willald wrote: Ohhhh, this is yet another subject you always get lots of discussion on. People love to 'brag' how they 'stuck it' to the dealer, and talk about how they got all kinds of discounts, so you should, also.
Oh come now.... brag?
I don't consider it bragging to tell you that I just bought a 35 foot TT with every option available at 75% off MSRP. I mean after all, we only agreed to that price after the owner of the dealership bought me lunch at the nearby Marriott. I'd tell you more about how I am not bragging, except that I have to cut this post short, as the dealer's son is just arriving to mow my lawn
Dirk
Myself (34), my Wife(32), and "The Boy"(3)
06 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab, 5.3L V8, 3.42rear
05 30QBSS Trail-Cruiser, Prodigy BC, Reese Dual Cam W/D
Didn't mean to stir the pot. I apologize to all, but, at the end of my post, I summed it up as "remember you are dealing" and that infers a two way discussion. I didn't say all dealers were honest, there are many that are not, but, those that are honest don't like to be lumped in with the others. Nor did I imply the customer owes the dealership anything - in fact that is the customer's biggest tool (notice I didn't say weapon), they can go somewhere else.
Far too often though, we treat the buying process as a battle. It isn't, it is a negotiation between two people that each has something the other wants...
Nobody tells you what their profit margin is... I'm sure it isn't the same now, but, when I had the bowling center a draft beer's *cost* was less than 20 cents. We charged $2.50 Fair? Outrageous? On the surface it sure looks that way, but, on the other hand I was losing money on every game bowled. You can't look at the "true cost" of a single part of a business... My overall profit margin was less than 5% (that's why I got out )
I'll quit now and go back to lurking.... I sure want to thank everyone for their knowledge in the RV field, keep camping and posting, even lurking I've learned a lot that has made my RVing much more enjoyable.
Don
2008 Jeep Commander
2008 FunFinder X210WBS
I for one Don wish you wouldn't lurk so much. It's very valuable to all of us to understand both sides of the coin. I enjoy you're posts and you always have something interesting to say.
SilnJohn wrote: I'm kind of lucky in Colorado in that 5 dealers in the state carry the spree line, 3 are within an hour of my house. Unfortunately only this first dealer had the 210KS in inventory. The others we'll have to place an order with.
I can tell you from actual experience and past interest in a RV dealership, Rv manufacturers typically have list prices with a 40 -44% markup for the dealers to work with, in this current economy the manufacturer's are throwing a ton of incentives at dealerships to take their products, the only thing they are not reducing is transportation costs, so offering them a 10-15% margin is more than fair, if they won't accept your offer, of a 22% margin they're greedy! Find another dealer and offer them a 10% margin and settle in at no more than 15% + a reasonable prep fee.
Good Luck and Happy Trails
2007 Dodge 3500 4X4 MC,SRW,CTD EB
2004 Citation 29NP
Equal-i-Zer
Yamaha EF2800i
Nascar24 A lengend in my own mind, A Scary thought in someone else's!
RamTX wrote: Keep shopping until you get your 30% off! People are not beating down the doors of RV dealers wanting to buy now.
Ditto good advice even if hard to follow especially if you let yourselves fall in love with a certain trailer. To haggle well you need the ability to walk away if the deal doesn't work for, & quit worrying about the other guy it's his duty to worry about himself not yours.
SilnJohn wrote: The deal fell through, in our last conversation the salemen's tone change. He pissed me off so my offer is off the table. I personally can't beleve in todays market they let us walk over $1000 but owell.
I'm going to talk to another dealer about ordering this model. Thier a much smaller dealer in a small town 45 miniutes away. We'll see what happens there.
It seems to me that the OP is the one that let the deal fall through over $1000, not the dealer. The OP is that one that stopped negotiating.
I wonder how many folks on the forum are willing to sell their services at a 30% discount.
Steve & C. J.
"Gracie" the Rough Collie & "Bo'sun" the Bichon Frise
SilnJohn wrote: The deal fell through, in our last conversation the salemen's tone change. He pissed me off so my offer is off the table. I personally can't believe in today's market they let us walk over $1000 but owell.
I'm going to talk to another dealer about ordering this model. Tiber a much smaller dealer in a small town 45 miniutes away. We'll see what happens there.
It seems to me that the OP is the one that let the deal fall through over $1000, not the dealer. The OP is that one that stopped negotiating.
I wonder how many folks on the forum are willing to sell their services at a 30% discount.
When the list prices are inflated by 40-44% I'd be very happy with a 10-14% profit margin! Typically in a down economy it's not uncommon to have a respectful 5-8% profit margin so passing on a 30% discount is not as big of a discount as you may think in the grander scheme of things.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the RV manufacturers are pulling out all the stops with manufacturer to dealer incentives, one big one is , no interest on any delivered unit for 30-90 days, with no curtailments for up to two years, so that means the financial overhead is a minimum for the first 3-90 days it's on the lot with waivers for up to two years! I heard of one manufacturer offering to pay the sales commission on any units sold within the first 45 days its on the dealers lot!
Like anything else you want to buy if you do your homework and be patient, you'll find what you want at the price you want to pay.
Remember that not all dealers mark up 40%. Some only mark up 30%. Not all sales people are scum either. What do you do with a customer who brings their trade in and doesn't bother to even dump their tanks. Many do not even take the time to wash or clean there units. There are two sides to every story. I think the deal should be equal and fair to both parties. Negotiation requires both parties to give numbers Best Price answer is not a number. We all have a number in mind that we can afford. If you want the unit at your number tell the salesman the number. If he is a decent person he/she should live up to his side of the negotiation if not be smart and walk because they do not value you as a customer and future sale from people you will refer and yes get a referral fee.
Campincarters
It seems to me that the OP is the one that let the deal fall through over $1000, not the dealer. The OP is that one that stopped negotiating.
I wonder how many folks on the forum are willing to sell their services at a 30% discount.
I call it exercising my option to shop around, but call it what you will. I wasn't asking for a 30% discount. 7-10% return/profit is what I expect in my little world and thats all I'm willing to give someone else. If you want to pay 20-30% go ahead.
I'm satisfied with the second dealer's offer, we go in Saturday to get the order placed.
It seems to me that the OP is the one that let the deal fall through over $1000, not the dealer. The OP is that one that stopped negotiating.
I wonder how many folks on the forum are willing to sell their services at a 30% discount.
I call it exercising my option to shop around, but call it what you will. I wasn't asking for a 30% discount. 7-10% return/profit is what I expect in my little world and thats all I'm willing to give someone else. If you want to pay 20-30% go ahead.
I'm satisfied with the second dealer's offer, we go in Saturday to get the order placed.
Amen Brother!! Nobody is asking for a discount on a man's services or time, we are seeking a reduction in an inflated profit margin on material goods. I work in the professional service side of a retail business, we will always consider lowering the price on merchandise, and do it when we can, but we do not negotiate the rate that we charge for our services. I made all my offers with this firmly in mind!
I am not in the market for a new TT now but for those who are, this is a buyers market, big time. For several years the dealers and mfgs have had a good time. Now with gas, the economy and other factors the buyer is in the drivers seat. A TT is not food, no one has to have one, the dealers know it but they are very good at the game. Every TT on the lot gets a day older every day and we know what the value of trailers do as they get older, don't we. The dealers are not in "love" with the TT's on the lot. At some point the dealers will be glad to sell them at their cost or get out the big fork and get ready to eat them. If you move a TT off a dealers lot at any cost you have done him a favor in todays market. Feel sory for him, I think not. If you had to sell or trade in a rig he is not going to feel your pain. If you've got the bucks now is the time to go for the killer deal. If gas keeps going up the RV industry will be in the tank and they know it.
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