Posted 2011-02-10 8:54 PM (#130103 - in reply to #129960) Subject: RE: frustrated with dealers
Veteran
Posts: 264
Location: Sumas Washington
Similar experience for me. My wife and I had stopped 2 times in one of the largest trailer dealers in the NorthWest. The salesman did not take us seriously. We were trying to get enough information to make a informed choice and found no help at all. It seemed to us as though we were annoying the salesman. Then we went to Miller trailer in Albany Oregon. Totally different deal. They were attentive, considerate and extremely helpful. Needles to say they sold us our first custom trailer. We are due to pick it up our new Platinum at Outlaw early next month.
Posted 2011-02-11 8:54 AM (#130124 - in reply to #130077) Subject: RE: frustrated with dealers
Regular
Posts: 56
Location: Shawnee, Oklahoma
Originally written by Kwarren on 2011-02-10 12:32 PM
I did trade trailers and was allowed 21000.00 for my trailer as a trade in. What got me is the other dealers told me to send them pictures and then never responded.
Sorry...I didn't see the earlier post that said you already traded. In a trade situation, they either sell you the new trailer at full retail and show you what you want for your trade, or they give you the discounted cash no trade price and you get the lesser trade. No one can do it any different and stay in business...the moral of the story is that when you trade, you lose money...in trucks , trailers, anything....but you gain a lot when you give up the hassles of selling your own trailer. It sounds like it went well for you....
Posted 2011-02-16 9:23 AM (#130372 - in reply to #130124) Subject: RE: frustrated with dealers
Expert
Posts: 2615
We were in somewhat of a hurry when we traded for a Platinum LQ a few years ago.Although we traded a steel Towlite,this trailer had been kept inside,was only about 5 years old with very little rust visible and had been well cared for.We jumped the gun and as a result,we lost money big time on that trade.I saw what they listed the trailer for later on their website and nearly fell out although I doubt that they got anywhere near that price for it.It taught me a lesson and ever since,I've preferred the hassle of outright selling my own trailers.Except for when we traded the Platinum for our Exiss that we now have,the dealer gave us an excellent trade-in on it.They can't hardly afford to give you trade-in value on what they can sell it for anyway.(Hope this doesn't sound too stupid but it probably does)
Posted 2011-02-16 11:09 AM (#130381 - in reply to #130074) Subject: RE: frustrated with dealers
Location: Colorado
Originally written by Cindy Trailer Depot on 2011-02-10 11:49 AM
We're Oklahoma dealers. We aren't used to 12" of snow. Our roads were closed, and so were we. We try to accomodate all of our customers and feel like we go above and beyond, but...I get calls at 11pm at night...on Sunday mornings...and virtually 24/7 wanting us to open the lot after hours to look at trailers.We are owner operated so we feel like we give better customer service. We answer all e-mails, even if it's a polite "sorry, we aren't interested"...and we get A LOT of e-mails from sellers who have an impossible trade and literally send their e-mails with pictures to many dealers to see if anyone will give what they want. We get daily calls from buyers with trades they want $50,000 for that won't bring $40,000 retail, or they need payoff on a trailer they are upside down in because they bought it with no down payment at a time when you only had to be breathing to get a loan.Most buyers who have a trade expect to get top retail price for their trailer but beat us up and offer less than wholesale for ours....and we can't stay in business unless we make a profit, so some trades are impossible, yet we stay polite through it all. I always suggest to these buyers that they buy an ad on HTW and sell the trailer themselves and then come in and buy ours. A lot of buyers get insulted, even if you make an honest trade offer.I've heard from customers that some dealers don't return calls or e-mails...or worse, they are rude. Nobody's perfect, but I don't see a reason beyond being closed to not respond in some way...but please don't take that as normal for all dealers...there are a lot of good ones out there.