Message Forums

Hi all,

We're just about to sell our trailer tent and move onto a caravan?  I've spent months researching and looking around, mainly on the internet and we have a pretty good idea of what we want.  We're even changing the car in preparation - so it's a major event for us at the moment.  Anyway, with the present financial climate I was wondering what is expected if we were to buy a caravan at a reputable dealer.  Do we make an offer based on their asking price or would that be considered rude?  There is a lot of press around to suggest that caravan sales are through the roof at the moment so are they just likely to laugh in our face?  We're hoping to spend about 8.5K.  What sort of reduction would we expect at that value?

Just wondering what other people have experienced.  By the way, is it the same for cars?  It's years since I bought a car and I can't ever remember bartering with a car salesman before.  But then I never seem to get a bargain.

Thanks

Alison

We are looking into buying the Bailey Ranger 520/6 and one dealer is offering a free starter pack if you are not p/x'ing and will still offer us a discount.  Not sure what sort of discount yet but we did ask! 

With the internet so widely used nowadays you can get a good deal on anything.  You do have to haggle though so be prepared.  If you are buying all the accessories needed at the same time add them all up, work out how much you would be preperared to spend and see how much the dealer will knock off the price. 

I'm sorry to say the time to get a real bargain has pasted, it's a sellers market now.

Late last year you could get a mid/late 90's 4B van at auction for £1400 to £2000, these were vans with 5-6k book prices!!

A mate of mine was telling me last week at the same auction... 'punters' were peering though the window of a van with one hand shading their eyes while frantically bidding with the other!!!

Having said that, you should never except the stated price, it's up to you to negotiate, but don't ever ask what 'he'll take for it' ....that's asking for the wrong answer?!

Treat it as a game, the salesman is doing his job, going through the motions and you can brighten his day making him work harder for his crust. Treat him with respect, keep interested, keep nibbling and always keep it light hearted.

If they won't come down in money terms then adding extras in for the same money is a good way of getting a decent discount.

Thanks for your advice.  You've confirmed what I was thinking.  Now I just need to put my salesman hat on when I go shopping,

Cheers

Alison