RV Shows

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DonTom

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Apr 21, 2005
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Auburn, CA or Reno, NV
When I purchased this RV, they (RV Country in Sparks, NV) were also doing an RV show close by that I did NOT go to.

I don't know if the salesman was honest (is there such a thing?) but I was told the prices for the same RVs at the show are higher.

That would not surprise me, but I still wonder if it is true.

I know from experience that at least with some other stuff, they often do jack up prices for shows. Take gun shows for an example. Pay to park, pay the entrance fee and then find higher prices than the shops down the street. And bring a lot of cash, as nobody will take credit cards. Why they draw crowds, I will never understand.

I was wondering if it's the same at RV shows, after what the salesman told me.

I have been to a couple of RV shows, but it was all MANY years ago. And even then, I never compared prices.

-Don- ABQ, NM
 
I don’t believe a single thing a salesman says. Ever.

That being said I bought my camper from a RV show an got a great deal.
 
They don't want to haul all the RV's back where they came from. My understanding is that the best prices will be at a show for that reason, but maybe not until the last day. Maybe I'm wrong?
 
For the shows we've been to, they seem to indicate the "show price" is the best price ever but without knowing comparable pricing going in, who knows! We did buy our first rig at a show - a "leftover" pop-up and got a great deal. Bought our next one from a dealer we met at a show but made the actual deal several weeks later at the dealership. Had such a good experience with them, we bought our current rig from the same dealer 7 years later (and have referred about 5 other people to them who became buyers).
 
They don't want to haul all the RV's back where they came from.
I kinda wish they wouldn't. But it's not just the RVs in the shows at the time. This one was not in the show but in the lot. This one had 3,300 miles on it the day I bought it as new. Also, 53.7 hours on the genny.

I probably should have went to the RV show at the time. But I would probably still end up with this one. I looked at quite a few RVs before I purchased this one. I couldn't fine anything I didn't like with this one, but it is a few feet longer than I wanted, but even the longer length has some nice advantages.

-Don- ABQ, NM
 
For the shows we've been to, they seem to indicate the "show price" is the best price ever
But best for who, them? :)

I see a lot of BS terms at other types of shows, especially gun shows, which I no longer bother with. Such as "gun show special". Every salesman wants to make you believe their price is the best and you're getting a big bargain.

-Don- ABQ, NM
 
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Th RV shows up here in Canada do have good prices. They are early in the year (January) so the manufacturers can get a good sense of what to build. I did not buy my trailer from a show but I have bought lots of parts there. Here are a couple of examples...

3200 Hyundai generator for $1200 - goes for $1850 at the RV shop.
Rock Tamers for $250 - $400+ at RV shops
 
A fairly typical ploy is to show a high "list price" to make the special show price look better and to be able to offer attractiv-lookinge discounts to customers who show an interest. And yes,the show discounts tend to get better on the last day.
 
A fairly typical ploy is to show a high "list price" to make the special show price look better and to be able to offer attractiv-lookinge discounts to customers who show an interest. And yes,the show discounts tend to get better on the last day.
I wonder how many RVs a show sells in a day. Or should I say week or month? And how that compared to a "normal" place that sells RVs, such as RV Country (where this one came from). I don't even have a rough idea.

-Don- Albuquerque, NM (nice comfy weather here!).
 
That has to vary with the size of the show, where and when it takes place, and probably other factors, but there must be enough profit (of one kind or another) because the vendors keep coming back to the shows. You can bet that a LOT of rigs are sold in the Quartzsite "show" but I've never come across any figures. And do you count sales that occur a week or a month later because of show attendance?
 
I don't know how maney are sold at shows like the Florida Super Show. Must be a lot of them.
I do think some dealers use the shows more to get people interested than as a retail outlet. Perhaps a little of both. Because when I was in Gillett Wy this summer at the FMCA rally NIRVC brought 5 new coaches to display. All were sold by the second day. One smaller gas unit I think it was a Winnebago about the size of Dons was bought before it arrived. It was a nice coach. They made a deal with the new owner so they could show it at the rally.
Don did you shop NIRVC?
Bill
 
NIRVC was started because the owner wasn't happy with the service he was getting from outher places. The fun part is he is a full time RVer. He still lives in his RV when he is in town.
Bill
 
$30.00 to go to an RV show? $15.00 fee ($13.00 for seniors), plus another $15.00 to park.

See here.

Sounds like a rip-off. I would think it would make more sense for them to pay us to look at what they are trying to sell us.

I guess all "shows" are a rip-off these days.

-Don- In ice cold DeRidder, LA
 
Went to a show last Saturday at the NY State Fairgrounds that was free. Wasn't all that spectacular but was a good way to spend a few hours indoors on a single-digit degree day!
 
It’s an old joke, but it’s still true.

How do you know when an RV salesman is lying? His lips are moving.

I would not trust an RV salesman at all…EVER.
 
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