Purchasing From an RV Show - RV-Dreams Community Forum

sunflwrgirl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Purchasing From an RV Show

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Phyllis,

I am one that is inclined to say to not buy an RV at an RV show, unless one is in a hurry to buy, and being in a hurry to buy is always a dangerous way to buy. While an RV show is beneficial to the idea of looking at what is available between different brands, it may be better to "scout" at the RV show to see the quality and looks of the various brands. However, keep in mind that at RV shows, a dealer is likely to limit the number of toy haulers that they may take to the show. It could very well be that they have a wider selection of them on the dealership lot. So, if you see something at the RV show in the way of a brand, a different unit at the dealer's lot may very well be better for you.

While they always advertise "show specials," one can find that the dealers may deal better at the dealership itself. In addition, that would seem to be the best way to go because you have a trade. You might not be able to negotiate well enough on your trade if you are at a show. At the dealership, you can always take your RV in to allow them to have more time to look it over, and for you to better point out any improvements you may have added.

However, with all that said, good luck on getting a good deal.

Terry

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

Most of the larger nationwide RV dealers and most RV dealers as a rule will ship an RV to you or to one of their nearby dealerships.

You search online to find what you want, get prices from various RV dealers....if new and you get a good price buy it. If it's used arrange for an independant inspection from an RV mechanic/inspector. Negotiate the shipping cost if the dealer charges one or hire your own through Uship.com

You can even setup an escrow so you don't transfer money to the dealer until you have a chance to look over the RV. There maybe a reshipping/stocking fee if you decided you don't like the RV...but all of this should be negotiated before the deal is made.

You have the whole world to shop in to find just the right RV from the comfort of your home.

-- Edited by The Bear II on Thursday 8th of August 2013 11:02:35 AM

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

We found the 5th wheel we wanted at one dealer and then shopped other dealers for a good deal. A large RV show was a week away so we waited to make a deal. At the show there were two dealers with the model we wanted. We got prices from each of them and then called the original dealer. The original dealer beat the show price, we drove over to the dealer lot and bought it.

sunflwrgirl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you for your thoughts on my question. We are going to still go to the RV show, however we now have intentions to search that area and a few others a bit more before taking any leaps. Our thing is that we live in El Paso and we only have 3 RV dealers by us. One being Camping World, at which we have deemed to be a disaster and 2 other ones that are incredibly small. Then around an hour away is Las Cruces which only has 2 RV dealers and they are extremely small and with no luck to us do not carry what we are looking for either. So to make this trip to Albuquerque has us a bit excited. lol We are really hoping to see allot more Dealers as well as hoping the show has allot to offer in Toyhaulers.

We also know that Denver area has allot of dealers but my husband is unable to get enough time off for that trip. Thinking if we dont find what we need in Albuquerque area then we will wait till we can get that time off for Denver..

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Other options would be further than Albuquerque, but San Antonio and New Braunsfels have some dealers as well. I don't know what might be in the Midland/Odessa area, but there is also Lubbock as a possibility. I'd use your "Google-fu" skills to check out the dealerships in each place, looking to see if they have their own websites. We've even got a friend in New Braunfels that works at a dealership that used to be a factory rep for DRV Suites.

Terry

sunflwrgirl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes Terry, we have met your awesome friend in New Braunfels. ;) Though she was unable to help us from her dealership at Evergreen, she was great in guiding us to the one we had been thinking of at PPl. Which is currently our 5th Wheel now. ;) Im researching as much as possible, but am just not finding the price and model to match to our preferences just yet. I believe full well we can find the "best" one for us. Though I think we was hoping that the RV show was going to be a great answer to our dilemma. Again after reading from this forum, we have realized differently ;/

sunflwrgirl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow, Thank you Bear!..

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

We talked to several dealers at shows, telling them up front that we weren't going to buy new. They ALL had other units back home. I heard several dealers say that they would honor the show price even after the show simply because they knew customers couldn't bring their trade-ins in, and anyway once the coach is in the building it has to stay there until the show is over and the exit dance is performed, sold or not.

As others have said, I wouldn't be in a big hurry to buy at a show. What I would do is figure the "show discount" percentage and then apply that to the coach you really want. From what I remember you should expect to get 20-25% off MSRP no matter what (and that's BEFORE a trade is figured).

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

kb0zke wrote:

As others have said, I wouldn't be in a big hurry to buy at a show. What I would do is figure the "show discount" percentage and then apply that to the coach you really want. From what I remember you should expect to get 20-25% off MSRP no matter what (and that's BEFORE a trade is figured).

A trade is not going to typically affect the amount of discount you get. While they may present it that way to you, it is not figured by the seller that way. The reality is this: you are going to get no more than 80% of wholesale for ANY trade at a typical dealer. And probably less. The only exception "may" be if that dealer has a customer waiting of a used unit exactly like yours, and then you might get a "little" more than the 80%.

They WILL play with numbers to make you believe you got more. But you did not.

The bottom line is the ONLY thing to look at if you are trading. If you are happy with the bottom line then you made a deal that you can be happy with.

sunflwrgirl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you to everyone for your help. We decided the day before to wait till we have a larger show to go to. Or possibly that I find something that we really love and a price we can be happy with. It's not always easy to find that combo lol At any rate, we have also listed our RV for sale with a very large company with hopes we can sell it on our own. Those numbers should look better than the numbers from any dealer huh😃 No two ways about it though, we are really looking forward to the extra space with a garage in our coach..

LifeBeganInaWinnebago · RV-Dreams Family Member

We found a van we were wanting to buy. It was new but had been on the lot for a year. I made the best deal I could then told the dealer I wanted to trade in a 23 year old motorhome. When I told him what I had to have he wanted nothing to do with the motorhome. A couple weeks later I got a call from a guy that wanted the motorhome. He said the dealer had given him my name and number. He came and bought the motorhome and I went down and bought the van. That was in 1993 and we are still using the van to pull the camper every summer. Went to New York and Cape May area this year. Next summer is The Redwood National Park on the west coast.

Mark,
Salina ks

-- Edited by LifeBeganInaWinnebago on Tuesday 3rd of September 2013 06:15:38 PM

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

Go to the dealers lots that are exhibiting at the show. The salesman "left at home" will really solicit your business, and give you the show "special."

We did this totally by accident and it worked well for us. We certainly were not smart enough to figure this out on our own. LOL

sunflwrgirl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Dog Folks, we had actually thought of that this last time after deciding not to go to the show. I had talk with someone on the phone a bit and it happen to be someone at the show. He was not telling me things I wanted to hear ( that we HAD to have a down payment in order to even purchase an RV. This was crazy talk to us since we did not do that even with the one we have now) so we was happy we stayed home.. Dont think it was a very big show anyways. We are actually thinking of the show in Florida. Have another gentleman here in the RV park telling us we would be soo happy to go to that one. Less we find a toyhauler we fall in love with before then.. ;)

Mark, great story you shared here. Its always amazing how word of mouth can do so much huh.. ;) Also I lived in Salina Ks for awhile and went to school there as well. ;)