First Time Grand Design Buyer

[garynkim79]

My wife and I are looking into buying a GD Solitude 300GK-R. I've been shopping around and have noticed that several dealers have added things on the MSRP Sheet that Grand Designs has listed as Mandatory. My question is this a common practice or are these dealers trying another scam. Thanks for any info.

[LCBoyer]

I think it's standard practice. If an option is mandatory, I think it should be standard equipment

[Dave and Monica]

I think 'Mandatory Option' is a RV Industry invented term!

Dave

[bertschb]

An oxymoron if there ever was one! It threw me off when we were shopping for our RV as well.

[garynkim79]

Thanks for the replys. It seems to me that if it's listed as mandatory then it should be in base price. Should I haggle over these being included?

[Cate&Rob]

I think "mandatory option" is just the manufacturer's way of pointing out to the customer, some of the high value content that they are including in their standard build. Once the dealer gets control of the pricing and customers are shopping competitive products, this premium content gets lost in the discussion . . . unless it is pointed out on the "mandatory options" list.

Rob

[steve gravelle]

garynkim-
You can haggle over the details of how the dealers arrive at their out the door initial offer, or you can ignore the smoke and get to the bottom line. They love buyers who talk details, and end up signing a purchase agreement that gives the dealer a lot of profit! We may have done that too! Here is my suggestion. Tell three dealers you are ready to buy. Ask for their bottom line price. Tell them you are a cash buyer, or have arranged your own financing. We bought in Denver, because we lived in the area. I know a dealer in Lincoln, NE. They were $500 less, and offered free delivery to Colorado. We were declaring residency in SD, so sales tax was paid by us to SD, not CO or NE. I THINK we bought for about 25% off, but not really sure! It would be nice if the dealer had great service, but few do! You are buying the right product, negotiate with your head. Best of luck!

[CWSWine]

Since the dealership gets a kick back from the financing companies I would not tell them how you paying for the RV prior to getting the finial price. Cash isn't king in this world anymore the amount you finance and the size of the kick back the dealers gets from the financing company is now king.

[garynkim79]

Thank you guys for the great advice. Sounds really good. I've actually read where some people actually got close to 50% off MSRP. This has given me some great insight.

[goducks14]

Most Mandatory Option prices are one lump price. You have no way of knowing how much you're really paying for all the lumped in stuff. Just another way for MFGs to jack up the MSRP so when you get 20-30% off it looks like your getting a good deal. When in reality you're still paying for the items in the Mandatory Option package but not at the inflated rate, but the 20-30% off rate.