RVWholesalers

[Maxtor]

Anyone purchase a 5er from RV Wholesalers in Ohio? They sell the 2007 Wildcat 29 rks for $23,000 while my local dealer sales it for $32,000.

Thanks

Maxtor

 

[zr1pete]

If you not already aware of it the best place to ask that question is on rv.net
There is a wealth of info on that site.
BTW $32000 way to high $21-23 Thousand about right for that rig.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Like I stated in this PREVIOUS THREAD, all RV's have problems coming from the factory that must be fixed. The overall quality of the RV, in the end, will depend on the thoroughness and attention to detail of the the dealer service technician who identifies and fixes all those problems.

Don't be surprised if you don't see that degree of service at the wholesale level.

 

[Maxtor]

Yes, I agree with you. I have a few months to make a decision, and it is good to learn as much about it as one can.

 

[JimmyDee]

Keep in mind, if you are handy, you can do a lot of little jobs on the trailer for $9k savings. Most of the problems I've had with the trailers I've owned, have been little problems that I've fixed myself because it was less trouble than bringing the trailer to the dealer.
Jim

 

[Tail_Gunner]

you can do a lot of little jobs on the trailer for $9k savings.

This is true, but it ain't the little things I'm thinking of. Here are a few examples of the sort of things found by the service technicians at work:

1: All the ABS drain plumbing was assembled, but nothing was cemented/ glued.
2: All the ABS drain plumbing was plumbed into the black water tank, nothing was going into the grey tank.
3: Holding tanks or water tanks fell out the bottom of the camper when fill tested to capacity. Not all the mounting bolts were installed.
4: Wall panels were badly scratched or even had holes punched in them.
5: Rain water badly leaked around windows.
6: Air Conditioners didn't work, most could be fixed, a few had to be replaced.
7: Water heaters didn't work, most could be fixed, a few had to be replaced. One I recall was due manufacturing defect.
8: Furnaces didn't work. Some had badly balanced blower wheels causing a bad vibration when running.
9: Refridgerators didn't work, most could be fixed, a few had to be replaced.
10: Trailer brake systems didn't work due to open circuits or shorts to ground.
11: Various assorted leaks of the fresh water plumbing.
12: Various awning defects or problems.

The list goes on and on.

You might be thinking "I can buy it wholesale, save a bunch of money and then take it to a local RV dealer to get all my stuff fixed under warranty." Well, I can tell you first hand, you won't make any friends by doing that. We have had several folks come to our dealership who did exactly that.

My paycheck is partially based on salary and parts sale commission. The salary portion comes from RV sales. If somebody bought their RV elsewhere and wants us to fix warranty stuff, there is nothing that went towards my salary.

The sales commissions come from parts & accessory sales. RV manufacturers generally provide us warranty replacement parts at their cost. Since it is a warranty part at no cost to the customer, there is no sales commission for me. This is even though I'm the one that had to do all the work ordering that part, receiving, handling and processing that part before it gets into the hands of the service tech.

Additionally, RV manufacturers who pay dealers to correct warranty issues generally "low ball" their labor rates, so services techs don't make as much for those repairs.

Granted $9,000 is a big difference, big enough that I'd be double checking the numbers. Also make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Make sure the wholesale price includes ALL of the same equipment and options that the retail price included. That could explain at lot if the wholesale price doesn't include things like a/c or awnings.

The bottom line is if someone buys a RV in Wisconsin at another dealer and wants us to fix anything under warranty, there is little incentive other than personal character standards to provide quality, speedy service.

So in short, if you want to go wholesale, Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware).

 

[Maxtor]

close to decision

All and all, I think the best for us is to buy local even if we loose $8,000. Driving to Ohio, and hoping that the unit is good is to much of a chance. Also, once purchased, the temp registration is only good for 30 days, and would ruin our trip. Oh well, it is only money.
Thanks for all the info....

 

[fordpower]

Anyone purchase a 5er from RV Wholesalers in Ohio? They sell the 2007 Wildcat 29 rks for $23,000 while my local dealer sales it for $32,000.

Thanks

Maxtor

Maxtor
We bought 07 Wildcat this past July. Very good experiance , i had it del'd. Saved 10k....easily....

 

[econodrag]

Gunner the way you explain this is the same way auto manufactures handle warranty issues. What you are saying is. If you buy a new vehicle from one dealer that is not local to you you should not take that vehicle to your local dealer for warranty work? I understand about the differences between warranty and non-warranty pays as I use to work for a Dodge dealer as a tech. I just took the good with the bad and moved on.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

I can't say how things work in the automotive industry. I have no way of knowing what the rates are for warranty reimbursment that the factory pays the auto dealership.

While it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, what I can say is that for RV's, if someone buys their trailer elsewhere and then brings it to us to fix all the warranty issues, we don't do much more than break even. About we all can hope for is to achieve a satisfied, happy customer that will return to us for their non-warranty service and part /accessories needs. Even more so, hope that they will get their next RV from us. In the Rv business, whether you make it or break it, depends on sales of units, not parts and service.