Travelr
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
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Joined: 10/24/2006
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So........where do all of you negotiators think the prices should be? Cost, below costs? Should the dealer make a couple bucks? How about the salesman? I understand that the product is depreciating as it sits there, the flooring costs continue. But just when does the dealer just close the door, give the inventory to the bank and quit?
What would move a dealer to pay you even wholesale book for your rig, then sell the new rig at or below costs? The dealer is better off to keep the new product which he can give back to the bank as opposed to having whatever money he may have invested in your used rig. Oh yea, he can get flooring on your trade in but at a higher interest rate than the new rig. So what's his motivation? Get your beat up thing and see a new fresh rig burning gas? (that's what we use to say in the car business. It isn't a deal until the tail lights cross the curb...or...It's not a deal until it's burning gas.)
I know you are all smarting than this. Many of you have been in business. You know what it takes to run a business, how to make a deal. And if the RV dealer is like the car dealer, there is little or no money to be made in the front end (that's the show room and the selling of the vehicle.) The flooring or holding costs, the salesman, managers, accounting and more. You use to be able to make a few dollars in the F&I department (finance and insurance) (in fact make more money there than you do on the vehicle generally speaking) The money is in the service department and parts department. No, I am not in the car business anymore.....done, finished, and gone...
Ken Cash
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WA1RI
FL
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Joined: 09/26/2004
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Travelr has it right, and LV Thom, you have to realize that the other dealers with the 84 and 87 were no trade numbers, this was all discount. If you put in your trade it is going to be wholesale book or a little less.
If you want to do comparisons, you need apples and apples.
Ever negotiate at a restaurant for a cup of coffee? Their markup is WAY higher than an RV.
Bill & Jolene / FL
1997 Southwind 35P
2006 Yamaha 1100 Classic &
1970 Norton Commando 750 in state of recuperation (Almost road ready!!!)
6x12 Enclosd trailer
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BroncoRVer
8,600 feet elevation, Colorado
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Joined: 07/22/2005
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John S. wrote: I now Winnie shut down for a couple weeks and Fleetwood has not made a profit is a number of years.
Just FYI.....Winnebago shut down its assembly line for one week.
2006 Winnebago Voyage 35A, W-22
Brake Buddy, Aventa II tow bar, Protect-A-Tow
2005 Hyundai Elantra toad
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Finally
Arkansas
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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Everyone we've talked to plans to keep the rv they have, (which will hurt new and used sales), and try to cut down on everything else. Many have decided not to take long trips due to high fuel prices. Now the Corp of Engineers are planning to lease or sell the campgrounds to private owners. At least people could go camping for a reasonable price. The Corp closed all the campgrounds but one last fall, winter, and spring, so this news doesn't come as a surprise. It just seems that many things in America are going to be a memory. We spent most of our childhood camping in Corp parks, and it is sad to see them go public. We live in a tourist town, and business is down this week end. Boats and RV's are going to be a hard sell.
A couple that had planned to go to on a trip to florida this summer said they had decided to camp in their drive way and watch the Travel Channel.
2005 Tiffin Phaeton 40QDH
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
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Crespro
Camarillo, CA
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Joined: 07/23/2004
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We are on our first 600 mile trip this year and there are about two or three DPs in our campground. RVing will not disappear, but it will be much slower until everyone adjusts to $5/gallon diesel.
I plan to fill up in the morning and try to smile as I do so. The good news for us is that we can still take our 4,000 mile trip in July even with these prices. I am thankful that diesel is still available.
Folks like us will hold on to their RVs. This will make life quite difficult for the RV manufacturers if diesel holds at $5. Monaco, Tiffin and Newmar may be the survivors.
I like our DP better and better every time I pass a gas station.
Crespro 2005 Diplomat 40 PAQ/2008 Saturn Vue XR AWD
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moisheh
North America
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Joined: 05/04/2002
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No mfr. is immune from the lack of RV sales. Foretravel is paying your gas and all maintenance for the whole warranty period. The last FMCA magazine had an add for Prevost conversions at 40% discount. Coachman has had to use key man life insurance as collateral for a loan. Watch and see a few more bite the dust. I would guess: Coachman and Country Coach as next on the list. I feel for the employees. It must be devastating.
Moisheh
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BGlegal1
Houston, Texas
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Joined: 06/22/2004
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I have been looking at travel trailers recently, (for the deer lease) and the salesmen I've run across are either living in a fantasy world or think I am. One of them told me "oh heck no, we're still blowing them of the lot, everything from these smaller bumper pulls you are looking at to the big diesels." I told him I'd heard some of the manufacturers were hurting and some had even closed down and he responded "categorically untrue". Incredible.
2005 Excursion 39S
DW, DD, DS
2004 Tahoe 4x4 Toad
FMCA 347493
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Herewego
Larry Cad drives the ACORN Express!
Senior Member
Joined: 10/16/2002
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We looked at a leftover 2006 last Fall. A little less than 30% off of sticker was the price. Regardless of how it was backed into, that was the number.
It's still at that dealership, unsold.
We would have pulled the trigger on a deal if it was the right number.
Also shot a couple of offers to a couple of dealers online, this past Winter. They were not doing much more than 20 - 25% off of the leftover 2007's. With, or without a trade.
We're happy with ours. Each time we look, it kind of reinforces the idea that it's best, for now, to hold on to the one we have. We're in no rush.
Rumors are swirling about one of the local Long Island dealers. Rumors are just that. Time will tell. If they are indeed having issues, I have to believe it's a result of the horrific service they've offered to many folks here on the Island. Drop off the motorhome and it never gets touched. You then get a call to come get it. When you get there, it's not been touched. I stopped trying to figure out the logic of that one about a year ago. Heard another story about them this weekend.
The sales numbers don't lie. Times are tough for RV dealers. The smug ones from the past few years are reaping the benefits of what they sowed.
2004 Coachmen Aurora on a FORD V-10 Chassis
2004 Jeep Liberty
Don't take your organs to Heaven. Heaven knows we need them here! Dave has a dog named Muffy and Mike owns a Cockapoo!
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vacman
Indiana
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Joined: 02/27/2008
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BGlegal1 wrote:I have been looking at travel trailers recently, (for the deer lease) and the salesmen I've run across are either living in a fantasy world or think I am. One of them told me "oh heck no, we're still blowing them of the lot, everything from these smaller bumper pulls you are looking at to the big diesels." I told him I'd heard some of the manufacturers were hurting and some had even closed down and he responded "categorically untrue". Incredible.
I guess these dealers have to play the dumb part.My full intent this past spring was to order a new 2009 43' Dutch Star. i wanted a best price, no trade cash out price. So all of the dealers i would talk to, could all compare apples to apples, I got a order worksheet from Newmar ( Base prices and option prices on sheet) Filled out this sheet of options I wanted. I called 4 dealers and asked if they wanted to give me a price (with the understanding that I was sending the same sheet to 4 other dealers), and they agreed. It so happened that the 2009 43' Ducth Star, is now the Dutch Aire. I think all 4 dealer were shooting me pretty straight, because they all came back with-in a couple hundred dollars. MSRP was $342,687.00, and I could buy for straight out, no trade for $246,734.00. things have changed in my business, so I have decided to put the coach on hold for time being. Last week I had a dealer call and said he had a whale of a deal on a 2007 43' Dutch Star for only $248,000.00. I told him I thought he was a little high because I know for a fact I could buy a 2009 43' Dutch Aire for $247,000.00. He said" You must be mistaken, because I have to give more than that." Buyers have to understand there are 2 prices when it comes to buying a car, MH, 5th wheel. #1 The cash out No Trade Price. #2 the price they have to hold up if you have a trade.
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horizon451
Henderson, NV
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Joined: 02/19/2006
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This past week Paul Evert's RV was having a parking lot sale at the Sunset Station Casino in Henderson. They had well over 100 rigs of all types. Repo's, rental returns, some new, some used etc. Some of the stock came from dealers that closed and the bank(s) contracted with them to sell the RV's for whatever they could get. Needless to say there were some good deals. One example was a 2006 Dutch Star with lots of options, 20K miles, clean, 400 Cummins etc. for $185K. They had several Travel Supremes, one of which, an '05 45', my wife really liked and they just said to make an offer as it was a repo and they take offers to the bank that owns it to see if they will take it.
It's too bad we are not in the market for a different coach as we have decided to keep our coach for quite a while longer.
'02 Itasca Horizon 36LD
'02 Jeep GC toad
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