This is also the time to look up any particular vendors of
RV related products you want to investigate. The show map should also have
vendors listed and booth numbers indicated. Try to plot out a walking route
through the show ground that will take you to all of the brands and types you
have pre-selected. This will maximize your time and eliminate wandering through
areas in which you have no interest.
If you have already decided on one or two rigs that you
might buy, make sure you have your finances set before you visit the show and
start negotiating. You should have your bank or credit union pre-approve you
for the financing you will need. This way you will not be swayed by the many
possible finance options offered by the dealer. All this being said, we do not
recommend making a buying decision in the high pressure environment of an RV
show. A "Show Special Price"
will be just as special back at the dealer's lot after the show. Rigs bought at
a show must return to the dealership for "Prep" anyway. An RV
purchase is probably the second largest thing you will buy in your life after
your house. Why rush into a decision at a show when you can take your time and
mull it over for a few days at home and then do the deal at the dealer's lot?
IF YOU'RE A SENIOR, the first day of many RV shows is designated as "Senior Day" and there is discounted admission. Occasionally there will be coupons at RV dealers and in newspapers for discounted admission. Try to take advantage of these cost saving measures.
Bring a few things with you to make the most of your time at the RV show. First and probably most important is to wear comfortable shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking and climbing into and out of many RVs. At least one of you should have a backpack to carry all of the rest of the stuff you need as well as the brochures and other paperwork you will pick up during your time at the show. You may want to have a small umbrella for each of you if rain is in the forecast for show day. Bring along a small digital camera to take pictures of special features of rigs as well as of name and model numbers. You will see a lot of RVs in a short time, and details run together and are easily forgotten. Bring a small notebook and a pen to jot down details, prices, and other things about particular rigs. Some folks even bring a small digital recorder to make voice notes and observations.
Food and drinks are usually quite expensive at an RV show. Recently, we attended a show where a hamburger was $9.25. Drinks, including water, were $4.00. To avoid this, prepare snacks and bring bottled water. If all this is too much for one person to carry, each of you should have a backpack.
An excellent directory of RV shows is available at RVtravel.com.
We are the hosts of the weekly one hour RV lifestyle podcast "Living the RV Dream" where we talk everything RV. It can be found in the podcast section of i Tunes or on our website http://www.livingthervdream.com. We are also the authors of the book "So, you want to be a full-time RVer?" and other RVing books, which are available at Amazon.com.
3 comments:
Good tips! I have often seen the special show price tags when looking around at the dealerships. Just shows the special prices aren't that special... :)
However, the downside to going the first day, which is usually Senior Day, is that THE PLACE WILL BE PACKED!! We went to the Tampa RV Supershow in January and it was excellent. However, we won't make the mistake of going on the first day again. Better to go days 2,3, and 4. Crowds had diminished somewhat, parking was easier, it was a much better experience. Great show, we will definitely go again.
As new travel trailer owners (January RV show), your advice is great! I'd like to expand on the picture taking idea, which we did plenty of. Whether with a small camera or smart phone, take the first picture showing the sign or placard showing the model, price, etc., then whatever subsequent photos you want. It's much easier to identify which shots are what later as you review them. Secondly, purchase the Good Sam membership before going in if you're seriously in the market. We ended up going 2 days, and the Good Sam membership would have paid for itself with the show discount.
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