RV Dealerships - How You Can Win When You Are Buying An RV

[@reddragonfly4351]

So, we used your checklist and got an inspection done before purchase. t was done today. We ordered from a fairly new and great company manufacturer's RV. We had an independent inspection done and there were major and minor things to be fixed. Next week was arrange for us to come and sign papers for the rig. It didn't shine a great light on the dealership because there was no mention of the things that needed to be fixed, although they said previously they would be. It seems that these RV's are not taken care of after the manufacturer passes it to the lot to be sold. We saw so many leftover RV's and current year dirty, falling aprt, etc. I guarantee ya we will not take possession of this RV until there are verifiable evidence that everything has been fixed from the leveling system and the leaking water in the underbelly and a load of in between. Looks like it may not go through. Thank you for your valued work and passion to help others!!!!

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Thanks so much for sharing this experience here. I try to provide guidance on buying RVs the right way, but it's comments from folks like you that I believe make the biggest positive difference in the minds of the people visiting this channel. I am very glad that you followed my guidebook and checklist and learned how to protect yourself in the buying process. And I appreciate your willingness to reveal the challenges that you faced along the way. If this RV doesn't work out for you, I'm confident that with the knowledge you have now, you will find the RV of your dreams soon.

[@maryjanegibson7743]

Please make clear that the inspection will be done by a person YOU choose. There are lists of qualified rv inspectors who are not affiliated with any dealership. No matter how nice the people at the dealership have been to you, do not accept that they will do the inspection or choose the inspector for you, even if you trust the dealer. "Trust, but verify" is an old saying that's been around for a long time because it's wise advice. There's no need to be unpleasant or rude about anything -- just state the way it's going to be, pleasantly but firmly, and don't be moved off this point.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

That’s good advice Mary Jane. Thanks for expressing those points so clearly! 👍

[@wildkatt77]

List? Where

[@LayloNewt]

Really good advice. Don't get caught up in the wow factor. Chrome won't get you home in production line coaches. Take your time. Thanks

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

So true. A lot of people get distracted by superficial things and wind up regretting their purchase. Good point!

[@marks.2814]

Very well explained video, I really enjoy your videos. Thanks

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Glad you like them Mark. Thanks for watching and commenting too!

[@ronmcdaniel1583]

Duane you have once again hit the nail on the head! Stay firm and trust your inspector!! SAFE TRAVELS

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Thanks Ron. I appreciate your regular support of this channel! 👍😀

[@robertmcdowell2030]

I been looking at RV for three years now, and looking at different types of RVs and figure out what type I want also when buying a new car I also like to look in the Service department and see which cars model is in the the service department a lot . That model i know to stay away from. Doing my reacher i been seeking a lot RVs that where purchase by the buyer are being turn in and being put of for sale by the owners.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Good points Robert. Thanks for watching and contributing your thoughts too!

[@celestepalm6949]

I gave you your 100th like! 💯👍

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Thanks so much Celeste. I appreciate your support of my channel!

[@YouTubeHarringtons]

RV trader is full of overpriced units right now. For example, the model I’m looking at is advertised at dealers for 25% less in a 4 hour range of my home than most listed on RV Trader by either dealers or private sellers. Facebook groups I’m in are full of users selling on RV Trader at what they owe because dealers are offering them $50k less. Market is full of upside down sellers who jumped in during COVID looking to recoup their losses. Need a way to see what they actually sell for in the end. Is there no “invoice pricing” guides like there are for autos?

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Some people like to use JD Powers as a guide to RV prices. But personally I have never found that it was consistently reliable. To get a good feel for what an RV model is selling for, I usually make a nationwide search on RVTrader or RVT.com and when the results are displayed I sort them by price. Then I throw out the highest and the lowest prices to find prices that are in the middle of the pack. Of course, the prices found that way are only the starting price before negotiation. That has worked well for me and others in the past. Of course, if the market is inflated on an RV model it won't account for that though.

[@robertroth287]

Duane, can you do a video on the after sales add ons that the dealers try and sell you that are often not necessary? I bought a new Thor Magnitude and the finance officer got very upset that I wasn't buying these extra packages.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

That's a great idea Robert. I'll try to put that on the list for future videos. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@cindycierlik8162]

Thank You for the great advice!😉

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

So glad you enjoyed it Cindy. Thanks for watching!

[@josemiguelperezleon5741]

I am going to buy an RV in Clermont Florida. You do inspections in that city in Florida. I want to review it before buying it or if you can recommend someone to me.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Unfortunately my schedule is jam packed for the foreseeable future now, so I won't be able to inspect any RVs for you at this time. But there are plenty of other NRVIA inspectors that I'm sure could do a fine job for you though. Just visit nrvia.org and select "Find An Inspector". Then you can view all of the local inspectors on the map there and contact them about their availability. Any certified NRVIA inspector has the necessary training to provide a top quality RV inspection for you. I usually recommend choosing the one that you feel most comfortable with.

[@Peteville-r5w]

Hello Dwayne I live in Canada and am thinking about joining the RV lifestyle, looking to buy a fairly used Class C and was wondering if you know if we even have inspectors here because I don't seem to be able to get any information on this. I'm always being told basically don't worry about it from my local dealers!

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

There are a couple of certified RV inspectors in Canada at this point. You can find them at nrvia.org/locate/ And I'm not surprised that RV dealers don't want you to get an RV inspection. That's pretty much the fox guarding the hen house. :-)

[@Peteville-r5w]

@@RVInspectionAndCare Thank-you for the link and I apologize for spelling your name incorrectly!🙂👍

[@beverlysmith5843]

How do you get an inspection from an RV dealership. Will they do it, or will they call in one.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Hi Beverly. I would not trust an RV dealer's recommendation for an RV inspector. That's like asking the fox to guard the chicken coop. Instead, you can find and hire a local certified RV inspector using this website - nrvia.org . Just search their map to find the inspectors that are nearby and then contact them about their availability. Thanks for watching this video!

[@mikemills5144]

Trust, but verify. Thanks for the tips.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

So true Mike. But when it comes to working with RV dealers I would put more emphasis on the verify than on the trust part of that wise saying. Thanks for watching the video and leaving such a nice comment!

[@DavidJones-su9ob]

Great video and information! As an old real estate agent, it was customary to include an "inspection contingency" in the purchase agreement. I am relatively new at the RV thing but is there a similar document available for RV contracts? Also, is there a "standard" purchase contract in the RV industry (although this would probably vary depending on state)? Thanks again!

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Hi David. There is not a lot of standardization on sales contracts in the RV industry that I am aware of. Many dealers are resistant to the whole idea of RV inspection before the sale and they don't wish to have any form that includes that stipulation in advance. I just recommend that the RV buyer make it very clear that they will not be taking delivery of the RV until both the inspection is finished and it meets their expectations. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@josemiguelperezleon5741]

Thanks

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Your welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@Wstghntnfk]

Hi Duane! I'm confused on which of your buying guides I should purchase if looking for the best travel trailer brands and buying a used travel trailer. Thank you!

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Hi David. Unfortunately, I don't have a guidebook completed with my full recommended list for travel trailer brands yet. But I hope to have it done by the end of the year. However, my used RV buying guide on RVs in general is called "How To Avoid Buying An RV Money Pit" and it is my most popular guide by far. You can find it here - payhip.com/b/cPLl It would be very helpful to guide you through the buying process and make sure that you get a travel trailer that you can trust. And I also would be available for help along the way too as my personal assistance comes along with any purchase of one of my guidebooks. In the meantime, here is a video I made a few months back that lists a few of the brands that I can recommend for travel trailers - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJ61pmOJoZZ0m5I I hope that helps David. There are lots of brands of travel trailers out there and it can be a challenge to find the ones that are a cut above the rest.

[@roydavis2242]

RV Trader is not a good source for the price on a new RV. Many can only advertise the MSRP. Only negotiate the final price, not the payments and never tell them you're paying cash up-front. RV dealers know many tricks to lower payments, such as extending loan length, requiring more down, or even a "Balloon" payment at the end.

[@AdventuraHighway31]

Could you please give more details about why never tell them you're paying cash up-front? Thanks.

[@roydavis2242]

@@AdventuraHighway31 If they know they won't make any money off financing, they won't reduce the price as much. I negotiate the "Out-the-door" price. I also won't discuss if I have a trade-in.

[@AdventuraHighway31]

@@roydavis2242 Thanks Roy, I will follow your advice👍

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Well, I actually think that both RVTrader and RVT.com can be a great way to get a good feel for what is a fair price for an RV by searching nationwide for the model you are considering. As I said in the video, the prices you will find on those two sites are are "starting" price levels only and you should discount your offer from there. In normal times, I would probably find a median price on these sites for the model I am interested in and then offer 30% or so less than that as a starting point in the price negotiations. But in the current market, you may not get as deep discounts until the supply of RVs for sale on the market is back to more normal levels. As for the other suggestions you had about negotiation tactics, I completely agree with them. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject Roy!

[@roydavis2242]

@@RVInspectionAndCare Actually both Newmar use to prohibit dealerships from advertising sale price only the MSRP, which you can get at their websites. I heard that is supposed to end this year. As I stated, these sources are not a good source for "New" RVs but is great for used. You have places like MHSRV that advertise A minimum discount of 25% on all new units.

[@bobmariano3731]

👍⚾️

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

:-)