what is real?

Actually, before buying our '07 ROO, we did shop the local dealer - he'll tell you by knocking 10 - 15% off the price, he's almost giving it to you...."best price you'll ever get". He's an idiot! Sorry, but he is and folks who do buy from him usually pay more than they should. A bit of online work for the ROO saved us $4000+ and when we sold the ROO this spring and bought the TT, we didn't even consider him. RVW for both. We heard the horror stories about no service, but when Dometic had their frig recall, when I got the notice I called for an appt....got in the next day for the 15 minute fix. They likely remembered we looked at his Shamrock and bought the ROO....sure he knows where it came from. Not thumbing our nose at all, he did the work as requested. When we need some part of one sort or another, we mostly always call him and, like I said, he's an idiot! I can order the part online, pay shipping, buy some beer for DH while he's installing it and still come out ahead. I would have liked to buy locally but between the ROO and the 2604, we'd have paid close to $10,000 more than a trip to OH.

BTW, suggest you leave any dealer you visit on good terms. We were polite, didn't take half a day of their time and do stop in from time to time. A "friend" who has a knack for POing folks, called within a few hours of my call for the Dometic repair, but had not been especially pleasant at the dealer whenever he was there, got an appt 3 weeks out and they needed the unit all day. Something here about attracting with honey vs vinegar.

dadmomh wrote:
So let's say you used to live in OH and have a TT. Now your company transfers you to TN....the local dealer doesn't know those details and doesn't need to. Any reputable dealer should be glad to service your trailer. If they have a problem with that, you shouldn't be buying from them. They're playing games.

If THE perfect trailer is a few hours drive and you can put together the right deal, you should be getting your vehicle and not fretting over local dealer's hurt feelings...he'll get over it and be plenty happy to have your money when service is due.

That isn’t the same thing as thumbing your nose at the local dealer, your just making noise… excuses…
there is nothing wrong with the dealer saying you thumbed your nose at me now it’s my turn…

If you bought it from a dealer a 1000 miles away and need a dealer take it the 1000 miles to the selling dealer, fix it yourself as a part of those savings, or hitch up and drive a few hundred miles and claim your passing through and need a warranty repair… no local buyer should ever have to wait an extra hour or day for their repairs to facilitate your foreign purchase or savings…

These post always go something like this… the wholesaler beat the local dealer by a gazillion dollars…

In other words the buyer kicked tires at the local dealer and wasted their time with the buyer trying to make the sale…
the buyer instead says to the local dealer either you price match or I am going somewhere else to spend my money, but since you are close I want you to do my free to me and unprofitable to you warranty work… I also expect that you will take me in, in a timely manner, there is no reason you should cater the those that actually bought from you, that just wouldn’t be fair to me…

There is nothing wrong with buying far away to save a few bucks, but please don’t think the local dealer owes you anything more than you gave him…

dadmomh

You are correct the dealer will get over it.

Reminds me of my local car dealer, he always gives me a sweet deal because he knows he will make a bundle on the service work. A fact that I remind him of, when we are haggling over the vehicle. ;)

The only sure fact is he is not going to sell me the vehicle at a loss, just less margin.

So let's say you used to live in OH and have a TT. Now your company transfers you to TN....the local dealer doesn't know those details and doesn't need to. Any reputable dealer should be glad to service your trailer. If they have a problem with that, you shouldn't be buying from them. They're playing games.

If THE perfect trailer is a few hours drive and you can put together the right deal, you should be getting your vehicle and not fretting over local dealer's hurt feelings...he'll get over it and be plenty happy to have your money when service is due.

You have to be willing to stand your ground when dealing with anybody and anything. They are NOT your BFF. You will not get invited to their BBQ. You will not vacation with them in the Grand Canyon. Their sole and only goal is to get as much money as they possibly can from you. Being a business person myself, if I could sell you air, I would, if you are dumb enough to buy it.
Bargain with the sales people. Remember Saturn's motto, "Sticker price is the price you pay"? They made a point about being having the lowest price and there was no need to argue about it. I got them to argue.
I went to buy a new travel trailer. I researched trailers using the internet dealer's sites to find what was reasonable price. I then picked options I really wanted. I picked floor plans. I went shopping.
First, I did not, and never ever, tell the sales people what you want to spend. "How much did you want to pay each month?" Lips are sealed. "Can we interest you in our low finance plan?" Lips are sealed. "How can I help you get what you want if you won't tell me how much money I get out of you?"
Second, know what you want to offer to buy price. You can most always take 10% - 15% off anything you buy. Anything.
Third, know what options you want and stay firm about it. Resist the "I have this, or I another lot has this, and we can get it in a day, otherwise we wait six weeks." (Don't let them know when you are going out.)
If they don't have what you want "in stock" but have something with your options plus other options that you will have to pay for, demand the unit, and they can take the extra's out. Or you walk. See if that doesn't spur them to lower the price even further.
Good Luck

Some manufacturers make rigs at two different facilties. They do not make the same floor plans.
Some manufactuers make different models with the same floor plans but different options.
It could make a difference as to what make you are considering.
Maybe a PM to advise me of make and model?

It is no secret that car dealers make money off of the sale of a new or used car, which is why they so regularly charge higher prices than vehicles are worth and add on several extra options that are unnecessary. So before you go look for your next new or used car, let the experts help you find the best possible deal available and help you through the negotiation processes. They will find you the best price at the best dealership for the car of your dreams.

I factory ordered my unit exactly the way I wanted it. I have all the options I wanted and none of the features I did not want. I shop my price amongst local and distant dealers.
In the end my local dealer matched my best price.

Price is always negotiable.
The warranty non selling dealer issue is for real, but don't be intimidated by it. Don't be afraid to take a drive for the savings.
You can get the most bang for the buck buying off the lot, however I doubt you will ever find the exact unit you want, equipped exactly they way you want it just sitting on the lot.
Ordering will require more research and homework. However you do not have to pay a top dollar to order your unit. You may still compare pricing when ordering.
I prefer to special order vs. settling for what the dealers have on hand.

Howdy. Very good advice provided. Yes friend enblethen I am playing my cards close to my vest and not revealing the manufacturer and model because I have really researched this out and its the process of buying that I am interested in and the model is a secondary concern. I think I can make this happen but will always follow the admonition: If I get what I want they get what they want. If I don't get what I want then I sit on the bench for a season. When we bought our first trailer in 2007 we went in and they gladly took us to he cleaners. Trying to be more informed this time cause this is going to be a "keep it for 10 years trailer". by then DW and me will be in our early to mid 70's and may not be in the buying game.

I must respectfully disagree with Skip almost completely… if the local dealer is good he will not need or have much time and space for taking a local buyers foreign bought trailer…

Most will go out of their way for someone traveling away from home, which is an entirely different scenario…

Most RV dealers are independent and not contractually required to repair any unit they didn’t sell even Forest River the maker of Skips trailer… in Forest Rivers own words…

“Forest River, Inc. strongly encourages our retail customers to purchase from their local dealership whenever possible due to the following factors:

Our Dealers are as a rule, independently owned and operated businesses. Outside of those customers they personally sold products to, they are not contractually obligated to perform warranty service on Forest River products that were purchased elsewhere. There may be an occasion that you would be required to return to the point of purchase to satisfy warranty requirements.”

I have nothing to bad to offer on the out of state on-line dealers except they never offered me a price much better when all the cost included in the local dealers price (delivery, taxes, registration) were considered…

But I would also caution against and never buy and pay in full and take ownership sight unseen as is required by most of the on-line dealers… even if they were voted the best dealer in the country…