Online tips before buying

Mem · 08-04-2020, 12:01 AM

We have found a 2018 online that we have been looking for. The nearest forest river dealership is 3 hours away. We have missed an opportunity to get a used 2018 and missed on two new ones.
Now due to covid if I don’t do this right I may miss another. The dealership has posted the floor plan and a general photo and statement pictures coming soon. And no price.
How do I handle my interest in the fifth wheel? Click the get a quote button?
Ask for pictures ?
Call?
Also with it being a used 2018 do you think it’s possible to get it for around 25 k? It’s a Artic wolf 285drl4. Not made after 2019.

AudiDudi · 08-04-2020, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mem

We have found a 2018 online that we have been looking for. The nearest forest river dealership is 3 hours away. We have missed an opportunity to get a used 2018 and missed on two new ones.
Now due to covid if I don’t do this right I may miss another. The dealership has posted the floor plan and a general photo and statement pictures coming soon. And no price.
How do I handle my interest in the fifth wheel? Click the get a quote button?
Ask for pictures ?
Call?
Also with it being a used 2018 do you think it’s possible to get it for around 25 k? It’s a Artic wolf 285drl4. Not made after 2019.

I'd do all 3 - click the button, call and ask for pics. I flew 900 miles to get our motor home and drove it home. 3 hours doesn't seem like that much of a trip to see it in person once you get a quote and pics if it looks/sounds like a good deal. Look on RVT or RVtrader to see what similar RV are selling for. (asking price)

Mem · 08-04-2020, 01:57 PM

Thank you. I clicked for a quote now. I’ve looked at NADA and at websites. The prices listed have a wide range. I’m not sure if this model being dealer stock only since they didn’t come back with this one changes the value or not.
Thanks AudiDudi, but my husband is not a comfortable traveler! He will go to see it though.
Will the quote price I get be negotiable or do most dealers stand firm on a quote?

AudiDudi · 08-04-2020, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mem

<snip>
Thanks AudiDudi, but my husband is not a comfortable traveler! He will go to see it though.
Will the quote price I get be negotiable or do most dealers stand firm on a quote?

I saved about $10k by traveling. The one I bought had a "click to get the best price" quote so I did. They came back with a number about 10k less than any other one I had seen. Of course, I countered their quote with about $5k less, but they were firm. We traded a few phone calls and emails. They met me at the airport and I was on my way about 4 hours later on the 1st 300 mile leg of the 900 mile drive back to Montana.

Mem · 08-04-2020, 10:55 PM

Got a quote plus doc and title fee and tax. Now do I make an offer? They are asking more than I think they should.
Their quote is several k more.

AudiDudi · 08-04-2020, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mem

Got a quote plus doc and title fee and tax. Now do I make an offer? They are asking more than I think they should.
Their quote is several k more.

IMO, it never hurts to counter offer. All they can do is say no or make a new offer. Tax is hard to avoid - doc and titel fees should be negotiable and not a lot of money. IMO

eye95 · 08-05-2020, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudiDudi

IMO, it never hurts to counter offer. All they can do is say no or make a new offer. Tax is hard to avoid - doc and titel fees should be negotiable and not a lot of money. IMO

One thing that I have learned working in sales is that the answer to every question that is not asked is “No.” This rule applies to the buyer as well as the seller. Always ask the question.

It is amazing the number of yeses you get just because you asked the question.

hobienick · 08-05-2020, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eye95

One thing that I have learned working in sales is that the answer to every question that is not asked is “No.” This rule applies to the buyer as well as the seller. Always ask the question.

It is amazing the number of yeses you get just because you asked the question.

This applies in all of life, not just buying vehicles.

Cover Dog · 08-05-2020, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mem

Got a quote plus doc and title fee and tax. Now do I make an offer? They are asking more than I think they should.
Their quote is several k more.

Remember when making an offer and they don’t like it you can always go up, but you can’t come down.

PenJoe · 08-05-2020, 03:56 PM

We were looking for a particular boat. Boats we could find in the hundred mile range were priced high. One was located completely across the state that was in the price range and was what we were looking for. I made the call and introduced, telling him where we were located and then asked, what are you going to do to motivate us to drive that distance to buy their boat? He laughed and asking that question actually broke the ice. We made the deal, drove to the dealer, stayed overnight at a motel and drove home the following day. It was still a great deal. We were even able to negotiate for accessories once there. Though we have never returned for service, they have always been there to answer questions. That's a dealer worth their salt.

Recently, our son and we, separately, were looking for new trucks. One dealer was able to get one acceptable to each of us. They were not willing to deal and expected our son to drive 600 miles over his lunch hour to personally sign the papers. Unacceptable. We purchased a truck at another dealership. The first dealer kept in contact. I wrote an email that we had purchased our truck, but that our son had not. I explained that they had already lost one sale, did they want to lose the second? They decided to deal on our terms.

It never hurts to be bold and negotiate. If they want your business, they will deal.

BillyBass · 08-05-2020, 08:54 PM

Hint dont buy without looking at the camper in person.I pick one out when I went to look at it in person I wasnt happy with it.So I look at a couple more and found the one we like a 2019 26 RBWS Flagstaff

DouglasReid · 08-06-2020, 09:19 AM

When we purchased our current camper they had just gotten it in. They had not even cleaned it yet, much less taken any photos.

They were asking $34,900.............we offered $25,900 and they accepted it.

Do not be afraid to go low...........as others have said, you can always come up.

Id drive over there on the pretext of looking at something else they have on the lot, rather than letting them know that is the precise unit you are looking for.

If they think you are too interested they will decide they can most likely get more money out of you. then when you look at that ask them if there is anything else you can look at "while you are here".

Many times when they first get something in they will sell it for less if they can turn it over quickly, before they even have to pay a single cent on the purchase.

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