Trip 1 to look at the units & decide which model worked best for us after we had read up on all the models we were interested in.  We call this...to kick the tires & yuk-it-up with the salesman.

Trip 2 one month later, after checking the dealer stock online, we went back to the dealership to look at that particular unit in detail but also look at some other models, shook hands with the salesman and yuk it up again telling him we don't really know what we what to buy.  He took our name and email address again.  We received emails from the dealership but didn't respond.

Three weeks later I opened negotiations online with a rediculously low "out the door offer", they countered and I refused the offer.  Next week I sent them another offer but they said that they could not go that low.  Three days later I sent them my "last and final" offer to purchase.  Everything was done online so there would be no "he said, she said" communications issues.

Trip 3 we picked up the unit and yuk it up with the online sales manager.

Had this deal not gone down we would have moved on & done the same thing with another dealer as time was on our side not theirs.

Please remember you hold the ace card, that being you can walk away, provided you do not form an emotion attachment to that unit and have a bad case of "I want it NOW"

Dealers are notorious for adding additional fees to the negotiated sales price and I hate having to haggle with them over the "garbage fees". So we only negotiate based on "out the door" pricing.  They don't like it but too bad.

Dealer markups run as high as 33%.  Keep in mind that there is a "flooring charge" (if you aren't familiar with the term, look it up) that's built into the pricing.  The longer the unit sits on the lot the higher the flooring charge (cost) that can't be passed onto the costumer.

The worst time to buy a unit is when the season begins as the demand is high and their flooring cost is low.  The best time to buy is post season when the snow is on the ground, they've incurred 9 months of flooring costs and there isn't another costumer in sight. That's when they are most vulnerable and willing to make the best deals so they don't have to "carry the unit" until next season and try to sell last year's model after the new model comes out.

Hope this helps.

 

Hi Debbie and welcome!

I just ordered a new (2018) 178 and the cost was $14,750. It's not a HRE, but that may help you a bit in your search.

We are looking to purchase a 177. I found a used 2014 for 10,998 and a new one for $15,997 (both at dealers). Can anyone share if those prices are normal? I can't seem to find blue book or any info on Rpods. I don't see very many used ones here in the west coast either.

Thanks a bunch!

Debbie