By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, Josh the RV Nerd has some practical advice you should check out before buying an RV at an RV show.
Josh covers one of the most important points anyone going to RV shows needs: How to recognize a good RV dealer from a lazy RV dealer. Full disclosure: Josh is sponsored by Bish’s RV (where he works). Nonetheless, he makes some excellent points, and he says that should you decide to work with Bish’s, you absolutely should hold them to the same standards.
The goal is to find a dealer who will be there for you after the sale, not one who is just there to sell you an RV at an RV show.
Josh says that nothing is a 100% guarantee, so if a dealer is giving you the wrong vibes, walk away. If you are unsure, however, here are some things to think about the RVs and dealers at RV shows.
Watch the video because he has additional tips and details to go with each of the points below. Plus, Josh is always entertaining.
#1 First, check if the RVs are even clean. Did the dealer take time to sweep the floors, set up the table, etc.? If not, you might be dealing with a lazy dealer. As Josh says, if they can’t be bothered to take care of things in order to get your money, they will probably not be that diligent once they have it.
#2 Does the dealer even mention their RV service? If all the signage and conversations are geared strictly to the sale, think twice.
#3. How does the staff engage with you? Are they overly aggressive with sales tactics and light on the service part of the deal? Are they ignoring you, or are they more interested in their phones? Whatever it is, Josh says it can be an early indicator of how your future interactions are likely to go, should you buy from them.
#4 Ask for demos. If the staff can’t be bothered to show you how things work, for instance turning the dinette into a bed, they probably are not going to be easy to work with down the road.
#5 Check the fun factor. Josh says it is a good idea to check the general culture of the RV dealership. He says camping is fun, so if the people working there do not seem like they are having fun, it’s probably not a place to work for or to buy from.
Do you have other tips for shopping at RV shows? Be sure to leave them in the tips below.
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##RVDT2587
Have watched many videos of Josh and enjoyed them. Informative and gives both sides of the story.
Last time I attended an RV Show, I asked about the admittedly new option for a combination microwave, convection, air fry oven. They had been listed in RV parts catalogs for at least 6 months. I asked 4 different dealers representing multiple RV brands the same question. The sales staff had not heard of it. They checked with their sales manager. None knew the device existed. 2 of the sales managers outright insisted the device did not exist.
I never ask for input from RV sales staff. I do my research and tell them exactly what I want. If they are too lazy to look it up, I go elsewhere.
I’ve had a countertop Toshiba with all those features for several years now. Don’t know about for a built-in for RV. Mine now sets on the counter of our 42.5 ft motorhome. Have two convection/microwaves, but only the one with the air fry option. Use them both all the time.
Thank you for highlighting the video and summarizing Josh’s tips, Cheri! No, never bought an RV at a show. Have a great day and safe travels!