GravelRider
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2020
- Posts
- 928
I accidentally broke out my main window on my travel trailer mowing grass when a rock got kicked out at it in the spring.
I called the dealership and scheduled an estimate. I had to bring it in for the estimate, which they said was necessary so they would get the exact right part. They said it would take 3 weeks to get the replacement window in, and then they'd be able to put the window in within the next few days after getting the part in. It was more than I wanted to pay, but I figured getting the exact part from the factory was worth it rather than going to a local glass company, since the broken window is in a thousand pieces and is an oblong type window. So, I paid the deposit and waited for a call.
Fast forward five weeks after, I call the dealership to inquire about if the window is in, and the service manager tells me it is. I got no call, as they said they would. They ten told me it would be over a month until they could get me in. I reminded him that they told me it would be only a few days after the part got in, and they told me to go pound sand, basically. Unfortunately because I already put in a deposit, and because it had already been so long, I didn't really have much of a recourse, so I scheduled the appointment.
I got the trailer back yesterday, the bill was $150 more than the agreed upon price. They said it was due to "increased freight charges." If that was indeed the real reason, that was a 250% increase over what they initially told me. Eventually they agreed to allow me to 'only' pay the agreed upon price, and then acted like they were doing me a favor. They only agreed to honor their original quote after I asked to see the actual freight charges, which they never showed me.
When I picked it up, the sun was shining at me and made a shadow over the window that was parked close to the next trailer. Everything looked okay at the time. When I got it home, and was able to see it better, I discovered they put in the wrong window! I had all clear (non-tinted) windows throughout, including the one they were to replace. The new window is tinted and sticks out like a sore thumb. I spoke to the service manager about it, and he said there's nothing he can do about it, that they ordered the right part. Forest River must have changed it.
I advised him that he should have called me before doing the work after discovering the window was different, as I would have declined the service, even if that meant eating the deposit. I asked for a refund, a partial refund, nothing. He just kept telling me there's nothing he can do. No apology. No offer to help in any way whatsoever. He even went as far as to tell me that the old window was also tinted, which it definitely wasn't, and I have pictures of the before and after.
Eventually he said he could put back in my broken window for me, free of charge (yes, he actually said this), but they couldn't refund me the money I paid for the new window. What a joke this is.
I called my insurance company, and they can't do anything since I already replaced the window and I didn't file a claim (since it was less than $100 more than my deductible). I figured as much.
I'm actually trading it in tomorrow to a different dealership, and I'm worried they're going to see an obviously different window and that it will negatively affect my trade-in value. We're also traveling 500 miles to trade it in, so if we get hammered on the trade-in because of this, we can either take the lower value trade, or choose not to make the deal and possibly lose our $500 deposit plus whatever travel expenses we incur.
I don't know what to do, or what recourse I have. Right now I think I'm just going to drive down to make the trade and roll the dice that this doesn't affect trade-in value. Hopefully it doesn't, and it will be a moot point, and I will just avoid this dealership and right them a poor online review.
Funny thing is that I had a great buying experience at this dealership and have recommended them to many. Their service department completely tarnished this though...
I called the dealership and scheduled an estimate. I had to bring it in for the estimate, which they said was necessary so they would get the exact right part. They said it would take 3 weeks to get the replacement window in, and then they'd be able to put the window in within the next few days after getting the part in. It was more than I wanted to pay, but I figured getting the exact part from the factory was worth it rather than going to a local glass company, since the broken window is in a thousand pieces and is an oblong type window. So, I paid the deposit and waited for a call.
Fast forward five weeks after, I call the dealership to inquire about if the window is in, and the service manager tells me it is. I got no call, as they said they would. They ten told me it would be over a month until they could get me in. I reminded him that they told me it would be only a few days after the part got in, and they told me to go pound sand, basically. Unfortunately because I already put in a deposit, and because it had already been so long, I didn't really have much of a recourse, so I scheduled the appointment.
I got the trailer back yesterday, the bill was $150 more than the agreed upon price. They said it was due to "increased freight charges." If that was indeed the real reason, that was a 250% increase over what they initially told me. Eventually they agreed to allow me to 'only' pay the agreed upon price, and then acted like they were doing me a favor. They only agreed to honor their original quote after I asked to see the actual freight charges, which they never showed me.
When I picked it up, the sun was shining at me and made a shadow over the window that was parked close to the next trailer. Everything looked okay at the time. When I got it home, and was able to see it better, I discovered they put in the wrong window! I had all clear (non-tinted) windows throughout, including the one they were to replace. The new window is tinted and sticks out like a sore thumb. I spoke to the service manager about it, and he said there's nothing he can do about it, that they ordered the right part. Forest River must have changed it.
I advised him that he should have called me before doing the work after discovering the window was different, as I would have declined the service, even if that meant eating the deposit. I asked for a refund, a partial refund, nothing. He just kept telling me there's nothing he can do. No apology. No offer to help in any way whatsoever. He even went as far as to tell me that the old window was also tinted, which it definitely wasn't, and I have pictures of the before and after.
Eventually he said he could put back in my broken window for me, free of charge (yes, he actually said this), but they couldn't refund me the money I paid for the new window. What a joke this is.
I called my insurance company, and they can't do anything since I already replaced the window and I didn't file a claim (since it was less than $100 more than my deductible). I figured as much.
I'm actually trading it in tomorrow to a different dealership, and I'm worried they're going to see an obviously different window and that it will negatively affect my trade-in value. We're also traveling 500 miles to trade it in, so if we get hammered on the trade-in because of this, we can either take the lower value trade, or choose not to make the deal and possibly lose our $500 deposit plus whatever travel expenses we incur.
I don't know what to do, or what recourse I have. Right now I think I'm just going to drive down to make the trade and roll the dice that this doesn't affect trade-in value. Hopefully it doesn't, and it will be a moot point, and I will just avoid this dealership and right them a poor online review.
Funny thing is that I had a great buying experience at this dealership and have recommended them to many. Their service department completely tarnished this though...
