Negotiating Price For New Trailer From Dealership

[Sirgallagher]

Hello,
I am considering purchase a new trailer from a dealership and wondering how much dealerships can drop the selling price of a trailer.

Any stories? do's and don'ts? or tips? you can provide would greatly help.

Thanks!
~SirGallagher

[Jays toyz]

Best advice I ever got about buying big ticket items was to make an offer to the sales man and tell him to call you when he can make it happen. Come month end, he will be likely willing to sharpen his pencil far more than he would have otherwise.

[Husty]

Dont forget to try to get addons your interested in for free, Solar Panels, TVs, bigger batterys, etc.

[DWS]

I have heard they can drop 15%-20% off the listed price

[Ken07AOVette]

Phone Fast toys for boys, Davidson SK

https://www.fasttoysforboys.com/

distance means nothing for an amazing deal

Ask for Trent or Terry

[Jack Hardin]

Go for ad-ons. When I buy a vehicle and I feel that the dealer isn't going to go down any further, that's when I say, "OK! Throw in 5 free oil changes and we have a deal." The dealer isn't going to lose the sale over 5 free oil changes.

Plus, remember the John Wayne movie, The Shootist? It makes me the best haggler.

[jcrayford]

Originally Posted by Husty

Dont forget to try to get addons your interested in for free, Solar Panels, TVs, bigger batterys, etc.

^This right here.... I wish that I would've pushed harder on these particular items - it would've saved me thousands.

But my trailer got setup without me (being a first time trailer owner) having to struggle with installing these major items myself. This was over 7 years ago, still running today problem free.

J.

[brendan's dad]

Also, finance it. Dealership gets a kick back for the high interest rate loan which you can use to negotiate the price. Wait 3 months and then pay off the entire loan with no penalty. I did this and I figure I got an extra $1500 off a $22000 trailer. I agree with the end of the month and walking away. I received a call back from Roadmaster before a reached Western RV; approx. 500 meters from 1 location to the other.

[JB_AOL]

Unfortunately you are approaching spring, which means everyone is buying (ie, harder to get deals). I got 30% off a couple years ago, but I bought in December. Paid cash.

If you truly want a deal.. Find a used one (less than 5 years old). 50% of people sell after 2-3 years, either upgrading or quitting.

[gevarm guy]

ask for best cash price, offer 30% less and walk away. calls will come.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by gevarm guy

ask for best cash price, offer 30% less and walk away. calls will come.

How do you see Cash helping?

[omega50]

Originally Posted by Jamie

How do you see Cash helping?

No GST if cash under the table out the back door

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by omega50

No GST if cash under the table out the back door

Yeah right.. from a big business?? You don't think the feds know what is owed to them?

[bat119]

Watch for extra fees dealer wanted $800 "setup fee" to make sure everything worked and to clean the interior.

I told them for $40k if anything doesn't work I'll be back if it's dirty I'll send them a bill.

[Mountain Guy]

Originally Posted by gevarm guy

ask for best cash price, offer 30% less and walk away. calls will come.

Good luck with that..
I bought a new trailer end of last year and squeezed as hard as I could. Best I could get was between 20 and 25% off retail.
I did get them to throw in a 6V battery upgrade...think he said it was $550 for the upgrade.

[omega50]

Originally Posted by Jamie

Yeah right.. from a big business?? You don't think the feds know what is owed to them?

I remember when you used to laugh at life and now it is all sooo serious.

[jstubbs]

Point about financing is a good point. Ensure that there is no early loan payoff penalty however--that's paramount.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by omega50

I remember when you used to laugh at life and now it is all sooo serious.

Your right.... I need a snickers.


Just dealing with a 'X" issue that involves the my kids. I can 100% see how that is effecting me.
Thanks for the heads up.

[R3illy]

I was at the rv show a month ago in Edmonton and almost pulled the trigger on a jayco trailer. They kept saying it was at cost and there was zero wiggle room.

They kept saying they would make no $$ on it. Eventually told them I'd buy elsewhere if they kept trying to say this.

Not sure why they think they cant make a profit... all I cared about was that I was paying fair market value. I didnt trust what they were selling as my wife had seen their models advertised for less a couple months before the RV show.

[Mountain Guy]

Profit margins are slim from what I can see. Or at least they do have a bottom line which seems more than what you'd expect. The $$ xchg has some factor on it as to whether its worth going south to buy. I've looked hard...and as far as buying new...right now.. I don't see it worth going south to buy.
We're going into rv season and the deals are probably not there.
I know from experience that rv show prices aren't lowest of the season.

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by R3illy

I was at the rv show a month ago in Edmonton and almost pulled the trigger on a jayco trailer. They kept saying it was at cost and there was zero wiggle room.

They kept saying they would make no $$ on it. Eventually told them I'd buy elsewhere if they kept trying to say this.

Not sure why they think they cant make a profit... all I cared about was that I was paying fair market value. I didnt trust what they were selling as my wife had seen their models advertised for less a couple months before the RV show.

I drove across 2 states to get my Rpod from a dealer that treated me right! Customer service means a lot to me and I don’t mind the trip even if they are a few $$ more.

[warriorboy10]

Agree with make a decent offer and walk away and wait for a phone call, make deals with several dealers. I’d also suggest making a list of add ons prior to going into finance or discussing final price and if there are admin and such fees have the removed or remove from price of unit. I’ve had dealers say they must show admin fees.
Many units only have one battery or one propane tank or no spare, those are all must haves.

Good luck and keep us posted on your experience.

[Ken07AOVette]

There is MASSIVE markup in trailers.

A very good friend of mine with a dealership sold me a brand new full warranty 35' trailer for less than half sticker retail. It was well over 100% markup. He still made money.

Anyone telling people there is no money in trailers is lying to you, or being lied to and just passing on what they are being fed.

My cousin buys a new Montana every couple years, each one is a few feet longer and more loaded. After using it for a couple years he sells it here and makes several thousand $ selling it.

If you can buy from the States. When I bought my Corvette it was priced at $108,000 here. Every dealer here said they could not drop even a couple grand. I bought mine new from the States for $65,000 CAD including brokerage, taxes, new crash rated bumper foam and DRL install. We were just under par then.

I am waiting for our dollar to settle down before I buy anything big and new out of the States again. It will eventually.

[reddeerguy2015]

Approach the manufacturer direct. This may mean buying from the states with no warranty - but you can often get a new unit for less than half the price, or more. The bigger and nicer you go, the larger the discount.

[SageValleyOutdoors]

Markups are huge on trailers and rv’s.
Look around any large town or city, and you’ll find lot after lot of trailers... if the profits weren’t huge, there wouldn’t be so many people selling them.

[dale7637]

I own and manage an Rv/truck dealership.
Call me, I won’t be beat. Period.
I’m way up north, but delivery can be arranged.
My cell is(780) 926-1592.

Dale

[R3illy]

Originally Posted by dale7637

I own and manage an Rv/truck dealership.
Call me, I won’t be beat. Period.
I’m way up north, but delivery can be arranged.
My cell is(780) 926-1592.

Dale

what are the standard industry margins on new trailers.

[Jamie]

arty 0052:

Originally Posted by R3illy

what are the standard industry margins on new trailers.

[leeelmer]

There is more than 100% mark up on holiday trailers.
One of my friends hauled them up from the states to the dealers here. The manufacture had to send the driver with the paperwork for the boarder, and with this was its declared value. SO this is the amount the manufacture was charging the dealer for the trailer.
The most expensive bumper pull trailer he ever bought up was $36000.00
He was wondering what the dealer would charge.
He called a few days later, the salesmen was exited that they just got in a unit just like the one he wanted.
$104,000.00
So there was a bit of mark up in trailers to say the least.
As well I have seen in our local town, a certain group of trailers for sale, for lets say $24000.00 in the spring, entry level bumper pulls, and in the fall a blow out sale of $12500.00 You know the dealer is not loosing money in the fall on these, but might not make much, they want them off the lot so they don't have to pay for them.
Also how is there hundreds of trailer dealers in Alberta? with millions in inventory?
How can they make money?
Huge mark ups, thats how..

[Dean2]

Very interesting read. I learned a lot. I never knew there were markups this huge on holiday trailers but I always believe what Ken says as well as leelmer.

I do know that buying new or used out of the States, even with a 33% difference in the dollar will save you a lot of money. My brother bought a real fancy Class A motor home last year for less than half what they cost up here, even after exchange.