After settling in we discover there is a RV show in Houston this week and have decided to go take a look at the new models and explore the possibilities. Besides, our good friends are seriously considering a purchase and need all the comparison information they can obtain before finalizing such a major purchase. Sounded like a good rationalization to me and we are off to visit the show.
So we hit the show at Reliant Park and thank goodness it is all inside because outside is a dreary, cold, misty, nasty day. Inside is warm and inviting. Upon entering we notice there is a main aisle with some vendors and we make our first foray down this aisle collecting many pieces of literature. Approximately 42.4 pounds of paper was collected. After we returned to our RV, Bibi sat down with the 'loot' and culled out 97.3% of the stuff she classified as non-essential items. Unbelievable!
Our next stop was to review the layout of the show and plan our attack. Since Camping World had a huge presence and we knew from past experience they carry Winnebago, we decide to begin with their units. Upon arriving in their area, we see quite a few Itasca models but no Winnebago models. We press on looking but are momentarily distracted by a 'Palazzo' that is intriguing. Upon entering, we encounter a Factory Rep ready to answer any question we have about the unit. I casually ask him who the manufacturer of the unit is to which he replies Thor. Thinking I have obtained the information desired I proceed to look over the unit and pause by the cab area to rest while the rest of our party peruses the coach further.
Unbeknownst to me, the Factory Rep has signaled a Camping World salesperson and then he snuck up behind me trying to get me to sit in the driver's chair to get a 'feel' for the cockpit. If you have been to enough of these shows, you recognize this as a ploy to get you 'excited' about the unit. I politely refuse explaining, I am just surveying the rig, trying to take it all in. By this time the salesperson, a very nice older lady from Florida that works for Camping World nationwide sales, has arrived to take an interest in my activities.
Bibi and Sophie have already departed the coach, obviously they saw what was happening and made a hasty exit, leaving me and David at the mercy of the dynamic duo. So me being the nice person I am, asked another question and promptly received a reply. Then out came the brochure for the unit and further explanations and information followed by the question, when do you want to drive this unit out of here?
Now mind you, we have just purchased a newer Adventurer and are not in the market for another coach, but I did like this floor plan and knew David needed more comparison information so I pressed onward by making a casual statement something to the effect, 'oh, maybe on Saturday.' Well, you would have thought I had waved a huge juicy steak in front of a starving dog, the foam started appearing on the salesperson's mouth along with her cohort, the Factory Rep and the race was on. Now during all this time, David is hanging back listening (and not saying anything which is quite smart with this pair) and gathering information as the questions and answers are flying back and forth with some regularity and speed by now.
Back to Bibi and Sophie, they have managed to view about 15 more coaches during the process of me letting the sales person down easy. As we are making our escape from the non-pressure sales presentation, I cannot help but notice the pair of spouses viewing from afar (a long way off) the goings on at the Palazzo. It is at this time I let the salesperson in on the secret that I am not the buyer, but David is the real prospect. Oh my, you would have thought I had just dumped 20 gallons of cold water on her head. She immediately quit writing down my contact information and started swiveling her head to ask where he went. I nonchalantly said, 'Oh he is around here somewhere." She said, well let's find him, I at least want to introduce myself to him. Okay, I said, relieved to be out from underneath the microscope and out of the line of fire.
When we round the Palazzo, David is nowhere in sight. At this time I take my leave of the salesperson with her card, promising to give it to David once I locate him. I find David a few coaches down and deliver the card. As we round the corner, whom do we bump into? You guessed it, the salesperson. I pointed to David and said, "here he is!" then made a quick little sidestep to avoid being run over. Leaving David in good hands I set out to find Sophie and Bibi.
Well to make a long story, a little longer, Sophie ended up getting sucked into the sales vortex David was caught in. After 30 minutes or so, they extricated themselves and made their way towards us standing at the edge of the Camping World area. We moved away quickly, constantly checking over our shoulders to make sure our escape was complete and successful.
We finally made it to some Winnebago models that were at the show and carried by a competing dealer. After perusing these, avoiding all signs of any salespersons, we managed to make the rounds and had quite an enjoyable day at the show followed by a nice mid-afternoon lunch on the way back to the RV park at the beach. Thoroughly enjoyed regaling each other with tales of the sales adventure. Note to all sales people, it would be wise to determine early on who the real buyer is in a group. By the time this poor person had determined I was not the buyer, all bridges had been burned by ignoring my companion, David the real buyer. Besides, Sophie did not approve of the coach anyway, so all bets were off.
Until next time, we are still adventuring....
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