Dealing with a Dealer

[Rocket53]

Does the MSRP on Airstreams include the options or are they additional like vehicles? Curious cause I see on Colonials site listing convection microwave etc as options.

Mike

[moosetags]

Convection Microwave is an extra cost option and is listed as such on the sticker.

Brian

[mefly2]

...maybe approaching zero discount ... have you been told of the backlog of orders ... get what you want - life is too short to spend weeks haggling over $50 when you can enjoy!

[KJRitchie]

What if the 2015 Airstream you find has only been on the lot less than a couple of weeks?

Kelvin

[Msmoto]

From the dealer's point of view, anything on the lot costs money each day it sits. Thus, the discount should be near the twenty percent or more mark.

Someone needs to find out what the actual markup is....if possible. It may vary from model to model however


Ms Tommie Lauer
Greensboro, NC
2015 Serenity 30 RB / 2008 Dodge Cummins 4 X 4
WBCCI #4165 AIR #31871

[Len n Jeanne]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

What if the 2015 Airstream you find has only been on the lot less than a couple of weeks?

Kelvin

"Do what you love, and the money will follow."

[KJRitchie]

I looked at a 2015 25RB Twin this weekend at the local dealer. It had been on the lot less than a week and was sold. Luckily, the salesman was kind enough to let me take a peak at it. The MSRP was $77,882 and he disclosed to me, without me asking. that it went for $63k apparently from an out of town purchaser. Seems like the 25 twins sell the fastest. They had another 2015 25RB twin late last summer that sold fast.

I wonder if it matters if you are a cash buyer vs one that has to finance part of the purchase. Can you get the same discounts if you order vs buying one off the lot?

When I was looking at buying a used tow vehicle for my first trailer, a Casita, back in 2011, I offered cash but the dealer said he couldn't sell it to me at that price unless I financed part of it since they make a little money off financing so I financed the minimum amount to get the deal.

Kelvin

[Msmoto]

I would think the dealer would give at least as good a deal when special ordering a unit. Sold units have production priority at the factory over stock units.

As to financing, if one can get an additional discount for financing and then pay the loan off early with no penalty, this may be the way to go.

When someone tells me they cannot sell me something for cash, that I must finance, they will most likely see my backside as I head out the door.....apologizing for my confusion, of course.

[Len n Jeanne]

Some dealers offer their own financing: Can Am did on our first AS and they sort of pushed it. (We declined & paid cash.) They probably get two sorts of profit then: one on the trailer sale and one on the interest from the loan. Other dealers are not in the finance business.

[Getaways]

As a former Cost Accounting Manager who was responsible for List Prices...

the material cost between say a 19 footer and 27 footer is different, but the labor cost to build won't be as significant.... However, look at the MRSPs between the two. Huge difference, and I'm betting it will be a lot tougher getting 20% off MRSP on a 19 than on a 27.

At least that was my experience at my company. Labor costs between different items weren't as significant as material was, especially items in serial production. Watching videos of Airstream's plant leads me to the same conclusion. I'm not saying that labor costs are the same, just that it isn't as much as you would think with a trailer 42% bigger than a 19 footer.

[bassgruvn]

Hi Everyone,
First post and working on being a AS owner.
The Wife has decided on the 25' EB and this thread has a great amount
of information for a newb. Just wanted to say thank you.

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by bassgruvn

Hi Everyone,
First post and working on being a AS owner.
The Wife has decided on the 25' EB and this thread has a great amount
of information for a newb. Just wanted to say thank you.

Good choice!

Incidentally, for all of those cash buyers above ... just try to buy a "stationary" house for cash and the bankers will interrogate you as to just where the green stuff came from.

[Len n Jeanne]

We paid cash for Bambi One, having just sold some real estate, and feeling rather flush. Then people without mega-money on hand might nevertheless have a line of credit at their bank with interest rates that are much cheaper than conventional RV loans.

[ASDreamer]

Well, as one of America's newest AS owners, let me relate my experience yesterday at my local dealer. I went in with an offer 25% off MSRP on a 2015 FC 23D. It had been on the lot a good while so figured they'd like to liquidate it. They came right back at 15% off with 2 months free storage. Told them that did not work for me and left it. The Adventure Advisor called back in minutes and said how about we split the diff ---20% off MSRP. SOLD!!!--with the free storage too plus got low finance rate through their lender that even beat USAA. (A 800+ credit score helps there). I did pay their high price for a hitch so they made a good profit there. That's OK though since I did very well on the trailer price/financing plus I need them to be there in coming years for my service needs. As others say, develop a fair price for you and them and stick with it. Be nice and they will work with you to the best of their ability.
Oh, if the sales manager is not "playing nice," go to the general manager to get your deal. That can get the deal done fast since they have final say.

[esloser]

What is the best time of the year to buy a new airstream off a dealer lot? I would think it would be between September and December or a little bit after the holidays between January and February, but that is a pretty big time period.

[ghaynes755]

Best time to buy is when you are ready Depending on the dealer and what is posted here current year units seem to be available around 20% and previous year units somewhat higher.

[onemoretime]

We have narrowed down our choice and are getting everything ready to purchase...hoping to make a deal here in Florida. Surprisingly, there are very few AS dealers near the Orlando area. We had chosen one but were stopped in our tracks when we heard 2 things that have happened recently regarding this AS dealer. (not sure if I should post the name, but I would tell anyone in a private post to beware) First, several longtime sales associates quit recently because they had not received commission checks due them for several months. Ouch! Second, friends drove their brand new Class C off the dealership property, were on a major highway (RT 4) when their transmission went out. This was within 30 minutes! The dealer refused to help them, said it was a "warranty issue". They were forced to call a tow truck and were told that the problem would take 3 weeks to fix. They have a lawyer now working with them, but such aggravation to deal with when all you want to do is go RVing and have fun.
It's always a challenge to know where to buy large purchases of any type. Many sales associates will tell you anything to get the deal done. I don't take plunking down nearly 100K lightly, but I don't want to be so cautious that I never go ahead with our plan. I realize "glitches" happen, but Is there any way that owners can share good/bad dealer experiences?

[xrvr]

JD Sanders in Alachua, ask for Ben. Just north of Gainesville. Jim

[jayseejay]

I'd second that recommendation for JD Sanders, asking for Ben or Ritchie. Joe


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[moosetags]

The Sanders are good folks. We bought new 2005 Safari from them. We also bought a new 2015 Flying Cloud from Dixie in DeFuniak Springs. I would also recommend them, but DeFuniak is a log way from Orlando.

Brian