What's a warranty worth?

[Caboose66]

So, I know this is a very difficult question to answer but let me pose this question and see what you all think. If you were considering buying a previously-purchased but unused travel trailer, how much less would you offer for it based on the fact that you would have no warranty.

Example:
Trailer A: new, 2014 from (non-local) dealer, with full warranty. The non-local status may complicate warranty work anyway if required due to the occasional issue of dealers not willing to do warranty work on trailers not purchased from them. For nice round numbers, let's say this trailer is $25,000 incl. tax license, etc.

Trailer B: same model but a 2013 model year. From a private seller that purchased the trailer, had it delivered and then is selling due to a life-changing event. Non-used but cannot be considered new and will not have a warranty.

How much less would you offer for trailer B?

What am I leaving out of this equation? FYI... This manufacturer/model is not available locally. the closest dealer with this model is a couple hours away and the salesman was a total jerk... Not particularly interested in giving him my business.

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

Dean

[Caboose66]

Well folks... Moot point for this particular trailer... It sold last night or this morning. I would have liked to know what it sold for but didn't want to pry and ask the seller.

So, on to the next option. If another scenario like this comes up again in my search, I will be better informed thanks to all of you!!

Thanks, Dean

[ksg5000]

If I was buying a used rig I would make my offer contingent on having the rig pressure tested for leaks - cost about $100 bucks which is dirt cheap in the scheme of things.

[Caboose66]

Thanks everyone. I think I am going to go look at the "used" one today. I think my offer is going to be about $3,000 below their asking price. I know they are somewhat motivated to sell but I don't want to insult them. Based on the things I've read here and the prices for the rig elsewhere, I think the number I'm considering is a fair offer.

Thanks again for the great info. Dean

[ksg5000]

The big ticket exposure on used RV's are water leak related - if the quasi new rig is water tight then that mitigates most of the risk. I am not a warranty fan - most of the stuff that goes wrong on a rig is relatively easy to fix and some would prefer fixing themselves rather than turning over to a dealer who may keep the rig for days before getting around to fixing. The other "wild card" is who's standing behind the warranty -dealer, mfg ?

[old_guy]

how much is a warranty worth. we have a dealer here in town who had a lot full of fleetwood tt's when fleetwood closed their doors and didn't make rv's any more. turns out the dealer could not sell a single unit because fleetwood declared they would not warranty any of the units. it has been several years now and there are still a full lot of fleetwood tt waiting to be sold to someone who thinks a warranty is not important. AND I have no idea why the Tt are still on the lot. must be a bank thing or something like that. I can't for the life of me think why he hasn't given them back to the bank or to fleetwood.

[JJBIRISH]

The unused 2013 is a used 1 year close to 2 year old trailer…

MSRP less 30% when pulled off the lot, and lost another 10% by the first years end… deduct another 6% for the second year for easy math…

But no one buys at MSRP so the depreciation curve I use that seems to work on almost all types of RV’s from their selling price works like this through and to salvage value…

1 - 18%
2 - 10%
3 - 7%
4 - 6%
5 - 6%
6 - 5%
7 - 5%
8 - 4%
9 - 4%
10 - 3%
11 - 3%
12 - 2%
13 - 2%

[Caboose66]

All,
Thanks very much for the great replies and sage advice. Some comments reinforce what I was already thinking and some are some things I hadn't really thought of... Or hadn't thought of in the same context.

Unfortunately, I have come to realize what seems to be a common theme - that many of the warranties seem to be hardly worth the paper they're written on. It just seems like a real crapshoot, even between owners o the same make and model.

I wil go into this buying process better armed now with the thoughtful Knut from all of you.

Thank you again. Dean

[WyoTraveler]

JMHO but seems to me since manufactures discount warranty work if you buy local you will pay more because they know you will be back for many things on warranty. If you buy on internet they know you will not drive back for warranty service so they can sell cheaper. Basically warranties are worthless. You will be paying for service either way.

[cdlaine]

Dean,

(apologies in advance .... I'm at one year this month, 8 trips,
longest 8 days... most local ....not sure I've had enough time
to uncover the problems). Work got in the way.

In My Opinion.... (others free to differ).

Get a copy of the actual warranty before you make your decision.
Read it carefully. Industry standard seems to be 365 days. Also,
more is not covered then covered. The before-you-sign-the-papers
inspection is critical.... maybe even worth hiring a third party
to do it for you.(or with you). Even the "little ticket items"
add up... and, to complicate things... in your first year of ownership
how much are you going to get to use the unit to uncover the
"issues"..funny how life gets in the way of living (see owner B above),
and how quickly 1 year can pass by.....

In my opinion, 1 year warranties are a blemish on the RV industry...
especially considering your up front expenses... you wouldn't buy a
new car with the same coverage.

Good luck. Personally, I'd buy local if at all possible....
just for convenience.

Charles

BTW...past experience filling out the dozens of
warranty Cards not very helpful...gets you on mailing lists,
and when the problem occurs you get a calling center in Mumbai
with "experts" Habib and Rajeesh , er, Bob and Larry, with majors
in English as a Second language... and then the fun begins.

[westend]

Trailer B in your example is a used trailer, even if the only occupant was a mosquito. It would be priced towards the high end of used trailers for that year because of it's excellent condition.

I have little faith in warranties, they are counterintuitive during the purchasing process and may or may not be enforceable. So the warranty would be worth nothing to me.

[enblethen]

Many of the problems are not covered by manufactuer warranty but by compoent manufactuer. Appliances have problems.
Extened warranties are even harder to get repairs done.
I would go onto rvt.com to see what your rigs are selling or there. That should tell you if the price is in he ball park.