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09-23-2015, 10:46 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 55
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The most important call to make when buying an RV
Dear friends, I just made a call that I wish I would have made BEFORE buying my RV:
I called the service dept., and said I want to bring in my RV for some warranty repairs. Their reply? "Have you ever used our service dept. before? We operate on a first come , first serve basis. We only accept RVs in for work on Tuesdays with an appointment, and it will be a minimum of 4-6 weeks before you will get it back."
"But I haven't told you what is wrong yet"
"No matter, we will discuss that when you bring it in. Bring it in the second Tuesday from now, and it will be at least 4-6 weeks before you will get it back. Thank you."
Is this what everyone gets? The "other place" told me (before sale), that their repair dept. can fix most things on the spot, just drop in whenever you like.
Oh well, I guess it will be like free storage for whatever time my dealer has it...
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09-23-2015, 10:58 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7,053
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This is why, previously, I always make a list, including state inspection, and schedule my service for the first week of November, after the end of our season. The dealer can keep it for as long as they want as long as it doesn't run into the following April. If I feel like they dragged their feet, I leave my RV on their lot until way after they have screamed at me to come pick it up because they have no room on their lot for it. Payback's a b@$#h.
Bruce
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2016 Rockwood Windjammer 3029W Diamond Edition
2015 Chevy 3500HD LTZ 6.0 Crew Cab 4x4 Long Bed 4.10:1 SRW
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09-23-2015, 11:03 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 2,967
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Quote:
Originally Posted by I Roo The Day
Is this what everyone gets? The "other place" told me (before sale), that their repair dept. can fix most things on the spot, just drop in whenever you like.
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No, it is not what I get. I have a very good dealer that you can drop in on at any time and they will address the issue in a timely manner. Most issues have been "fixed on the spot" and those requiring FR authorization and parts were handled with in one to two weeks.
The only delay I've experienced has been setting up an appointment for some touch up paint work. That involves a third vendor, a local paint and body shop, and required a bit more time to coordinate at roughly three weeks.
I think choosing a dealer is a just as, if not more, important than choosing your RV. You have to live with both of them and either can be a real PITA if you make the wrong choice.
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Wayne
2024 Sunseeker 2150SLEF / Ford E-350
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09-23-2015, 11:13 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: St Pete/FL
Posts: 347
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Absolutely agree, and if buying from a distant dealer, insist they identify a local service center where I can verify willingness to care for my camper before I make the purchase.
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Dobe Fanatic - Largo, Florida
2012 Flagstaff T12RB A-Frame
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09-23-2015, 11:22 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: vancouver,wa
Posts: 122
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We bought out of state but we set things up with our local dealer for service and cant say enough about the GOOD SERVICE from Vancouver RV, in Vancouver,Wa.
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Ron & Jan and black dog(Bella)
2011 Ram 3500 crew cab 4x4, 6sp manual,342's 8ft.bed
2014 CC Silverback 29ik
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09-23-2015, 11:31 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Central New York
Posts: 1,165
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Very interesting way to do business (or not do business, I guess). Who is the dealer?
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2022 Columbus 379MBC (Previous 2013 Rockwood Roo 23 IKSS)
2023 F-350 (Previous 2017 F250, 2005 F-150)
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09-23-2015, 11:35 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 55
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Fun Town RV, Houston (Wharton) Tx
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09-23-2015, 11:53 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 325
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Crestview RV in Buda, TX gave me a similar line.
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09-23-2015, 05:05 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,397
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My dealership is not fantastic but not nearly regimented as you describe.
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09-23-2015, 05:16 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 65
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Well, add that to the list of dealers I wouldn't buy from!
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09-23-2015, 05:41 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
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I had an issue with the dinette table in our new fifth wheel (the legs are wobbly, and it's obviously an issue with the table legs themselves).
The local dealer, that I purchased the 5th wheel from, required me to make an appointment (for 2 weeks later) to look at the issue, and it took some persuading to get them to agree that I didn't need to bring in the 5th wheel just for them to look at the table (and that I could just take in the table itself instead).
They did look at the issue straight-away (ish) when I arrived for the appointment tho', and after half an hour had agreed (with what I said in the first place) that they just needed to order a replacement table (which I'm still waiting for).
I think that part of the issue with them is that they have very limited parking space for the service dept, and so can't handle more than 2 (or at most 3) RVs around their service dept, so can't handle people turning up without appointments.
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2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
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09-23-2015, 05:56 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 240
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My dealer often fixes things the same day, and even fixes things that weren't the reason we brought it in. Been very happy with them. That is why I buy from small, independent dealers.
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-Laura 2016 Shasta Oasis 18BH & 2015 Ram 1500 Hemi
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09-23-2015, 06:07 PM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,069
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I have been in and out of my dealership multiple times over the past year. They always get me in within a couple of weeks, quicker if it's an urgent issue. The trailer gets back to me quickly too. It depends on parts (whether in stock or need to be ordered). Only time I had a real issue, a call to Forest River got it straightened out. Now my old tt was bought from a different dealership (think the Wal-Mart of the camping world ). They took forever to get me in and more than a month to get it back to me each time. I have learned to find out about the service department before buying as they will be who you deal with.
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2014 Crew Cab Chevy Silverado 3500 4wd Duramax/Allison
2014 Sabre 34REQS-6
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09-23-2015, 06:18 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 325
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Quote:
Originally Posted by actadh
My dealer often fixes things the same day, and even fixes things that weren't the reason we brought it in. Been very happy with them. That is why I buy from small, independent dealers.
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Who is this?
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09-23-2015, 06:49 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 981
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I have had an awsome experience with my local dealer. I did not buy from them, we did not even go to them when we were looking because they dont sell toy haulers. We ended up there after we had a conversation at the Traverse City RV show last spring with the service manager as to weather or not they had a policy about serviceing units they did not sell.He said "it doesnt matter where you bought it or if its warranty or regular service.If Forest River built it,we will be glad to work on it". We stopped in a couple weeks ago to see if the deal still stood,and took the 315wp over a few days later with our long list of warranty items.He went over the list and then we went out to the trailer and went over the list again,all this with no formal appointment.He showed us where to drop it and by the time we got back in his office he was already on the phone with FR.He told us that there were some of the things that he could not fix there,but that he would get back with us in a few days,after he sorted it all out.He did just that and we went over today to see what was up. He told us that the warranty dept at Cherokke determined that " the repairs were not possible at the dealer level, They wanted the unit back at the factory. We got a contact person to finalize all this but have been playing phone tag this afternoon. Anyway,he has to have at least 4 hrs in on this for a unit he did not sell and for all he knows, will never even see again.So, all dealers are not condesending of units/people they did not sell. Hats Off to FreeWay RV and Mark Wilson in Waters Mi. I told the office person that they had a customer for life now!
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09-23-2015, 07:15 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,300
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nomad297
This is why, previously, I always make a list, including state inspection, and schedule my service for the first week of November, after the end of our season. The dealer can keep it for as long as they want as long as it doesn't run into the following April. If I feel like they dragged their feet, I leave my RV on their lot until way after they have screamed at me to come pick it up because they have no room on their lot for it. Payback's a b@$#h.
Bruce
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Might come back to bite you. Most dealers do not use their top mechanics to jockey RV's around the lot and I haven't seen too many dealers with excess parking space.
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2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
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09-24-2015, 11:36 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Missouri
Posts: 441
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We purchased our Salem at Bill Thomas RV in Wentzeville, MO and they've been very prompt in servicing it. Their service manager is attentive and will go over everything they find. Very little wait time in getting it in once you've made your appointment. They even have paved sites with electric for you to use if you require emergency service while on the road. They also have a fenced storage yard for those units waiting on parts, or service. They're along I-70 about an hour west of St. Louis.
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09-24-2015, 11:44 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: oakdale, ca
Posts: 292
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a lot of dealers will allow anytime drop off if you bought the rv from them. If you bought it somewhere else then they hit you with the appointment and long waits.
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09-24-2015, 06:57 PM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Mass
Posts: 215
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We purchased a TT and then upgraded to a 5 er from Orchard Trailer Whatley Ma. Their service dept. is great . They get me in and out quickly never had to leave the unit overnight .
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2013 Silverado extended cab 4x4 1500 Series
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09-25-2015, 02:05 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Midland, MI
Posts: 954
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We didn't call our dealer's service dept first but we did go in for a visit before ordering. We spent about an hr there talking to the 2 service guys and the warranty lady. It is a 3 generation Mom & Pop dealer (Dolney RV, Kawkawlin, MI) and in my opinion, after 4 rigs purchased from 3 different dealers over the last 25 yrs, those are the best.
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Cathy & Jeff
Midland, Michigan
2020 Cedar Creek 34IK / 2019 Ram3500 CID
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