ilvtravln wrote: Why do I not tell them until the end of the deal that I have a trade, do you ever play cards, you never show your whole hand. I want a price from them before I tell of a trade. I will be polite, I want trade in value on my rig and 30% off retail on new rig and will walk away from anything else.
I am looking for the same deal actually. I approach the whole cards on the table thing differently - I try to lay out all my cards right away since the only card that counts is do I sign a check or not. I do not claim to be a great negotiator though... I just try to treat people like I want to be treated. I like polite, straight, honest and complete information.
Interestingly in my case... I spoke to the sales guy last night and he offered us a 25%+ discount on an ordered unit - but without the trade. In our first negotiation meeting the FIRST number we had discussed was the trade btw. After a lot of mumbling around about exactly why the trade was off the table, I volunteered the information that I knew his earlier trade-in offer was for full retail and "generous" and I only cared about the bottom line total cost to me. After that he got a bit more forthcoming with numbers and offered me a reasonable amount for the trade, basically $1000 less than the low retail value.
He was claiming that his 25% offer was "matching the best price possible for this manufacturer" and it got a little confusing at that point - so he agreed to go get all the options listed and all the charges listed so we could do an even up comparison with the 30% discount I've got in mind, and get back to me.
Dave Lindemulder
Tammy, Mark & Kirsten
04 Dodge 2500 4x4 SLT QC/SB
HO-CTD/48RE - Graphite: Raptor SS nerfs, Prodigy, Reese 16K Kwik-slide, BD X-Monitor, PML Trans pan, PML Diff cover, Firestone Airbags
09 Heartland Cyclone 3210
The deal you get depends on the manufacturer of the unit your buying and the present demand for that particular model. Your going to get more off the MSRP from a Forest River product than say a Carriage Product. In my area Forest River, Montana, Jayco ect tend to have many more dealerships in a 50 mile radius than Carriage and some of the other top of the line manufacturers. Supply and demand. If its a popular model from any manufacturer then obviously your bargining power is diminished. If you don't buy it the next person will. Also like has been said you'll get a better price if you finance than paying with cash. The dealer gets incentives from the financial institution that can be applied to the bottom line.
Make sure your prepared. Do your research, know what the average MSRP is of the model your interested in. Know what your "walk away" monthly payment limit is. After all of your bargining if the dealer lets you walk away and you don't hear back from them then they gave you their best price. The dealer will never leave anything on the table. Also if you do finance you can bargin on the rate don't take the 1st rate they through at you.
2008 Cedar Creek Silverback 30LSA
2007 Chevy Silverado 2500HD D/A
I am looking for the same deal actually. I approach the whole cards on the table thing differently - I try to lay out all my cards right away since the only card that counts is do I sign a check or not. I do not claim to be a great negotiator though... I just try to treat people like I want to be treated. I like polite, straight, honest and complete information.
You'll get the best deal most of the time. The heavy negotiators and game players usually have a PITA ATS fee(pain in the arse after the sale) added to the trade difference.
I did a ton of research, found the exact unit I wanted...and then emailed dealers in TX, OK, and LA for their best price on what I wanted.
The K-Z dealer in Buda, TX (southeast of Austin) had the best deal. After a few rounds of negotiations, I was able to get my 5'ver for 71% of MSRP. This price included a Reese Signature Series 18K hitch (non-slide) installed, 7-pin wiring relocated to my bed, a 50 Amp surge protector, and $75 for goodies needed (water pressure regulator, water lines, etc.). They had the unit I wanted in stock. I was there the next Friday to pick it up.
Interesting...I was emailed a quote from another dealer that included a price sheet for their actual cost (it was hidden in the spreadsheet - used for their calculations). At least for K-Z, I know what the dealer pays for them. Even with the deal I got, they still made 10%.
TTR
TreeTopRanch
2007 Ford F350 Dually PSD King Ranch/Chrome FX4
2008 K-Z Montego Bay 36REB-3
I am looking for the same deal actually. I approach the whole cards on the table thing differently - I try to lay out all my cards right away since the only card that counts is do I sign a check or not. I do not claim to be a great negotiator though... I just try to treat people like I want to be treated. I like polite, straight, honest and complete information.
You'll get the best deal most of the time. The heavy negotiators and game players usually have a PITA ATS fee(pain in the arse after the sale) added to the trade difference.
That maybe true, but for me just the opposite happened. In 2001 I was trying to buy a Presidential TT. I offered them the base price on the unit before all the options. The salesman looked at me and said he would show it to his manager but could not understand why I would think he would except it. They countered and I countered well below them. While they were in the glass booth talking I walked to the door and stood by it looking impatient. Salesmen comes back out they countered my counter and I said thanks anyway and proceeded to walk, not rudely, just amatter a fact. The sales manager comes out to chase me down sits me down and is very cordial and complimentary of the negotiations, they excepted my offer. To this day when I walk into that dealership that same man comes out to speak to me and just generally shoot the breeze.
I also enjoyed the whole thing! But I was always respectful and polite, I never challenged them, just held my ground.
We went to Walnut Ridge recently looking at a Silverback. So we sit down to talk numbers etc. salesmen tells us $XXX, we say thanks for your time we have just started looking and we'll keep you in mind. Salesmen says make me an offer, so we do. He says "they'll never take that" and doesn't counter or anything. So we walked, the guy calls the next day, not to negotiate but sell us a totally different "cheaper" model. NO THANKS!
I priced my Jayco Eagle 5er through RVDirect.com. It had the exact options that I wanted. I went to my local Jayco dealer (I bought from him before and had a great experience) and showed him the RVDirect price. I told the sales guy to just give me the best price he could. He knew he was competing against the price from RVDirect, plus the cost and time to go pick the trailer up in Iowa (about 1000 miles each way). He came back and said the best he could do was to get within $2800 of the RVDirect price. I then asked if he could knock another $500 off if I financed it through him. He came back and agreed. The cost of my trip + the vacation hours it would have required was about $3000. I got it for $2300 over the RVDirect price, which saved me about $700. In addition, I purchased from a local dealer, which will probably help on the servicing side.
I sold old travel trailer through Craig's List and got $12K for it. I would have received about $10200 on a trade-in.
2007 Chevy 2500HD Z-71 D/A
2008 Jayco Eagle 341RLQS
Dual Honda EU2000's with parallel kit
DW, 10-wk old daughter, 1 yr old yellow lab
I shopped for my new trailer between four dealers via shows, telephone and Internet until I got what seemed to be the lowest price. Each of the dealers reacted differently to my requests for prices. One of them was very cordial for a while and then became what I thought was abusive when I kept asking for a lower price. One dealer quoted me a price over the phone, but refused to furnish anything in writing unless I came into their dealership. Another dealer was very helpful, provided a lot of information via phone and Internet and had a competitive price. However, they were located almost 500 miles from me and couldn't lower their price enough to justify driving that far. The final dealer provided a lot of information, was very courteous throughout the negotiations, made contact with the factory when they needed additional information and also had the lowest price. My wife and I discussed our options and agreed that the final dealer seemed to have the best focus on customer service which we presumed was based on the overall philosophy of the dealership plus they had the lowest price. To make this "long" story even longer, we did purchase from the final dealer and so far have been happy with the purchase and service.
I am a dealer and let me throw in my 2 cents worth. I think how you deal with a dealer depends on the dealer. For example, larger dealers tend to have dedicated sales managers and will work the deal for every penny they can. Mid size and smaller dealer in general don't do business this way. We are a mid size dealer and prefer to do business with straight forward, honest customers. It will make no difference when you present your trade info. The difference is the difference either way. The harder a customer tries to negotiate with us, the less we move. Someone mentioned a "pain in the neck" fee and it is true. If you ask for a dealers best price, then expect them to give it to you and if it is not good enough, keep shopping. Nothing wrong with bringing in a quote from and "internet" dealer as that helps make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Of course dealers want to make money-thats why we are in business. Stay cordial and have fun- we want to work with and for fun customers!
mark1228 wrote: Of course dealers want to make money-thats why we are in business. Stay cordial and have fun- we want to work with and for fun customers!
In part encouraged by this advice, I'm sticking with my approach of all cards on the table. Earlier I spoke to the sales guy again and somehow we'd crossed wires last night I was expecting him to clarify the details of his best offer and he began the conversation asking if I was ready to put down a deposit, and was somehow unable to confirm if his numbers from yesterday were firm or not.
I found it a bit annoying but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt... and work with it. I got all the "tentative" numbers verbally again, and just went through them all. If I've got it right, he's offering 29 1/2% off vs an internet price of 32% off. But he's going to take my trade for what I consider a fair price, and he delivers it to me locally for a fee that also seems fair. I just sent him e-mail confirming I'll accept his offer and pointing out that I'm not counter-offering him at 32% in hopes of getting an extra 1/2 point somehow... So the only thing that would send this off would be if the "approved" number is more than his suggested OR if other line items begin to show up in the contract (I've had car dealers pull that one). He e-mailed back that he can get the answer in the morning when the dealership opens.
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