To add to my previous post - I have also purchased locally and got burned. Bought a brand new 16' 2500 Laramie Longhorn with the Cummins to pull a newly acquired 5th wheel toyhauler, only to find out the 2500 w single rear wheels would be pushing it close to its limits, so I went back to the dealer (only about 7 days later - less that 200 miles on the odometer) to see about trading to a dually, and was met withe the response "you'll take about a $10k hit on the trade in" - I said "WTF?" it hadn't been but about a week. Needless to say I went elsewhere and traded to a dually without the BS given to me by that previous dealer to whom I'll never do business with again.
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Downside Of Buying From Distant Dealer
- Thread starter Shutterbug57
- Start date
Biga
Ram Guru
you would think, but I've found a lot of the dealers are so backed up with work and lack of tech's that they are referring people to go to other dealers if they need an issue addressed quickly. At least that is the way it was when I needed to get some things addressed on my 2019. Luckily on my 2025 which I've had for a year next week I have had no issues so no need to go to the dealer.
Shutterbug57
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Yeah, there are good dealers and rotten ones. Around where I live, there are 6 dealers reasonably close. I have dealt with 4 and one of those is on my do not ever darken their door again list. They are arrogant liars that will not honor pricing that they posted on their web site. The other 3 are normal to good dealers from whom I have purchased trucks and services and would do business again.
Shutterbug57
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That is good news on the new truck. Hope I can say the same.
stevieb92
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I live near Pittsburgh, PA and shopped several local dealers and none could get close to the deal from Mark Dodge in Louisiana. I saved thousands even considering the travel costs to and from LA. I have no regrets and would buy from Mark Dodge again in a heartbeat. I’ve already had my Ram into a local dealer for warranty service and didn’t have any issues. Maybe I got lucky there? Who knows. The point is I gave the local dealers fair chance to earn my business buying the truck and I explained the deal I was getting from Mark Dodge. None wanted to earn my business.
Jako
Spends too much time on here
Bought my Ram from Salerno in Summit, NJ, same question from the service manager when I brought it in. The service manager at another dealership expressed the same sentiments in yahoo reviews. I have that statement in another post. It took 4 months to get my motor replaced and was told 2 to 3 months the day I brought it in.
The Ram service departments have no shortage of work and can pick and choose when the work gets done. I understand the dealership's position of taking care of their customers. Bringing the Ram back to the selling dealer for service does not guarantee prompt appointments or adequate service either but may be better if you didn't buy it there. From my experience Ram service departments can loose plenty of customers before it will effect their bottom line.
Hope Ram owners are having better experiences with servicing their vehicles in other parts of the USA or perhaps I should say world.
Shutterbug57
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In some states, a 3 month delay could trigger the lemon law by itself.
Green Streak
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I bought my truck about 300 miles away. The only downside I can see is they were offering a lifetime powertrain warranty and all I had to do was bring it in and have it inspected once a year to make sure I hadn’t modified it, which I didn’t do. They also gave me coupons for the first 5 oil changes free, and I couldn’t take advantage of that either. In the end, I still saved money not buying local and this was the exact truck I wanted that I couldn’t find locally
arod412
Ram Guru
Curious….did you fly down and pick it up, or drive down and back? Also…was shipping it an option?
I’m just outside Philly so distance would be roughly the same to the other side of pa.
2022 Ram Big Horn Back Country
2016 Dodge Charger scat pack
2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
stevieb92
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Shipping was an option, but I traded my 2020 Wrangler Rubicon. They gave me a fantastic price for my trade and beat every dealer near me. So, my girlfriend and I drove it there and brought the Ram home.
Epic Road Trip to pick up my new Rebel GT at Mark Dodge
cerbo
Well-Known Member
It is special to make a trip and drive your new toy home. Done it a few times. Memories you ll never forget.
