Buying from a Dealer

Jim · 03-09-2008, 08:17 AM

I have put a few notes together about buying from a dealer. Please add your tips, tricks and advice to this thread so that it becomes the definitive guide to getting a good deal and stealing food from the families of those nice motorhome salespersons

Buying a Motorhome from a Dealer

Visit a show and see as many motorhomes and layouts as possible. Before you visit a dealer make a comprehensive wish list of the style and layout that that you want.
The dealer will be interested in how much you want to spend, and what repayments you can afford. Tell him neither, some find this difficult, but just say “I’d rather not say” Only tell him what vehicle you want, let the sales person come up with the numbers.
Be flexible. Unless you’re on a substantial budget, it’s unlikely that you’ll find everything on your wish list in one motorhome. Be prepared to compromise but make sure you search has been a thorough one before you commit. Some people spend years trying to find the perfect motorhome, all those summers tours missed!! Others rush in, then regret it. making a costly change after only a few months.
See if your local dealers offer a ‘try before you buy’ service. Many do and most will knock off the cost of the hire if you subsequently buy. Hiring a motorhome, even for a weekend, will help you decide if motorhoming is for you. It’s also an opportunity to live with various layouts your ideal layout might not be so ideal in practice.
Do not be afraid of insulting the dealer with a very low offer, (he will not be afraid of insulting you) You might think of yourself as a customer, however most will think of you as a victim! Most deals will finish somewhere in the middle ground so make your first offer low, the final price to pay will be somewhere between your offer and the asking price.
When you do decide to buy, always buy locally if possible. You may find that the great deal 200 miles away is not so good when you have to keep making 400 mile round trips to see them if things go wrong.
Always ask the dealer to demonstrate everything for you, take copious notes during the demo, or better still a video recording.
You should have a comprehensive list of checks to make prior to parting with your cash. Such a list can be purchased from motorhomefun <here>

dazzer · 03-09-2008, 08:28 AM

I would also add these

If your not happy with the deals on offer....walk away

Go and speak to anyone you see with their pride and joy in for servicing, ask them what the after sales service is like and how any warranty issues have been dealt with.

When you arrive to collect the vehicle (if paying by bankers draft) ask the dealers to ensure it has gas and water and a hook up connection. Spend at least 3-4 hours actually in the motorhome pressing EVERY button and checking EVERY SINGLE system works and NOTHING is broken or falling off. Check all the doors, hinges, fasteners, adjusters. Bring a car battery tester if you have one and check the leisure batteries are in good condition and are been charged both on hook up and with the engine running, ask to go for an extended test drive and make sure you drive it in reverse. If you find ANYTHING no matter how small DO NOT HAND OVER THE DRAFT until it is fixed to your COMPLETE satisfaction. Personally I would be prepared to overnight in a travel lodge for a couple of days to give them time to fix and problems if the dealer is a long way from your home. Remember "The person holding the cheque is the one in charge"

Make sure your new pride and joy will fit on your driveway

sounds silly but it happens.

Oh yes and most of all enjoy your new baby

Supertractorman · 03-09-2008, 08:50 AM

Always get the Dealer especially of a new vehicle to have it filled with fuel before the journey home otherwise you could need an extra £70 to £90 with you on collection day. Once you agree your price just add that you expect the tank to be full !.
If you purchase the van 300 miles away enquire first of the Dealer how any warranty works can be done. In many instances they have contacts in your area and can make the necessary contacts for you, and you want to be covered for parts failures when on your tours.

David

moandick · 03-09-2008, 09:08 AM

At the risk of offending some people on here -

can I just put in a word for the 'good' dealer who expects you to spend a week in your new vehicle, free of charge, on his site in Cornwall.

He expects that one of his Staff will be called upon to explain and demonstrate all the equipment at least once and possibly as many times as the customer wants.

He expects that one of his Staff will go out driving with you in the new vehicle as many times as you wish until you are happy that everything is in order.

And in the unlikely event that you break down in the warranty period, many miles away from the dealer - he will send the engineer to you WHEREVER you are!

I won't say who he is - most of you will know from my signature block - BUT I would like to re-iterate that not all dealers are fly-by-night operators and I, for one, would expect nothing less from ANY dealer that I bought from.

If I wasn't offered that kind of service, I would go elsewhere - after all, every single one of our motorhomes is available from more than one source.

Jim · 03-09-2008, 09:54 AM

This thread is about getting the best deal from a dealer. No one is suggesting all dealers are "fly by night". On the contrary, we just want to discuss getting the very best deal from them. In reality a good deal has to be good for both parties. That said if we do not even try to bargain, even the very best dealers will let us pay more than they are prepared to accept

terry · 03-09-2008, 10:11 AM

Hi al one very simple rule is get what you have agreed (be it fuel mats etc,)
IN WRITING
TERRY

moandick · 03-09-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moandick

and I, for one, would expect nothing less from ANY dealer that I bought from.

If I wasn't offered that kind of service, I would go elsewhere - after all, every single one of our motorhomes is available from more than one source.

I hear what you say, Jim - which is why I was trying to be very careful in what I said so as not to appear to be advertising.

However, I disagree with your comments in as much as very, very few dealers are really worried about the kind of deal that you, as a customer, are going to get - they are only worried about themselves NOT getting a bad deal. It has to be said that no matter what deal they do with you, THEY are not going to lose out on the deal in any way whatsoever.

In the time I have been involved with RV's I have been shocked, amazed and even appalled at what some customers are told by some dealers, expect to get from some dealers and STILL GO BACK for more.

The only answer is not to "discuss" what they are willing to give you but to demand what you want - if it is a reasonable demand - and if they can't give it to you - then go somewhere else - don't simply sit back and take second-best.

Jim · 03-09-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moandick

they are only worried about themselves NOT getting a bad deal. It has to be said that no matter what deal they do with you, THEY are not going to lose out on the deal in any way whatsoever.

I.

Of course they must not lose, what sort of business wants to lose money on a deal? They need to make a profit, or they won't be there when you need a service.

But any dealer will let you pay more than he would accept, this thread is about getting the price down to the minimum that the dealer will accept.

Please keep the tips and advice coming

Johns_Cross_Motorhomes · 03-09-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry

Hi al one very simple rule is get what you have agreed (be it fuel mats etc,)
IN WRITING
TERRY

The most important part!

Peter

Clausentum · 03-09-2008, 04:15 PM

One other item that made us suspicious of the salesman's integrity was that the vehicle had a deal which included 1st year free Caravan Guard insurance. Reading the small print carefully it gave "new for old" replacement value, in fact I phoned them with the salesman present. They did confirm this was so.

The salesman was not happy as he had gone to great length to tell my family that a customer had written off their vehicle, shortly after driving away from the showroom with another story of a family who had extensive "write-off" damage in a hail storm. He also continually attempted to convince us of the need to take out their own company's "return to invoice book value" insurance policy at an additional cost of £480! Surely this sort of hard selling is a scam and regulated by the Financial Services authority?

Guess who the large dealers were?