How important is it to buy local?
I heard a long spiel last night on a youtube video about it being very important to buy local, because RV dealers always prefer to work on their own customer's rigs first. One MORE criteria!! : ...
Forum Discussion
When we bought our Fleetwood Southwind back in 2002/3, we were told we couldn't get the floorpan with washer/dryer we knew we could by our local dealer. They only wanted to sell what was on their lot. Contacted Fleetwood, who put us in touch with a great sales guy in neighbouring province (13hrs away), that had us sorted and ordered at best price within an hour from start to finish - didn't nickel and dime us (we were ready for that based on what we'd read!) when took our 5er trade over to pick up. Overall wonderful experience with Bob Edwards at Traveland RV in BC (he's retired now I believe).
However, Fleetwood sold us on their service centres available to us all over NA etc etc. In reality dealerships in our local area treated us badly when they had more business than they knew what to do with because not purchased through them, but ironically when business was slack, they were falling over themselves to do our service/warranty issues = strange that eh?????
At the time as first time for us A class owners we were a bit perturbed about the reception to get warranty work done locally, and did wonder if we'd done the right thing buying out of province, but not any more. The idiots couldn't resolve the A/C issue after having it 3 weeks here and there several times or the auto wind awning issue, when they did our winterizing for first 3 years, every start up we had leaks. No leaks since learnt to do it ourselves, and saved hundreds over the years.
Thanks to folks at escapees forum helping us we resolved the A/C and awning issues ourselves after a lot of wasted time and effort at the dealerships, who hadn't a clue about much.
Personally I blame the manufacturers for not being more specific about their appointed dealerships being required to provide service and warranty equally weighted whether units bought through them or not, as well as being properly trained on common product issue resolutions. At the end of the day they want the territory and Fleetwood plus the dealerships sell us as consumers on the hundreds of service centres through N.A. Alas it is what it is, and now we've done our time so to speak, we don't trust anything that any manufacturer or dealer tells us any more.
We've bought F350 truck, fifth wheel and A class all further afield, saving thousands, and not having to undergo the salesmen's "dance of the seven veils" so to speak.
One thing we learnt the hard way as new to RV ownership back in the late 90's and early 2000's is nothing is ever as it's promised once they've got your money, and once you do find someone genuine and helpful either at the manufacturer or particular dealership keep their contact info close to hand!
Now we are long outside of warranty we just deal with whomever, wherever we are based on local recommendation of others.
However, Fleetwood sold us on their service centres available to us all over NA etc etc. In reality dealerships in our local area treated us badly when they had more business than they knew what to do with because not purchased through them, but ironically when business was slack, they were falling over themselves to do our service/warranty issues = strange that eh?????
At the time as first time for us A class owners we were a bit perturbed about the reception to get warranty work done locally, and did wonder if we'd done the right thing buying out of province, but not any more. The idiots couldn't resolve the A/C issue after having it 3 weeks here and there several times or the auto wind awning issue, when they did our winterizing for first 3 years, every start up we had leaks. No leaks since learnt to do it ourselves, and saved hundreds over the years.
Thanks to folks at escapees forum helping us we resolved the A/C and awning issues ourselves after a lot of wasted time and effort at the dealerships, who hadn't a clue about much.
Personally I blame the manufacturers for not being more specific about their appointed dealerships being required to provide service and warranty equally weighted whether units bought through them or not, as well as being properly trained on common product issue resolutions. At the end of the day they want the territory and Fleetwood plus the dealerships sell us as consumers on the hundreds of service centres through N.A. Alas it is what it is, and now we've done our time so to speak, we don't trust anything that any manufacturer or dealer tells us any more.
We've bought F350 truck, fifth wheel and A class all further afield, saving thousands, and not having to undergo the salesmen's "dance of the seven veils" so to speak.
One thing we learnt the hard way as new to RV ownership back in the late 90's and early 2000's is nothing is ever as it's promised once they've got your money, and once you do find someone genuine and helpful either at the manufacturer or particular dealership keep their contact info close to hand!
Now we are long outside of warranty we just deal with whomever, wherever we are based on local recommendation of others.
