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04-08-2017, 03:23 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 5
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Desperate - Can Not Get Warranty Service for New Trailer
I will keep this short but bought a new 2017 Mini Lite Trailer from Trailer Hitch RV in Nipomo California. The model I wanted was not available in San Diego where I live so had to go long distance to make the purchase.
I have a defective paint issue that was documented with photos before I took possession. The salesman assured me he would file a warranty claim and help me get the issue resolved with Forrest River and a local authorized service center in San Diego.
I just tried the air conditioner for the first time and it is inoperative.
I cannot get the selling dealer to help me despite many phone calls and emails.
I tried calling and emailing Forrest River directly, NO response.
I just left a voice mail at Forrest River's corporate office. No return call.
Yesterday I visited a local Forrest River Dealer in San Diego, RV Solutions to try and obtain warranty service. They told me the soonest they could get me in is JULY!!!
I am 61 years old and have never had such awful customer service for a major purchase on my life.
Does anyone know of someone at Forrest River who will actually answer the phone or respond to an email?
The selling salesman says they filed a warranty claim months ago, but when asked to see details or proof from him I get no response.
I feel like I have been swindled and am now going to look a legal action if necessary, check out the lemon laws here in California, etc.
I also want to file a formal complaint regarding the dealer and Forrest River.
Can anyone help?
I tried calling Coach Net, they gave me a number to call at Forrest River but it just kept ringing.
Dan
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04-08-2017, 03:41 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: West Atlanta Metro
Posts: 1,235
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Sorry to hear of your problems. Your dealer is not stepping up to the plate. Don't blame FR for what the dealer failed to do, if FR doesn't know the problem there is not going to be resolution. I'll bet the dealer has not contacted FR. Go here and click on the appropriate dropdown for a contact. Each division has their own phone number and contact person.
Forest River RV Contact Us - Forest River, Inc.
__________________
2014 Palomino Puma 25RS
2011 F-150 Super Crew XLT
Days camped in 2014 - 23 Camped 2015-47
Camped 2016-71, 2017-33, 2018-29 booked
KT4W
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04-08-2017, 06:40 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 5
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No Warranty Support
Thanks, I did send two emails and left two voice mails for the contact listed for Rockwood Mini Lite - Chuck Pederson. NEVER got a response from him either.
I am really disgusted with BOTH the dealer and Forrest River's contact who never responded. In fairness to Chuck Pederson will give him another go, thinking he may have been on vacation or something.
I am going to phone, fax, and email Chick Pederson at Forrest River and follow up with a letter to them, certified.
This is the type of thing that destroys future sales via bad word of mouth and is so expensive for both the dealer and the manufacturer, and so needless.
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04-08-2017, 07:10 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Central, Fl.
Posts: 1,330
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Sorry to read about these issues ! Do remember, it is Saturday so you most likely will get no response from any FR corporate office / employee, until normal business hours!
__________________
2018 Forester 3011DS (Purchased 04/26/17)
2010 Flagstaff 26 RLSS (Sold 05/16)
2012 Ford F-150 Ecoboost, Screw, H/D, 3.73
1930 lbs CCC
2014 Jeep Rubicon JK
Going where the weather suits my clothes.
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04-08-2017, 07:12 PM
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#5
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Left Coast
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: vancouver,washington
Posts: 15,649
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What have you tried to get A/C to work?
See if we can get some input....
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04-08-2017, 07:18 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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If I was 61 again........lol
Lemon laws don't apply to Non motorized V's not even in Kalifornia.
Welcome to quality of FR products...
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04-08-2017, 07:19 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Posts: 592
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Sorry to hear of your problems. For others reading this--- don't hand over your hard earned funds until the PDI is complete and all problems have been fixed. In the RV industry it appears that promises are just pipe dreams.
__________________
John & Susan, Olivia the dachshund
2011 Georgetown 337DS
2003 Dodge Dakota
Hampton Roads VA
2016 174 Days camping, 2017 66 days 2018 24 days 2019 48 days 2020 25 days 2021 6
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04-08-2017, 07:33 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: West Atlanta Metro
Posts: 1,235
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You might also try this phone number, it is Forest River Customer Service.
574-534-3167. The AC is most likely Dometic and that can be resolved at a Dometic service center, there should be a contact number in your AC manual for that. Not to nit pick but there is only one R in Forest. I would put the blame for 90% of your problems on the dealer not handling the issues properly and they may be blowing smoke. I'll bet you have never seen that on any forum, LOL.
__________________
2014 Palomino Puma 25RS
2011 F-150 Super Crew XLT
Days camped in 2014 - 23 Camped 2015-47
Camped 2016-71, 2017-33, 2018-29 booked
KT4W
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04-08-2017, 08:01 PM
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#9
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Director, FROG
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Middlebury, IN
Posts: 3,512
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DanMac1776, I just sent you a private message.
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04-08-2017, 08:23 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 85
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File a formal complaint with the attorney general for your state. Even know there is no lemon laws you are protected by law as a consumer buying a product from a business. Your attorney general will contact this dealer, and they are required by law to respond.
__________________
2017 FR Wildwood 201BHXL
2013 Ford F-150 King Ranch Ecoboost
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04-08-2017, 08:26 PM
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#11
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Left Coast
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: vancouver,washington
Posts: 15,649
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The minute you do that, you'll get nowhere.....
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04-08-2017, 10:26 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: West Atlanta Metro
Posts: 1,235
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Thanks FROG Bob for stepping in. I didn't know how much you monitored the forum but apparently quite a bit. I hate to see FR get blamed so many times for issues that a dealer screws up. And your are correct Bob C. the moment you mention legal action conversations suddenly halt.
__________________
2014 Palomino Puma 25RS
2011 F-150 Super Crew XLT
Days camped in 2014 - 23 Camped 2015-47
Camped 2016-71, 2017-33, 2018-29 booked
KT4W
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04-09-2017, 01:05 AM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 5
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I am giving FR a chance, again tried contacting them but it was in December and my emails and voice mails could have been missed.
Legal action would be a course of last resort and can not believe it would come to that.
As further background the paint issue is on the diamond plate lower half of the trailer front, about a 5" square area where it looks like masking paper could have come off, definitely not shipping damage, and right below the Quality Control sticker.
I also pleaded with the dealer prior to my trip to pick it up to make sure it had a proper dealer prep and inspection since I was coming from so far away.
I bought a new FR Rpod in 2014, took it out for my first night of camping and had no hot water. I found out the trailer hot water heater had the bypass valves in the winterize position.
I corrected the problem myself but spent a weekend with cold showers. I told the new salesman that same story and guess what, the exact same thing happened to me with this trailer, NO HOT water my first night out.
So they too never checked everything out. A monkey hired off of Craig's list could have done better.
I also found a bag with the towel bar, paper towel holder, and toilet tissue holder none of which were installed. The water filter cartridge was also not installed and nothing said to me. It seems to me this all should have been taken care of by the dealer.
The air conditioner has two controls on it, the fan / cool knob, and the temperature control. It blows air but cycles on just for a few seconds to cool, then cycles off right away, will not cool,the trailer at all. The brand is a Airexcell 4800 series.
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04-09-2017, 01:45 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,363
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It is not uncommon to find water heater valves in bypass but should of been explained in pdi. Most units are shipped winterized but dealer should of tested entire water system prior to delivery. Towel bars, soap dishes, etc. Are left to be mounted by consumer as everyone likes them in different places but dealer could of asked if you wanted them mounted. And I believe it's pretty common to supply you with a filter cartridge but it is to be installed by consumer. All of the above should have been explained in the pdi by your dealer. As for the A/C the dealer should of run it during prep to ensure it cycled and operated properly. Do we see a common problem here.... Go ahead say it we all know..... DEALER.
__________________
2016 Forester GTS 2801QSF
2011 Jeep JK Toad
Habitual RV Modifier
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04-09-2017, 05:53 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
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In the event you decide to contact the California State Attorney General, Office of Consumer Affairs here is a link to that site:
https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-...ess-or-company
I have never had to use my state Attorney General's Office for my RV but I have used them for other problems with other businesses and the response I got to filing the complaint was excellent. NO business in any state wants the state AG on their butt!
It is OBVIOUS that the selling dealer looks at you as an out-of-town buyer with little if any chance of a repeat sale so he does not care. He has his money is his attitude. Let the AG prove him WRONG!
Good Luck!
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
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04-09-2017, 06:07 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 639
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Why is FR blameless in this?
Quote:
Originally Posted by BooBoo23
Thanks FROG Bob for stepping in. I didn't know how much you monitored the forum but apparently quite a bit. I hate to see FR get blamed so many times for issues that a dealer screws up. And your are correct Bob C. the moment you mention legal action conversations suddenly halt.
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I hate to see dealers constantly get bashed for being swamped with poor quality trailers and motorhomes from the factory. If there was any semblance of real quality control on the factory floor, many of these issues would be resolved prior to delivery. Then the unsuspecting consumer/customer would rarely have to fight to get anything fixed. Given that the reimbursement from the manufacturer often does not cover the cost of repair, I understand why the dealers (especially the non- selling dealer) have little to no interest in doing warranty work.
I'm sure the buyers that are helped by FROG Bob and others with some pull are appreciative. I know I would be. What I have an issue with is why FROG Bob has to get involved at all? We are all customers of FR and their authorized dealers around the country. That, in and of itself, should be enough.
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04-09-2017, 06:39 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 85
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KatanaPilot
I hate to see dealers constantly get bashed for being swamped with poor quality trailers and motorhomes from the factory. If there was any semblance of real quality control on the factory floor, many of these issues would be resolved prior to delivery. Then the unsuspecting consumer/customer would rarely have to fight to get anything fixed. Given that the reimbursement from the manufacturer often does not cover the cost of repair, I understand why the dealers (especially the non- selling dealer) have little to no interest in doing warranty work.
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I hate to see it too, but you stand by a product you sell is how the industry works. Yes its a manufacture defect, but the dealer is the liaison between the consumer and manufacturer. If you buy a washer and its broken, you call the place you bought it from. Contacting the AG seems to be no harm, because as the OP stated he is getting no communication back now. Once the AG contacts the dealer, the ball will roll very quickly for the OP because the dealer will want the case closed ASAP and they will not close the case until they feel the consumer gets a fair product. The dealer will have to show proof if the buyer disagrees.
__________________
2017 FR Wildwood 201BHXL
2013 Ford F-150 King Ranch Ecoboost
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04-09-2017, 07:27 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Franklin County, PA
Posts: 3,522
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If it is your AC contact the warrente dept of that appliance manufacture. If it's a Domatic they will give you names of authorized service centers and a few are independents. Good luck
__________________
2019 Puma XLE 27QBC Toy Hauler
2005 Honda VTX 1300
2002 Goldwing 1800GL CSC Trike
2020 Ram 2500 Crew cab 6.5 bed
Ron & Shirley (Empty Nesters)
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04-09-2017, 08:33 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 201
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I guess I don't understand the issue. The local dealer said that they would take care of it but you just have to wait till July. I know waiting so long sucks but based on what you are saying it is going to be taken care of.
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04-09-2017, 08:41 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Penfield
Posts: 196
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While our Vengeance is at the dealer for its long winter nap, Forest River has approved a long list of mostly nitpickie warranty items for the dealer to fix. While I would LOVE for the rv industry to gain some quality control and pride, we've had no problems getting our items resolved. Point being, Forest River and oir dealer have stepped up to the plate for us.
__________________
John M
2013 GMC Sierra 2500DH CC, 4x4, D/A
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