GUIDE TO
BUYING AN RV By RYAN JACKSON
ryanj@oconnorrv.com My name is Ryan Jackson,
and I have been in the RV industry for 27 years. Most of my experience has been in
service managing. Te experience has allowed me to gain the skills needed for customer service and product knowledge. (A bit of a lost art these days.) Too oſten, I see nice people purchase the wrong RV for them, and trade it in a year later for the more suitable RV. Unfortunately, that is a costly mistake, and one that can be avoided. I have taken the time to write what I feel is an easy guide to follow when purchasing an RV. It is designed to help you pick the RV that suits your needs. Tank you for taking the time to read it, and good luck out there!
WHO? At every dealership you go to, you will
be approached by a sales representative. Tere are many different kinds of reps. Some are pushy, some are passive, some are not helpful, some are too helpful. Make sure you build a rapport with your sales rep, and make sure he/she listens to you, and is helpful. If you are uncomfortable with your rep, you are completely within your rights to ask for someone else.
WHAT? Before you even go to a dealership to
have a look, you should choose a type of RV you want to look at. It may be a motorhome, travel trailer, fiſth wheel, or van, Class C, etc. You should be able to determine this prior to your visit. Tere are many occasions where customers come in with a type of RV already selected, and end up buying something completely different. Sometimes this works out, but more oſten than not, there is buyer’s remorse. If you do select an RV for the moment, and decide you don’t like it, when you go to trade it back in, you are more than likely going to lose money on the deal. It is very important to know what type of RV you are looking for, and stick to looking at those types. If you wander around looking at other types of RV’s, you may end up with something you didn’t want.
You also have to determine some sort
of budget when buying your RV. RV’s are generally priced based directly on quality. For example, a four seasons fully insulated trailer with all the electric options will be priced considerably higher than a non- four seasons unit with limited options. You need to decide whether price point, or quality is more important to you, as a consumer. You also should have a pretty good idea of what options you would prefer. For example, maybe a lot of counter space is important, or a large fridge, or lots of storage, etc. It is a good idea to know what to look for when selecting an RV. You should be able to relay your needs to your sales rep, and he should be able to take you to the units that meet your requirements.
WHERE? Let’s face it. Tere are a number of
places to purchase an RV. Tere are dealers, importing from the States, private sales, etc. When importing from the States, you may find getting CSA status at the border is difficult. Canadian Standards Association’s rules are much more strict than US standards. Most manufacturers have Canadian, and American units. If the unit you select in the States does not measure up to CSA standards, it will need to be adapted to meet those standards, at your cost. I know of many nightmare RV import stories, and very few people end up saving money this way. Another way to buy is through private
sales. Tere is a lot of risk involved. Tere really are no actual rules governing private sales. It is basically a buyer-beware type approach. Tere is a governing body for RV dealers called VSA, (Vehicle Sales Authority) which determines laws an RV dealer must follow. Basically, new or used, everything
must work on the RV you purchase, all information must be disclosed to you, and the dealer is responsible for the condition when you purchase it, unless otherwise noted on the original contract. In other words, we do mechanical inspections, repair as necessary, we do RV inspections, repair as necessary, and detail units before you pick up your new unit. A dealer also guarantees an RV to be free and clear of debt. Also, check the history of the dealership. Chances are you know other RVers, and try and find as much information about the dealership you are purchasing from as possible. Also, check for stories on the Internet about other people’s experiences
with that dealer, so you know what you can expect, or not expect.
WHY? Why do you want to buy an RV? How
will you use it? Do you want to use it only in the summer, or maybe in the fall? Do you want to travel locally on weekends, or long trips south, or across Canada? Tese are all questions you should consider before even setting out to look at RV’s. If you have a lot of your own answers, but are still a little unsure, please use your sales rep to fill in the rest. Most reps you talk to have a lot of experience, and you can take advantage of their insights to help fill in the blanks.
HOW? Actually purchasing an RV is a pretty
simple procedure. Basically, you come to an agreement on a price and put down a refundable deposit. On the agreement you can put in subjects. For example, subject to financing, test-drive, wife (or husband’s) approval, etc. As long as there is a subject on the agreement, it is not a legally binding contract. It is only binding when the subjects have been removed. All deposits given are refundable, unless otherwise specified on the contract. An example of this is a factory order unit. Financing is another issue. All dealers offer financing, and other services that will protect your unit, such as extended warranty, paint protection, etc. You should have a pretty good idea of what you want your payments to be, if you are willing to put money down, whether you want to finance at all, etc. before making your purchase. All in all, your chances of success are greatly increased if:
1. You have a good idea of what you want.
2. You have a good idea of what your budget is.
3. You trust your sales rep, and the dealer.
4. Know how you want to pay for it. 5. You make a list of features you want in your RV, and refer to it while looking.
If you come into the dealership, and follow these simple guidelines,
your
purchase should be a very great experience, and you should end up walking away with the right RV for you. Happy shopping! k
RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 29
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