I visited lazy Days Tampa last weekend, looking at fifth wheels. The salesman pointed out that after a purchase they set up your new rig and let you 'camp' there for a few days. Someone will then come by in the morning to answer your questions. They will also park your old rig next to the new one so it is easy to transfer all your 'stuff'. It's a huge place - 112 acres plus a full blown campground. It's just like going to a large RV show - great for doing comparison shopping if you haven't made up your mind.
randco wrote: I live near Lazydays and frequented it a lot while looking for a used coach. It was a great place to see a lot of different manufacturers and their models. Going to Lazydays is like going to a large RV show. When we did purchase, we purchased from a much small dealer. We got a great deal on a coach we really wanted.
The knowledge and test drives we received from Lazydays was priceless to us.
So you USED the resources that Lazy Days paid for to do all your comparison shopping, taking up the time of their employees, and the millions of dollars they have tied up in inventory as your own private rv show. Then you brag that you got a "great deal" from a much smaller dealer.
Maybe if the other dealer had to pay for the resources that gave you all those test drives, his price would have been much higher.
It's the same mentality that causes people to brag about the great price they get from a wholesaler 2000 miles away, after doing all the research at their local dealer-- and then expecting the local guy to be your warranty provider.
If Lazy Days was so helpful to you as you say, don't you think all that help. and knowledge, time and testdrives had any value to you? Shouldn't you support the people who helped you?
Alaska is next! Still trying to fit the pontoons to the RV so We can get to Hawaii!
Get real!!!!! It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. Every nickel I save by using whatever resources are out there to my advantage, is another nickel in my pocket. I do what nets ME the best total value for MY dollar.
Johnworth914 wrote:
If Lazy Days was so helpful to you as you say, don't you think all that help. and knowledge, time and testdrives had any value to you? Shouldn't you support the people who helped you?
Paul & Sandra
New Bedford, MA
2003 Monaco Executive M43 DS2
We wanted new and we knew what we wanted so we went to the Newmar factory and discussed everything with them. We wanted some changes made to their standard offerings. Once we had all details worked out we submitted the exact specs to approx. 20 dealers throughout the country. As full-timers we didn't care where we bought and any dealer will do warranty work. We bought from the dealer who gave us the lowest price. It was a very easy process. We bought the Jeep the same way. We would definitely do it that way again although I don't think we'll be buying another. This one has been perfect and there's no reason to change (for the moment)! P.S. The best price did not come from a super center.
Extremely Happy Full-Timers for 16 years
.... now trying to adjust to 3-season traveling - and it isn't easy!
2004 40' Newmar Dutch Star Diesel Pusher
2004 Jeep Liberty
paulcardoza wrote: Get real!!!!! It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. Every nickel I save by using whatever resources are out there to my advantage, is another nickel in my pocket. I do what nets ME the best total value for MY dollar.
Johnworth914 wrote:
If Lazy Days was so helpful to you as you say, don't you think all that help. and knowledge, time and testdrives had any value to you? Shouldn't you support the people who helped you?
Yes, I'm sure you do, no matter who you screw along the way... A real hero.
Meanwhile, by wasting his time, you took money out of the pocket of the salespeople, By using their resources, you took money out of the pockets of all the people who worked to help you at Lazy Days. But they don't count. The world revolves around YOU and everyone in it is here to serve YOUR needs.
paulcardoza wrote: Get real!!!!! It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. Every nickel I save by using whatever resources are out there to my advantage, is another nickel in my pocket. I do what nets ME the best total value for MY dollar.
Johnworth914 wrote:
If Lazy Days was so helpful to you as you say, don't you think all that help. and knowledge, time and testdrives had any value to you? Shouldn't you support the people who helped you?
Yes, I'm sure you do, no matter who you screw along the way... A real hero.
Meanwhile, by wasting his time, you took money out of the pocket of the salespeople, By using their resources, you took money out of the pockets of all the people who worked to help you at Lazy Days. But they don't count. The world revolves around YOU and everyone in it is here to serve YOUR needs.
Here are 2 polar opposites in view point. Many people use LD and other large dealers with huge inventories to pin point what they want and then try to play any dealers that will play the game against each other.
The big guys know this game very well and will only play in a limited way. They know their bottom number and when they are there the game is over. They have some assets in their favor that the more marginal dealers don't, like well staffed service departments. LD has great overnight facilities for example. Most people like to do business face to face with someone they have developed a level of trust with. I suspect many of the folks that buy on "bottom line only" immediately start complaining about quality or service or both & how everybody is trying to screw them.
Not only that but then complain when the superstore goes out of business. Keeping a business competitive through shopping is a great thing but do not discount the possibility of a good price from a larger dealer.
The original premise of this thread is whether or not a high volume dealer will offer the best price... Price is one consideration... for some best price is the first choice. For others it may be accommodation, flexibility, and loyalty. Accommodation, flexibility, and loyalty are luxuries of margin.
The issue in the marketplace today is how can dealers differentiate themselves in a market where Price is set in the marketplace?...
There are three basic business models... Volume, margin, value added differentiators.
Smaller local dealers have to rely on margin as their business model they offer convenience, flexibility, and loyalty in terms of sales support before during and after sale support...
Strictly volume dealers offer lowest price but often, and usually limited after sales support including service and warranty support.
Hybrids such as Lazy days are a compromise between price and material after sales support. Lazy Days offers free camping and fringe benefits that escalate depending on the sale price of the unit.
Every facility, concession, flexibility, convenience, perk, a dealer offers is a cost which has to be offset by margin. Margin is achieved either by volume or profit margin...
JohnnyT wrote: The original premise of this thread is whether or not a high volume dealer will offer the best price... Price is one consideration... for some best price is the first choice. For others it may be accommodation, flexibility, and loyalty. Accommodation, flexibility, and loyalty are luxuries of margin.
The issue in the marketplace today is how can dealers differentiate themselves in a market where Price is set in the marketplace?...
There are three basic business models... Volume, margin, value added differentiators.
Smaller local dealers have to rely on margin as their business model they offer convenience, flexibility, and loyalty in terms of sales support before during and after sale support...
Strictly volume dealers offer lowest price but often, and usually limited after sales support including service and warranty support.
Hybrids such as Lazy days are a compromise between price and material after sales support. Lazy Days offers free camping and fringe benefits that escalate depending on the sale price of the unit.
Every facility, concession, flexibility, convenience, perk, a dealer offers is a cost which has to be offset by margin. Margin is achieved either by volume or profit margin...
Picking a dealer should extend beyond price...
JohnnyT Moderator
Very good points. My local dealer has been good to me in terms of price and support. I think I'll stick with them until I feel it neccesary to do otherwise. But you are right, by whole point was if you can get a better deal at a super store, and if it is worth it. Sounds like it will turn out to be moderate price diffence at best. Add in terms of the support and my contribution to local economy it makes sense to shop here. Thanks everyone for your input.
We are full-timers so we really do not have a choice of local dealer per say. However, doing volunteer work in AZ we had some service done on our 04 Journey at La Mesa RV, a super center, in Tucson. So of course we started looking at other MHs and found our present one. One nice thing about nice about super centers is the large selection of MHs they have new and used. We got a great price on the 06 Horizon and a reasonable trade for our 05 Journey. La Mesa was great with us helped us with our move from one coach to another having the MHs parked next to each other under a awning. Joesph our personal service co-ordinator was super with us and made sure any and all issues we had were taken care of. I'm sure there are many good small local dealers but they just do not have the volume, choice, and selection super centers are capable of having.
Jack & Peg
USN Ret AGC
K1ZMB
Sioux Falls, SD
06 Itasca Horizon 40KD
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