Posted 2005-12-27 9:28 AM (#34415) Subject: Buying a trailer for 1st time
Regular
Posts: 63 Location: Missouri
I'm in the market for my 1st trailer and have been shopping around with different dealers that have advertised on trailerworld. Do people just pay the "sticker price" or is there room for negotiation? Everyone I've been dealing with seem pretty firm on their prices, but I feel like there should be some "wiggle" room on any price especially since I'm not trading in something...I'm paying cash. I want to go about purchasing a trailer like I would purchase a car, but the dealers are either playing a good game (I'm a female, so they must think I'm a sucker) or they really don't negotiate.
Posted 2005-12-27 10:34 AM (#34416 - in reply to #34415) Subject: RE: Buying a trailer for 1st time
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
In my limited buying experience, I have found dealers don't wiggle on new trailers.They can offer a upgraded this or that, maybe toss in something but not so much on price. They can wiggle on used. perhaps buying a new trailer is similar to buying something at Wal-Mart- shop around but this is the price you'll pay unless its on sale.
Don't assume its a "female thing" if dealers aren't dealing, it could be the market is pretty robust and they don't have a incentive to deal. Maybe you haven't been to the right dealer. When I bought my used trailer, I did get a slightly lower price by not having them add a cowboy shower ( get this No cowboy!) but the trailer was already priced pretty low so I didn't think I could get away with much more. But if you keep compairing prices you can get a good idea of what is a good deal vs not so good.
Posted 2005-12-27 10:43 AM (#34418 - in reply to #34415) Subject: RE: Buying a trailer for 1st time
Regular
Posts: 63 Location: Missouri
Thanks for your reply. What I find odd is that I'm looking at a trailer that can be found at the same price, same options, same year at 8 different locations. You'd think someone would be willing to sell me a trailer at a discount since there are so many to choose from.
Posted 2005-12-27 11:19 AM (#34423 - in reply to #34415) Subject: RE: Buying a trailer for 1st time
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534 Location: Zionsville, Indiana
Most horse trailer buyers are of the female persuasion, and the majority are knowledgable and have done their homework.. Don't be intimidated. If a dealer seems to be talking down to you, write them off. There is no excuse for this or any other kind of discrimination.
As to pricing, we dealers are keenly aware that our products must be priced as competitively as possible yet return enough profit to pay the overhead and stay in business. As a buyer, I would be a bit put out if a quoted price was suddenly dropped to attempt to keep my interest. I would wonder why I wasn't given the best price to begin with.
Posted 2005-12-27 3:22 PM (#34432 - in reply to #34415) Subject: RE: Buying a trailer for 1st time
Veteran
Posts: 127 Location: Fort Worth, Texas
I would also use the internet as a great bargaining tool. E-mail other dealers around the country to get prices. There are some dealers that will deliver the trailer free up to 500 miles. You may even find it cheaper and can afford the delivery price and still save money. Otherwise, you can use a lower bid as a bargaining tool to get a local dealer to match the price. It sounds like you pretty well know what you want so at least you are comparing apples to apples. I found that very few dealers were willing to deal on the trailers on the lots because they already had those prices "discounted" so I ended up ordering exactly what I wanted and got 20% off retail price.
Posted 2005-12-28 7:35 AM (#34448 - in reply to #34415) Subject: RE: Buying a trailer for 1st time
Member
Posts: 19
Location: RICHMOND, MO
Be carefull as to who you deal with!!! Make sure they are a repitable dealer and ask around and talk to people who have delt with them before. We just had a situation that we traded in a trailer for a new one with bigger living quarters. The living quarters ended up having problem after problems with it. We asked for our money back and got our other trailer back. Then we had given them a check for having an outside speaker put on the new trailer and come to find out, someone from this trailer sales had used our account number and joined two internet porn sites costing us over $100.
Posted 2005-12-28 8:52 AM (#34451 - in reply to #34415) Subject: RE: Buying a trailer for 1st time
Member
Posts: 28 Location: Omaha, NE
We recently purchased a trailer we found on this website, we paid $1,200 less than the advertised price. As a matter of fact to three dealers we talked to their first quote was not their final price. We finally bought at Liberty Horse Trailers, Liberrtyville, IL.
Posted 2005-12-30 2:08 PM (#34565 - in reply to #34415) Subject: RE: Buying a trailer for 1st time
Member
Posts: 27 Location: Tennesse
I would highly suggest looking at the service and warranty dept. of the facility you are buying from. Any place will sell you a trailer but not every place can fix it and have the backing to make sure your happy after the sale. As far as pricing goes most places will come off sticker unless its a sale price or discounted price for some reason. Don't expect a huge discount though because there is not near the mark up as one might think. Competition makes pricing very competitive.
Posted 2005-12-30 5:34 PM (#34576 - in reply to #34415) Subject: RE: Buying a trailer for 1st time
Member
Posts: 6
Location: milo iowa
My wife and I just went to KES Inc on the north edge of Humeston Iowa he does not sell the trailer but he works with a dealer in KC. he has been building the LQ for over 30 years. He puts a 1 year warrenty on his LQ. And will service anything after the sale. Great person to work with. The dealer will also deliver and come to Iowa to do the sale so it saves you from going to KC. This is my first LQ trailer and I am very happy with the service they have given us!!!!!!
Buying a trailer for 1st time
