Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
Is there anyone who has purchased their rv at a show who would be willing to share that experience? Did you feel pressured? Did you really get a "show price"? Or is it all just a sales technique? We'll be attending this year and pretty much know what we're looking for and could buy if something "jumps out at us", but I don't want to feel the pressure of having to buy something immediately or the sales price changes. Also I am always leery of on the spot purchases/judgements. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.
There is a "show price" ... but you can usually get a similar (or better) discount if you are an experienced negotiator. Generally the only pressure is that you won't get the show price after the show, which isn't necessarily true. The exception to this is if the manufacturer is incenting the dealership for some reason (last years model, discontinued model, etc.). One way to judge if the "show price" is a good deal is if it is at least 30% off the retail price (don't count sales tax in this computation). Just make sure you have a "real" retail price ... they can get creative with that number also. If you see a floor plan or model you like at the show, go online and look for it. Sometimes you can get the same model, slightly used, for A LOT less. If new is what you want, then your online search will let you know if the show price is a good one. Good luck!
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Ron and Janice
2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system
2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114 LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW
We did not buy our rig at a show, but a few weeks later at the dealer, AFTER a deal made at the show fell through. Not only did we get a better price than the guy who attempted to buy it at the show, the dealer threw in a few things to sweeten the deal.
I'd say figure out what a good price is (what you are willing to pay) and stick to your guns - don't let them talk you into anything.
In the paraphrased words of the song sung by Ethel Merman...there's no business like RV show business! It is a sales technique.
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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.
Personally, I'd be leery of buying anything that has been at a show. We went to the Houston show last spring, and there was obvious damage done to several coaches. I was in one that had NO sales person in it and quite a few people who were looking (just like I was), including several children. Their parents, if they were part of the crowd, were NOT supervising them.
While we were researching, we attended the Springfield, MO show a few times. The man who sold us our mpg was there, and I got to talk to him for a few minutes. He said that every coach they take to the show has to be gone over with a careful eye and broken items replaced or repaired. They have to do this twice, once before the show (can't have any factory flaws showing) and then after it comes back (fix whatever was damaged at the show).
We had found the RV model we wanted at a local dealer one afternoon while killing time. We had gotten a price quote but didn't purchase. A couple of weeks later we attended a large RV Show. The local dealer wasn't at the show. We negotiated with two dealers at the show for the model we wanted. Both offered us the "show" price. We took a break for lunch and called the original local dealer and told them we were at the RV show and asked if they could beat the lowest of the "show" prices. They quoted $3000 under the low show price. We left the show and drove to the dealer and closed the deal.
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"Small House, Big Yard "
"May the FOREST be with you" Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe
We purchased (actually orderd) our first MH at a show and felt we got a good price. After we ordered we called a couple of other dealers to get quotes on the exact same as we ordered an found that we did get a good price at the show.
We attempted to buy our second MH at a show, and although the they talked about thier show price, we could not come to an agreement. Called our original dealer, that was not at that show, and got a much better price.
So, sometimes yes and sometimes no. However a show is an excellant place to compare RVs of similar pricing.
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Paul & Kathy
2014 Phaeton 42LH
"When the time comes to look back, make sure you will like what you see"
RV shows are great places to look at and compare RVs. We didn't purchase our exact RV at a show, but we made a deal at the Cleveland RV Show twelve years ago to order the fifth wheel we still have today. Because the dealer didn't pressure us and allowed us to sit in it for hours and go back and forth to other fifth wheels we were considering, they eventually got the sale.
As others have mentioned, Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) means very little and, in my opinion, if you pay that number, you've paid too much in the RV world. There is a general consensus that the price you pay should be somewhere around 70 - 80% of the MSRP, but there are several variables that affect the final numbers such as the demand for that particular RV, the age of the RV (last year's model vs. brand new model), how long the dealer has had it on the lot, the size of the dealership, dealership overhead, and much, much more.
The bottom line, in my opinion, RV shows can be a great place to purchase an RV, but you have to do your homework to determine whether the "show price" is a good price and whether or not you are buying a unit actually at the show or ordering one. We also have seen show RVs take some abuse during delivery to and from the show and from show attendees, but that's a minor consideration if the price and everything else is right for you.
Dealer pressure varies from dealer to dealer and show to show. Some dealers are absolutely expecting sales at shows because it is expensive to and time-consuming to drag rigs and staff away from the dealer lot. Other dealers understand they may or may not make sales, but they can gather some outstanding leads for future sales. As with any large-ticket purchase, if you feel pressured, walk away.
Also, be very careful about making a purchase at a show IF it's a unit you had not considered and you haven't done any research on it. I'm not so concerned about the pricing - so what if you paid a couple thousand dollars more for something you really, really want and if fits in your budget? But ending up with a unit you know nothing about and haven't thought through can lead to some serious buyer remorse especially if it is a full-timing rig that will be your home and it will cost you way too much to turn around and trade it quickly.
Bottom line: If you find what you want at an RV show, and you've done your homework you'll have a gut feeling about it and make a good decision either way.
Just came back to this thread again and even more information. Howard--very helpful and common sense stuff. Thanks. We did not end up buying at the show but did see two different rv's that we had not considered before and are doing our homework regarding them now.
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Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.
