Most of us who are new to RVing are extremely intimidated when we first enter the Dealership to purchase our first RV. We have heard the bad stories about people getting ripped off by an unscrupulous dealer. We don't know what questions we should be asking and some of us don't know what we are looking for in a Recreational Vehicle.

Here are a few thoughts that you may find helpful when choosing an RV Dealer.

First of all, keep in mind that when you move into a new neighborhood it takes a while to find the right grocery store and when you do you stick with it. It takes a while to find a good auto mechanic and when you find one you stick with him. The same is true with the dry cleaner, the hardware store and the drug store. However when looking for an RV dealer you cannot afford to make a mistake. It's not like paying too much for a loaf of bread a sirloin steak, or a bottle of aspirin.

Keep in mind that RV Dealers need to make money, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. If they don't make money then they are out of business. I believe that the majority of RV Dealers are honest and truly care about customer satisfaction. However, there are those who will take advantage of your vulnerability. There are also those who will do anything for the sale.

First of all I would suggest looking for a Dealer in your own neighborhood or area.

Any business who operates in a community for a long period of time builds a reputation that can be tapped into by prospective customers. And usually, a business cannot operate for any length of time in a community if they are dishonest and have dealt unfairly with the people in their community. Ask people for their recommendations. If you see someone in the grocery store parking lot with an RV, ask them about their RV Dealer. I haven't met an RVer yet who isn't anxious to talk about his RV and his RV Dealer. Call your local Better Business Bureau and see if there have been complaints filed against a particular dealer.

Visit the Dealership and see if they descend on you like a group of Vultures, or do they want you to take a look around to get acquainted with the products they offer? Does the Salesman ask you a lot of questions trying to find out what it is that you both want and need in an RV? Does the Salesman speak of the Dealership with pride? Does the Salesman discuss the Dealership's policy with regard to the after care of your RV. Are they willing to take the time with you, that you need, to learn about their product. You should not feel as though you are overwhelmed when visiting the Dealer.

Since writing the book "Your Home On Wheels", I have learned that there is a great deal of difference between dealers. As I mentioned before some Dealers are unethical in their practices with the public. However, I talk to RV Dealers on a daily basis. A lot of them have purchased "Your Home On Wheels" to give to their prospective or new customers, especially those who are brand new RVers. These dealers clearly care about their customers and make the attempt to educate them as well as sell them the RV that most suits their needs. RV Dealers as a whole have worked very hard to build up the recreational vehicle business and try to maintain a good reputation in the industry.

While you are at the Dealership, take a look at the service bays and watch how the service technicians are working. Does it look as though it is a well organized shop? Is everyone working or are they standing around smoking cigarettes and talking with one another? Talk with the Dealer and ask him how he handles service appointments. Does he attempt to favor his own customers over people who purchased their RV's elsewhere.

A really good Dealership will be concerned about their ability to provide good service to their customers. However, some Dealers run into a problem when confronted with an over abundance of service requirements during the peak season. They may face a problem similar to that of an RV Dealer I spoke to recently. He told me that during their peak season he could easily employ 20 or 30 technicians to service RV's. However, during the off season he would have to layoff most of these service people which he doesn't want to do. So he hires just enough people to take care of the normal amount of work that comes into his shop on a regular basis. When people, requiring service come in and they purchased their RV's from another Dealership, he may have to put them on a waiting list so that he may serve his own customers first.

It is not that he is trying to punish, or resents, those people who go out of their own neighborhood to buy an RV, it is just that he feels his loyalty should be directed to his own customers. You might be able to save a few dollars if you go to another area to purchase an RV, but keep in mind that it is of the utmost importance that you make sure you choose an RV Dealer who can service your RV after the sale. YOU may find YOURSELF on a long waiting list for service work if you do not purchase your RV in your own area.

When we purchased our second 5th Wheel, we gave our Dealer a list of things we wanted on our new unit. Everything that we discussed was put it writing. Frankly it was at his suggestion, not ours, that every item discussed down to the smallest of requests was put in writing and approved by all of us. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! I don't care how honest your Dealer appears to be, nor how many times he tells you that his word is as good as gold, GET IT IN WRITING!

In speaking to a friend of ours recently, a man who has been an RVer for many years, he had a story to tell us about the purchase of his latest Motorhome. After choosing the unit he wanted there were certain agreements made with the Dealer regarding items the Dealer agreed to provide. One was a CB on the dash and another was a deep freezer to be placed on one of the slides. To make a long story as short as possible, they shook on it. The Dealer emphasized that his word and handshake were as good as money in the bank. Near the time of delivery and while the Motorhome was being prepared to delivery, our friend questioned the fact that there was no CB. Suddenly, the salesman said "that wasn't part of the deal, you are mistaken". Our friend was furious, went to the Dealer and was told the same thing. Unable to do anything he purchased his own CB and swallowed his anger. The next time he checked out his Motorhome (while it was still in the service bay, he noticed that the deep freezer, once there, was now gone!

Again he went to the Dealer and was told that there was a misunderstanding and that the freezer was not part of the deal. I won't go into details but our friend is no one you would want to anger deliberately and he got the freezer back into the Motorhome as promised.

The point is, that an honest Dealer will not hesitate and will probably insist that every aspect of the transaction be in writing. This protects not only you the consumer, but the Dealer as well.

When we took delivery of our 5th Wheel, our Dealer made sure that we got every single item that we requested and double checked our trailer himself prior to delivery. Some dealerships are very large and you will rarely see the owner or manager himself, but a good owner or manager will make sure his entire staff is trained to serve you the customer the way he would if he were handling the sale himself.

Expect a thorough "walk through" at time of delivery. By the time you leave with your new RV, you should have been shown every button, lever, compartment, and operating system on the RV. You, like most of us, will probably draw a blank about what goes where when you get to your first RV Park, so be sure and take notes. A really good RV Dealer understands that the more you know and understand about your RV, the happier you will be when you begin RVing. If they don't take the time to educate you and as a result you have a terrible first outing, the Dealer may be faced with a customer who wants to cancel the sale and get his money back. It happens more often than what you might think. I have heard many stories from Dealers about people who bought their first RV, went on their first campout, everything went wrong because they did not know what they were doing, and wanted to return their RV within a couple of weeks of purchase.

I have a terrific story told to me by the owner of a dealership. A man came in one day, and purchased the most expensive Motorhome on the lot. He paid for it with no financing, and drove it off the lot. A few weeks later the man brought back the Motorhome and informed the Dealer that he wanted it sold for whatever the Dealer could get for it. He could send the money, less a commission to the man at a later time. Why? the Dealer asks. It seems that the man could not get his MAID to empty the black water tank. He tried to pay someone at the RV park to do it but it seems that no one was interested.

It sounds like the old dirty ashtray joke, but this is the absolute truth.

Ask the Dealer what kind of information or items do they provide you with after the purchase to help educate you, especially if you are new to RV'ing. I would much rather buy from a dealership that gives you a video or a book than one who gives you a cooler or a bag of cookies. The decision as to what they want to provide their customers with is indicative of the kind of service they will provide to you their customer.

After you purchase your RV, be sure and keep a running list of every item that needs to be changed or repaired. This will really help you when the day comes that you return your RV to the Dealer for warranty repairs. When you are ready for repairs or service on your RV, be sure that you call ahead of time and make an appointment for this service. If you drive in and expect the Dealer to drop everything and deal with you, you will probably be disappointed.

If you found your Dealer to be honest, reliable and helpful to you, then continue to support that Dealer by having service to your RV done at his Dealership, and if you have items to purchase, shop in your Dealers RV store if they have one. You will find that the relationship between you and your Dealer can be very rewarding and beneficial to you over the years, and can greatly reduce any stress you may have with regards to the upkeep and safety of your RV.

And last, but not least, if you find a really good RV Dealer, pass the word to the rest of us because we all need to find that good RV Dealer.

Carol Ray is a Club member and author of "Your Home On Wheels: A Beginners Guide to Becoming a Part-Time or Full-Time RVer." For information on ordering her booklet, visit her Web site.

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