I was an RV-Direct customer and am now in the RV-Wholesalers process.
Yes - for RV-Direct I had to get them the funds just prior to delivery. I was a bit nervous about that. It worked out just fine. At that time (may be different now) they had a PDI/Delivery agent named Charger and they were excellent. They were CLEARLY interested in me being completely happy with the unit when I left and had completely inspected it prior to my arrival. They showed me the list of things already fixed and the unit was, in fact, essentially perfect.
For RV Wholesalers I do not know the exact delivery timeline - at this point they have a non-refundable deposit which is some leverage on me. I have the ability to post my experience which seems to have more leverage on them than it does with the local guys. We will see.
wrt "try the local guys" For a particular manufacturer now twice there have only been two choices within 125 miles of my house (Jayco and now Heartland). In both cases I tried one of them and they did not measure up to the on-line guys. I suppose I could have tried both of them... but in both cases the BEST motivation to buy on-line was the local guy. I found myself asking... why am I passing up a deal I can have with one phone call for a deal I must work to get, deal with lies, bullying and confusion... In my (limited) experience the locals want to play games that I don't like to play -- the on-line guys seem the no-brainer.
(oh yes - I am DIY type, so maybe I just don't value "service" like others do, which I can understand... however if the "service" is coming from the same lying, misinformed and antique organization as the sales... ok off soap-box now)
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
in California, dealers basically dare you to buy from an internet dealer. they figure most people won't drive to the midwest to pick up a RV. but when they try and charge 3-4 times what the trip would cost, then there is something wrong.
i shopped 3 dealers within 100 miles of me, that sold the particular trailer i wanted. none of them got within $4,000 of RVW or RVDirect. now, two were large volume dealers and one was a small family-run operation.
i ended up buying from a small family-run dealer in Chicago, that was just as small as the local family-run dealer. they also were lower than RVW and RVDirect.
the owner of the local small dealer said the price the Chicago dealer had quoted me had to be wrong or they had some hidden charges. i showed him the copy of the invoice. his jaw dropped and he said if that was the real price, then he'd buy it, too. but if he'd been willing to even come within $1500, i would have bought from him. he still wanted at least $4000 or more for the same trailer, as did the other 2 larger dealers.
* This post was
edited 05/17/08 12:39am by bikendan *
Dan- Firefighter, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever, 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
I am looking into a Heartland product and have a question regarding RVWholesalers. Does anyone know if their online MSRP price is the real MSRP or an inflated one? I know their sale price is approx. 69% of their MSRP, has anyone negotiated the price down from there? Just wondering?
2006 FORD F-350 Lariat Crew Cab 4x4 SB SRW PSD w/TorqShift - BLACK 2004 H-D FXSTBI Night Train - BLACK 2004 Haulmark Transport enclosed trailer 6'x12' - BLACK
Wallaby wrote: I am looking into a Heartland product and have a question regarding RVWholesalers. Does anyone know if their online MSRP price is the real MSRP or an inflated one? I know their sale price is approx. 69% of their MSRP, has anyone negotiated the price down from there? Just wondering?
from what i've read here, MSRP is generally up to the dealer, who can publish a different than the manufacturer does. there doesn't seem to be standards for MSRP in the RV world.
as far as RVW's MSRP, it seemed to be close to other dealers when we were pricing our Roo.
Wallaby wrote: I am looking into a Heartland product and have a question regarding RVWholesalers. Does anyone know if their online MSRP price is the real MSRP or an inflated one? I know their sale price is approx. 69% of their MSRP, has anyone negotiated the price down from there?
The MSRP that came back in the quote was actually a little less than the local dealer was using for MSRP. Then, oddly, the MSRP that was noted on the contract was about 10% less than the MSRP they had quote (price was the same though). I inquired and was told that the MSRP was not a real number and they were in the process of lowering the MSRP's so they could directly advertise them and not violate their Heartland agreement.
I surely requested an additional discount but did not get anything more than the first quote. IIRC their quote was 32% off of the higher MSRP they used.
Heartland actually does have MSRP, but it doesn't include delivery or other dealer costs. The heartland owners forum has the MSRP for 2009 Bighorns. I have the MSRP for Sundance. If anyone is interested, pm me your email address.
bikendan wrote: in California, dealers basically dare you to buy from an internet dealer. they figure most people won't drive to the midwest to pick up a RV. but when they try and charge 3-4 times what the trip would cost, then there is something wrong.
i shopped 3 dealers within 100 miles of me, that sold the particular trailer i wanted. none of them got within $4,000 of RVW or RVDirect. now, two were large volume dealers and one was a small family-run operation.
i ended up buying from a small family-run dealer in Chicago, that was just as small as the local family-run dealer. they also were lower than RVW and RVDirect.
the owner of the local small dealer said the price the Chicago dealer had quoted me had to be wrong or they had some hidden charges. i showed him the copy of the invoice. his jaw dropped and he said if that was the real price, then he'd buy it, too. but if he'd been willing to even come within $1500, i would have bought from him. he still wanted at least $4000 or more for the same trailer, as did the other 2 larger dealers.
We are driving 1100 miles to save $6300 dollars on a new 5er. The trip will problably cost $500 to $700 for gas/food/one night hotel. The local dealers here in Denver claim they are at invoice until you show them the 6k + savings. They quickly start scrambling to give you bogus reasons why that savings is not "Real". I just smile. 6k is many tanks of gas over the next couple of years.
It is good to hear others are travel far to save big $$. It can be nerve racking dealing over the internet/phone with someone you can't see/touch, when spending 30k to 40k.
Murgatroid, I am a member of the Heartland forum and have been trying to find an MSRP sheet on the Big Country. Would you know where I could find one on the forum?
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, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur
, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever
, 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
