"Attitude" of dealer/salesmen - RV-Dreams Community Forum

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

"Attitude" of dealer/salesmen

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'd find a different dealer. If they're going to be like that now, what are they going to be like in the future when you go in to have some work done?

Jim

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Oh, I will certainly avoid that dealer. This is the second one that hasn't acted a bit interested in trying to sell me an RV.

gypsy

Roz · RV-Dreams Family Member

If I were the owner of the dealership, I would appreciate your writing me and describing the way you were treated. Hopefully, you know the name of the sales representative to whom spoke.

Until the dealership owner knows what the sales representatives are saying to potential customers, that dealership cannot improve. Please do not assume the owner knows how each salesman is to everyone.

You would be doinh the owner a great service.

Charles

jdensie · RV-Dreams Family Member

This is the way we were treated by some dealers. They didn't have what we wanted but, they just thought with strong arm tactics we would buy a peice of junk that they had on the lot. This was a couple of years ago when the market was on their side. At this time the market is on your side and you need not to take that kind of crap.
We hate to say this, and we are not sexist, but if you would have a male to do some negoationing for you, you could probably save some money.
When ever we get service or buy something the salesperson usually directs their attention to the male of the couple, not nice to say but true.
Do you self a favor and forget that dealership and go down the road.
Good luck to you.

-- Edited by jdensie at 06:51, 2008-10-02

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks jdensie, I've thought of having one of my sons go with me, but they don't live anywhere near me to say nothing of the fact that it would burn me up to have to do it. And Roz, the person who was so rude to me on the phone told me his family owned the company (I don't know where he fits into the chain of command).

I'm fairly surprised because if I walk onto an auto sales lot they come running, probably seeing a demb female who they can easily take for a ride. You'd think it would be the same with rv's, but I've experienced salesmen walking by me as if they didn't see me. They probably think my husband is around the corner.

I will keep searching but it's not going to be easy. It's a shame that in today's market with sales down to begin with, that I can't even get to talk seriously with a sales person about spending thousands of dollars on their product.

gypsy

susie/jack · RV-Dreams Family Member

Gypsy - Maybe they are intimidated because you are a woman and you are by yourself. Just give your RV a male name - say Jack. Then let the salesman know that Jack "relies" on you to make the decision when buying an RV. He doesn't care how much money you spend as long as YOU get what YOU want and YOU are happy with it and he wants YOU to get the best deal possible. If they try to pressure you into buying right then you can say "Well, I do need time to think and I have to make sure Jack agrees with my buying decision".

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

That sounds like a good idea, Susie. Now if I can find my old wedding ring wink

I just looked at the eBay site and see that the same units are reaching the deadline for bidding with no takers, and a couple of days later are recycled back to the list. You'd think the owner would have jumped at a chance to deal with a potential buyer.
gypsy

Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just a thought Gypsy is there any dealers to where your sons live that you could perhaps look at units there?
Some dealers are simpley rude! We have ran into them also!
southwestjudy

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Judy, one son lives in NY, and I will be visiting him after the closing on my house in a few weeks. The other two live in California. I had hoped to have an RV before I left for NY, or at least before I travel to CA. It doesn't look like I will though. I have searched the internet for dealers in New York, and if there are any in the Hudson Valley on the net, they are few and far between.

gypsy

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

With sales the way they are right now I am surprised that you got a call back! Most dealers are losing sales people fast due to a slump in the market. To these hungry folks...questions are not what they want to hear...they want you to buy...this is not an excuse just a fact of life.
You might as well get ready to deal with some sales people on the edge...just let them know you are really interested and not just kicking tires...that might help out their attitude. Just a different way of looking at the situation

Speedy

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm sorry but I'm not going to go along with poor treatment by anyone. The housing market is devastated as well, but I bet there are few real estate salesmen who treat people this way. And I repeat - it wasn't just a salesman who called me back - it was a guy whose family owns the business.

I'll keep looking, but I won't buy until I find someone who can speak to me as an adult whose business they are interested in cultivating.

gypsy

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just like I said make sure they know you are serious buyer and not just a tire kicker that will make a differenct

Speedy

foxriverguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Gypsy,

What is the name of the dealer?

You can performa valuable service by helping others avoid this dealer.

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

foxriverguy wrote:

Gypsy,

What is the name of the dealer?

You can performa valuable service by helping others avoid this dealer.

It is Lakeshore RV Center in Muskegon, Michigan. The man who called me said his name was John and told me his family owned the business. They have quite a few units listed on eBay.

gypsy

pierreandcolleen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Find a new dealer.....if they don't know the first thing about sales, I would hate to see the outfit's service department. Find someone that appreciates your business and trust your intuition. Good luck in the RV hunt.

-C

She-Nist · RV-Dreams Community Member

gypsy97,
I have to say I understand what you are going through. I live in the midwest and while I have some dealers that answer all my questions and treat me extremely fair, I've had others that made me feel like I was 1" tall when I left. I always try to just shake the dust from my feet when I leave that dealer and figure someone else down the road will be more than willing to bend over backwards to take my money when I'm ready. (Instead of the other way around :P)

Maybe you can rent a unit to take across country to visit family in California? That way you'll get the experience and a better idea of what your needs are? And you can stop at some dealers in the midwest and along the way. Dave's in Claremore, OK has been extremely nice to me and my sister and her in-law's.
Good Luck and Forget those loosers who treat you badly.

She-Nist

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

She-Nist, I ended up buying a Hitchhiker II + Ford F-350 from a private seller. It has been fine with the exception of the little problems caused by her letting it sit on a storage lot for several years. Although it is a 2004 model, I doubt if she drove it more than 1k-2k miles total. Also, she wouldn't or couldn't tell me much about the operation of all the systems, so I've had to learn first-hand, usually when something goes wrong. Many times I've wondered if I'd been better off going through a dealer who would have explained everything (and maybe they wouldn't have).

But I love my 5ver and truck, and I've learned a lot about living in one and fulltiming to boot. I doubt I will ever buy another rig, but I've also learned what features I like and what I would do differently if there is ever a next time.

gypsy

She-Nist · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hmmmm...I'm sorry you've had to learn things thru the 'school of hard knocks'. Maybe if you have time you can spell out some of the things you wish you'd known before? After-all that's the only way we all can learn.

FYI: you might check with the NuWa folks in Chanute, KS...it's where they make the Hitchikers and they may be willing to give you a "walk-around". I know they are scaling back, but the warranty work, etc is still going on.
Never hurts to ask, all they can do is say No...but they'll be very polite about it.
;)

Good Luck on your travels.
She-Nist

ahoweth · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey, it isn't just women that get treated this way. I personally have been treated exactly like you were and I am a male. Some dealerships just make snap decisions about how serious you are about buying and many times they are wrong.

I was looking at a Safari motor coach once and made a statement to the sales person that I didn't care for the interior wood work. She said that Safari was the best in the business and that I was an idiot for saying such a thing. Exact words folks. I walked out on that one.

Remember that 80% of businesses that fail, do so because of poor management. Especially when thier staff are family!!!!!

Find another dealer. There are some good ones out there!

TrailsEnd · RV-Dreams Community Member

My two cents is run. You are the customer. Dealers that do not treat you properly or respectfully are setting you up. This is their way of gaining an upper hand for negotiations. Use all forums, shows and dealers to garner the information you feel you need in choosing the make and model. Use on line dealers to start to determine bottom market pricing. The more preparation you have the better position for the purchasing portion. If you are going to be full timing then the only question is who has the best price and your initial time.

I am on my 3^rd RV not counting my VW Camper from the 60’s. My current RV is a Prseidio form Mandalay a Thor product. I had one of the best buying experiences then took it in for service. The window shield wipers were not working. I asked the service manager if they got many units initially back for warranty work. His words “some people are just picky”. Well I guess to expect operating wipers is just too much. This dealer is now in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. At one time they had 3 locations. So if you are going to be using the selling dealer as your service, check out their service it is more important than the purchasing part.

Good luck on your search.

Joe & Nikki Wright

2007 Mandalay Presidio 39E

2006 Jeep Wrangler

SKP #91530

FMCA #384390

Hogladyrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well we looked for six months before we purchased our first RV and we have now sold it and we are looking for a 5th wheel.

Let me tell you, we do our homework, via internet, spread sheets, reading you name it and there is NOTHING that turns me off more than going to a dealer and being treated unprofessionally.

I can not tell you how many RV dealerships we have been in over the past several months where the salesperson "badmouths" other makes of RV's and they do not have a clue what they are speaking of. We are the couple you will see crawling underneath the rig on display at a show to check it out!

Also another thing that completely turns me off is to walk into a rig and have to ask "is this new or used" and be told "new" and I see water stains and cob webs.

There is a lot to be said for presentation!

We were in a NEW Mobile Suites on Saturday and the cabinet under the sink was all water stained and the cobwebs in the unit were horrible.

Sunday we went to look at Jayco Designer's and the salesman did not even know some other companies we mentioned, he thought everyone but Jayco was out of business.

This makes me want to RUN from wherever I am!

We have pretty much narrowed our choice down to Big Horn 3580 or Landmark Pinehurst, the layouts are the same on both just the price and some minor items are different.

We have looked at NuWa, Carriage, Mobile Suites, Escalade, etc and for our needs we keep coming back the Heartland products. We realize no rig is perfect we need a 5th wheel that the layout and fit and finish works for our lifestyle and is in our budget as well.

I just needed to vent and get it off my chest about some the the clowns that are out there trying to sell RV's! I feel for the customers that get taken by their line of you know what!
Susan

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I know exactly what you're talking about, Susan. I hate to have to take an adversarial attitude but I believe it is necessary when making any kind of big purchase. Not all salespeople are as those we've both run into, but far too many of them are.

gypsy

Hogladyrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

Let me say that the dealership where we purchased our toy hauler was AWESOME, a family run business with two locations and I can not say enough about them, in fact I would buy from them again in a heartbeat.

When we are at one of their facilities last weekend looking at Montego Bay and Escalade we shared our thoughts with the salesman about our feelings towards the Heartland products and the salesman's response was "they produce a good product".......

I have no problems with salespeople calling a spade a spade but my feelings are that it is MY HARD EARNED MONEY I WILL BE HANDING OVER TO THEM, I deserve to be treated like I have a brain and not get a snow job or heavy sales push or hear how so many dealers have gone out of business and we have bought up their RV's to sell, blah blah blah.

One certainly does not have that problem on these boards or others that I belong to and there is a wealth of information out there that we have learned as a result. We have found our best information has come from talking with other full time RV's and what they like and dislike about their RV.

Anyone in the market to purchase an RV please do not hesitate to walk away if you are not comfortable or you feel you are being pressured. Yesterday the sales manager ran to our truck to ask us, what could he do to get the price right on the Jayco Designer we looked at so we would buy today, the answer is NOTHING, he could not give it to us, it is just not what we wanted.