Disappointment and Decisions to Make A122S vs A122BH

[21Feet]

So yesterday I made all the arrangements to pick up my new 2016 A122S from the dealer. I was so excited and couldn't wait for next wednesday!

Today the dealer called to inform me that he had bad news and good news.

The bad news was that the trailer they sold me was discovered to have "severe irreparable damage"

Um... ok? (how could they have not known that before selling it to me?)

Then he told me that the new 2017s would be on the lot by the end of June and they could sell me one of those! For $2000 more...

Apparently that was his good news? I don't think any of that was good news. Good news for his sales commission maybe?

On top of that I received this information about 30 minutes AFTER I paid the hitch shop $400 to install the brake controller and charge wire in my car. And about 12 hours AFTER I signed over the papers for my old trailer to the new owners, who towed her away about an hour ago.

So I am without ANY trailer now, and the so called "good news" is I can spend $2000 more for a trailer and wait an entire extra month to get it. Again, not sure where the good part is?

I'm quite upset. I knew things were working out too good to be true.

I now have a bit of a dilemma. Should I decide to go through with the purchase of a 2017 (even though it is a sour taste in my mouth) I am now wondering if I should stick with the A122S or get the A122BH instead.

So I guess, that's the opinion I'm asking about. A122S or A122BH, if I get any trailer at all. Right now I'm sort of leaning to neither, but I'm just frustrated I think. And annoyed at the salesman's attitude about it. Very annoyed. Really really mad actually. Good news my butt.

[B and B]

They should make good and give you the 2017 for the same price. That is good will.

[asquared]

The good news is the issue was discovered before you took possession... that would have been the nightmare. I would tell them, we made a deal it is not my fault there was a problem with the trailer. You want the 2017 for the same price or you are walking away. See what their response is.

[Big Vic]

Optimist: believes what the dealer is saying.
Cynic: the dealer sold the trailer to someone else.
Hard to believe it arrived with irreparable damage.

I once ordered a new car, put a deposit down, and a few weeks later saw it for sale on the dealer's lot while driving by. Not sure, but suspect they wanted to see what they could get for it before calling me.

[Flybob]

I would bet someone offered a better deal and they sold it. I would tell them find another one, or sell me the 2017 for the same price or you will go elsewhere. Odds are you can get a 2017 elsewhere for $2000 more anyway. If they are close by, stop in and ask to see the severe damage. As you say no good news for you. Did you put down a deposit? If so demand it be returned.

[lbrjet]

They sold it to someone else right from under you. Find a different dealer even if it is out of town.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[CAT-RN]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

They sold it to someone else right from under you. Find a different dealer even if it is out of town.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

Exactly what they did. I would find another dealer. This one just do same thing again. Would never trust this crew!!

Russell

[21Feet]

Going there this morning. Will ask to see the damaged trailer.

The cynic in me has considered many possibilities but they don't make logical sense.

1) They sold it out from under me, which makes little sense as why not just up-sell the 2017s to someone else since the price diff they're offering doesn't make up for risking a lost sale? Not really logical when this sale was already in the bag and 2017s are on the way. I can probably rule that out, to be honest, it simply wouldn't be smart. People don't generally commit bad business stupidly and to their own detriment.

2) They knew it was busted, and got me on the line before offering the 2017s. Again, doesn't make sense though, I never said in the first place that I wasn't interested in the 2017s, just that I was hoping to not have to wait. There weren't any other 2017s available in the area yet, so its not like they had competition from another dealer. So again, stupid move that I find it hard to believe they would make since it goes against their own interests in the long run.

Basically, I can't see how either of those possibilities would have benefitted them.

What I think might have happened was, since all the trailers were in the same place when they showed them to me and all had sale tags on them, but there was one listed as unsold in his catalogue, that the salesman perhaps was the only one who didn't know already that it was damaged? I asked him to go out to the lot please and check on something on the trailer for me and that's when he called back to inform me it was broken, no indication leading up to that point that anything like this was going to happen until I initiated a look at the trailer myself. Perhaps the first time he'd seen that individual trailer in person and there was a reason it wasn't out with the others when I was looking. Bad communication turns into poor customer service for sure!

As for how it got damaged, and could have been sitting like that on their lot for a year, I will be asking.

So, off to the dealer if I get the chance before work this am. I'll be asking to see the damage and perhaps another salesman or the sales manager if I can't continue to work with my current salesman. He seemed pretty cheerful about this yesterday, didn't seem to get how NOT cheerful I was about it. So we'll have another chat today so I can make it clear to him how unhappy I am about how this is being handled.

[SuicideSaints]

I would bet they sold it out from under you at a higher price to someone else. Did you see the unit before making the deal? Was there any glaring signs something was wrong?

To verify this I would go to the dealer and ask to see the unit and damage.

I would then ask for the 2017 at the same price and deal you agreed to.

Let us know what you do, Im curious.....

[itat]

I'm curious if you had seen the exact unit before making the deal or if you ordered it in. They may have sold it out from under you but not necessarily. Is it possible that it had a leak while sitting on the lot that caused irreparable damage, or one of their staff ran into it causing the damage? Does this dealer have a stellar reputation that drew you to them, or were they just the closest dealer and you really know nothing about them?

Regardless of the situation, it's obviously not your fault. It's their problem, and I agree with other posters that they need to give you what they agreed to (a 2016 A122S) or an equivalent 2017 model at the same price, or return your deposit and cancel the deal. Asking for an extra $2000 to solve their problem is not good customer service so you should probably just walk away from this dealer if you get the sense that their not being truthful.

[Luv70sFords]

I would find a new dealer if at all possible. Sounds like something fishy went down.

Beyond that, the front storage area is not the same as the bike rack. I have quite a bit of my initial setup placed in my storage box, and it would be hard to either dig that stuff out of a diferent area, or it would always be exposed to the elements. Either way I wouldnt make that sacrifice, but your needs may differ.

IF another dealer isnt an option, I'd go down unannounced and ask to see the trailer and the damage. You can always play the angle that you need to see what to watch for on any future purchase. They didnt get that thing on a truck to IN that fast, it should be close by.

[Zerr]

Are the 2017's supposed to have any significant changes?

[Flybob]

I would bet someone was interested in it and they told them it was sold but the 2017 would be in in 1 month at a higher price. They offered more than you were paying and drove it home. If you go and it is not there, They will probably tell you it is on it's way back to FR. Before FR will take one back or authorize an onsite repair, they will ask for photos. You can ask to see them.

Originally Posted by 21Feet

Going there this morning. Will ask to see the damaged trailer.

The cynic in me has considered many possibilities but they don't make logical sense.

1) They sold it out from under me, which makes little sense as why not just up-sell the 2017s to someone else since the price diff they're offering doesn't make up for risking a lost sale? Not really logical when this sale was already in the bag and 2017s are on the way. I can probably rule that out, to be honest, it simply wouldn't be smart. People don't generally commit bad business stupidly and to their own detriment.

.

[leefl]

My guess is that the newbie guy at the dealer, moving units around, backed into it and damaged it, or drove the forklift into it.

[Hoffwmn]

Sounds like the old "bait and switch" to me. I wouldn't trust them with ANY deal and would take my hard earned cash elsewhere.

[BamaBob]

X10 with the others. Sump'n ain't right here! Bait and Switch is probable, newbie on a forklift? Maybe.


Did you put a deposit down? I'd ask for the 2017 for the same price and if they don't want to do that, I'd get my money refunded and run...don't walk to another dealer.

[Stormrider151]

I would walk away. Somethings up with this. There are lots of other dealers out there.

[Jodilc]

The 192HW we expressed interest in at our dealership was sold by the time we got to it. But, the dealer was awesome. He ordered us a 2017 192HW direct from the factory and two weeks later, personally drove 1,000 miles to pick it up at the Forest River plant. AND, he gave us the same price as the 2016. This was in early April.

The only difference between the two model years is there are now ridges on the front trunk lid instead of it being flat.

Don't let that dealer hoodwink you. There are good ones out there.

[Zerr]

There's ridges on my 2016 hw213 as well so not sure if that is even a change.

[AngryPancake]

I'm curious to see what happened after you went back to the dealer.
If they did it to me and sold it to someone else, this pancake would be very angry!