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douglas · 09-22-2003, 09:54 PM

hello does anyone know where to find info on the dealers cost for new models thank you

gwsullivan · 09-23-2003, 07:39 AM

Your best bet would be to contact a local dealer and ask them. You can find dealers on the Airstream web site.

joshua32064 · 09-23-2003, 07:51 AM

After doing extensive research, I don't think that you will find any dealer who is willing to reveal their costs. As a new buyer, like you, I have quickly learned that this is not like buying a new car.

From personal experience, you can find plenty of dealers out there who are willing to take anywhere from 10 to 15% off. After that, these guys act like they are selling gold.

I have found a handful dealers who are looking to make deals and not excuses and they are in the 18 to 24% reduction range.

I hope that this helps.

douglas · 09-23-2003, 10:01 AM

thanks joshua your info gives me a starting point and you are right its not like buying a new car thanks again

KIMILI · 09-23-2003, 10:05 AM

Just a couple of months ago we were in your same situation. I called various dealers and it was amazing how many different prices I got for the same identical unit.

No one was really willing to give me their cost but one dealer did confess to me that their cost is around (sometimes it varies from model to model) minus 20 - 25% from Airstream's Suggested Retail price (you can find it at the AS website).

After checking all the best quotes, we came to the conclusion that this must be true since every good priced dealers offered a 15 - 20% off the AS price list.

During the off season - now - you will certainly find even better deals.

Some folks will tell you to buy near home so you can use them for service after...Buy where you get the best price full stop. Any smart dealer will be more than happy to have you as a service customer after anyway.

douglas · 09-23-2003, 06:43 PM

thanks kimili every bit of info helps l'am starting to get a little more confindence thanks again douglas

**jcanavera** · 09-23-2003, 08:51 PM

A fellow from the Yahoo forum told me that he got access to a dealer price list. He was able to look at a dealer computer screen which listed retail and dealer cost. Here is a copy of his private post with some editing by me.

"When negotiating the purchase of our A/S, I got a look at the entire
Airstream inventory listing on the computer at the dealership."

Dealer name edited out by JC

"Salesman left the room after calling up the
information, and I copied down all the information. The listing showed dealer cost, floor plan cost, and MSRP for the 22 Airstream trailers and motorhomes he had in inventory. I had heard about the MSRP divided by 1.4 in a book called "How to Buy an RV Without Getting Ripped Off" by J.D. Gallant. I tried it against the information I had off the computer at the
dealership, and found it was accurate to within a couple hundred
dollars in each case from $150K M/H to $25K Trailers"

I personally knew an RV dealer year ago. I used to help him at the local ST. Louis RV show every year. I asked him once what a fair offer was if I was shopping. He told me that a 25% off list was a good deal for the buyer and a fair profit for him. Dealer overhead and other costs make the figure slide around.

I ordered a 2001 Safari in March of 2001. The dealer sold it to me for 25% off list. I attempted to deal on a Classic this summer and the best I could do was 18%. So if you can work between that 18-25% figure, you are doing fairly well.

Regards,

Jack

douglas · 09-23-2003, 09:22 PM

thanks jack thats great info l will look to buy that book you mentioned thanks again douglas

flyfisher · 09-24-2003, 04:06 AM

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with George M Sutton RV, in Eugene, OR.

They seem to do a lot of advertising on the internet, saying that nobody in the US will beat their deal -- and if someone has any experience with them, I wonder what kind of a discount % they give.

John

douglas · 09-24-2003, 07:19 PM

What a coincidence, I'm planning on buying from that dealer as well. I am also curious of the answer to your same question. Thanks again for your prompt replys.

Scaler113 · 01-05-2004, 07:55 PM

Last fall when we shopping for an AS I went to their webite and it showed they had a large inventory of units. We drove 5 hours hoping to see a large selection and found the website was completely wrong. I think they had four new and one used in stock. We ended up buying used from a private party.
Phil

campcollector · 01-05-2004, 09:26 PM

I purchased my Bambi from Sutton because they were the only dealer in Oregon.

As far as price that is up to you to hagle, if you get out of there with the trailer you want make sure everyything works and doesn't leak ( my water tank leaked). Because after you drive the trailer off the lot there customer service takes a dump. Also they have only been working on Airstreams for about 2 years now and they have limited repair skills and a small service facility, after my coach had a tree fall on it they parked it ouside for two days in the rain 1.5 inches to be exact and flooded it.

Also don't let them do any wiring on your tow vehicle mine burned out in 3 months because they were running to much juice through a signal converter which should not have been used.

This is a small dealership that operates out of a single wide mobile home office.

They do have one of the better dealer websites with good advertising and I think thats how they get alot of hits and inquires.

Overall Impression buyer beware and be wise.

zduke4x · 01-05-2004, 10:07 PM

To Jack Canavera as far as 1.4 amount.....

Multiplying by 1.4 equals 40 % mark-up or put another way, the seller is making 40 cents on each dollar....50% would be seller is making 50 cents on each dollar or keystone as 50% is often referred to....40% is often called standard mark-up.....note that multiplying cost by 40% will be a lower figure and not be "mark-up".....a gross profit or mark-up of below 25% is a buyers good deal.....sounds confusing but is basic retailing....

dmac · 01-06-2004, 07:58 AM

Using the 1.4 rule our 2003 Safari trailer would have cost the dealer:

$40,000 list / 1.4 = ~$28,571 dealer cost

We purchased it for ~$30,000 (25% off list) - so the dealer made $1,400. My conclusion is the 1.4 rule seems reasonable.

zduke4x · 01-06-2004, 10:32 AM

Your calculations are correct....dealers also have incentives that boosts their profits...such as volumne discounts, quick sale savings, manufacturer promotions, rebates, etc....

allyvs · 03-06-2004, 09:45 PM

I am looking into purchasing the 22' CCD. I am hoping to order one in the next year. When reading everyone's ideas about purchase price/offers for a certain amount below the MSRP, did most of you do this as orders, or did you buy your trailer off the lot? I know there is more room for a deal if the trailer has been sitting for a while. I appreciate your input.

Excella3287 · 03-06-2004, 11:02 PM

Gentlemen, I just had a vist to California RV sales in Fontana California I believe, but you can check the Airstream web site to make sure. They are brand new and have about 15-20 new Airstream units on hand with a couple of late model used units as well. No service or parts yet. Might be worth a phone call.