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Good day, Sue, We have sent you an e-mail with the bid request document. We also included RV Direct in our bids, we actually talked to all the bidders prior to the bid request and we researched the actual owners cost from Thor. RV direct did not come in best bid. Our decision was based on analyses of the proposals’ responses to with respect to price, location, ongoing warranty and service options and options for aftermarket equipment modifications. After the first request a couple of the bidders asked us to call back with the best price we get then they would talk! So we sent the following clarification note:
"A brief Clarification on our Request for bid to purchase Thor Motorhomes Axis / Vegas 25.2 RV
Good Evening folks, thank you for your assistance,
After receiving a couple of questions / comments it may be useful to share some information / guidance on our current RV purchase bid request. For example, last December our company was requested to bid on support to 3 projects for the NASA Cleveland Glenn Facility. Management called the team together and asked us the question, “Would we like to have a reasonable % of something” rather than have “100% of nothing if we bid too high?” The team crafted our company’s bid based on that statement knowing that we would have one chance at the opportunity to bid and we would essentially have no further conversation before the bid was awarded … other than any clarification on scope questions prior to bid submission.
This bidding approach may be unusual for some of you, who may be more familiar with conducting client purchase negotiations over time, and perhaps even potentially being subjected to “price wars” generated by your potential clients roaming between dealers pitting one against the other. This is not our intention. Our sole intention is to assume you will have provided us up front with your very best cost and response to the points in the Thor Axis / Vegas RV bid request … and all we have to do is assess the bids received and the answers received and to award the order without any further discussion. … (other than to advise the unsuccessful bidders after the order has been placed.)
Please understand, if you choose not to offer your very best bid we do not intend to initiate negotiations or in any way start playing one dealer against the other dealer(s). We are on a time clock and we will place the order on schedule.
Again thank you again so much for all your efforts to assist us in our RV purchase experience."
... Ethically when one uses this approach one has to be (1) Willing not to play one dealer off against the other after the bid is received and (2) MOST IMPORTANTLY ... be actually ready to write a check the day after the bids are received ... otherwise I do not recommend this approach.
It worked for us but may not suit other folks.
Good Luck,
James
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