. Is the OP not travelling out of state, this time of year? It only takes one more person thinking the same way.

[dadmomh]

So I'm going to assume that you're driving from NC to OH to buy a trailer....would that be from RV Wholesalers?? If so, you need to have contacted them and started the purchase process before you hit the road. They require a $1000 NON-refundable deposit, however it is applicable to another trailer if you decide to do that. That guarantees that what you're looking at will actually be there and waiting for you. Unless, of course, you just chance it.

We have bought both our HTT and TT from them and have no complaints. There are a lot of happy customers here and on Hybrid Explorer.

If you're looking at another dealer, still feel that you should contact them ahead of time, find out their policies and make sure you're not making the drive for something already sold.

Re licensing...believe it cannot leave one state and into another without a tag of some sort. With RVW, they issue a temp tag for 30 days, you do NOT pay the sales tax until you register it in your home state and get that tag. The cost of the OH tag is minimal - maybe less than $10?? Can't remember. We had no paperwork issues at all either time. They sell a ton of units going to Canada and I don't recall anyone ever having paperwork problems crossing the border. Everything is ready and waiting for your PDI and signing a mountain of papers. We've bought houses with less paperwork than the new lending laws require.

[popeyemth]

.

[WoodGlue]

It may very well be a buyers market, but if you're going to want a new, off the production line trailer, (or with extra options) I would expect to make a deposit.

WoodGlue

[bigdogger]

It's a buyers market, give them no deposit. Just send them an e-mail saying your interested, they will hold it forever, because they have an email from someone they have never laid eyes on. There is no one else in the world that would buy it anyway. That's why you are making a multistate trip to buy it, you are the only buyer out there in this buyer's market. The dealer has your verbal commitment of interest, that's more than enough in a buyer's market.
It's a buyer's market so don't pay a penny down and don't sign any papers if you decide you want it. Take it home, use it for a few years and when the market finally changes to a "seller's market" start thinking about paying them for it. It's a buyer's market for goodness sakes, you can do anything you dang well please.

[goducks10]

carjocky wrote:

goducks10 wrote:

popeyemth wrote:
What's the odds of someone buying a particular unit in the window the OP has before he arrives?
In this market, this time of year, with this weather?
A "holding deposit" or any deposit before the fact is ridiculous.
It's a marketing ploy to get one mentally and emotionally committed to the sale and to create a false sense of urgency.

Exactly.

When we traded in our last TT on our current 5'er from a dealer that was 300 miles away it was done over the phone with both units sight unseen. Never gave them a penny till we signed the papers after the PDI.

On the flip side of the coin how many people rant and rave about we drove 300 miles and then when we got there it was sold. Then complain that the dealer "screwed them". The reason they get the deposit is they dont want to hold a trailer they could have sold and you decided you arent going to show up. The deposit is refundable but shows that you are indead interested and going to show up.

Then the OP would be better off. Any dealer knowing full well that a potential customer was driving 200 miles to look at one of their products should have the common courtesy to call and say they sold it. If they didn't then what other types of shenanigans ill they pull?
200 miles is a 3.5 hr drive.
A simple call in the morning to setup an appointment should be all that's needed. If it sold in the mean time then the OP saved himself a trip. I find it hard to believe that in 3.5 hrs it would be sold out from underneath the OP.

[popeyemth]

.

[billyjoeraybob]

As others have said give a credit card for deposit. Don't forget to talk to your insurance agent unless you are paying cash in full. If you are financing the dealer will require proof of coverage before you can leave.

[carjocky]

goducks10 wrote:

popeyemth wrote:
What's the odds of someone buying a particular unit in the window the OP has before he arrives?
In this market, this time of year, with this weather?
A "holding deposit" or any deposit before the fact is ridiculous.
It's a marketing ploy to get one mentally and emotionally committed to the sale and to create a false sense of urgency.

Exactly.

When we traded in our last TT on our current 5'er from a dealer that was 300 miles away it was done over the phone with both units sight unseen. Never gave them a penny till we signed the papers after the PDI.

On the flip side of the coin how many people rant and rave about we drove 300 miles and then when we got there it was sold. Then complain that the dealer "screwed them". The reason they get the deposit is they dont want to hold a trailer they could have sold and you decided you arent going to show up. The deposit is refundable but shows that you are indead interested and going to show up.

[sonnyw]

We have driven to Ohio twice to purchase a TT. First time when we purchased our 2012 model, again when we traded for a 2014. We never put any money down, or to hold. On the 2012 we called the dealer, told him we would be there on Friday to look and wanted to take it home on Saturday. Arrived at dealer Friday found what we wanted, dealer ran credit told us where we could get a hotel at a special rate for being a customer. On Saturday done the walk thru signed papers and drove home. When we traded everything was taken care of over the phone. Got to dealer done the walk thru signed papers and headed home. We have 2 sons that also purchased new from the same Ohio dealer. Great prices, Great people to deal with.

[APT]

Doug33 wrote:
If you have warranty issues with the TT from OH, are you going to travel all the way back there to get it worked on??

Why would one have to do that? It is a manufacturer warranty, not a dealer warranty. And what % of RVs have any warranty claims? Mine hasn't been to dealer in 4 years.

[Doug33]

I did a lot of research on TT models before I actually went to the dealer to view in person. I was fairly sure I wanted a specific TT according to the info I had and what I wanted in the TT. After a few hours of looking at some other models to compare, we ended up buying a different model and brand than I originally anticipated. So I wouldn't put a deposit on anything until I looked at the TTs in person.

Out of curiosity, why would you travel all the way from NC to OH to buy a TT? NC has a lot of big RV dealers. If you have warranty issues with the TT from OH, are you going to travel all the way back there to get it worked on??