Prep charges
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Dealer Reviews and Comments
Forum Discription: Let everyone know how well your dealer treated you...
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10182
Printed Date: 26 Apr 2024 at 4:32am
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Topic: Prep charges
Posted By: podzilla
Subject: Prep charges
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2017 at 5:27pm
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First off hello to everybody, I'm not a owner yet but this weekend I was at the dealer and I was looking at the 178. We love the floor plan and the build quality. When we were talking about the price he said there was a towable prep charge of $499. which consist of multi point inspection, ac check, water heater check, detail in and out, fill propane fresh battery, battery box, and a few other things. total value $1179 with discount $499. Now I never bought a travel trailer before and would like to know if this is a normal charge
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Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2017 at 5:47pm
Welcome to the group!
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2017 at 6:53pm
Seems rather excessive. When I purchased ours back in January 2011 there was no 'prep charge' on my bill. However I was billed for the additional propane tank, batteries, and a few inspections and that came to $ 200.00
Do you have options as far as other dealers beside the one you are currently dealing with that aren't far far away?
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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Posted By: Richand Cindy
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2017 at 7:44pm
Dealers are very independent of Forest River and can do practically anything they want. You need to negotiate an out the door price. One dealer that was closest to our house added more than $3000 to the price for dealer prep, inspection, battery propane, fill etc. Another dealer much further away did not add anything to the quoted price except for a $100 fee for license and title. They included battery, propane fill, electric adapter plug to use a standard outlet, sewer pipe and other goodies. They did try to sell us an extended warranty but it was the softest sell I ever got. Basically gave me the brochure and said you have a year to decide if you want to buy it. I would play hardball and refuse to pay anything additional and demand a battery, battery box and propane fill to be included in the price. Then I would go online and get all my needed supplies on Amazon
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OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
NEW: 2018 Passport Elite 23RB + 2017 Ram 1500 Diesel
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Posted By: osage
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2017 at 8:50pm
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We have never paid a prep charge! We always make a offer for the camper out the door price so far no one has turned us down in 50 years.
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Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2017 at 10:30pm
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total BS. Dealer should check everything out and hand you a unit that is ready to go camping with. Extra goodies you should pay for, but not prep, etc. that is what the dealer markup you never see is for.
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2017 at 7:16am
Podzilla,
I agree dealers are independent. Also agree it is negotiable. I would ask myself what is the cost and risk, if for some reason they didn't do that prep. I for one, have detailed my Pod, and can tell you I'd charge $200 for that alone. Of course the other side of the discussion, is how do they do a walk thru if they can't or won't show you that all your stuff works. I bought my Pod used and the dealer did all that, I took it for granted he had already included it in price.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: tabrods
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2017 at 6:00pm
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Hi Podz,
We picked up our HRE 179 back in September and the dealer didn't charge us anything for the prep. We paid extra for an another battery but nothing else. One of the best dealer experiences we've ever been thru...
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2017 at 3:58pm
When we got ours, I think we got at least a couple thousand off the list (might have been more, but my memory is fuzzy). There was the expected tax and license fees. The batteries and propane were included in the asking price. We did pay a bit over $500 for the E2 hitch, but that also included them adjusting it to fit our F-150. There was no "prep fee".
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Posted By: Gregm
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2017 at 5:10pm
We paid a prep fee but it was less than$200.
The pod was used and reasonably priced so we did not haggle
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Gregm
2014 171
2015 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner
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Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2017 at 5:16am
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I agree with others. Make your offer, and walk if they do not accept. Be gracious and look elsewhere. You may be surprised they change their tune and not let you walk away. It happens with cars too. If your offer is fair and valid, and they are going to turn a profit, they'll accept your offer.
No need to argue about their fees. Just make your best offer that you would be willing to pay.
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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD)
2013 VW Touareg TDI
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Posted By: tongatam
Date Posted: 15 May 2019 at 1:36pm
I got a $499 fee... thought that was steep just to 'prepare' the camper. The list price was really low however so figure they were making up some of that.
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2019 179 R-Pod ~ Daisy Mae
yesterdays are over my shoulder, so I can't look back for too long.
there's just too much to see, waiting in front of me.
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Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 15 May 2019 at 2:27pm
Extra profit for the dealer. Either bargain it away with your offer, or shop elsewhere if they don't meet your 'out the door' price'...
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r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
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