Dealership question

[dkoldman]

Gosh I love pictures. Look at the pictures and then read to see what it is. Impressive

 

[saddlesore-THOR]

But
Sheep are for shearing.
Go in blind, come out poor.

and financially nekkid

 

[Frank@TheRVShop]

Hello, first time posting, first time RV owner, we are in the process of buying our first RV , we live six hours from the dealer that we are buying it from we are discussing and dealing mostly over the phone, one of the things the sales person told us is that we need to pay a non listed $2000 inspection fee for the vehicle, this RV was transferred from another dealership and they feel that they need to go through the vehicle again and they want us to pay, i’m just curious is this legitimate? I understand that Thor has some quality control issues however I feel that things would be covered under warranty and this does not justify paying a $2000 inspection fee on top. Thanks for your help!

Having an independent inspector go through an RV you are about to buy is always a good idea. In this case it does not sound like it is an independent inspector. 2k paid to whom? The dealership for their own techs to do the inspection? Ummmmm, no. Flat out ridiculous. A PDI should be done on any RV that is being sold by a dealership - at their own cost. Then if you want to hire an independent inspector to do an inspection for you then you will have another set of independent, unbiased eyes go through it. Stay away from this place brother.

 

[Bob Nodine]

Having an independent inspector go through an RV you are about to buy is always a good idea. In this case it does not sound like it is an independent inspector. 2k paid to whom? The dealership for their own techs to do the inspection? Ummmmm, no. Flat out ridiculous. A PDI should be done on any RV that is being sold by a dealership - at their own cost. Then if you want to hire an independent inspector to do an inspection for you then you will have another set of independent, unbiased eyes go through it. Stay away from this place brother.

Read post #27. He hired an independent inspector who went over the coach with a fine tooth comb and sent him an extensive report complete with pictures and arrows on the back (yes Alice's Restaurant, I am that old). He refused to pay the dealership the $2000 and told them to stuff that.

 

[ducksface]

They were 8x10 color glossy's with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one?

Was his name Obie?

 

[Bob Nodine]

They were 8x10 color glossy's with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one?

Was his name Obie?

Yes, my memory is fading!

What about the bit at the induction center where he said he wanted to eat dead burned bodies and burn women and children's houses. He was their man until they found out he had been arrested for littering!

For those wondering what the heck me and the Duck are talking about:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/brief-history-alices-restaurant-180967276/

 

[usmcsarge]

You are asking the right questions and good on you for doing your homework. You have gotten a lot of good responces here and I agree fully with taking this to the Manufactures Service Center for all of your warranty work. Fortunately, you are 296 miles from Thor's in Wakarusa IN. I have purchased 2 class A's and on my second one from 2019, the Service Center is the only one (except for immediate repairs) I have taken it to. Parts warehouse is across the street so you don't typically have long delays. They work by appointments only so you won't have it sitting there for weeks on end. They also have a decent lounge as you wait and at the end of the day, they move it out where you have power, water and a dump station so you have a free place to stay at night. They have all been super and I guarantee that you will have a large list of "repairs needed" after you buy it (we all have). Give it all to the repair center and quality check it before you leave. Good luck and happy clamping!

 

[robertstoeckle]

As others have said it is just a dealer add on to increase profit. They should check the RV as part of the sale but usually don't. They know you live to far away to be much of a pest after the sale and most likely will just suffer with the problems. The independent inspector is a very very good plan since you are new to RVing. Don't use an inspector that they recommend. Find your own and pay them directly without going thru the dealership. Make sure the dealer fixes everything the inspector finds before you sign the sales papers. Once you sign you will be basically ignored by the dealership and if they agree to fixe something it will be on their terms. In other words, your RV will sit on their lot for months at a time and often when you pick it up the problem will still be there.

Agree, 100%. Whatever the cost of a private inspector, the value is 10 times what you’ll put up with if you value any of your time dealing with the people that sold RV and/oe the manufacturer

 

[09 Challenger]

Hello, first time posting, first time RV owner, we are in the process of buying our first RV , we live six hours from the dealer that we are buying it from we are discussing and dealing mostly over the phone, one of the things the sales person told us is that we need to pay a non listed $2000 inspection fee for the vehicle, this RV was transferred from another dealership and they feel that they need to go through the vehicle again and they want us to pay, i’m just curious is this legitimate? I understand that Thor has some quality control issues however I feel that things would be covered under warranty and this does not justify paying a $2000 inspection fee on top. Thanks for your help!

Run away

 

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

I wanna kill,
I wanna KILL!
I WANNA KILL!!
I wanna eat dead burnt bodies, burn women children and houses.
I wanna KIILLLL!!! >>

Arlo Guthire
Alice's Restaurant

 

[ducksface]

I did the massacree as a high school soliloquy.
Everyone else did Shakespeare(as was assigned).
It was the 'and have veins between my teeth' version.
Jumping up and down and playing with the pencils was a highlight.

It was a very long 18 minutes for some.
I was a horrible student.

 

[jonv]

Just saw Thor is doing $5000 rebate on 2023 models that haven't been titled. Tellaro is there. Supposedly has to be delivered by end of may but bet they extend it. Don't know if it's legit but check the Thor sight on class B's. May or may not apply or help but thought it should be mentioned. So much good advice you've saved lots more than that.

 

[Imflynt]

Yep the rebate is legit!

We just bought the 2023 Thor Tellaro and used this rebate, it was a great price. The dealership was good, the sales person was very young and learning the ropes. Of course the finance guy tried to sell us everything else $$$$ (but is only XXX a month more), then I asked the price without and did the math! Of course we declined, there was no pressure thankfully, I was expecting it and was ready to walk if need be, even after driving 6 hours, we would just have made a vacation out of it and went further to Niagara Falls!

They fixed most of what needed to be done but naturally some of the replacement parts came damaged and had to be reordered, this looked to be from shipping, other parts needed had a longer lead time and shipped to a authorized dealer near me to be installed next month (with 60 miles). The Lithium batteries are good, and all warranties start from the date I signed, I have it in writing! With all of your help, insight and advice to hire a certified NRVIA inspector made this experience smooth as can be! I really Appreciate it, Thanks again!

Now to get a spare carrier and jack, I ordered a oem take off wheel tonight!

 

[Goomba-THOR]

Hello, first time posting, first time RV owner, we are in the process of buying our first RV , we live six hours from the dealer that we are buying it from we are discussing and dealing mostly over the phone, one of the things the sales person told us is that we need to pay a non listed $2000 inspection fee for the vehicle, this RV was transferred from another dealership and they feel that they need to go through the vehicle again and they want us to pay, i’m just curious is this legitimate? I understand that Thor has some quality control issues however I feel that things would be covered under warranty and this does not justify paying a $2000 inspection fee on top. Thanks for your help!

Absolutely agree! Our dealer first told us we wouldn’t be getting the $7K rebate offered by Thor because the price was already discounted too much, and then tried to force us to finance the whole purchase price at over 9% when we wanted to pay cash! Tell ‘em “No way!” And go elsewhere if they won’t honor the original price. My Thor warranty covers any issues for the first two years and they have been good on their word!

 

[Goomba-THOR]

Just saw Thor is doing $5000 rebate on 2023 models that haven't been titled. Tellaro is there. Supposedly has to be delivered by end of may but bet they extend it. Don't know if it's legit but check the Thor sight on class B's. May or may not apply or help but thought it should be mentioned. So much good advice you've saved lots more than that.

Caveat emptor! Thor may be offering rebates to “consumers,” but dealers are taking the rebates and keeping them!

 

[Gemini Cruiser]

Just to add my 2 cents on a different but related subject. You'll be lucky if it's even there when you get there. They will sell to the first person who shows up and buys it. Bait and switch common practice.

 

[Pabs4]

Nope! Don’t fall for that! Good luck in finding another dealer.

Pam

 

[BuffalobobofNH]

I purchased a Motorhome in Iowa, and I live in New Hampshire. Yep, 1500 miles away. The dealership was Smith's RV in okoboji Iowa. I knew the unit I wanted, and did the negotiation on the phone / text. They said they would have their guy go through the coach before I could come out to inspect / purchase / and drive home. The owner (family run dealership since 1940) said he would check the weather between IA and NH before letting me head out on the road. This was my first RV. There was a several week delay in my picking up the coach, as their guy found that the microwave had an issue. They ordered the new microwave and waited for delivery then installed the new one. I priced this coach everywhere in the country, and found that Smith's price was in line with the others. When I finally got to Okoboji to inspect my coach, the owner of the dealership picked me up at my hotel and brought me to the dealership to start my inspection. Their guy "Randy" put water and power to the coach and proceeded to show me how to run and inspect every system on the coach. Hot water, cold water, front ac, rear ac, slides, dash heat and ac, coach heat, refrigerator, ceiling vents, televisions, stove, microwave and everything else that did anything. I was with him for probably 3-4 hours and as he explained, this was my orientation, as he already knew that everything was working perfect, and we confirmed that. This attention to detail cost me nothing. In addition, they filled the 90 gallon fuel tank with diesel, filled the propane tank, filled the DEF tank, even filled the windshield washer fluid. I purchased a leftover 2023 Thor Palazzo which had a $10,000 rebate back in February when I purchased it. Since I've owned it, there have been some minor issues. Two sets of drawer slides malfunctioned, and dash vent popped out. I contacted Smith's, who asked for pictures of the defects, then they had the new parts sent to me (my request). I'm handy, and can fix most things without too much guidance. If I need help, Randy is a phone call away.
My point: Never pay a dealership for anything except for the item you are purchasing. I spoke with dealerships that wanted a $10,000 NON REFUNDABLE deposit, before I got to look at their coach. Professional inspectors are good. I've used two on three used coaches, and they found defects that I would not have found on my walk thru. Water was an issue with all three inspections. If you live in Iowa, go visit Smiths or call them and let them know what you're looking for. They may not be able to help, but if they can, you will not regret dealing with them. Look at their references on line. Their customers love them. Good luck with your purchase. Most dealerships cannot be trusted. When I got home with my new coach, I went to get an inspection sticker at a Campers Inn, who attempted to overcharge me by $20 claiming it was to cover materials and labor for the sticker. I didn't pay that either. That's another reason I do my own repairs, even under warranty. Thor is willing to supply the parts, delivered to my home. I'm willing to do the labor.

 

[Scubawise]

I purchased a Motorhome in Iowa, and I live in New Hampshire. Yep, 1500 miles away. The dealership was Smith's RV in okoboji Iowa. I knew the unit I wanted, and did the negotiation on the phone / text. They said they would have their guy go through the coach before I could come out to inspect / purchase / and drive home. The owner (family run dealership since 1940) said he would check the weather between IA and NH before letting me head out on the road. This was my first RV. There was a several week delay in my picking up the coach, as their guy found that the microwave had an issue. They ordered the new microwave and waited for delivery then installed the new one. I priced this coach everywhere in the country, and found that Smith's price was in line with the others. When I finally got to Okoboji to inspect my coach, the owner of the dealership picked me up at my hotel and brought me to the dealership to start my inspection. Their guy "Randy" put water and power to the coach and proceeded to show me how to run and inspect every system on the coach. Hot water, cold water, front ac, rear ac, slides, dash heat and ac, coach heat, refrigerator, ceiling vents, televisions, stove, microwave and everything else that did anything. I was with him for probably 3-4 hours and as he explained, this was my orientation, as he already knew that everything was working perfect, and we confirmed that. This attention to detail cost me nothing. In addition, they filled the 90 gallon fuel tank with diesel, filled the propane tank, filled the DEF tank, even filled the windshield washer fluid. I purchased a leftover 2023 Thor Palazzo which had a $10,000 rebate back in February when I purchased it. Since I've owned it, there have been some minor issues. Two sets of drawer slides malfunctioned, and dash vent popped out. I contacted Smith's, who asked for pictures of the defects, then they had the new parts sent to me (my request). I'm handy, and can fix most things without too much guidance. If I need help, Randy is a phone call away.
My point: Never pay a dealership for anything except for the item you are purchasing. I spoke with dealerships that wanted a $10,000 NON REFUNDABLE deposit, before I got to look at their coach. Professional inspectors are good. I've used two on three used coaches, and they found defects that I would not have found on my walk thru. Water was an issue with all three inspections. If you live in Iowa, go visit Smiths or call them and let them know what you're looking for. They may not be able to help, but if they can, you will not regret dealing with them. Look at their references on line. Their customers love them. Good luck with your purchase. Most dealerships cannot be trusted. When I got home with my new coach, I went to get an inspection sticker at a Campers Inn, who attempted to overcharge me by $20 claiming it was to cover materials and labor for the sticker. I didn't pay that either. That's another reason I do my own repairs, even under warranty. Thor is willing to supply the parts, delivered to my home. I'm willing to do the labor.

Excellent
Proud of you.
Thanks for sharing.
I WILL consider if upgrading.
Same with Motorhome Specialist in Texas.
We lived in Montana.
Wired 10k.
They said we will check everything and roof.
Got off plane.
Picked up in Mercedes van.
When we got there sales people said many folks wanted your rig.
Our name was in windshield.
When we got to rig, most things were on running and tech inside.
Fixed minor things on site.
Tested everything.
3 hours there.
We drove to Montana thru wind, rain, hail, night etc
All perfect.
We got this :

https://www.mhsrv.com/2020-thor-mot...ver-seat--stabilizers-new-class-a-tx-i2473582