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Old 07-01-2018, 12:36 PM   #1
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General Comments

Purchased a brand new GT-5 31L5 from Colerain RV and I met some really nice people. I never received the NYS Documents after paying a Doc Fee. I had to take the MH to another FR Dealership for service because I had a lot of issues: rusty components, things that didn’t work and general repairs. Almost six months of service to get it up to speed.

Because of some of electrical indicators didn’t work, the FR dealership spent about six hours of labor time working on the issue. They discovered that the wiring harness was never hooked up. So how did the factory and Colerain RV checkout the unit prior to shipment and delivery?

The positive experience: FR sent all new parts and paid for all the repairs. Just some minor issues left and it will be 100%.
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Old 07-02-2018, 06:24 AM   #2
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[QUOTE=azino;1856927]

Because of some of electrical indicators didn’t work, the FR dealership spent about six hours of labor time working on the issue. They discovered that the wiring harness was never hooked up. So how did the factory and Colerain RV checkout the unit prior to shipment and delivery?

They probably didn't that is why a buyer should do a complete PDI prior to paying any money
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Old 07-02-2018, 06:56 AM   #3
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Hi,


When I see a recommendation to have a complete PDI before giving the dealer any money, I always feel I must be missing something.



My PDIs have always been pretty detailed, time consuming events, done with a knowledgeable employee. Seems to me it would be a rare dealer that would devote hours of employee time to going over a rig in great detail with a prospective buyer unless they already had at least some money in hand. Or is the PDI being suggested something other than what I envision?


Not trying to be contentious -- just want to get a better understanding here.


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Old 07-02-2018, 06:58 AM   #4
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Don't think they mean "prospective" buyer..........this is a buyer that has already bought, but is just short of actually handing over the money.........
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Old 07-02-2018, 07:11 AM   #5
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Hi BandJCarm,


That is sort of my point.


I don't think a dealer would consider it "bought" until money is actually in hand.



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Old 07-02-2018, 07:14 AM   #6
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Well, I guess the point is that the buyer is in the very middle of the entire buying process. Paperwork is started, you have decided to buy, but the Dealer sticks his hand out and says "Fork over the money" BEFORE he proves to you that the trailer is in good working order. They're saying to tell the Dealer to "Do a good PDI for me and prove this thing isn't broken before I hand you any money".
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Old 07-02-2018, 07:35 AM   #7
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Hi,


True, in the ideal, the buyer has that kind of control. But the dynamic of the sale shifts at some point. You get psychologically committed to the unit, and then the balance shifts to the dealer.


Which is how one RV dealer in the West suburbs of Chicago can get away with charging a stunningly high add on fee (up to $1,500!!!) for their PDI. We saw that several years ago, walked out, and never went back. And a quick Google search discloses the fact that other dealers do this as well.


If you have numerous dealers to choose from, or lots of potential units that meet your needs, you can walk away. But many folks must not, because the dealers are still doing it.


All of which is to say -- getting back to the original topic -- it would surprise me if most dealers would invest a great deal of some knowledgable employee's time in a PDI (even a "free" one) if they didn't have a pretty solid monetary commitment nailed down and in hand.

FWIW.


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Old 07-02-2018, 07:36 AM   #8
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Balance won't shift to dealer if you can control your own psychology.

Like vehicles, there's thousands of these things.......don't fall in love so that you lose your mind.
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Old 07-02-2018, 07:37 AM   #9
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I should have said downpayment/PDI/written agreement to fix/final payment.
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Old 07-02-2018, 08:26 AM   #10
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The PDI is scheduled after there is an offer and an acceptance of that offer. With the acceptance of the offer, there is a contract. However, the offer to buy is conditional on a successful pre-delivery inspection. The purchaser has provided a deposit as their commitment to the contract.

So the dealer has their (conditional) contract in hand before the PDI. The terms of the contract have been negotiated prior to the purchaser handing over their deposit. The value of that deposit, and whether or not it is refundable for specified reasons, was part of the negotiations and is part of the contract.

The purchaser signs off after a successful PDI to signify they have waived/removed the condition and the deal is closed.

This the normal process.

From the dealer’s perspective, they have to have confidence in the products that they receive from the manufacturer that they won’t have spend a lot of hours fixing the factory’s mistakes in order get that condition of sale waived. They can make their own assumptions as to what level of quality and effort is needed for that to happen.
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Old 07-02-2018, 08:41 AM   #11
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Better said.
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