Factory Direct

[Miss Daisy]

Do buyers negotiate when buying factory direct? I am thinking about purchasing from Coach House.

[BBQ]

Originally Posted by Miss Daisy

Do buyers negotiate when buying factory direct? I am thinking about purchasing from Coach House.

Everything and anything is negotiable.


They want your business,
you let them know that you have options and alternatives.

You do not have to tell them that you have already made up your mind on their product.


They need your business more than you need theirs.


CASH IS KING

[Phoebe3]

Originally Posted by BBQ

Everything and anything is negotiable.


They want your business,
you let them know that you have options and alternatives.

You do not have to tell them that you have already made up your mind on their product.


They need your business more than you need theirs.

+1

Although, you probably won't get the same level of discount as you would get at a dealer because the dealers would revolt if the factory were undercutting them.

[mumkin]

You can pretty much only buy factory direct from converters who have no dealers.

Coach House, Phoenix Cruiser and Born Free have been factory direct in the last few years.

Roadtrek, Leisure Travel, Pleasureway, Winnebago... are ONLY from dealers.

[wincrasher]

I would be reluctant to buy from someone who used to have a dealer network and now doesn't, or one who is engaging direct sales since their dealer network is dying.

It tells me that dealers aren't stocking their products for some reason. Either they are not desired by customers - dated design or technology - or the prices are too high (value proposition) - or the manufacturer support to dealers is lacking and they are just not wanting to deal with them any longer. To me this tells me that manufacturer is in a slow death spiral. Looking at Coach House's offerings, I think that is the case.

It's a completely different thing if a manufacturer is a boutique like ARV or Sportsmobile - don't have dealers and don't intent to. I'd have not hesitation buying from either.

[Davydd]

Great West Vans was case study in what you said, Wincrasher. Their volume was not enough to supply the few dealers they had and then they started selling factory direct. A great Class B driven in the ground.

[Phoebe3]

Originally Posted by mumkin

You can pretty much only buy factory direct from converters who have no dealers.

Coach House, Phoenix Cruiser and Born Free have been factory direct in the last few years.

Roadtrek, Leisure Travel, Pleasureway, Winnebago... are ONLY from dealers.

The Coachmen Class B division also only sells through dealers. If you call the factory, they will direct you to the closest dealer who can take your order and deliver it.

[Miss Daisy]

Good point. Thank you.

[mumkin]

Originally Posted by Phoebe3

The Coachmen Class B division also only sells through dealers. If you call the factory, they will direct you to the closest dealer who can take your order and deliver it.

Be careful not to confuse Coachmen and Coach House... one uses dealers and the other doesn't.

I'm not sure that we should compare Coach House with Great West. Coach House has been around since 1985 and is family owned. Hopefully it won't implode if the situation in the family changes as did GWV. (Hymer is family owned too) Hopefully a large family...

It does build a quality coach. I considered them when I was shopping for a small Class C.