Make An RV Dealer Work For You!The local RV Dealer can be an important source of information about recreational vehicles and motor homes. Whether you are looking to buy or sell, an RV dealership is a logical place to start. Not that there aren't any problems. But these can be avoided with a few basic tips. If you want a new RV, then an RV dealer is virtually a must. Very few vehicles are available direct to the public. And even if they were, a purchase that large without a walk through and a test drive would be pretty foolish. Like any consumer outlet, the RV dealer is out to make a profit. Whether used or new RV sales, the owner, sales reps, office help and even the cleaning crew need to make their livings off of what you pay. And that means additional cost for your vehicle. But what do you get for the extra cost? If your RV dealer is good, you get expert advice. The dealer knows what is available and which RV fits your needs the best. You can ask questions regarding size, mileage and fuel consumption, even what kind of fuel is used. Perhaps you are concerned about just how big a rig you can handle. The dealer will guide you through the selection process and will let you try out models to see if they are what you are looking for. Another important characteristic of the RV dealer is experience. All the brochures in the world can't match ten to twenty years of matching a family to their traveling home. The RV dealer will know from past sales what configurations work best for your situation. Yes, every family is unique, but this knowledge can help you avoid costly and uncomfortable mistakes. Especially if it is your first purchase. Selecting the best RV dealer is a tricky job, but not impossible. Especially with the resources of the Internet. Check out reviews from local consumer and business groups. Ask on RV user forums for recommendations and critiques. While you can't exclude a business for one or two complaints (no body pleases everybody all of the time), you should be able to see a pattern in the comments that will indicate a good or a bad business to deal with. Check the RV dealer's lot as well. Is it kept up or shabby? Does there seem to be a quick turnover or are the same units there week after week? Do the sales people seem to know what they are doing? If you have a question that they cannot ask will they avoid it, fake an answer, or go and find someone who knows? These seem like overly simple suggestions, but when looking at an RV or motor home, you can often get caught up in the excitement and forget your common sense at home. If you are looking to buy a used RV, your options are much larger. Every major market area has free publications that exist only to list RVs for sale. Complete with pictures, descriptions and feature lists, these can make the amateur think that they are a professional. Add to that the multitude of sites on the Internet dedicated to used RV sales, you have many options to choose from. But unless you know a lot about RVs already, your safest bet is with a good used RV dealer. |