Camping World Travel Trailer Purchase Fees

[WannaBeFree]

I want to purchase an Coleman RV and it seems the new ones are only sold at Camping World.  The Internet pricing seems OK but when I get around to the actual price I find they charge fees in addition to the Internet price and taxes.  Checking with a few Camping World locations I'm finding fees like:

• $1000 fee if you pay cash and don't use their bank
• Prep fee values of $695, $950, $1195 (3 different locations)
• Doc fee of $399
• Destination fee of $1485

Anyone have experience with negotiating these fees or the Internet pricing with Camping World locations?

 

[highdesertranger]

ouch. maybe get ahold of Coleman and tell them how ridiculous that is. make sure you tell them they are going to loose a sale if they will not do anything. highdesertranger

 

[WannaBeFree]

Contacting Coleman is a good idea.  I have a contact there that pointed me to Camping World as they do not sell to the public.

I have a couple Camping World dealerships looking into how they might get to a lower price.  I spoke with one dealership though which was fixed on price - the one which forces you into their financing or charges you $1K .

 

[GotSmart]

Look and see if there are any prepayment penalties. 

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/financing-car-ask-about-pre-payment-penalties

 

[WannaBeFree]

Yep.  Pretty sure there is prepayment penalty.  The sales rep stated I could pay it off after 6 months and the dealership would get their kickback and I would pay less than $1k in interest.

 

[GotSmart]

Go in there at the end of the month with cash, and tell them that they have 30 minutes to find a complete price you can live with.

Have brochures from competing brands. 

My brother used to sell cars, and at the end of the month they would let things go at cost to make sales bonuses. :idea:

 

[jimindenver]

At this time of the year they should be climbing up your back side trying to get you to buy. especially considering CampingWorld has one of the worse reps you can imagine.

 

[ArtW]

This is why so many quality camper suppliers of small campers won't sell through dealers

 

[jimindenver]

This is how it works. Bring the customer in with a low price and beat them up with fees. The dealers get paid to do the final inspection from the factory. Sometimes they charge extra for the Pre delivery inspection where the customer can point out things to be fixed.

 

[WannaBeFree]

Go in there at the end of the month with cash, and tell them that they have 30 minutes to find a complete price you can live with.

Have brochures from competing brands. 

My brother used to sell cars, and at the end of the month they would let things go at cost to make sales bonuses. :idea:

In my case the Camping World dealerships are in the 300-400 mile range away from my home.  So, I don't want to show up and hope things will go well.  If closer by and I would definitely take this approach.

 

[Gunny]

Camping World does NOT have a stellar reputation for service either. They are owned by 'The Profit' from CNBC and he is a jerk. If they are the only game in town it may be time to reconsider what you buy.

If Coleman does have an exclusive deal with CW consider a lightly used. I told one of their salesmen he couldn't run fast enough to sell me a trailer.

Rob

 

[ArtW]

The smaller Colemans (16-20foot), are basically the same as the Summerland Mini's sold (locally) at holiday World, and my Shasta Oasis is very similar, though i prefer the side mount AC in the Coleman and the Summerland to the roof AC in the Oasis, shop elsewhere, for a similar model

 

[Txjaybird]

  I HATE PREP FEES!!!!!

Down here around Dothan AL there are only 2 dealerships that I know do not charge all kinds of fees. 

 In Mariana FL where I bought my Aliner this sept. from Panhandle RV.  Shorty the owner makes sure every thing works before you hook up to go home with whatever you buy there.  His inventory varies and he sells on consignment too.  The sellers of my Aliner told him the 3 way frig didn't work, he cleaned it/adjusted a few things and it was running/freezing when I went the 2nd time dragging my trade in behind me. I paid what I owed in cash +2% FL sales tax when I picked it up. It had been cleaned and checked out very well and no hidden fees.

In Dothan AL, Discount General also does not charge a lot of fees.  The same man owned Bama RV & did not charge any hidden fees at that dealership either.

If you go to Camping World or Runaway RV they will eat your lunch on fees so you better eat before you get there  :huh:

That's my story etc.

Jewellann

P.S.  The  Aliner has side mount A/C and I like it way better than roof mounted A/C{ also what Gunny said}

 

[Gunny]

http://www.cnbc.com/marcus-lemonis-bio/

He said " A dollar is his god"' Nice guy.

 

[speedhighway46]

I have a Camping World here in Grand Rapids, MI. I've bought minor items from them through the years, but never a TT or Motorhome, so I can't speak to the prep fee thing.

However, DO NOT EVER GIVE THEM YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS! I can speak to that, and if you do you will be sorry. They flood your in-box with their relentless propaganda and ads. All material they send out is divided into 25 or 30 categories and you must unsubscribe to each one separately.

I think they are a preditory organization and mostly don't do business with them; and when I must, CASH ONLY!

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

However, DO NOT EVER GIVE THEM YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS! I can speak to that, and if you do you will be sorry. They flood your in-box with their relentless propaganda and ads. All material they send out is divided into 25 or 30 categories and you must unsubscribe to each one separately.

I created a 'junk' e-mail account that I give out to anyone that asks.  Go in once a month and delete all.

 -- Spiff

 

[mayble]

Personally, I wouldn't give Camping World my business even if they were next door.  Odds and ends maybe, possibly a dirt-cheap used unit but definitely not a new trailer or anything with an expectation of value or service after the sale.
Use the dealer locator and expand your search area if you have to.  There are other dealers besides Camping World who sell Coleman products.
http://www.dutchmen.com/find-a-dealer/

 

[WannaBeFree]

The smaller Colemans (16-20foot), are basically the same as the Summerland Mini's sold (locally) at holiday World, and my Shasta Oasis  is very similar, though i prefer the side mount AC in the Coleman and the Summerland to the roof AC in the Oasis, shop elsewhere, for a similar model

Yep.  I was looking at the Summerland's.  They have a similar model, 2020QB, but it weighs a bit more, has less water capacity, is a couple feet longer, and the carry capacity is 2155 vs 3500 of the Coleman.  Wish I could buy it direct from Coleman.

 

[WannaBeFree]

I created a 'junk' e-mail account that I give out to anyone that asks.  Go in once a month and delete all.

 -- Spiff

Yep.  That is a great way to handle the junk mail.  With outlook.com you can create a junk email account which you can forward to a primary email account.  Next you can create aliases on the junk email account to distribute to vendors.  When a vendor becomes abusive with the amount of email simply delete the alias

 

[WannaBeFree]

Personally, I wouldn't give Camping World my business even if they were next door.  Odds and ends maybe, possibly a dirt-cheap used unit but definitely not a new trailer or anything with an expectation of value or service after the sale.
Use the dealer locator and expand your search area if you have to.  There are other dealers besides Camping World who sell Coleman products.
http://www.dutchmen.com/find-a-dealer/

You are indeed correct, thanks!  I had to get creative with searching, I entered zips away from my location, and found non-campingworld dealerships.  I was talking with a rep in Vegas and I recall him saying that only Camping World carried Coleman and my search until now only showed Camping World locations with the Coleman campers.