Tim's Guide to buying anything.

[Major Oz]

[This is the point where you should slow down and for some reason, this is where everyone speeds up. The end is in sight, and most people just want to rush and get it over with. Question anything you don't understand. Very important!]

Great post.

One more: if you suddenly find out that the sale is conditioned on an "arbitration agreement". Walk away, after laughing uproariously.

[crunchman12001]

Most people forget that they have the money that the dealer and salesman MUST TAKE FROM YOU TO SURVIVE. The key is to feed them for a day, not a month. I love the dance and have become very good at it. The wife hates it.
Great tips for the new negotiators out there.
I like to refer to the 4 square approach. Never fill the squares out for them.
(Confessions of a car salesman)
Works great for car, boat, RV, ect...
https://consumerist.com/2007/03/30/d...ow-to-beat-it/

[rmac04401]

Originally Posted by doc73

I was wondering that.. I have not tried to get a loan since our 2014 but our credit union only did up to 5 year loans for "autos" as they considered the trailer. We did the 10 year thing through the dealer and are well ahead on when we "need" to make any payments.

I got mine through Members 1st Credit union. 10year around 5%. Will have paid off in 5

[ncebeemer]

Great post Tim. The fun is in the hunt. Did an eight hour marathon for a fully loaded Chrysler Cordoba years ago. We were $300 apart and I told the wife it was time to go. Made it almost to the front door and he he yelled after me. Come on. Give me $50 bucks. I drove off with the car. Best fun I ever had (not my wife though) and the extra $50 was ok.

[doc73]

Originally Posted by rmac04401

I got mine through Members 1st Credit union. 10year around 5%. Will have paid off in 5

Yeah we are on a similar track. Figuring on another 5 or 6 so years before upgrading which will put us at at around 8 to 9 years in the trailer and about 40 to 45k miles on it. I will look into other sources. We are members of a cu called citadel. Thanks

[Filterman]

This is mostly common sense and it's like they teach you at all those training seminars........use some of it all of the time and all of it some of the time! Good post. Spent 40 years in successful sales so seen most of these tactics in other industries.

[Tapex]

([emoji294] [emoji294] [emoji294] [emoji294] [emoji294] RATING)

TIM MAN!!!

EXCELLENT ARTICLE!!!

Now this is definitely how to save!

[WolfWhistle]

Tim,
Great advice. Thanks for the well written instructions that I will hand on to, study and some day use.
Clint

[cm1972]

Excellent article, I am wondering how much of a mark up are on these things? The MSRP is roughly $100k and automatically they mark them down to $75k. This will be my first RV to purchase and I was surprised of the price drop that I am now seeing is common among most dealerships. How much more can you get them down? I would think $5 - $10k, I guess my question is how much more can I expect the price to drop?

[rmac04401]

Originally Posted by cm1972

Excellent article, I am wondering how much of a mark up are on these things? The MSRP is roughly $100k and automatically they mark them down to $75k. This will be my first RV to purchase and I was surprised of the price drop that I am now seeing is common among most dealerships. How much more can you get them down? I would think $5 - $10k, I guess my question is how much more can I expect the price to drop?

The MSRP is very fluid. For the same trailer and options the MSRP stated will very a bit between dealers. It is not as concrete as autos.

That said you should pay about 25 to 30% off MSRP as a starting point then squeeze them more.

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by cm1972

Excellent article, I am wondering how much of a mark up are on these things? The MSRP is roughly $100k and automatically they mark them down to $75k. This will be my first RV to purchase and I was surprised of the price drop that I am now seeing is common among most dealerships. How much more can you get them down? I would think $5 - $10k, I guess my question is how much more can I expect the price to drop?

I would not be surprised to find that the mark up on the MSRP is approaching 70%. Just using my camper for example...

MSRP $49K
Sale price $33k
Mark up MSRP over SALE price was 48%, and I am sure the dealer still got 3-4K over what he paid. If he did make $3k, then his cost was $30 and the MSRP over cost markup was around 62%.

"How much more can you expect it to drop?" is EXACTLY why you need to do some homework. Call dealers in your area, and outside it too. Get best prices from them. I find that certain on-line wholesalers tend to price at-or near the floor, and you can use them to set your reference.

You CAN NOT get the best price simply by walking into a dealer one bright sunny day and start negotiating. Ya gotta load the gun before you can shoot.

Tim

[Tapex]

Originally Posted by tapex

([emoji294] [emoji294] [emoji294] [emoji294] [emoji294] RATING)

TIM MAN!!!

EXCELLENT ARTICLE!!!

Now this is definitely how to save!

Todd

[doc73]

I had always seen 30 to 40 off msrp for final price thrown around here

[spock123]

I read part of Tim's post and honestly if I did all that I would probably stay home. A car salesman gave me a very good price on a new Silverado 2500 and I told him I would need to talk it over with my wife, he said he had to know right then. I said I'll get back to him in about a hour, I did but the truck was sold. He found one for me a couple of days later at a better price but not the color I wanted and they had to a good ways to get it.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by spock123

I read part of Tim's post and honestly if I did all that I would probably stay home. A car salesman gave me a very good price on a new Silverado 2500 and I told him I would need to talk it over with my wife, he said he had to know right then. I said I'll get back to him in about a hour, I did but the truck was sold. He found one for me a couple of days later at a better price but not the color I wanted and they had to a good ways to get it.

Had a similair thing happen to us when we bought our 5th wheel. We had been looking/researching for months and had yet to find anything we liked any better. So as we were walking through one, there was another couple walking through it with a different salesman at the exact same time.

Then we went and sat at our salesman's desk and they sat down at their salesman's desk. We were told that they were debating between the one we wanted and another one. We went ahead and put a deposit down. Later we overheard their salesman say "Well, the Sabre is off the table".

We kinda felt bad but I'm glad we bought when we did. We still have yet to see another fiver that we like any better. Plus we bought one of the last ones that was still built with the aluminum cage.

[MILover]

Awesome post. I work in the field of communication (writing, editing, sales/marketing, etc). As a result, DH gladly leaves all negotiations to me - whether it be for our truck, camper, etc.

I would add, that there always will be folks who dislike negotiating, which is understandable. They should not underestimate the power of a well-written email, or phone calls! I feel confident negotiating in person, but still prefer the control in writing out my offer and requests in a detailed email - this is done after I know exactly what we want, and exactly what we are willing to pay. Doing your homework is everything. Dealers are accustomed to this now, and often will have an Internet salesperson for this purpose.

[Iwannacamp]

I enjoyed Tim's post.... Mmmmm he doesn't like salesmen... ha ha

I am also terrible at the negotiation process. I just want a decent deal and down the road. They need to make a profit and I want something. I think they should offer a good deal and make it 5-10% within the "I should have passed on the sale as I made nothing" category... or my commission on that was only $300... I worked a an outside salesman for 10 years and it is a different life. Trying to prove to the customer that they should buy from you. Service/availability/team/product-different product-better design, etc are what you use as a sales tool. I was in the aftermarket auto parts business(NAPA) and we would not win on price...or not for long, because someone else will all go lower. I have heard it said that "I(being the sales team/supplier) am worth something.

Sorry to ramble

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by Iwannacamp

I enjoyed Tim's post.... Mmmmm he doesn't like salesmen... ha ha

I am also terrible at the negotiation process. I just want a decent deal and down the road. They need to make a profit and I want something. I think they should offer a good deal and make it 5-10% within the "I should have passed on the sale as I made nothing" category... or my commission on that was only $300... I worked a an outside salesman for 10 years and it is a different life. Trying to prove to the customer that they should buy from you. Service/availability/team/product-different product-better design, etc are what you use as a sales tool. I was in the aftermarket auto parts business(NAPA) and we would not win on price...or not for long, because someone else will all go lower. I have heard it said that "I(being the sales team/supplier) am worth something.

Sorry to ramble

Personally, I don't dislike salesmen. My Nephew is one for a Kia Dealer and I guess you could say I like him (as I don't wish him any specific harm). I do, however, treat them like I would anyone trying to take my money... Somewhere between contempt and outright hostility. While how I treat them may seem a bit harsh, remember this; There ain't no such thing as a deal unless BOTH sides are happy. If he ain't happy with the deal, he won't accept it anymore than I would.

Just be happy I'm not your salesman.

Tim

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

Personally, I don't dislike salesmen. My Nephew is one for a Kia Dealer and I guess you could say I like him (as I don't wish him any specific harm). I do, however, treat them like I would anyone trying to take my money... Somewhere between contempt and outright hostility. While how I treat them may seem a bit harsh, remember this; There ain't no such thing as a deal unless BOTH sides are happy. If he ain't happy with the deal, he won't accept it anymore than I would.

Just be happy I'm not your salesman.

Tim

Agreed. I wish the process were more I need X$ to make a profit and pay my employees(and add X% to our P/L) and less to the "high fives" and "raping of the day" scenario. Maybe it's integrity that is missing?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by doc73

I had always seen 30 to 40 off msrp for final price thrown around here

We just bought our new TT for 47% off MSRP, which for the West Coast is excellent.