Down Payment for Ordered Trailer

[RichardE]

Greetings to all. I am about to purchase/order a Salem T21fbs. Dealer wants $1K down. Is that normal process? Is the down payment non-refundable if I don't like the unit that comes in?

Appreciate any advice.

Happy Holidays to all, and specially to fellow Vets.

[Hob]

Most places don't like to give refunds. However, they will generally let you apply your down payment to another trailer.

Hob

[dretired]

If..you know for sure..this is "the last one" at the best possible price...And..you know for sure..without any doubt ..its the one for you...It might be a good idea to "hold" that trailer..but not sure that it would take $1000..

[Mountainmanbob]

Originally Posted by RichardE

Is that normal process?

Is the down payment non-refundable if I don't like the unit that comes in?

it is all about how it is written up
I would have it written up stating

if upon delivery of said trailer to dealer lot
(all) points of interest to buyer
are demened by buyer to be satisfactory
we will proceed with written sales contract
(if not) down payment of one thousand dollars
to be returned to proposed buyer

sorry right now it is just not coming out right
but
that is the angle we may wish to come from
they may say
"that is not the way it is done"
bulldung
one can put (most anything) they want into a contract

I want to see and inspect that THING before I buy it
and if all is not up to the wifes and my standard
we would like our deposit returned ASAP

Mountainman

[lbrjet]

Yes, this is the norm for ordering a trailer to be built for you. Keep in mind that the dealer is purchasing this trailer (relying on you to purchase it from them) and if you back out don't plan on getting your deposit back.

[carsonizik3]

I have recently shopped for a 365 saq sandpiper. I found that if you order one most dealers want $1000 "deposit" down to order your trailer for you. I ordered mine today with a 800.00 deposit which will be given back to me when I pick it up.

[RichardE]

Thanx to all. When I ordered a truck from Toyota, there was no money down. And, I actually bought the truck from another dealer and cancelled the order. So no big deal. Guess it doesn't work that way with RVs.

thanx again.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by RichardE

Guess it doesn't work that way with RVs.

thanx again.

you don't know the half of it.
there is very little in common in how the auto industry and the RV industry work.
never assume RV dealers are anything like auto dealers, nor are RV manufacturers warranties like auto manufacturers warranties.

about the only thing they have in common, is that they sell things on wheels.

[Mountainmanbob]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

Yes, this is the norm for ordering a trailer to be built for you.

I have never bought one new
question
how long does it take to get one built just for me ??

thank you
Mountainman

[SaskCampers]

Not all dealers ask for a deposit. We ordered our V-Lite over the phone and never gave them a cent or a cc number. But then around here many deals are done with a handshake and your word.

[dretired]

My mistake..thought you were getting a dealer inventory trailer..It would be a good idea.. If.. there was anything wrong with the trailer ..at all. when it arrived at the dealer ..to let you walk away with all your deposit...It seems to me, this is a pressure tactic.. for you ..to commit to something, that you havent even seen yet !!

[Triguy]

Originally Posted by RichardE

Greetings to all. I am about to purchase/order a Salem T21fbs. Dealer wants $1K down. Is that normal process? Is the down payment non-refundable if I don't like the unit that comes in?

Appreciate any advice.

Happy Holidays to all, and specially to fellow Vets.

We put down a $1,000 deposit when we negotiated our order. In our state, by law, the contract states that ALL money, including deposit must be returned if the trailer does not arrive according to the contract.

Our contract basically listed everything that we were ordering as a factory addition, the total price and the expected delivery date. Had any of these items not been included or if it had been delievered late, I could have walked and expected a full refund (I checked this with my attorney).

I could not expect the money back if I just decided to change my mind.

[rkswyo]

I am looking at ordering a Grey Wolf 19RR. The dealer I have been talking to requires a 10% deposit upon order. Build time according to him is 6 to 8 weeks. All I have to do now is get my current trailer sold. He was hosing me bad if I traded it in.

[mike047]

Originally Posted by TheSasks

Not all dealers ask for a deposit. We ordered our V-Lite over the phone and never gave them a cent or a cc number. But then around here many deals are done with a handshake and your word.

Sadly, the lawyers in this country have all but eliminated personal integrity.

[Rebel702]

I ordered my trailer and put a 10% deposit down. I would not have taken this path if I was not certain it was the floorplan I wanted. The 10% was standard with 3 different dealers that I talked with. I confirmed the details of the build sheet sent to the factory and the factory confirmation of order to ensure all features were included. Then the factory invoice was also checked by myself and the dealer before the unit left the plant.

Look at this from the dealer's position. If I had backed out of the deal, the dealer now has a unit setting on his lot that he needs to carry within his own inventory investment. The dealers also have to pay for the unit when delivered by the factory. Any issues at the time of PDI would be an incentive for the dealer to get them handled immediately before I would pay any balance.

Two sides to the deal and I was comfortable with this arrangement after extensive discussion with the dealer. He did a great job on the PDI and has been very available after the sale. (Dwight @ DJRV, Bolivar, MO)

And I got my TT with everything on it that I wanted.

[lbrjet]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

Yes, this is the norm for ordering a trailer to be built for you. Keep in mind that the dealer is purchasing this trailer (relying on you to purchase it from them) and if you back out don't plan on getting your deposit back.

Originally Posted by Mountainmanbob

I have never bought one new
question
how long does it take to get one built just for me ??

thank you
Mountainman

Took 5 weeks. Depends on how busy they are. Order in the spring and it may take longer, possibly 6-8 weeks.

[trudinator]

Originally Posted by Mountainmanbob

I have never bought one new
question
how long does it take to get one built just for me ??

thank you
Mountainman

We placed our order on March 9th and picked up our unit on May 21st, so it was just a few days more than 10 weeks. Springtime is always the busiest. We were told 8 to 10 weeks, so we didn't have an issue with it.

[trudinator]

Originally Posted by RichardE

Greetings to all. I am about to purchase/order a Salem T21fbs. Dealer wants $1K down. Is that normal process? Is the down payment non-refundable if I don't like the unit that comes in?

Appreciate any advice.

Happy Holidays to all, and specially to fellow Vets.

Sounds normal to me. Do your research. Find a model with a floor plan you like and make an effort to see one in person, either at a different dealer, an RV show, etc. Pick out your upholstery and look at a unit with that upholstery and cabinet color. If you do these things, I guarantee you'll like it when you pick it up. Unless of course, it's badly damaged or defective, etc. In that case, you wouldn't have to accept the unit and you could use your deposit on another unit.

[MikeDett]

Triguy said the magic word "Attorney" A contract has been made, both parties have an obligations to conplete the contract as agreed at conception. If either fails to conplete the contract it is void, canceled.

That means the deposit is returned if seller has not delivered as agreed. If they have delivered a product that meet industry standards in good condition on time, preforming as argeed at conception, then the dealer is not obligated to return the deposit.

However the dealer may return the deposit if they chose...

[Mountainmanbob]

all depends on how it is written up
a deposit will always be returned
if said so in writing
if a deposit can be lost for some reason
lack of performance etc etc
that has to be called out in the contract
if no specific reasons for possible
loss of deposit are mentioned
it would seem deposit should be returned

Mountainman