Tracking Price Drops
You've found An RV you really like, but the price is higher than you want to pay. Rather than making a lowball offer and hoping, you decide to watch and wait. Here's how RVThinker turns patience into negotiating power.
The Setup
You have a specific RV in your garage — let's say a 2021 Newmar Dutch Star 4369 listed at $365,000 at a dealer in Indiana.
- Make sure the RV is in your garage with all listing details filled in.
- Record today's asking price: $365,000 with today's date.
- Set a reminder for yourself (phone alarm, calendar event) to check weekly.
The Weekly Routine
Every week (pick a consistent day — Saturday morning with coffee is a popular choice):
- Open RVThinker and go to the RV's detail view.
- Visit the original listing URL (click the link in the listing details).
- Is the listing still active?
- Yes → Add an observation: status "Found," and note the current price.
- No → Add an observation: status "Gone." The RV may have sold, or the listing may have been pulled.
- Has the price changed?
- Yes → Add a new price entry with today's date and the new amount.
- No → You can still add a price entry at the same amount — this confirms the price hasn't changed and the listing is still active.
What the Price History Tells You
After a month of tracking, you might see:
| Date | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 6 | $365,000 | — |
| Jan 13 | $365,000 | No change |
| Jan 20 | $355,000 | -$10,000 |
| Jan 27 | $349,900 | -$5,100 |
| Feb 3 | $349,900 | No change |
| Feb 10 | $339,000 | -$10,900 |
That's a $26,000 drop in five weeks. The dealer is clearly motivated to move this RV. The drops are consistent, suggesting an intentional markdown strategy rather than random adjustments.
Reading the Signals
| Pattern | What It Suggests | Your Move |
|---|---|---|
| Consistent weekly drops | Dealer has a timeline to sell | Wait a bit more, or offer slightly below the current ask |
| Big initial drop, then flat | Dealer corrected an overpriced listing | The current price may be close to their floor |
| No movement for 4+ weeks | Dealer is firm (or distracted) | Make an offer to test the waters |
| Price goes UP | Rare — dealer may have made improvements or comparable RVs sold higher | Re-evaluate the market |
| Listing disappears and returns | A deal fell through | Could be an opportunity — the dealer may be more motivated now |
Making Your Offer
When you decide to make a move, you can reference your data:
"I've been watching this RV since January. It started at $365K and has come down to $339K over five weeks. Based on the trend, I'd like to offer $320K."
This shows the dealer that:
- You're serious — you've been tracking for weeks
- You're informed — you know the price history
- You're reasonable — your offer is based on the trajectory, not a random number
Multiple Listings for the Same RV
Sometimes the same RV appears on multiple sites. Maybe it's on RVTrader at $339K but on the dealer's own website at $335K. Track both:
- Add a second listing to the same RV
- Track prices on both listings independently
- Use the discrepancy in negotiations: "Your website shows $335K but RVTrader still says $339K — I'll go with the lower number."
The longer An RV sits unsold, the more motivated the dealer becomes. Your price history proves how long it's been sitting. An RV that's been on the market for 60+ days is a very different negotiation than one that was just listed.