Best way to negotiate on new motorhome - advice please...

[paintman]

We all like to think we can negotiate a discount when buying something, the previous advice about selling your present van privately will certainly help you. Whether a seller will offer a discount always depends on desirability and availability of the item he is selling, if he can sell more than he can buy, your going to struggle. A few years ago my brother found two dealers selling the exact model he wanted to buy at the same price, he was paying in cash (no commission from the finance house ? ) and had no p/x, neither would offer a discount, it was definitely a take it or leave it mate type situation.

 

[Channa]

I would listen to chana,one thing i can tell from my days in the trade DONT tell them you are paying cash until the deal is sorted as they think you will be buying hp and they get a good kick back from that so its vectored into final price.
Once the deal is closed and the hand shake is done and you penning the sale papers plonk the dosh or cheque on the table and watch the s--t hit the fan,my mate did this when buying a new vw car & the sales man tried to back out once he found he was not going to get kick back from hp but my friend then ask for manager saying the sales man had gone back on his word,well the sale went through & what a red face the sales man had he he.

TBH Trev , making commissions on the finance is a hard gig , even harder today with internet lenders etc. But still worth doing as a business , and nothing really to do with any individual transaction ...Most dealers finance their used vehicle stock (and new) on a stocking plan. In simple terms the amount of business placed with a finance company directly relects the charges the dealership incurs on the stock it carries. for example

I have 40 cars or motorhomes on a pitch average stand in value 5K a piece so £200000. Black Horse whoever fund that 200k and charge a base rate plus say 3% . However if that dealer introduces a preset amountof business to that finance house the 3% will reduce so a cost saving to the business.

Traditionally and i like it finance was a nice little earner, opportunity for a commission and extra income if credit protection was sold. It is useful as a salesperson ..an extra tenne ra month is far easier to sell than taking £350 off someone for a towbar etc.

Internet very tight regulations FSA FCA, and low interest rates has spoilt the perceived cash cow

Channa

 

[molly 2]

When I bought my new van I phoned the dealer for price and he was the cheapest, when I asked him about the phone price when I purchased the vehicle he said, we allways give our cheapest price on phone quote ,as it is a one chance of a sale .He was cheaper than face to face quotes.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

I went into the local Chausson Dealer wanting/enquiring about 610 and he gave me a list price PLUS delivering it from France £1000 PLUS PDI at £800 all on top of the list price. I asked for a proper price and he said he could not give ANYTHING off as the price was set by the French and he was not allowed to give discounts and that there would/might be a premium on the price as they were very popular. I said goodbye. And now he still has the van in the yard unsold. If I have to pay £1800 on top of the list then what was he doing for his profit? I could get the same model TOP SPEC,not basic model, from Germany for £8000 less ???????????? but LHD only. I will not be buying from them, local or not. I will make a better van purchase elsewhere and screw the price down somehow "That's an old stock model, it is three years old now before going on the road" I'll give you £XXXX.
OR I can stay with mine as it is and just put 6 new tyres on it and drive the Continent on the money saved.

 

[Channa]

I am no tsure about Chausson, but there maybe a grain of truth in his statement.

If you read re how stocking charges work your reluctance to do business will be of little loss.

My past life we had Ferrari has a franchise. when the F40 was announced we had a very famous footballer enquire. a non starter , you see Ferrari insisted that to own one you had to have owned 3 Ferraris previously.. They can track incidentally via dvla.

I worked for a Jaguar dealership and invoices were audited to ensure no discounts took place.

Actually in the broader scale not a bad thing. Why ? the late vehicles entering the used car market hold their value as even the trade know there is a no discount policy. I was involved with a rental company in one business ironically part owned by Ford.. A Mercedes at list was more expensive than a Granada scorpio but Mercs held their value partly because of the no discount policy . so worked out cheaper on a lease with a guaranteed buy back ...Scorpios cheaper I could get just shy of a £5000 discount second hand worth a bag of crisps and a nodding dog, and everyone knew it

Ford when insurance went all wobbly discounted their cars across the range overnight partly by reducing dealer margins , in reality was to do with block exemption ...Great news eh ? Not for the owners who had paid full whack 18 months earlier it had a knock on effect right down the line,

Channa

 

[Mr D]

We have bought a few motorhomes both new and second hand,the dealers have been happy to give us a part exchange price and also a cash price if not needed.
We have sold them on ebay very easily with no hassle although Karen did panic a bit when I accepted 23k in cash in a carrier bag,just dipped in and counted one bundle .

I'm that cash carrier bag sort of person.

I took my Aldi carrier bag stuffed with £10000 to a dealership a while back and they £5000 was the max' in cash. I then had to go into town to put the rest in my bank account to complete the sale. I was not impressed. I felt like a criminal!

 

[alcam]

I am no tsure about Chausson, but there maybe a grain of truth in his statement.

If you read re how stocking charges work your reluctance to do business will be of little loss.

My past life we had Ferrari has a franchise. when the F40 was announced we had a very famous footballer enquire. a non starter , you see Ferrari insisted that to own one you had to have owned 3 Ferraris previously.. They can track incidentally via dvla.

I worked for a Jaguar dealership and invoices were audited to ensure no discounts took place.

Actually in the broader scale not a bad thing. Why ? the late vehicles entering the used car market hold their value as even the trade know there is a no discount policy. I was involved with a rental company in one business ironically part owned by Ford.. A Mercedes at list was more expensive than a Granada scorpio but Mercs held their value partly because of the no discount policy . so worked out cheaper on a lease with a guaranteed buy back ...Scorpios cheaper I could get just shy of a £5000 discount second hand worth a bag of crisps and a nodding dog, and everyone knew it

Ford when insurance went all wobbly discounted their cars across the range overnight partly by reducing dealer margins , in reality was to do with block exemption ...Great news eh ? Not for the owners who had paid full whack 18 months earlier it had a knock on effect right down the line,

Channa

As my mate in the motortrade says ''theres an a#se for every seat'

 

[trevskoda]

I'm that cash carrier bag sort of person.

I took my Aldi carrier bag stuffed with £10000 to a dealership a while back and they £5000 was the max' in cash. I then had to go into town to put the rest in my bank account to complete the sale. I was not impressed. I felt like a criminal!

In my biz i pay for all my stock up front and stuff nomater what my supplyer says i sell cash to any body & never cards or cheques,cash cash cash,so if you find you want releaved of money im your man.