How much did you pay for your PDI?

[Mburtsvt]

How much did you pay for your PDI, (Pre-Delivery Inspection)? I have started my shopping for a Landmark and so far of the 4 dealers I have contacted the “charge” for the PDI have been:


1) None
2) $525.00
3) $725.00
4) $1379.00!!!!!


It was my understanding that Heartland pays for the PDI directly to the dealer. I don’t think that has changed, but I do believe dealers are just adding extra dollars to the sale price.


Some of the numbers I see make me want to hire a mobile tech at $80.00 an hour to go over the systems with me and decline the PDI charge - much cheeper!

 

[RoadJunkie]

$0.0 for PDI.

 

[gwalter]

None

 

[buddyboy]

We paid nothing. I'd give a call to Heartland and ask them if dealers should be charging for it.

 

[Mburtsvt]

We paid nothing. I'd give a call to Heartland and ask them if dealers should be charging for it.

Good idea. It's this kind of stuff that reflects badly on the whole industry. I get that dealers are living in the sixties when it comes to selling RV's. I went to one dealer who still uses the "4 square" sales strategy - pathetic.

 

[Nabo]

Zero - if I was the dealer, I would want to do the PDI to help cut down on warranty/little issues.

 

[buddyboy]

Do everyone a favor and report back on the forum. Would really help others out.

 

[Mburtsvt]

Do everyone a favor and report back on the forum. Would really help others out.

Will do. So far it's been an eye opener. If its not on the lot - they don't know what to do with you. Sometimes you just have to fill your travel coffee mug in the customer lounge and move on.

 

[jmgratz]

As a Certified Walk-Thru Specialist I would answer that the dealer should build the cost of a PDI into the price of the Rig they are selling. Now if you were to hire me independently I would charge $150-$200 to do one depending on the rig. Many dealers use one of their repair techs or the service mgr to do the PDI. But realisticly I would say you should not pay for a PDI. If you are charged for one I would not buy from that dealer. We have never paid for one as an independent charge on the price sheet.

 

[Mburtsvt]

As a Certified Walk-Thru Specialist I would answer that the dealer should build the cost of a PDI into the price of the Rig they are selling. Now if you were to hire me independently I would charge $150-$200 to do one depending on the rig. Many dealers use one of their repair techs or the service mgr to do the PDI. But realisticly I would say you should not pay for a PDI. If you are charged for one I would not buy from that dealer. We have never paid for one as an independent charge on the price sheet.

Correct answer!

 

[Bones]

Good idea. It's this kind of stuff that reflects badly on the whole industry. I get that dealers are living in the sixties when it comes to selling RV's. I went to one dealer who still uses the "4 square" sales strategy - pathetic.

What is the 4 square sales strategy?

 

[Mburtsvt]

What is the 4 square sales strategy?

If you do an internet search on “4 square sales strategy” you can get a better explanation that I can. In a nut shell it was developed back in the sixties to get higher margins on car sales from unsuspecting consumers. Still in use today at some car and RV dealers. It bundles the monthly payments into an attractive package. Things like - “if I can get this done for $500 a month - do we have a deal” type of salesmanship. The inspecting consumer feels that they are getting a good deal when in reality they are paying a higher sell price. Roll in a trade in with a pay off and the sell of the RV or car increases dramatically.

 

[kakampers]

If you do an internet search on “4 square sales strategy” you can get a better explanation that I can. In a nut shell it was developed back in the sixties to get higher margins on car sales from unsuspecting consumers. Still in use today at some car and RV dealers. It bundles the monthly payments into an attractive package. Things like - “if I can get this done for $500 a month - do we have a deal” type of salesmanship. The inspecting consumer feels that they are getting a good deal when in reality they are paying a higher sell price. Roll in a trade in with a pay off and the sell of the RV or car increases dramatically.

Yep...and when they start that crap, I walk out!!

 

[Mburtsvt]

Yep...and when they start that crap, I walk out!!

I think this is where the consumer needs to go into any situation, (car, RV, Home purchase), with all of the information. This is why MSRP sheets from the manufacture are critical. We all agree that the percent off of MSRP should be around 30 -35%. Financing and trade in should have no bearing on that price. We can go into a long deep dive on pricing and sales strategies, but every situation will be different.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Pay for PDI...HA!!! No chance of that ever happening.

Feel free to grab the PDI from the link in my signature. Should take you about 4 hours to complete. Will help you find a LOT of little things that will creep up over time and might even cost you $$ to fix.

Never pay a .01c before the PDI is complete and the problems are resolved.

 

[Mburtsvt]

Pay for PDI...HA!!! No chance of that ever happening.

Feel free to grab the PDI from the link in my signature. Should take you about 4 hours to complete. Will help you find a LOT of little things that will creep up over time and might even cost you $$ to fix.

Never pay a .01c before the PDI is complete and the problems are resolved.

I printed this out in the past - great reference. In addition I get round stickers and write numbers one to thirty on them. When I find something that needs addressing I put a numbered sticker on it and record what the problem is with the sticker number as a reference. Write it all up for the dealer and have them check off what they have fixed on the form.

 

[brianlajoie]

We paid zero, nada, zil for the PDI. I was also prepared to walk away from the trailer if something wasn't right.

My wife and I spent 3 hours each checking everything that moved or turned on in the trailer. When checked every outlet, drawer, etc... When we were done, we spent another 2 hours going over the different systems: water, sewer, propane, heating, cooling, hydrolic, etc.

My guess if the dealer thinks you are willing to pay for a PDI, what else can they charge you for??? Do not accept the trailer unless everything is how you want it. If you are not getting a good feeling about the process back away or walk away. If you plan to use a dealer for warranty work, better get references. Better yet use an RVIA/RVDA certified independent tech. If the trailer is a few months old, consider offering 40% off retail for it. Otherwise the dealer will sit on it til spring.

 

[JohnD]

I'll bet all of our dealers charged us for the PDI . . .

They probably just don't write it down on the price sheet, but include it with another line item that they are charging us for without mentioning it.

Nothing is free in this world of ours . . . except free advice!

And that is worth every penny spent!

Oh wait . . . the first year of the Heartland Owners Club is free!

DOH!

 

['Lil Guy']

I thought Heartland has their dealer take care of it. On each of my HL rigs, I had to sign an acceptance sheet of the walk thru. It was 3 or 4 pages. That is part of the package you get from Lone Star RV in Houston. It's part of the closing. You get a copy and they keep on on file. I thought Heartland took care of this with the dealer. You can't ship a rig a 1000 miles and just hand it over to a customer without going through it. Then again, maybe some dealers do. You don't try to play hardball and get friction going with the dealer, but you don't close the deal until it's the way you want it and everything is working properly.
There should be no charge for the PDI on your rig.

 

[donr827]

When I was shopping for a new trailer I told the salesman just give me the bottom line price. I used that price when shopping at another dealer.
Don