To those of you interested in this service (and especially those who have visited the Web site recently) I regret to report that the project, as it was conceived, is a miserable failure. The reason is quite simple: almost every dealer I have contacted refuses to deal with a middleman. Last week I contacted 24 dealers in behalf of my very first client. Only one dealer expressed any interest at all. The rest did not even give the courtesy of a response. This, to me, is unbelievable at a time of high fuel prices, when you would think dealers would be bending over backwards for the opportunity to make a sale. Unfortunately for dealers, I'm not easily discouraged, so here's what I'm going to do:
First, I'm going back to my original concept of providing a service that is ABSOLUTELY FREE. This was my original intent and I believe it was the correct approach. Secondly, I'm completely restructuring the service. Instead of a buying service where I deal with the dealer directly, I'm going to provide you with information on how to deal directly (no middleman) and get the best possible price from dealers who simply don't want to compete and are more interested in a high profit margin than in a fair price. The buyer will be given an email format that they can use to contact dealers, and shown step-by-step how to negotiate by email, or in-person if they would rather do it that way. The Web site will concentrate on favoring dealers who are reputable and interested in treating buyers fairly. This will not be a site where you go to hear complaints about rotten dealers or terrible experiences buying an RV. It will be a site where you receive positive comments. If a dealer isn't mentioned, particularly after the Web site has been up and running for awhile, you might want to take that into consideration before deciding to deal with them. This Web site will provide as many resources as possible to help you buy an RV, whether it be new or used, and will also provide information on tow vehicles, as some of you had requested.
I hope this approach meets with your approval. I'm sure it won't meet with the approval of dealers who act as predators in the marketplace.
My Web site will be down for a few days until I update it.
Again, read my lips: There will never be any fee for this service!
I think that what you ran into is a lack of internet knowledge on the dealers part. Many seem to see the 'net as a place to advertise their products in the hopes that locals will visit the site, see something they like, and then come to the lot to do the deal.
What they fail to see is that we consumers surf the net, look for the best prices, and then go from there with a deal. Now this deal may be a local dealer, using the info that we've gathered to drive it, or it may be with a dealer that is hundreds/thousands of miles away because they have the best deal.
Recently my BIL upset the local Dodge dealer in Albuquerque because he found a truck he liked but it was in Indiana. The Indiana dealer had a fair price, delivered the truck to the St. Louis area where my BIL picked it up, and so the dealer moved a unit off his lot thus making a profit. The dealer in Albuquerque said the Indiana dealer was a fool and so he wouldn't sell a similar truck at the same price (less destination charges).
Face it, dealers hate hagglers and bargain shoppers. They're proud of their stock and want as much as possible.
Rich,and Tobi (the rescued dog)
Prowler 5ver, 84 Ford F250 KCOCOLOR78 Weather
Colo. Spgs. CO
For the dealers sake, they better begin to love the internet. I am looking to purchse my first rv and am in my lower 30's. My friends and I purchase many big ticket items such as cars, tv's, stereo's etc off the net. In fact that is the first place my generation goes to research / make the purchase.
My last car I bought was all done on line. I just showed up at the dealer, drove it, they looked over the trade, no numbers changed. The coontract was waiting, it was signed, financing verified and I was gone in under an hour. Many friends, co-workers my age are doing the same thing.
I guess my point is the next generation of rv purchasers is coming of age quickly and the dealers that adapt to non-traditional sales techniques are the ones that will survive.
Used the internet to research and comparision shop my new Roo 23ss hybrid TT. Priced out what I wanted at RV Wholesaler's web site, printed it out, took it to my local dealer, showed him the printout. He said, "I suppose you expect me to price match this?" "Yup", said I. He says, "OK"
Chandlerm
White Cloud, MI
2008 Rockwood Roo 23SS, 2008 Dodge Durango Online Photo Albums
ltex wrote: For the dealers sake, they better begin to love the internet. I am looking to purchse my first rv and am in my lower 30's. My friends and I purchase many big ticket items such as cars, tv's, stereo's etc off the net. In fact that is the first place my generation goes to research / make the purchase.
My last car I bought was all done on line. I just showed up at the dealer, drove it, they looked over the trade, no numbers changed. The coontract was waiting, it was signed, financing verified and I was gone in under an hour. Many friends, co-workers my age are doing the same thing.
I guess my point is the next generation of rv purchasers is coming of age quickly and the dealers that adapt to non-traditional sales techniques are the ones that will survive.
Extremely well-said. May I use your quote on my Web site?
Having worked at many dealerships, let me offer my opinion.
The dealer is interested in dealing with and talking with the persone that will be the decision maker and the one who will be writting the check. They aren't intersted in dealing with someone that won't make the decision to purchase and that doesn't have the authority to pay for the RV.
This is why many salesmen are very short on the phone, say they have the RV you are looking for to get you down to the dealership and will usually deal with the husband or wife that they know is the interested party.
A middleman offers a dealer nothing in the way of incentive, he isn't able to be pressured into a sale and doesn't write the check.
Nothing to do with internet savey.
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2003 F150 King Ranch
2001 Dodge Van w/Wheelchair Ramp
1991 Palomino Mustang PUP
Eureka Timberline Tent
Yamaha IF2400isc
Yamaha EF3000iSEBC "Politically Incorrect And Proud Of It"
Add to the picture that the RV dealers, like car dealers, are using sales methods that are 40-50 years old, which is a real disgrace when you're dealing with a product costing a quarter mil. to start and could have 25-35K in add-ons... (for Class A's)
2008 Itasca Meridian 37H, All. 3000MH (6-auto), Freightliner XC Chass., Cummins 6.7L Turbo, (Sweet! Delivery 03/12/08). Tow: '07 Dodge Gr. Caravan, Me, Him; Sugarbear, Apr. Toy Poodle; Pepe, Blk Toy Poodle; Hero, fat Siam.-mix polydactyl cat/Alarm Clock.
Like I said before, you're not going to get the best price until you make a real offer.
If your ever accept a dealers asking price--you paid too much. They will always sell for less than they are asking.
If anyone does buy a unit through this "RV Buying Service" at the dealers price--they paid too much.
And trying to use this service to find a dealer that is likely to sell at the best price won't work either. Just because one dealers asking price is lower, doesn't mean the other guy won't sell for less.
To get the best deal, do your homework and determine a fair low price. Go the the dealer and offer them that. If they take your offer--you offered too much. If they they you a bunch of reasons why they can't do that, you did good. Thank them and leave. And you have to actually leave.
If you don't hear from them in a few days to a week, up your offer a little or shop elsewhere.
States I have spent the night in my current rig, bought three years ago.
Have RV'ed through 49 states and been in all 50, just short of my half-century.
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