Negotiating Skills on Purchasing a Montana

[mail2us]

As a new Montana enthusiast and wannabe owner, are there any techniques, websites, or advice on negotiating when purchasing a new Montana from MSRP?

I am at a total loss where to begin. I have experience with cars/trucks but am totally ignorant on how to enter negotiations for a new 5th wheel.

Great site and await any input from you. I find the site to be informative and very worthwhile. Tks. Dennis

[Mudchief]

Shop around is my advise. When we purchased our 2005 unit we received 32% off and on our 2007 we received 30% off.

[bncinwv]

We were at about 25% but got other options added at no cost to make up the difference. Preferred local dealer because of trust and service. We checked the internet for the best deal got quotes, etc. Best deal was about $4000.00 difference but would have had to travel two days to pick it up in Michigan. Got around $2,500 add-ons that sealed the deal for us. My only advice is to do some research on the dealer before you decide. Service and reputation to me is the major concern. Also remember that there is no factory issued MSRP, it is dealer MSRP, so they can make the discount seem to be what they want to. Good luck and happy shopping.
Bingo

[gjetzen]

Your post does not include were you are from, but if you live anywhere near Pennsylvania you may want to check out the Hershey RV show. I purchased my 2005 3295rk there in sept 2004 (then in Harrisburg) and saved 38% off msrp and bet the best deal I could make on the street by 20%. The Hershey show is normally 2nd week in September. Check out Hershey Park web site for dates.

[mail2us]

Thanks for the input Mudchief. I never realized what the markup was on 5th wheels, so now I have a starting point. Dennis (Florida)

[mail2us]

Thanks "bncinwv" for your input. Service and a good local dealer are indeed very important. I also appreciate your experience in that you negotiated with add-ons in the mix. I'm finding out it's similar to vehicle dealing, however, it seems the experience of many of you indicates a starting point of about 20% from the dealer's price to start. Again, appreciate your input.

[mail2us]

As a novice at this, I wasn't even aware that you can purhcase a 5th wheel at an RV show.

My thanks to gjetzen for that sound advice. I live in Florida however, we do stay in Smokey Mountains during summer in NC. I really believe it would help us to go to an RV show to get more educated on this life experience. Some really great advice gjetzen. Tks.

[snfexpress]

My attitude when buying anything, including a 5er, is to look at the servicing dealer first, then their sales department, and then to alsways leave some profit to the owner on the table so that eveyone is happy. Having said that, when we bought ours, we got 30% off MSRP.

[Chuck and Carol]

If your close enough, the PA RV show at Hershey Park is 9-12-07 to 9-17-07.

[c5racer]

I would start at forty percent, you can always come down. Hard to start at twenty percent and he takes the offer and then say, well how about thirty percent. You always want to low ball a dealer.

[relocater]

Quote " Also remember that there is no factory issued MSRP, it is dealer MSRP, so they can make the discount seem to be what they want to."
If the dealer sets the MSRP then how do you know if your getting a good deal or not? I'm like Mail2us, I'm looking for the best deal on a 3400. Does anyone ever "divulge" what they paid for their 07 3400's??

[Eagle Man]

- Get a factory price list, it shows all prices for all models and all options.
- Fill out the price sheet, selecting the model and options you want, give it to your dealer and ask for his best price.
- Send the same sheet with the same items marked to a couple of the closest dealers.
- Tell all of them the lowest price gets your business.
- Go from there.

[rames14]

Mail2Us -

My first experience on Rv's was that you can expect somewhere around 35-40% as stated. Our dealer doesn't go to shows, says that they can pass the savings to their customers. I've bought (2) RV's from them, including the Montana. If you want to know about the RV life, I would invite you to the Fall Rally in Goshen. Stay at a local motel and come over for the fellowship and to talk to the owners. Go on the tour. It'll cost you less than a thousand dollars for the week, you may get a coupon worth that off a new Montana and you'll get the straight scoup from a lot of people who use them, not sell them. Just a thought.

[sailer]

Well mail2us you live in fl and the best prices are in fl if you are close to ocala, fl go to Tri-Am in ocala and see ROD speed and tell him i sent you but he beat northtrail in ft myers by over 6000.00

but its what you want and ahat they have in stock if you are onlygoing to keep it 5 yres or less then trade get the gel coat finish and don't pay for the fiberglass also the chaies are junk and don't take them , go on the out side and get some good 1s , we have a 3000rk from there and the only thing left in it is the couch , the dinet chairs mattress recliner , table between chairs all gone so why buty them take what they offer and get home quality from the start. we are full time fl but on the rd 3 months so i have shoped around . the next best is in the up of mich at hilltop both tri-am and hilltop and norttrail are great on service as i have a lot of service done ar northtrail as its only 20 miles away but tri-am is 250 away john

[Hemlockusa]

MAIL2US. Just don't get in a rush, don't let a saleman push you. There are a lot of dealers that have sharp pencils. Sometimes the local dealer isn't the best deal.. There are a lot of folk's that have saved $5000.00 dollars traveling 500 miles from home. As far as service goes, You will find that you will end up doing a lot of the smaller jobs on your own, rather than taking it into there service department and letting it sit for weeks on end.. I would suggest that if there is any MAJOR repairs required during your delivery. DON'T take it off the lot until they are resolved. That is the quickest you will ever get a REPAIR DONE.. and if they have to order a part, they can ship it over night to make the sale. Don't let them fool you. Happy Hunting safe travels my friend John

[dersequim]

When I bought my 04' 2955RL from Foley's in Burlington Wa., 10/03, we had been there 3 times. They acted like they could careless if we bought or not. I got on the Internet and almost drove to MI. They were $12K less to start, Weekend Special/RV Show Price ETC. . The one dealer also sold Sunnybrook's and wanted mine real bad. The other told me to Sell it and use the money for the downpayment.
The funny part was they all quoted me the same approximate MSRP.
$46K+. The one wanted $45 for the table/Lamp between the recliners.
The other one quoted $145 for same set. The first one listed 2nd. recliner $475 and the other guy $297, but the Msrp was about the same. Foley's listed it on the Internet for $48,612 and was not to interested in going less than $38,752. The Dealer in Tacome had an 03' that she wouldn't go less than $37,500. I talked to her twice.
Finally I took the paperwork from the best final offer into Foley's,
$32,585 T & L out the DOOR. They looked it over and told me I'd have to make up the diff for the shipping cost to get it there, $2000.
I said BS I can get it delivered to my door for less than $1600 and can pick it up for about half that! They came back at $33,403.16 T&L out the door.
I signed for it and told them I'd pick it up in a week. Two days later I called them and requested an MSRP for my Insurance Agent. They faxed it to him. He called me and said; "Are they kidding,
"$52,446"? I guess the next guy made up for me!!!LOL

[FulltimeFollies]

LOL "Does anyhone every divulge wht they paid ?"

Why not, and Montana's all have the same MSRP.

We bought our 2006.5 3500rl (2006.5 they say has the new front cap) in Mar 2006 and after shopping 3 states and 5 dealers, all with the same MSRP, we paid $39,500, no trade, no tax, no registration. It has the second a/c, vaccum, firplace, filon siding, alum wheels and everyrthing except the slide awnings, which I did not want. First dealer we went to asked 45,500, and down the line until we stopped and bought.

[muddflapp]

Well, I just bought a 2008 3400RL and it cost us 52,900. It has everything on it that we need including the Artic Package and dual paned windows. Now all of you can tell us if we did good or not..

[relocater]

LOL "Does anyhone every divulge wht they paid ?"
Thanks FulltimeFollies. For all of us wanting to buy a Monte, it helps to know what other members paid and what dealers were willing to 'Deal'. I also belong to the Lexus Forum and we always have people wondering what to pay and where to buy. I haven't yet purchase mine because I'm still learning from all you guys. I'm especially thankful to Bill Rearick and patodonn for all their great help. I come to the Montana Forum everyday and everyday I learn something new so Thank You Everyone.
By the way, I live in Montana and we have a one time Permanent registration for all travel trailers that runs a couple of hundred bucks. Not a bad deal having moved here from California were all they do is tax you to death.

[FulltimeFollies]

If you want the best deal, call Leisure Time rv okla city. Guarantee you they will beat any price. And they are the best dealer in the u.s. no question.