First Post - Walked out on slimy dealer

[Whitehall]

Well, we finally selected a Snow River 245RKS, based on many hours of lurking here (tons of good info, obviously), obsessively scouring the Northwood website, and finally visiting a dealer. That part went very well for the first two hours or so, then...not.

The salesman was very helpful and friendly. He patiently showed us several units, answered my questions, and helped us make a good choice after we decided against a smaller unit (we have three teenagers who still like us). My wife and I didn't really know the exact price we should pay, and hadn't intended to buy that day anyway. The salesman asked us what we wanted, and I said 25% off MSRP. He did a quick calculation and threw out a price. After some thought, we said OK. Yay!

Everyone was so happy and friendly. He then mentioned the PDI of $595 "Oops, it went up to $695, but I can let you have it for $595" Whatever. We spent a good 45 minutes filling out all the paperwork, then the guy left us and went somewhere else. After 15 minutes or so, he comes back with the contract marked up in fat blue pen. Says his manager said he can't sell it for that price, and pretty much resets the price to the starting point. I was stunned, as I thought those days were over. Told him no way. He whines they're not making a profit, it's already marked down, blah, blah, blah.

I get up to leave, he goes back for one more try, comes back with about a few hundred off, and we say no. Instant change from Mr. Friendly Salesman to Angry Jerk. If he'd just respected his customer in the first place, he could have had the sale. I might have even bought it for zero dollars off the asking price, if I thought it was the best I could do. Instead he names a low price that triggers our buy decision, then yanks the rug out later on. I'm sure we ruined his entire morning, but I doubt he'll change his approach toward customers.

Between the first and second time he went to The Man With The Blue Pen, I called the other dealer, which is actually closer to home, and made a deal on the phone. No PDI fee, no games, two batteries included. The only reason I didn't go there first was because I wanted to see some Outdoors RV trailers as well as Northwood.

Anyway, notwithstanding the above, we are really excited about finally getting a Northwood trailer. We'll tow it behind our 2012 F350 PSD. Thanks for all of the info, and I hope to be able to contribute here.

[Naio]

Whitehall wrote:

Between the first and second time he went to The Man With The Blue Pen, I called the other dealer, which is actually closer to home, and made a deal on the phone. No PDI fee, no games, two batteries included.

I hope you told them this (in a calm, polite way). It is useful feedback if they are willing to learn from it.

[spoon059]

Whitehall wrote:
As to internet shopping, we ended up with better than the "internet price", and I really needed to see, feel, touch, poke, and, most importantly, discuss with my wife. If it wasn't for her, we would have ended up with a much smaller unit that wouldn't fit the whole family.

We researched campers for YEARS before buying. We went to the 3 major RV shows around us (Hershey, Dulles and Timonium) for about 3 years before we bought. We had already been inside a unit, knew what options we wanted, what colors we wanted, what wheels the wife wanted, etc. I would never buy sight unseen.

[jmtandem]

Whitehall,

Is there a reason you are not posting the dealer's name that treated you so shoddy/slimy? If you want to help others avoid this dealer it would help to know who they are.

[tomkaren13]

Good going. We also walked on a dealer that came out with numbers $3K more then we told them we could afford for a used TT. A year later get an E-mail telling us they have new owners! Makes no difference to us. Same name same business!

[GMandJM]

Way to go, OP!!!!

Be very proud of yourselves and enjoy your new camper.

[thomasgunnar]

When we bought our current 5th wheel I was on my way to another dealer one city over. I wasn't really planning on buying so I thought I would see what kind of a deal I could get with a couple dealers wanting a sale.

I let the salesman know that I had a commitment with another dealer to look at something. The first place had a couple units that I liked. I asked him for his best out the door price, I wasn't going to dicker with him. I said if I like the price we can talk. If I don't like his price then I'm on my way. He dropped the one we ended up buying by approx 7 grand.

[Tequila]

Well the dealer I bought from

1) Obviously did no PDI which I was charged for. I found 3 broken items after I was a few hundred miles away I had to have the factory fix. (fortunateley I was driving right past them - broken drawer, broken blind & damaged shower)
2) installed a swinging door grab handle crooked. I had to fill & re-drill the holes
3) Sold me a solar panel which was not hooked up
4) installed a slide awning so that it was rubbing & ripping
5) Did not have the title when I picked it up a month after buying
6) neglected to tell me I had to pay state tax even though I was taking it to Canada. I had to get a Motel for 5 days while I waited for their driver to come off holiday so it could be taken to Nevada

all in all a bad experience. And I am not going to say which dealer since I am still dealing with them on the ripped slide awning. Why do I suspect its the same one as the originator of this post?

If you are Canadian and think you can save money by buying in the US, think again. I must say my local dealer (BCRV) has been excellent handling some warranty stuff despite the fact I did not buy from them. I only bought in the US because I happened to stop to ask some questions and was worked on by an agressive salesman for 4 hours. At 66, I should have known better.

[John___Angela]

Working in the industry and reading the above I can't imagine a worse scenario that that. My guess is he wasn't authorized to give out a number to begin with and he just overstepped his bounds. I know I'm not authorized to give out numbers. That is why sales people have managers. A sales persons job is essentially to facilitate the selection, figure out payloads, help with tracking down tow capacities, arrange test tows etc etc. Adding things like PDI's I suspect is uncommon (or maybe not) as that is all done before the unit hits the lot and its in the price already although really the best thing a sales person can do is add everything up and show the bottom line. No confusion and no surprises. I guess the only thing I don't have a problem with is a sales person asking what a client wants for his trade. One poster mentioned it was something he disapproved of. It would seem logical if you are selling something to tell the person looking at buying it what you want for it. It can save both parties a lot of time if one or the other has expectations a long way from the others. I don't see how this can be construed as devious or manipulative in any way. I do it all the time. Sometimes people have had their units for sale privately and it can help knowing what they have been asking to avoid disappointment on both sides. We are all just people trying to make a living and having a little fun along the way. 🙂

JMHO.

J and A

[Thom02099]

Disregard

[fla-gypsy]

Nice work walking away, give the dealer name

[deltabravo]

opnspaces wrote:
I can guarantee you that next time I go RV shopping I'm going to bring the fattest magic marker that I can find then let the negotiating begin. 🙂

That there is an excellent idea! And when they come back with the sheet, take your marker and scribble out their numbers!!

...and scribble out the dealer prep fee, the delivery fee and the DOC fee!

[colliehauler]

gbopp wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:



KUDOS to you for NOT getting pulled into that old tactic and walking

Congrats on your new trailer. Good for you :B

X2.
Enjoy your travels.

X-3 I agree with naming the slime ball dealer you might save someone else some grief.

[SkiMore]

I've had car dealers pull the same move. Glad you walked out.

[newman_fulltime]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
After shopping and I have decided to purchase I ask salesman if he is 'authorized' to make the deal. IF he hesitates or yammers I tell him that first time he goes back into an office I will not be sitting here at this table when you return.


KUDOS to you for NOT getting pulled into that old tactic and walking

Congrats on your new trailer. Good for you :B

My grandfather would walk into a dealer give a salesman a filled out check with his price check and say I want that car do you want that check or do I take it down the road

[Whitehall]

Passin Thru wrote:
My wife and I get 3 bids from different dealers on the last day of the month and play one against the other via the internet. When we get it down, we then go into the dealership, with our dinner saying we didn't have time to eat. We have a leisurely dinner and watch them sweat, ask for the top salesman. We then talk to him and tell him what we will give and if he doesn't come through, we walk out letting them know we will waste their whole evening. Last one took til 11 PM. Let them get mad, we just ignore them and keep driving at our price. They have given up every time but once when a Toyota dealer told us "If you think you can get that deal, go somewhere else." We did and even got an $800 sunroof thrown in on a Toyota Camry then drove back and showed it to him. He said a bad word like "GUNKY!!

That's not my style, as I think it should be a transaction based upon mutual respect. I have no problem with the dealer making some money, as I want them to give me their best effort and people - not desperadoes. I buy most of my vehicles from a Ford fleet manager with no messing around. For the TT purchase attempt, I had no inkling that the salesman was going to try to renege on the price and play the low rent car salesman game. He committed to it with no games up front, and we based our purchase commitment on that price. The games only happened once we got back to the office.

As to internet shopping, we ended up with better than the "internet price", and I really needed to see, feel, touch, poke, and, most importantly, discuss with my wife. If it wasn't for her, we would have ended up with a much smaller unit that wouldn't fit the whole family.

Frankly, the first salesman helped greatly with the selection process. He was helpful and knowledgeable, and I respected his input. That's why it was so shocking when his true personality emerged late in the game.