Real World Prices

[thedusty]

Perhaps this has been done before or addressed elsewhere on the forum.  If it has and I haven't found it, the mods are welcome to delete this thread.

I'm still very new to travel trailers but it appears their pricing has a lot of 'fluff' built into it.  I've done enough pre-negotiating with various dealers to learn the MSRP and negotiated final prices vary by much more than I expected.  It would be nice to get a list of what people are actually paying.  This will help determine the floor pricing for each model and let others know that there is room to negotiate so they do not pay more of their hard earned money than necessary.  That being said, a 'good deal' is one where both parties willingly agree to a transaction.  So if negotiating is not your thing and you are willing to pay an asking price, then you did get a good deal for you.  

I was curious if the mods would be willing to 'sticky' this thread.  The thread over time would become a list of what individuals actually paid for their Camplite Travel trailer along with a list of options.  I would suggest the following format.  If others have a better format, please suggest it of course.  If there is already a resource on the web that provides a rough idea of invoice pricing on these trailers, I would very much appreciate a link.

Camplite Model:
Year:
Dealer Name & State:
Optional Packages: (XL Package, for example)
Custom Changes: (additional power outlets, for example)
MSRP (if available):
Negotiated Price (pre-tax, since that varies by state):


I personally would be very curious to hear any recent prices on the Camplite 21BHS and 28BHS.  If you prefer not to post it on this thread, please consider private messaging me.


Many thanks in advance.

[david]

There are too many variables for any real world feedback data to be really useful. Was it a factory order? An end of season order of a unit that had been sitting on the dealer's lot for 6 months? Brand new model that just came out with a lot of demand? Is it a big dealer with lots of inventory who moves it well (more discount) or a small isolated dealer with one or two in inventory (less). All of those factors will influence the actual sales price vs MSRP.

For LL products which tend to sell closer to MSRP than mass brands, I would shoot for 10-12% off of MSRP, maybe a bit better at the end of season off of the dealer's lot. You can look here for some guidance: http://www.dhrvcenter.com/livin-lite. Note the 5th wheel is advertised at less than half of MSRP and the 2014 8.5 TC is about 30% off. The former is discontinued and the latter has been sitting around at least a year.

David

[thedusty]

[quote source="/post/15413/thread" timestamp="1442855013" author="@david"]There are too many variables for any real world feedback data to be really useful. Was it a factory order? An end of season order of a unit that had been sitting on the dealer's lot for 6 months? Brand new model that just came out with a lot of demand? Is it a big dealer with lots of inventory who moves it well (more discount) or a small isolated dealer with one or two in inventory (less). All of those factors will influence the actual sales price vs MSRP.

For LL products which tend to sell closer to MSRP than mass brands, I would shoot for 10-12% off of MSRP, maybe a bit better at the end of season off of the dealer's lot. You can look here for some guidance: http://www.dhrvcenter.com/livin-lite. Note the 5th wheel is advertised at less than half of MSRP and the 2014 8.5 TC is about 30% off. The former is discontinued and the latter has been sitting around at least a year.

David[/quote]You make an excellent point that there are many variables to pricing.  I don't think anyone could argue with that.  I would still be interested though since over time we might discover a few dealers that provide consistently good prices on Camplite trailers.  For example, I have found a dealer 2 hours south of Dallas that has stated he would beat a highly negotiated price on a 2015 model I found elsewhere even if I custom ordered a 2016 model from him.  If I do the deal and he lives up to his promise, I would love to reward him by potentially giving him other customers willing to travel to Texas to do a deal.  

I've noticed some here have traveled to pick up their model.  Perhaps we could then reward those dealers' lower prices with increased volume to compensate them with what effectively amounts to free advertising.

Again, your thoughts make a lot of sense.  Some dealers will have models on clearance that they're willing to part with at extremely low prices.

[aggie79]

David,
I would be interested in this information too.  We are in the DFW - west side - and I have had preliminary discussions with the same dealer.  

[thedusty]

[quote source="/post/15419/thread" author="@aggie79" timestamp="1442861303"]David,
I would be interested in this information too.  We are in the DFW - west side - and I have had preliminary discussions with the same dealer.  [/quote]Howdy Aggie79...I assume you graduated from Texas A&M?  If so, I'm also a fellow Aggie...  Gig'em...

[daplumbr]

You might want to try using the forum search button using the term MSRP. The topic of real-world prices in relation the mythical MSRP in the RV industry has been discussed before and you'll get a couple pages of hits with threads. Those will lead you to more discussions. Lots of potential buyers are interested in "real" prices and I think this would be a great topic for a thread in the new forum FAQs (yet to be populated). 

[aggie79]

David,
I would be interested in this information too.  We are in the DFW - west side - and I have had preliminary discussions with the same dealer.  

Howdy Aggie79...I assume you graduated from Texas A&M?  If so, I'm also a fellow Aggie...  Gig'em...

Howdy and gig'em!

A few years back I built a teardrop camper. We hope to retire early in a year or two and have been looking for a travel trailer to take out for weeks at a time.

I am very particular about build quality and this has led me to LivinLite CampLite.  I am not happy about discontinuing the Azdel or aluminum cabinet fronts and the hopefully temporary stop on customization but maybe these will change when we are ready to order next summer or fall.

[fasteddieb]

A couple data points:

1) First one we saw in person, at a dealership west of Knoxville:


[img style="max-width:100%;" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/565/21612990682_fc9ca9dd9b_c.jpg"]

It was black, which we did not want. And we were turned off by what we saw as high pressure sales tactics. We told them we had seen lower prices online (see below) and they warned us that the dealer was notorious for "bait and switch".

2) This was the one referred to above, and the one we bought:






We were prepared for the "bait and switch" and asked if we brought a certified check for the amount shown in the ad, if that would be the TOTAL total. Other than a $15 title transfer fee, it was. Sales tax was paid upon registering it in GA.

[ammobob]

Bought my 2016 custom 21BHS at Sunnyislandrv for 27,900. Good people and great pricing. Well worth the 2000 mile drive to go get it.

[leslie]

I bought my 21-BHS at Sunny Island in Rockford, IL, as well. My salesman was Mike B. He was very helpful with the custom order that I wanted, and called the factory a few times while I was there to make sure that I was getting what I wanted.

[thedusty]

[quote source="/post/15441/thread" author="@leslie" timestamp="1442943882"]I bought my 21-BHS at Sunny Island in Rockford, IL, as well. My salesman was Mike B. He was very helpful with the custom order that I wanted, and called the factory a few times while I was there to make sure that I was getting what I wanted.[/quote]It sounds like we've found a patter for those living near IL though...Sunny Island is easy to deal with....  Are you open to sharing the specifics of your custom changes and the price they ended up charging vs. MSRP?  

[djsamuel]

Bought my 21BHS for $28,000 from a dealer in Lakeland, FL, about 30 miles from home.  His sale price was $34,500, but I brought some Internet prices with me and said I'd drive to Georgia to pick it up.  They met the price.

Doug

[thedusty]

[quote source="/post/15457/thread" author="@djsamuel" timestamp="1442971880"]Bought my 21BHS for $28,000 from a dealer in Lakeland, FL, about 30 miles from home.  His sale price was $34,500, but I brought some Internet prices with me and said I'd drive to Georgia to pick it up.  They met the price.

Doug[/quote]We're getting some solid information on the 21BHS.  Thank you for adding in your information.  Hopefully this helps a few others save some money when they go to buy.

[shovelhead]

21RBS  from a dealer in Buford GA.  I did not haggle since they honored the internet price and even gave me a $200 gift card. $27900 plus Ga tax and title fees.

[fasteddieb]

Good deal.

We would have bought at Southland - they were the first dealer we called, as a matter of fact. But at the time they did not have a 21BHS in stock, and I don't recall that they were getting any in soon.