RV Dealers

RV Dealers are sometimes rolled into the same category as used car salesmen.  However, any really reputable dealer is going to be more interested in helping you find the right RV at the right price than in making a fast sale.  You may encounter high pressure tactics in some places.  After all, most salesmen work on commission and need the sales to make a living.  But a good salesman will know he's better off helping you make the right decision than pushing you into something you'll regret just to pad his next paycheck.  He or she will be focused on the long term instead of the short term.   If you're happy with your purchase, you're likely to return when you outgrow your RV or are ready for an upgrade and you'll probably tell your friends and bring him more business.   If he pushes you to buy something you won't be happy with, you are likely to go elsewhere for your next purchase and will probably not refer your friends if not dissuade your friends from ever coming in.  To me, high pressure tactics are an immediate indicator to look somewhere else.   Reputable dealers can be a tremendous help when you're looking to buy an RV.  They know the market and can guide you in finding the unit that fits your needs and your budget.  You may pay a little more from a dealer because he has to pay his salesmen, cover any reconditioning he has done and set aside an allowance for any needed warranty work.  In many cases, meeting his price is well worth it.  It can add peace of mind and may actually save you money in he long run.

Finding a really reputable dealer involves more than just checking out the Yellow Pages or doing a simple Google search.  Check the Internet for any feedback from other customers.  Check your local Better Business Bureau.  Any business may get complaints, but a very strong indicator of the character of the business and the owner is how they handle problems.  Briefly check out the used inventory.  It should be clean and attractively displayed.  A good dealer is going to wholesale unusable units and detail good ones so they show well.  Check out the service department if you can. Mechanics should be properly certified.  Certifications are usually clearly displayed in an area where customers can easily view them.  The service bays should be clean and well organized.  You might get a low price buying an RV from a used car lot, but if they don't specialize in used RVs, it is unlikely they have the experience or knowledge to provide good advice, proper inspection and reconditioning, or adequate warranty service.

Beware of unusually low prices.   I remember a sign at one store that read "We have no problem with those who sell for less. They know what their products are worth."  You can expect to pay more for a used RV from a dealer than from a private party, but it may very well be worth it.  The dealer's price includes the salesman's commission, any re-conditioning that was required, and an allowance for any warranty offered.  In most states, any vehicle must pass minimum safety requirements before a dealer can offer it for sale.   Other re-conditioning may reduce the amount of repairs, upgrades, or other TLC the dealer has done that otherwise you may have to do when you get it home.  Private parties are not bound by the laws affecting retailers so you could end up with serious safety issues if you don't have any private party purchase checked by a competent mechanic and/or technician before you buy.   For your own comfort you may want to have your mechanic check out ANY used vehicle, even if you are buying it from a dealer.  If you find an exceptionally good price on a unit you are interested in buying, don't be afraid to ask why the price is so low.  Perhaps it is a consignment vehicle and the owner needs a quick sale due to a medical or financial emergency.  Perhaps the dealer obtained it at at good price through an estate sale or as a repossession.  Perhaps it was advertised as a "loss leader" -- merchants will sometimes offer certain products below their cost just to lure customers into the store, hoping to make it up on sales of other items.   If there is no legitimate reason for the reduced price, it may be because there is some hidden underlying problem that is too expensive for the dealer to repair.  Sometimes you can make out on such a unit, IF you are aware or the issue(s) and you are prepared to take care of the repairs yourself and the price leaves you enough to compensate for the work that needs to be done.

"Special sale prices" are often worth checking out.  Dealers may offer one or more units as "loss leaders" to bring people into the dealership.  They will, of course, try to steer you to higher priced vehicles, but once they have advertised a certain vehicle at a certain price, they are legally obligated to honor the offer.  They may try to up sell you on something better, but if you are satisfied with the sale unit, you may indeed get a good deal if you insist on buying it.  Some shady dealers may offer a sub-standard unit at ridiculously low prices knowing no one will want to buy it.   If you repeatedly find the specially priced unit has been sold before your get there or the "special" is just a piece of junk, the dealer might be running a false ad, which is worthy of both reporting to the Better Business Bureau and your Attorney General.   Legitimate dealers won't play those games.

Let's Make A Deal!