Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Thor Forums > Thor Community Forums > Thor Owners Community Discussions
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-13-2016, 01:34 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Mr Sunshine's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2023 Jayco Precept 31UL
State: Florida
Posts: 2,914
THOR #1589
Shady Truth about Buying an RV

For folks considering an RV purchase, here is a great resource for answering many of your questions: Shady Truth about Buying an RV
The authors are full time RVers, and this is from their blog. Experienced RV owners will find a lot to agree with. Examples: The "we won't service you" scare tactic that dealers use to persuade you to buy from them, and "the buyer knows more than the salesman." It is short and to the point. Recommended reading.
BTW, they have great RV how-to videos, too.

__________________
Life is better when you cry a little, laugh a lot, and are thankful for everything you've got!
Mr Sunshine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2016, 09:52 PM   #2
vkb
Senior Member
 
vkb's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1 KC's Big Box
State: Kansas
Posts: 2,171
THOR #3510
I read this article....interesting...
however, I think the buying public is alot smarter today, than yesterday.
We search and research everything before we buy, and with just cause.
The internet has afforded us this luxury which gets better every day.
For instance this Forum...10 yrs ago...this plethora of information did not exist
with the stroke of a few keys.

Another thing I find interesting...when we visit an RV Dealer..which we seem to do whether or not we are shopping...it is just what we do.
Often, no one comes to try to sell us a unit. We walk for 30-45 minutes..in and out of coaches, etc...looking...sometimes for mods and ideas.
Occasionally, someone will approach us...but, we are left alone, for the most part, to do our search.
__________________
Ron & Kay n KC too !
2001 Scamp 13'
'KC's Little Box'
Jeep Wrangler TJ
vkb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2016, 11:53 PM   #3
Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
Quote:
Originally Posted by vkb
Another thing I find interesting...when we visit an RV Dealer..which we seem to do whether or not we are shopping...it is just what we do.
Often, no one comes to try to sell us a unit. We walk for 30-45 minutes..in and out of coaches, etc...looking...sometimes for mods and ideas.
Occasionally, someone will approach us...but, we are left alone, for the most part, to do our search.
The dealers around here keep all the outside coaches locked. If you want to see one you have to go ask..which naturally involves a salesman dogging you after that.

Hence the only time we go looking like that is at the shows.
__________________
2022 Thor Axis 24.4
2021 Mach-E
blog - https://spareelectrons.wordpress.com/
JamieGeek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2016, 04:34 AM   #4
vkb
Senior Member
 
vkb's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1 KC's Big Box
State: Kansas
Posts: 2,171
THOR #3510
Quote:
Originally Posted by JamieGeek View Post
The dealers around here keep all the outside coaches locked. If you want to see one you have to go ask..which naturally involves a salesman dogging you after that.

Hence the only time we go looking like that is at the shows.
Really?!!! .... we have not run into that situation. We browse CW in KC at will..and a couple others in our area ...and have done so at several dealerships in Florida and CW in Omaha.
__________________
Ron & Kay n KC too !
2001 Scamp 13'
'KC's Little Box'
Jeep Wrangler TJ
vkb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2016, 10:48 AM   #5
Site Team
 
EA37TS's Avatar
 
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,726
THOR #1469
Quote:
Originally Posted by JamieGeek View Post
The dealers around here keep all the outside coaches locked. If you want to see one you have to go ask..which naturally involves a salesman dogging you after that.

Hence the only time we go looking like that is at the shows.
The same applies in my area. The dealers keep them locked unless they are having some type of special sale such as Memorial Day and then they will bring select units up front and have those unlocked for the day. The majority however are on the lot locked until you talk to a sales person.

I have noticed, however, when travelling and going to a Camping World they generally have all of theirs unlocked and some are trashed from folks walking through them day in and day out with them being cleaned.
__________________
Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
EA37TS is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2016, 11:36 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37KT
State: Texas
Posts: 235
THOR #1183
Interesting that some dealers keep new rigs locked but leave customer owned rigs in for service UNLOCKED!.
__________________
ctpres is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2016, 12:55 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
jpmihalk's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 35C
State: South Dakota
Posts: 1,132
THOR #3761
In our 3+ years of RV shopping, we have seen everything from a sales person who spent an entire day showing us everything in the Newmar line (and knowing we wouldn't be purchasing soon) to dealers who leave everything unlocked to dealers who schedule a sales person to take you to the units they feel meet your requirements. We have even been given a pager and told the next available sales person would page us (and waited over 2 hours, after driving 2 hours to look) and immediately lost any potential sale.

In the end, it came down to getting to know the sales person and the dealership as well as talking to many, many people who went through the process of buying their motorhomes like we were and listening and learning from all of the resources available.

I agree that there are many more resources available today but the best path is still to go through RV shows and go to as many dealers as it takes to get fully ready for the whole process of selecting a model, choosing a dealer, making a deal and then getting the financing or closing the deal in the way that makes you happy.
__________________
John
2016 Thor Hurricane 35C with pups Piper and Annabelle
2013 Ford Fiesta toad
FMCA - F457085
Blog - https://traversity.us
jpmihalk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2016, 01:19 PM   #8
vkb
Senior Member
 
vkb's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1 KC's Big Box
State: Kansas
Posts: 2,171
THOR #3510
We go to RV Show in Kansas City each January .. Having shopped online for several months when we decided the toy hauler was not for us .. We went to the RV Show ... CW did not have the 24.1 at the show but the salesman from Atlanta arranged a test drive for us .. 2 days later we were back to do the deal !

So... We agree .. A show offers you many options .. Without a lot of pressure .. And,often, that is where you will get a decent price reduction .
__________________
Ron & Kay n KC too !
2001 Scamp 13'
'KC's Little Box'
Jeep Wrangler TJ
vkb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2016, 01:29 PM   #9
Site Team
 
EA37TS's Avatar
 
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,726
THOR #1469
Quote:
Originally Posted by ctpres View Post
Interesting that some dealers keep new rigs locked but leave customer owned rigs in for service UNLOCKED!.
We had a Camping World salesperson try selling us a customer owned Outlaw 38RE that was in for warranty repairs while the owners were sitting in the waiting area. The salesman was so idiotic he couldn't take my wife's hint when she asked if Thor or Camping World selects the food inside the fridge or if you provide your own shopping list. We immediately exited the coach and the owner walked up while the salesperson was trying to convince us to put down a deposit because he had another customer interested in that specific coach. That was the last time we darkened the doorway of any Camping World for any reason. We could still hear parts of the conversation between the owner, salesperson and CW manager as we drove out of the parking lot.
__________________
Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
EA37TS is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2016, 03:16 PM   #10
vkb
Senior Member
 
vkb's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1 KC's Big Box
State: Kansas
Posts: 2,171
THOR #3510
Quote:
Originally Posted by dstankov View Post
We had a Camping World salesperson try selling us a customer owned Outlaw 38RE that was in for warranty repairs while the owners were sitting in the waiting area. The salesman was so idiotic he couldn't take my wife's hint when she asked if Thor or Camping World selects the food inside the fridge or if you provide your own shopping list. We immediately exited the coach and the owner walked up while the salesperson was trying to convince us to put down a deposit because he had another customer interested in that specific coach. That was the last time we darkened the doorway of any Camping World for any reason. We could still hear parts of the conversation between the owner, salesperson and CW manager as we drove out of the parking lot.
WOW ! crazy story ! At our CW units in for repair are tagged on the windshield with corresponding tag on work order. And...our CW just bought adjoining land for service building and parking area, especially for customer owned units.

Our CW was privately owned until 2 yrs ago...and I think their philosophy has carried over to a certain extent.

Sound like we are fortunate to have a good dealer in our area...hope it stays that way. I have heard ownership of CW is not good...I will leave it at that.
__________________
Ron & Kay n KC too !
2001 Scamp 13'
'KC's Little Box'
Jeep Wrangler TJ
vkb is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Thor Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.




All times are GMT. The time now is 02:15 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2