Help with 1st Airstream purchase - closing

[nesvt]

My wife and I found what we want.
Negotiated a price.
Put down a deposit.
Got financed at the bank and just picked up the check.

There were some minor issues with the trailer. A couple of parts had been taken out for other units, a few missing screws, etc. They agreed to have everything replaced/corrected.

The dealer seems very reputable. No reason to have any doubts.

My plan was to hold the final payment until we picked up the trailer and verified everything was fixed.
They want the payment early to get the "title/mso released". Guess I have concerns about paying for a trailer that isn't complete.

Am I being paranoid?
Is this standard to pay a week early?

[techiej]

No..you shouldn't have to pay for an existing unit (not factory ordered) until it is ready and you have a chance to inspect it/perform a pre-delivery inspection.

They already have your deposit.

The title/mso takes no time for them to process and then your DMV does the rest.

[Splitrock]

When I bought my tow vehicle from a dealer, the salesman delivered the vehicle to me and picked up my check. I received the title about a week later in the mail. I got a proof of purchase certificate with the vehicle so I could buy plates. I bought from a local dealer that I know located about three miles from my home.

When I bought my trailer from a private party (two miles from home), I took cash, got a bill of sale, title, and the trailer. If I buy an out of town unit, I wait to pay until I inspect the unit, and until I can leave with the unit AND the title in hand. I have an insurance binder faxed to me before I leave to pick up any vehicle.

In every bad deal in my life, there were warning signs that I ignored.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by nesvt

My wife and I found what we want.
Negotiated a price.
Put down a deposit.
Got financed at the bank and just picked up the check.

There were some minor issues with the trailer. A couple of parts had been taken out for other units, a few missing screws, etc. They agreed to have everything replaced/corrected.

The dealer seems very reputable. No reason to have any doubts.

My plan was to hold the final payment until we picked up the trailer and verified everything was fixed.
They want the payment early to get the "title/mso released". Guess I have concerns about paying for a trailer that isn't complete.

Am I being paranoid?
Is this standard to pay a week early?

Being paranoid?

HECK NO.

Being smart??

HECK YES.

A request like that usually says several things.

The dealer is broke.

The dealer does not order parts when needed.

The dealer swipes parts from other trailers, to save money.

Bad dealer practices, from the start, spells out, loud and clear, "they are hurting".

Paying in full, when satisfied, is being practical.

Paying ahead of time, other than a down payment, is foolish, at best.

Then, a good question to ask, "what will that dealer do when warranty repairs are needed ?"

This is for new trailers. For used trailers, "heck no all together". Find someone else.

Andy

[SteveH]

The title procedure I'm sure is different state by state, but I'd still hold back some money until everything is done as agreed, unless you have a lot of confidence in the dealer.

[nesvt]

Thanks for the replies. Contacted the dealer. Plan to do a pre-delivery inspection after the fixes and before the closing. All is well. Appreciate the help.