Camping World Shenanigans - scam?

[SunShack]

Anderson, CA near Redding has a Camping World, and a Jayco Camping World right next door. Weird. Different businesses, same corporate company. We went to both, and the Camping World was high pressure sales and the Jayco Camping World was very accommodating, and no pressure.
Long story short, we ended up buying from the Jayco CW as they had the RV we really wanted, and they gave us a great OTD price, with our trade-in, no pressure. Told them we wanted to sleep on the deal. No pressure. We really wanted it and called them the next day and put a hold deposit over the phone as the dealer was an hour and a half from us. No problem.
Drove up with our trade in, did a two hour walk through, found a few issues, put on the due bill, no problem. Got it home, found a couple more issues, salesperson added it to the due bill. No Problem. Jury is still out on the due bill follow up, but so far so good. My opinion is there are good and bad Camping Worlds out there. I was always wary of them and never give them my information, unless you are a serious buyer and want to test drive a MoHo.

[MONTANA 2009]

Had to chime in on this....my advice...avoid camping world.


I brought a unit to them for warranty work last november, they are going to be done with it today (feb).
(I did not buy the unit from them) I had to get help from manufacturer to get them going on it. The manufacturer had to call them and get the parts coming to them. Cw rep told me early on had to wait on authorization and for them to send parts. When i first talked to the manufacturer rep he said he had no record of them asking for authorization or ordering parts.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by MONTANA 2009

Had to chime in on this....my advice...avoid camping world.


I brought a unit to them for warranty work last november, they are going to be done with it today (feb).
(I did not buy the unit from them) I had to get help from manufacturer to get them going on it. The manufacturer had to call them and get the parts coming to them. Cw rep told me early on had to wait on authorization and for them to send parts. When i first talked to the manufacturer rep he said he had no record of them asking for authorization or ordering parts.

That's not necessarily a CW thing. I've read about a lot of dealers that do the same thing.

[sherman12]

I'm in my 16th year RV'ing and camping. Before I bought my first RV, a used Tiffin Allegro, I started reading RV Forums. First, RV.Net, which is now owned by CW, and iRV2. I joined FRF in 2012 when I bought my Georgetown. Today, I'm obviously still on this forum, peek at RV.Net once in and while, quit iRV2, and check in on a couple of other forums. I also have a few RV YouTubers that I enjoy.

Through all of the above, How in the World is Camping World still in business? I have read, seen, and heard the comments on this current thread over and over and over, yet there they are with Marcus Lemonis and Co. screwing and manipulating the public like never before. Are we as a nation just that dumb, or are the new campers under the age of 40 (about 40% of the new market last I read) just too impatient and full of themselves that they either don't care, don't take the time to research a purchase, or just plain old dumb.

[Joe M.]

I would hire an independent inspector to take a look at it before you make any decisions on a purchase. Also CW has a reputation for poor customer service after the sale.

[PenJoe]

Originally Posted by MGD1961

I think that’s just unfair and untrue.

I work in a corporate company location where we try to sell stuff every day. A different product but not such a different company model.

The company stance is not to lie to customers and I can’t believe that camping world’s intention is to do so either. Granted, if their sales department works on commission then that is there first mistake but, you can not convince me that they have gotten where they are by intentionally lying to their customers. If we lie we get fired. I can’t believe they are any different. Don’t attribute to malice what can be explained by ignorance.

If you are well educated and know what you want the high pressure salesman is nothing to fear.

I have always had an interest in cars and have bought and sold many. Having a steady retirement income, i decided to apply for a sales position at a new car dealer. I was called in by the sales manager for an interview and it went well. I was called in for a second interview by the owner of the dealership.

Just before the second interview started, a service employee had a question for the owner. A customer brought their vehicle in for repairs that required a fairly common part that had to be ordered. As I recall, it was something as simple as a fanbelt. It was Friday and the customer had been assured the car would be ready. However, the part came in WRONG.

The service person was trying to accommodate the customer with a simple solution. He could take the part off of a vehicle in inventory, satisfying the customer and replace the part when it was shipped correctly. Quite likely by the following Monday. The employee was making a suggestion.

The response was not expected. The owner came unhinged and started to ream his employee for making the suggestion-all while I, a total stranger, was sitting in the office. The answer was no, the customer would have to wait.

Then, the interview started with the first question. why do you want to come here to work. My reply, I'm not sure I do. The owner responded that it was the first time he heard that reply in a job interview.

About a week after the second interview, the dealership called and offered the sales position. I turned them down-for a couple of reasons. As a salesperson, I am not only selling a vehicle, but need assurance that the buyer will have satisfaction after the sale. It was pretty obvious that this dealership did not have that standard. And, it is poor business practice to demean an employee in front of strangers, especially when the employee is trying to bring customer satisfaction.

[dwilli1]

Originally Posted by RamManMN

I'm not a camping world fan, but what you describe hasn't been my experience at the Camping World in Monticello (I live in Wright County). I haven't been in there since the last time we were in the market in the fall of 21, UT we were able to just walk in and wander around the lot.

As for shows in Minneapolis, this is the one you want: https://metrorvdealers.com/?gad_sour...RoCqXIQAvD_BwE

This one is all local, MN dealers. One of them is Niemeyers in Albertville, from whom we have bought two Rockwoods and highly reccomend. Teds RV Land in Paynesville is an other good place to look. Their RVs are open during business hours and you can just walk around. We have found this to be true of most cealers in the area. We have relatives who have bought several at Pleasureland, St Cloud and say good things about them...also at the show in the link. Honestly there seem to be a zillion RV dealers in this area...so much so that i can't see how they all stay in business. There are plenty of places to shop around.

Yeah, I'm with you. Not a CW fan and have never bought from them but every issue described in this thread, I've seen at local dealers as well. The 1 CW I went to wasn't high pressure. They had a floor plan on the lot that I liked but was too big, the rep went inside and found a couple units but they were all in CA or Vegas and I wasn't willing to pay $8k to ship them. He found another dealer he could ship to. In the end it didn't work out, he thanked me and I've never heard from him again. I just like their website for research. And like someone mentioned about putting locals out of business...that's a common practice with Home Depot as well...put up 8 stores in a market, put the locals out of business, then close 5 of them after they own the market.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by dwilli1

And like someone mentioned about putting locals out of business...that's a common practice with Home Depot as well...put up 8 stores in a market, put the locals out of business, then close 5 of them after they own the market.

I've never seen that.

I live in a pretty large metro area and we've only ever had 2. They are both right across the street from a Lowes and not far from a Menard's .

[dwilli1]

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

I've never seen that.

I live in a pretty large metro area and we've only ever had 2. They are both right across the street from a Lowes and not far from a Menard's .

I just retired from that industry after 45 years. It was more common in the 80's and early 90's when they were fairly new but it did happen.

[Mokurt]

A new CW opened up here in Billings a few months ago.All brand new lot.
The inventory is pretty large.
They have to compete with 2 well established RV dealerships that have been here a while.Will see how long they last.

I have been in the store to buy a couple minor things that I needed now which is convenient and also bought from a smaller RV repair shop here.
The prices at both places are of course higher than shopping online.

[ppine]

Trust your gut. Go look at the trailer if yhou want with no plans to consider buying it.
I have bought a TT from a dealer only one time and it was okay.
The other 4 untis were bought from private parties.

[Castle Rock Mike]

We had found the 5th wheel we wanted at a show last year. It was 77k. We started to look around and found it at CW in Tucson for 50k. We put a hold on it and would come get it when weather got better. CW informed me that there was a 1999$ doc and walkthrough fee as well as the sticker price. We still bought it as it was a good deal, but the 1999$ was a sham as the walk through was a joke, and the things we found wrong that needed fixing never made there way to the CW in Colorado where we live. We had to start the hole process over again. And the finance guy was a film flam artist that had no consideration for us or the trailer we bought-only to move us along. 2 months later we were still fighting with him. It was a good deal but the pain dealing with CW made it less desirable.

[mnoland30]

I like to buy from individuals. I've had good luck doing that with vehicles over the years. You have to know something, or pay someone who knows and can check out the vehicle for you. You can fix a lot of problems with the money you'll save.

[NJKris]

Originally Posted by dangerranger

If you buy from them be sure everything works, check the A/C and furnace that you get heat and cool from every vent, make sure the refer works in all its modes, and be sure every a/c and 12v outlet works. Don't let them talk you into an extended warrantee.
And don't sign till it all works.
The Local CW's reputation is get the money first and then the customers trailer can sit on the back lot for months waiting for repairs. Good Luck DR

Bingo. I haggled a good deal with CW at the Hershey RV show, got mine for 17.6k. But I believed their claim that 'everything has been tested', and as it was too cold to run A/C, only tested the blower. Turns out AC was bad out of the box when I did a 'driveway camp' in the Spring, so a bit of a pain, but AirExcel had a transmission shop near me do the warranty replacement. I refused all add on warranties and other BS, much to their disappointment. My only 'add on' was sales tax when I titled it in my state.


Edit: I locked in the price at Hershey RV show, and made them sign the contract stating there were no additional fees upon delivery (other than the actual delivery fee). Castle Rock Mike, I'd have lost my mind if they tried to hit me with a 2k document and walk through fee. Heck, I got mad when I brought my Buick to the dealer last week and they charged a 3 dollar 'document fee'. I asked, 'what the hell is this?' 'oh, it's to pay the company that does our computer system'. I said, 'what's next, I have to pay extra to cover your rent too?' Where does this crap end?

[Castle Rock Mike]

Ya the extra 2k was not expected but it was still 7k less then any other new Sanibel that we found so we just sucked it up. Would have been ok if they actually did the 2k inspection and walkthrough thoroughly, but we are still working on warranty items that CW Tucson was to complete( thru the Denver CW) and it is 15 months later. CW is a disaster.

[NJKris]

For that much, they'd have better treated me to champagne and caviar during walk-through. I still remember the old guy who did our walk through. I put him through a 4 hours PDI/walk-through. I could tell he was getting antsy. I asked what the problem is. He said this is normally done in one hour. Guess I got my money's worth at CW in 2018! (on a $17.6k camper!!!)

[moose074]

Sometimes I read these threads and I wonder about the world I live in much different than one some of y’all live in. Most RV car dealerships are selling for the maximum price they can they’re willing to negotiate, but they’re not trying to give away any extra dollars. When I sold cars, we realized most people only cared about monthly payment. On our first offer, it was usually three years above average interest rate. Customer would be irate tell us they could not afford an $800 a month payment then we would run credit give them an interest rate they could earn and a 60 or 72 month payment all the sudden that customer was feeling great because they had talked to us out of $300 a month, the price of the car never changed . Stated on the site before that most RVs lose 40% of the MSRP once they leave a lot. Several people challenged stating they had never lost 40% of what they paid, which probably true. here in West Texas you can look at fun town RV or Ron Hoover RV and they were selling new RVs at 30 to 40% off.
When I shop online, it almost always ask the location of my store before it will give me a price. I worked part time at O’Reilly’s and we would have people return items to our store because they were hoping to get more money than what they paid because we cost more than the Odessa store.
I’ve been to many camping worlds only once did I get out the information I told them I was looking and was able too look unharrassed. The one time I thought about buying from camping world I decided the price of the product wasn’t worth it. We bought an RV from it from Fun Town in San Angelo and we had no harassment from camping world. We buy small things from them and when we buy again we if they have best deal we will buy from them. It’s also true that when someone makes a fair deal their sastified with the experience they might tell closest friends but when angry they tell 15

[NJKris]

Originally Posted by Castle Rock Mike

We had found the 5th wheel we wanted at a show last year. It was 77k. We started to look around and found it at CW in Tucson for 50k. We put a hold on it and would come get it when weather got better. CW informed me that there was a 1999$ doc and walkthrough fee as well as the sticker price. We still bought it as it was a good deal, but the 1999$ was a sham as the walk through was a joke, and the things we found wrong that needed fixing never made there way to the CW in Colorado where we live. We had to start the hole process over again. And the finance guy was a film flam artist that had no consideration for us or the trailer we bought-only to move us along. 2 months later we were still fighting with him. It was a good deal but the pain dealing with CW made it less desirable.

They tried that flim flam 'you're gonna save money by financing' garbage with me. Seemed like someone playing 3 card monte with me. I just kept saying 'nope' till he gave up. I guess the bottom line is what you pay all in. When you think about it, whether they charge a 'fee' or other nonsense, the bottom line out the door price is the only thing that matters, and if your deal is better there even with the 'fee', then who cares. Amazes me there are people out there who don't care about the bottom line, just what their 'monthly payment' is. Probably the same types that carry credit card debt.

[moose074]

Originally Posted by NJKris

They tried that flim flam 'you're gonna save money by financing' garbage with me. Seemed like someone playing 3 card monte with me. I just kept saying 'nope' till he gave up. I guess the bottom line is what you pay all in. When you think about it, whether they charge a 'fee' or other nonsense, the bottom line out the door price is the only thing that matters, and if your deal is better there even with the 'fee', then who cares. Amazes me there are people out there who don't care about the bottom line, just what their 'monthly payment' is. Probably the same types that carry credit card debt.

Well yahoo states 3 of 5 Americans ( I assume they mean 18 older) have credit card debt Ramsey says 8 of 10 have a card. So most adults according to both articles have credit card debt.
Yes cash isn’t king anymore hasn’t been for awhile if a bank can sign you $70k 5% ten years payment is 742 a month they “ share” some of that with dealer or finance guy. For bringing them the loan verses another bank not to mention the quid pro quo of dealers arm twisting iffy credit scores. If math is correct just 1% dealer would get about 3k back from bank. Why would a bank do that because at 4% they are pocketing 15k

[sherman12]

The satisfaction vs dissatisfaction ratio in retail is; not satisfied equal to 23 people will be affected by negative word-of-mouth reviews. Satisfied customers will equal out to 11 persons being swayed by the happy customer.

As far as CW goes, IMHO the ratio should be about 100 to 1 on the negative scale. Sometimes I wonder how they are still in business, but some stupid people don't know how to negotiate I guess. As far as their stores go, when they have sales you can find some bargains there with a Good Sam membership, and their propane price for members is pretty good.