These are the secrets most RV
Salespeople hope you Never find out! "Written"
BY LEISURE TRAILER SALES
for those of you out there looking to buy a Fifth-Wheel "new or used" in
the near future, please take the time to read you may be interested in
what you find out.
Since I am about to purchase a new Unit myself it opened my eyes as to
what I should be looking for in a dealership and the service one gets
after the purchase.
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RV Purchase Pitfall #1:
Buying The Wrong RV
For Your Lifestyle And Needs
I've heard more tales of woe and
disappointment than I can count from customers who purchased either the
wrong type of an RV or the wrong floor plan. Everything from buying an
RV with the wrong sleeping arrangements, to getting a dinette that won't
seat enough people, to purchasing a motor home when a 5th wheel would
have given the owner the most convenience, maneuverability and favorable
depreciation factor appropriate for them.
Unfortunately, salespeople may
push you toward a floor plan or RV type that doesn't suit your needs,
because of a pay plan bonus, a "Spiff" on that particular unit or
because it's the only unit they have in stock in your price range. Plus,
not all salespeople bring the same level of commitment, sincerity, and
dedication, to service and quality of advice to their careers. Many
simply don't have the patience to ask all the right questions they
should, in order to be able to advise you as to the Perfect RV for your
needs and budget.
One man I know of wanted to go
camping with a friend who already owned a Recreational vehicle, a Class
"A" motor home, so he started looking in the paper and going from
dealership to dealership in search of a Class "A". But, since the only
reason he had narrowed his search to a Class "A" was because that's what
his friend had. He made a classic "RV Lifestyle" mistake! A year later
(and thousands of dollars poorer) he was trading in for a RV more
suitable to his needs.
When it comes to an investment of
this size, however, it's best not to listen to opinions, but get
Qualified, Expert Professionals advice instead!!!
Visualize Yourself Using Your "RV"
Sometimes it's hard to do, but you
should try to visualize what you want to do when you are using the RV.
Are you going to sit inside all
day and watch TV and sew? Are you going to travel a lot and spend one
night in each location? Or will you go to a campground for several days,
a week or more? Will you leave the trailer at the lake all summer or
move from place to place?
Buy an RV TO HELP YOU ENJOY
WHAT YOU DO!! Don't buy it because it looks good or you think you're
getting a great deal!! The best deal is NOT wasting your money on
something you'll want to trade in or not use. You should buy an RV as a
means to the end, not the end itself!!
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RV Purchase Pitfall #2:
Buying The Wrong RV
Because You Were "High Pressured" By A Salesperson
An RV is a luxury item to be used for
recreation. Why should the buying process be less than enjoyable?? Many
companies sell RV's by "Hounding you until you buy". THIS TYPE OF
DISRESPECTFUL CONDUCT IS OFFENSIVE, AND MIGHT VERY WELL BE THE WAY YOU
ARE TREATED AFTER YOU MAKE THE PURCHASE!
All too often a sales force is
concerned with how many units they sell NOT how many happy customers
they create. If an RV dealership doesn't care that they are aggravating
you before you buy, using high-pressure tactics, why would they be
concerned about aggravating you after you've handed them your
hard-earned money??
Ever wonder why most late model
RV's being advertised for sale by individuals are one or two-year-old
units that haven't been used much? The owners now want to sell the RV
because they made a bad judgment and bought the rig while they were
being high-pressured!!
You will make a better purchase
decision if you avoid buying under these conditions. You'll feel much
better about your decision if you go home and "sleep on it".
RV Purchase Pitfall #3:
Being In Too Big Of A
Hurry To Buy!As
with any discretionary purchase like a Recreational Vehicle, you should
take your time and make sure you get what you want! Don't wait until
Thursday to buy, and plan to use the RV on Friday! You might be
surprised at how many people make campground reservations months in
advance for a Big Holiday weekend and then wait until the week before to
start visiting RV Dealerships.
And I know people who purchased
their RV less than a month before leaving on an extensive cross-country
trip. These people barely leave enough time to pack, let alone have time
to test things out. You must keep in mind…."Murphy's Law".
"IF A SALES PERSON PROMISES YOU
NOTHING CAN GO WRONG"…HE IS LYING!!!!!!!!!"
A test trip, whether it's called a
maiden voyage or a shake down cruise or whatever, is the only smart way
to begin extended travel. Waiting until the last minute also makes you
an easy "Mark" for a pushy salesperson who may be more interested in his
commission than your needs. You'll be told this is the best deal
available and it's only good for today!!
Also, you may not have enough time
for the special after market options you want to be ordered and
installed. This means you and your family must take your first trip in
your RV without the very things that make it special for you! It might
be an awning or screen room, jacks or a bike rack. If it's what your
family needs, it's a mistake to take off without it!!
TAKE THE TIME TO GET A REAL
"FEEL" FOR WHAT LIFE WILL BE LIKE IN YOUR NEW RV!
Sometimes it's a good idea to make
several trips to the dealership and just sit in the RV you're
considering. This helps you get a real "feel" for the ambiance of the
RV, and may help you decide whether it feels right for you! A
salesperson should be glad to leave you alone if you tell him what you
are doing.
If you take your time to purchase
a particular unit from a reputable dealer, and the dealer sells it while
you're pondering, don't worry, he can get another one just like it or
may even have it on order.
RV Purchase Pitfall #4:
Thinking That The
Company That Offers The Lowest Price Is Always The One You Should Buy
FromNobody wants
to pay "Too Much" for anything, and an RV is a relatively expensive
anything. However, one of the biggest mistakes we see people making over
and over again is purchasing an RV from the lowest price dealer, without
considering the overall cost of the decision!!!!
BUT SHOPPING AND
COMPARING…ISN'T THAT A GOOD THING? ESPECIALLY WHEN CONSIDERING SUCH A
MAJOR PURCHASE??
The answer is yes… and no. Here's
why! When looking at the price of an RV, there are three important
points to consider!
A. Quite simply,
ALL RV'S ARE
NOT THE SAME!!!!
You can't shop and compare them as though they were toothpaste! Some
brands have regional differences in their products because they are
shipped from different manufacturing plants. There are regional brand
RV's that are built for and marketed only in certain portions of the
country. There are Canadian products too, which get included in U.S.
publications. Different States have different code requirements, just
like the provinces of Canada. Most of all dealers order units with
different option packages.
So, shopping and comparing isn't
as easy as you might think. You may drive a few hundred miles to save
$500.00, only to discover the unit isn't equipped as you expected, and
adding the equipment at aftermarket prices is more costly than the
$500.00 you thought you saved!!
Or, you may completely fall in
love with a brand or floor plan that is not carried by anyone in the
area you live. Will you still love it when there is no authorized
warranty service center near you? Will you still love it when every
little part is a special order item that takes weeks to get from the
factory, or having to drop your unit off for repairs some 200 miles away
and then having to make another 200 mile trip to pick it up?
So, when you compare prices form
one dealer to another, be sure you are comparing "Apples to Apples", in
other words, compare similar quality units that are equipped the same!
Just as if you were shopping for a new automobile. There are huge
differences in models produced by the same manufacturer.
B. The price you get quoted may
not be the price you pay!
Too many Rver's have discovered
this the hard way! You may have been a victim of this yourself. You may
have discovered that some RV dealers quote low prices in their ads or
over the phone… and then pressure you into paying a lot more once they
get you to the dealership, or they suddenly spring on you all the hidden
costs they forgot to tell you about before. Some of them even may break
the law by using illegal bait and switch tactics.
And if they enticed you to travel
or fly some distance with a low price offer, they know chances are good
they can pressure you into buying anyway!! After all, you've invested
time and money and already told your friends you'd be driving back with
you new RV!
THE RV INDUSTRY
IS LIKE ANY OTHER"
As in all business, the RV
industry has its share of bad apples. I take no pleasure in telling you
this, but some are unethical. And sadly, a few are downright dishonest.
By their misleading advertising and false promises, they cast a dark
shadow on our entire industry.
Then you'll find other
dealers…professionals like myself, who work hard to earn your respect
and trust. As a way of improving our industry, I've dedicated my
business to educating the public. The only way you can make an
intelligent decision is to have all the facts you need.
C. It is possible to pay too much for
a lower quality RV!The
least expensive trailer, 5th wheel or motor home is not always the best
buy. Remember, "The bitter taste of low quality remains long after the
sweet smell of low price is gone". If you buy the cheapest RV you can
find, that's exactly what you will have.
If you are tempted by claims of
"lowest price", keep in mind the wisdom of these words from John Ruskin:
"THERE IS HARDLY ANYTHING IN
THE WORLD THAT SOME MAN CAN NOT MAKE A LITTLE WORSE AND SELL A LITTLE
CHEAPER, AND THE PEOPLE WHO CONSIDER PRICE ONLY ARE THIS MAN'S LAWFUL
PREY"!!
Everyone knows you get what you
pay for. If a dealer cuts his prices so low they seem almost too good to
be true, they are!! In order to stay in business, he will be forced to
cut corners on service and support and may not even give any service
whatsoever! Another important aspect is to avoid buying what is referred
to as a "GYPSY TRAILER", you may have seen ads in the paper where
someone has a new trailer in a campground and a hard luck story about
why he must sell, and he is willing to take a big loss on it!!
EVER
WONDER WHY!
hese types of off-brand name units
are the most inferior built on the road, usually with little or no
insulation, sub-standard electrical wiring, sub-standard wall studs and
no telling what else! WHY DO YOU THINK REPUTABLE DEALERS WILL NOT
CARRY THIS PRODUCT??
If you buy a gypsy trailer, you
have no dealer to service it and are definitely headed for a lot of
headaches even though you can buy it cheap!! If you buy from a dealer
that is in sales only, who is going to service you after the sale? These
dealers are ones that create a bad image in our industry, upsetting
customers when they are entitled to warranty work and getting it done. I
honestly can't believe why someone would invest thousands of dollars
with someone who will give them NO support after the sale!!!
At LEISURE TRAILER SALES we
only carry brand name RV's that have proven track records. Such huge
Corporations such as Jayco, Star craft, Road trek, Laredo, Montana,
Mountaineer, Sprinter, and Chalet have chosen us.
We avoid "fly by night manufacturers"
that have a history of high turnover on their product lines, which can
lead to very poor quality control and warranty service.
Before you take delivery of a unit
from us, we have performed an 85-point pre-delivery inspection, which
usually takes 4 to 8 hours. Included are tests on the water pump, water
lines, waste tanks, fresh water tank, drain fittings, dump valves,
propane gas lines, gas pressure regulator, thermostats on appliances,
operation of appliances, running lights and brakes, just to name a few!
RV Purchase Pitfall #5:
Not Determining The
Dealer's Attitude Towards Service After The Sale… Before You Buy
Don't fool yourself into thinking
that when you buy an RV nothing will go wrong with any of the
components. IF A SALESPERSON
TELLS YOU THIS, HE IS LYING! Pure
and Simple.
Any warranty that is given or
purchased for a new or used RV means absolutely
NOTHING
if the dealership doesn't have a good
attitude about backing it up! Prompt, expert and thorough service after
the sale is the MOST important aspect of enjoying your new
purchase and can't be stressed enough!!!
BEFORE you
buy, I strongly recommend you take the following 5 steps:
- Always ask to see the service
area of a dealership. If it is dirty, not organized or messy, your
RV will be treated the same way. Do service personnel use vulgar
language about customers or their RV?
Both our service area and personnel are courteous, clean, sober and
competent, and all units brought in for service are returned to you
in immaculate condition.
- Ask about the level of
experience and education of service personnel. Will a high school
kid service your unit after school? Or are the technicians licensed
and qualified? Do they have the proper equipment to test, diagnose
and repair your RV? Does it have the facility and parts inventory to
repair your RV on a timely basis?
Be sure to ask how much on-going training the service technicians
are required to take. New, more efficient and reliable technology
for repairing RV's is constantly being developed. Our technicians
are licensed and update their expertise continually. They average 30
hours of advanced training each year through manufacturers training
programs and RV dealer association training schools.
- Check with the local Better
Business Bureau to determine the dealers' integrity and find out if
they have any lawsuits filed against them by unhappy customers.
- Find out if the dealer has a
toll-free phone number so you can contact them if you have a problem
or question.
- This is very important! Ask
the dealer for the names of at least 3 customers you can talk to.
This is the best way to determine and verify the dealers' attitude
toward service after the sale. Ask the dealers references the
following questions:
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Were they put off for a
week or more when they needed work done before their dealer
could get to them? |
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Did the dealer always say
"you need to take it back to the factory to get that fixed"
or did the dealer fix it himself? |
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Does the dealer service
your unit promptly, or does he take 2 or 3 weeks so you
can't even use it? |
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What is the dealers'
reputation? Does he " Go the extra mile" to assure his
customers get the service they deserve? |
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Did the dealer ever say
he's fix something and you know he really did nothing? |
Finally, find out if a dealer
guarantees, in writing, all their repairs. WE DO!! Leisure Trailer Sales
promise to you is…
IF YOU ARE NOT
SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE JOB WE HAVE PERFORMED ON YOUR NEW OR USED RV,
WE WILL PROMPTLY RE-DO THE WORK FOR FREE! AND IF YOU STILL AREN'T
PLEASED, IT WILL COST YOU ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR LABOUR , NOT ONE
CENT!!!!
RV Purchase Pitfall #6:
Thinking You Can Get
A Better Deal By Shopping Out Of The Area Dealers
Open any national RV publication and
you'll see ads blaring headlines like "Lowest Prices In The Country",
"We'll Beat Anybody's Deal", and "Never Undersold". Quite frankly, most
of these dealers know they will never see you again for service.
Unfortunately, when you get home,
eventually you'll need warranty work or serviced performed. However, the
local dealerships may not want to or may not be able to have much to do
with you.
Look at it from the dealerships
perspective. Who do you think I (or any dealer) feel obligated to give
priority service to? The customer who bought from me or the person who
bought somewhere else and thinks I should drop everything and give him
the same prompt service? If you bought from me, wouldn't you want to
know that you come first? So don't be surprised when you buy elsewhere,
then look for service locally and find yourself being put at the end of
the line, which could mean a 3 or 4-week delay!
If you don't mind driving hours
for service, and if you don't mind waiting for parts to be special
ordered, and if you don't find any value in establishing a long term
relationship with a local dealer who understands that building a
successful, lasting business comes from exceeding customer's
expectations, so they buy from them again and again, then go ahead and
shop the countryside. But don't say you weren't warned! You lose all
rights to moan and complain if you get ripped off or get stuck needing
something close to home
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RV Purchase
Pitfall #7:
Taking Delivery Of
Any RV Without Getting A Proper Walk Through Demonstration
This is a VITAL MUST!!!!!!
Any dealer who won't show you how to use everything on the rig you're
buying from him is certainly either trying to hide something or just
doesn't care about customer satisfaction or he's not sure how to operate
the vehicle himself. This happens a lot with the dealers that only sell
RV's and don't care about service. "EITHER WAY, HE SHOULD NOT
DESERVE
YOUR BUSINESS"!
There are two main reasons to get
a thorough walk through demonstration. First, to make sure you know how
all the components of your RV operate, and second, if the seller says
"everything works" you can count on the fact that everything doesn't!!
In many cases, the seller
"thought" everything worked, but that doesn't help you when you can't
get the furnace to work at the campground. My experience is that most
sellers don't do any walk through, let alone a proper show-through at
delivery. This is important to you because the cost to repair a single
system or appliance can be several hundred or thousands of dollars! Not
to mention the inconvenience of having to take your RV in for service,
or having your trip or vacation plans ruined! It can all be
AVOIDED!!
YOU SHOULD NOT
MAKE A PURCHASE FROM A DEALER WHO, WHEN YOU TAKE POSSESSION OF THE RV,
TELLS YOU, "HERE IT IS, THANKS FOR YOUR MONEY, GOOD BYE!!!" ANY
DEALERSHIP THAT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH
USING THE RIG PROBABLY WON'T CARE ABOUT HOW HAPPY YOU ARE DOWN THE ROAD.
Don't be fooled by the "Gypsy
Dealers" or the "Car Lot Dealers" that sell RV's and have no service
facilities to back them up!!
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WARNING WHEN BUYING A USED RV…
This demonstration is especially
useful when buying a used RV. If you are not getting a warranty with
your used RV, you should NOT pay for it until you are shown that
everything is in good working condition. If you do nothing else, make
sure the refrigerator is cold in both compartments before taking
delivery. RV refrigerators use a different cooling process than your
home refrigerator. This process takes about 2 to 3 hours to get cold. If
the cooling unit of the fridge is defective, your cost to replace it can
easily run from $500.00 to over $1000.00 |
It is a proven fact that Rving use is one
of the most enjoyable and inexpensive ways for a family to spend quality time
together. There are a lot of factors to consider before buying the right RV,
such as tow vehicles, sleeping space, how much cargo will you need to carry,
etc. Hopefully this report has shed some light on some of the most common
mistakes we see people make. Nothing gives me a more satisfying feeling than to
see our customers get unlimited hours of enjoyment using their RV.
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