Choosing the Best Dealer

There are several key considerations when you decide upon a dealership, and each of these will be important both at the time of sale and later down the road when you have your RV serviced or repaired.

To learn about these considerations, don’t be afraid to ask them to give you a tour of the dealership. Look at the service department. Do they have certified technicians? Do they have the capability and facilities to do routine maintenance and warranty work on the units they sell? Look at their Parts and Accessory Department. Do they offer a good selection of parts and accessories?

Closely examine each of these different areas before you decide upon any particular dealer, and consider the following:

»        Reputation

»        Brand Loyalty

»        Sales Department

»        Parts and Labor Department

»        Service Department

»        Financing Department

Let’s examine these one-by-one.

Reputation

It’s important to find an RV dealer with a reputable, professional staff, who is willing to take care of you after the sale. How can you find out about the dealer's reputation?

If at all possible, talk to some other people who have dealt with the dealership before. A reputable dealer wants your business, and they want you to return to them for future business. They should be able to give you at least five names you can call.

The bottom line is that every dealer relies on their reputation, both to attract new customers and to keep their old customers coming back. Without a good reputation, this is not possible. New dealerships come and go, but the reputable ones have been around for years. That is why it is important to ask questions and to physically visit the RV dealership.

It’s also a good idea to call the local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints on file regarding the dealership. If there are, think twice before making a purchase from that dealer.

Another clue to reputation is to find out if they are a member of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA). It they are, most dealers will have their membership prominently displayed. If you want to know in advance if they are a member of RVDA, you can find out online at http://www.rvda.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Dealer.

If you select a dealer with a good reputation, you might not be guaranteed zero problems, but you will know that if you do encounter problems, they will be met with respect, consideration, and a sincere desire to resolve your issues in a manner that is satisfying to you, their valued customer.

Brand Loyalty

Find out what brands of RVs the dealer offers and how long they have carried those product lines. If a dealer has been selling a particular brand or product for a long period of time, there is probably a good reason why.

As a buyer, you want the most for your money, but you also want a manufacturer who builds a quality product and stands behind their product with a no-hassle warranty. Look for manufacturers who have been building quality RVs for a long time and dealers who have been selling these products for a long time.

Sales Department

A quality RV dealer will have a reputable, professional sales staff to assist you. It is extremely important that you feel comfortable and trust the salesperson. If you don’t feel comfortable, ask to speak to somebody else.

Don’t be afraid to help the salesperson help you. By this point in time, you know what type of RV you want. Tell the salesperson what your needs are, what you want, how you plan to use your RV, and a basic price range.

A knowledgeable salesperson can be a real asset, especially if you are new to RVing. They know the products, prices, and what is in the inventory, and they can be very helpful if they have some idea of what you want.

Parts and Accessories Department

When you visit the RV dealership, you should always check out the Parts and Accessories Department. Parts are the things that RVs need to work properly and accessories are the nice-to-have things that make your camping trips smoother and more fun.

The dealer should stock an adequate selection of repair parts for the product lines they sell. In today’s marketplace, it is possible to get parts delivered overnight, but that doesn’t mean the dealership doesn’t need to stock some common repair parts too. If a dealership offers a good selection of parts and accessories, it is an indication that they are a reputable dealership. Parts and accessory suppliers will not work with RV dealers who are not established with a proven track record.

Service Department

It is important to make sure the dealership you buy from has the capabilities and facilities to do routine maintenance and warranty work on the RV you purchase.

You will need to have routine maintenance and warranty work done on your RV. Ask the salesperson to show you the maintenance facilities and to introduce you to the service manager. Ask if they have certified RV technicians and how long their service department personnel have been employed by the dealership. Long term employment and certified technicians are other indications of a reputable RV dealership.

Financing Department

The financing department will be of particular value to you if you are going to finance the RV through the dealer. Ask to visit the finance department and meet the finance manager. Ask a few questions about dealer financing, so you can tell if their financing is backed by sound business or is a seat-of-their-pants operation with the intention of making a few more bucks off the deal.

Jeff Radich is a professional research writer and active RV enthusiast.