Last Saturday we stopped by an RV dealer to look at a coach we were very interested in and see if it would work for us. We had emailed the dealer and were called by a salesperson and we told him we would be by on Saturday to view the coach. When we arrived we were told the salesperson had the day off. We were shown the coach on a walk through and told them we were very interested and we would be back the following Thursday and would like to go through the coach thoroughly and take a test drive etc..
We arrived on Thursday and had to look for a salesperson and happened to find the person we had talked with on the phone. The saleperson took us out to the coach and we did a quick walk through as he tried to start the generator. He tried five or six times to prime and start the generator and then joined us to answer some questions. He then went back and tried a few more times to start the generator and realized that there was probably less than a quarter tank of fuel and it would not start. We asked to see the coach closed up, he turned on the inverter and pulled in the slides so we could see how it was closed up.
When we first visited, we were told what a great home theater system the coach had, so we asked to hear the system. After playing with it for as few minutes, the saleperson was able to get the system to work with the radio but never got it to work with the TV or DVD.
If you, as a salesperson, knew you had a possible sale coming back to look and test drive a coach, would you not prepare it ahead of time and familiarize yourself with the coaches components?
Nothing was said by the sales person about any test drive. He just wanted us in his office to talk numbers. He then proceeded to offer
us $30,000 trade-in for a coach that books at $42,000 - $53,000. The numbers he had, and would not budge from, amounted to $199,500. We were pre-approved for $200,000, is that creating the max price for the customers loan???
I wouldn't let an unprepared salesperson keep me from a coach I really like and want. The price; that is a different matter. It depends on the coach, model year and what you are trading in. Without knowing that I can't really answer your question. There is one thing to consider..if the price for a new coach is dropping due to economic conditions..the price for a trade goes down right along with it.
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Did you do your homework for that coach you wanted? What was its value? You can make it part of the deal that everything must work correctly - meaning the generator starts when it is supposed to start, etc.
If the unit is what you want and within what you want to pay, I would go to the dealership owner and express my displeasure with your experience up to now and what you expect if you are going to consider this coach. These guys are loosing way too much business right now to let you walk out the door. The price of your trade is probably low because they will have a problem selling it at market value.
Just as someone said above, I wouldn't let an incompetent salesperson keep me from a unit I wanted - if it's what you want after you've done your homework.
-Gramps- wrote: I wouldn't let an unprepared salesperson keep me from a coach I really like and want. The price; that is a different matter. It depends on the coach, model year and what you are trading in. Without knowing that I can't really answer your question. There is one thing to consider..if the price for a new coach is dropping due to economic conditions..the price for a trade goes down right along with it.
Double ditto, I agree with Gramps totally.......why let a salesperson keep you from your dream........it is just my opinion, but please test drive anything before you buy, not joy ride, test drive....nothing wrong with getting your numbers first as this could save some time, but it should be subject to the test drive. It can really hurt to fall in love with a coach only to find out you can't get together on the money end of it or on the way home with it find out it drives terribly....etc.....etc....good luck!
The generator starting was not the problem with me. The idea that he did not prepare ahead or time, was a problem. The idea of the test drive was that we had requested that a number of days before, he ignored that request.
If I were a sales person and was told we might not come to terms on this coach, I would try to lead people to a coach that fits their means better, if I can't deal on this one. He did none of that. It's like he was not interested in working with us at all.
Just remember that after the sale is completed the salesperson will not remember your name. So don't let too much of your buying decision be driven by his/her skills as a salesperson.
Do your OWN homework, figure your OWN numbers, make sure you do your OWN tests, take as much of your OWN time as you feel you need to. If the salesperson balks at that then move on down the road. Don't worry about trying to give the salesperson some sales training. There's a good chance he won't even work there the next time you show up. Just like the original salesperson who "had the day off" and hasn't been seen since.
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Looks to me like the saleperson dropped the ball-no surprise here. When we were looking we started out with about 10 units. After visiting the dealerships narrowed that down to 3. Not neccessarily because they didn't have the coach, they just didn't seem interested or maybe they thought we weren't in the market. I guess they read us wrong. The last two on our list made the time to listen to us. We did purchase partly because of the coach but also because of the dealer and reputation and the overall hassle free sales experience.
Do your OWN homework, figure your OWN numbers, make sure you do your OWN tests, take as much of your OWN time as you feel you need to.
I agree, when I was looking I had done my homework to the point I probably knew more than the salesman. I am not knocking the salesman as he is a friend and very knowledgeable, I am just stating that it was MY money and I wanted it spent the way I wanted. I also would not let them talk you into something that you don't want. Make a list of 'needs' and 'wants' and then do your homework. With the internet it is amazing the knowledge you can arm yourself with before even walking into a dealership. Mainly know your budget and don't budge because this will determine how much you can actually use your new toy. As far as them not being prepared I wouldn't condemn them too much for that as I know a lot of 'tire kickers' out there that always say they will be back. Give them another chance to let you drive and play with the coach if it is what you are looking for. Mike.
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If you, as a salesperson, knew you had a possible sale coming back to look and test drive a coach, would you not prepare it ahead of time and familiarize yourself with the coaches components?
On a day as hot as today, I'd start the generator and turn on the a/c about two hours before you were to arrive. I also take the coach for a five mile drive or so...maybe wipe the dust off the dash and straighten the comforter...learn how to turn on the friggin radio, tv, dvd, ect. You'd think the manufacturers would find a good system and stick with it...but I doubt that will ever happen.
Maybe your salesman doesn't have a $2000 per month house payment like me.
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