So we are looking at a new 5'r and have a model all picked out that will serve us well. We are ready to buy right away. We found a national chain that had the exact model (same year) we want at two different locations in the same state, just hours apart. One location is a lot closer to us.We got a price from each location. One price was lower than the other. We asked the higher dealer (very close to home) to match the lower price since it's a national chain. They said no because the other locations model was older.... Uhhh, they are both 2019 models. Sales manager said yeah but the build date on their unit is a couple months older than ours. Ours is a newer model.We said, you guys are a national chain and you can't price match your own prices on the identical unit?? They are both 2019. A couple months difference in build date does not make one a newer model. I understand a few bucks in shipping charges maybe..He said well we arent going to price match. We said OK we will buy at the other location....Then he says..... well if you dont buy from my location, you can expect to be put at the back of the line when it comes to any warranty work or maintenance work. You will not be a priority here.WTH??? Is this guy serious? Does he really work here or were we on a hidden camera show??At that point we walked out. My better half fired off an email to their corporate letting them know what this jackwagon said to us. Within an hour we had a phone call from them wanting to make this right and asking what they could do to make it right... We missed the call and havent called back. Not sure what we will say as we are pretty pissed off to treated that way.What an experience....

Yeah, I would be too. Swallow your pride and get the 5er you want at the lower price.

It is customary that the selling dealer is the only one that will take any interest in your warranty work. They have to do all the leg work and negotiations with the manufacturer, ie, providing pictures and getting approval for the repairs, multiple phone calls, and parts ordering.On top of that they have to do the repairs at a discounted rate paid by the manufacturer. Therefore the reason for not wanting to mess with other dealers products.I think the salesman is playing hard ball on the price. I would be willing to bet that you would get a call within a week accepting a lower offer. Dont get intimidated, that's what they like. Take your time and keep looking. The best time to buy is December. Sales are slow and they will be hungry.

We all know "the chain"and if you only knew the daily phone calls I get about the local one here I could write a book

wrgrs50s wrote:It is customary that the selling dealer is the only one that will take any interest in your warranty work. They have to do all the leg work and negotiations with the manufacturer, ie, providing pictures and getting approval for the repairs, multiple phone calls, and parts ordering.On top of that they have to do the repairs at a discounted rate paid by the manufacturer. Therefore the reason for not wanting to mess with other dealers products.I think the salesman is playing hard ball on the price. I would be willing to bet that you would get a call within a week accepting a lower offer. Dont get intimidated, that's what they like. Take your time and keep looking. The best time to buy is December. Sales are slow and they will be hungry.But it's the same dealer. Just a different location. If you are a national chain you should be good with doing warranty work on a unit bought at any location in your national chain.If that dealer isnt good with that, dont be stupid and toss out some blackmail shenanigans to push the sale.Maybe corporate needs to do some Undercover Boss visits to see the BS their dealers spew out of their mouths.

jmbstudios wrote:wrgrs50s wrote:It is customary that the selling dealer is the only one that will take any interest in your warranty work. They have to do all the leg work and negotiations with the manufacturer, ie, providing pictures and getting approval for the repairs, multiple phone calls, and parts ordering.On top of that they have to do the repairs at a discounted rate paid by the manufacturer. Therefore the reason for not wanting to mess with other dealers products.I think the salesman is playing hard ball on the price. I would be willing to bet that you would get a call within a week accepting a lower offer. Dont get intimidated, that's what they like. Take your time and keep looking. The best time to buy is December. Sales are slow and they will be hungry.But it's the same dealer. Just a different location. If you are a national chain you should be good with doing warranty work on a unit bought at any location in your national chain.If that dealer isnt good with that, dont be stupid and toss out some blackmail shenanigans to push the sale.Maybe corporate needs to do some Undercover Boss visits to see the BS their dealers spew out of their mouths.I ran into the same situation. I purchased from Explorer RV in Canton, Tx, and was not getting return calls when I had a problem so I took it to Explorer RV in Dallas. The first question I was ask was why didn't I take it where I bought it. I told them my displeasure with where I purchased and they accepted that, and did my repairs, but didn't seem too interested. Even the service writer ask me again why I didn't take it to the other location. The sad truth is that you go to the back of the line, no matter where you take it. Anyone, even a mobile RV Tech that's willing, can do the repairs if approved first by the manufacturer.

Wow! Dealer Comments! | Good Sam Community

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2019
Yeah, I would be too. Swallow your pride and get the 5er you want at the lower price.
wrgrs50s
Explorer
Jun 22, 2019
It is customary that the selling dealer is the only one that will take any interest in your warranty work. They have to do all the leg work and negotiations with the manufacturer, ie, providing pictures and getting approval for the repairs, multiple phone calls, and parts ordering.On top of that they have to do the repairs at a discounted rate paid by the manufacturer. Therefore the reason for not wanting to mess with other dealers products.

I think the salesman is playing hard ball on the price. I would be willing to bet that you would get a call within a week accepting a lower offer. Dont get intimidated, that's what they like. Take your time and keep looking. The best time to buy is December. Sales are slow and they will be hungry.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2019
We all know "the chain"and if you only knew the daily phone calls I get about the local one here I could write a book
jmbstudios
Explorer
Jun 22, 2019
wrgrs50s wrote:
It is customary that the selling dealer is the only one that will take any interest in your warranty work. They have to do all the leg work and negotiations with the manufacturer, ie, providing pictures and getting approval for the repairs, multiple phone calls, and parts ordering.On top of that they have to do the repairs at a discounted rate paid by the manufacturer. Therefore the reason for not wanting to mess with other dealers products.

I think the salesman is playing hard ball on the price. I would be willing to bet that you would get a call within a week accepting a lower offer. Dont get intimidated, that's what they like. Take your time and keep looking. The best time to buy is December. Sales are slow and they will be hungry.

But it's the same dealer. Just a different location. If you are a national chain you should be good with doing warranty work on a unit bought at any location in your national chain.

If that dealer isnt good with that, dont be stupid and toss out some blackmail shenanigans to push the sale.

Maybe corporate needs to do some Undercover Boss visits to see the BS their dealers spew out of their mouths.
wrgrs50s
Explorer
Jun 22, 2019
jmbstudios wrote:
wrgrs50s wrote:
It is customary that the selling dealer is the only one that will take any interest in your warranty work. They have to do all the leg work and negotiations with the manufacturer, ie, providing pictures and getting approval for the repairs, multiple phone calls, and parts ordering.On top of that they have to do the repairs at a discounted rate paid by the manufacturer. Therefore the reason for not wanting to mess with other dealers products.

I think the salesman is playing hard ball on the price. I would be willing to bet that you would get a call within a week accepting a lower offer. Dont get intimidated, that's what they like. Take your time and keep looking. The best time to buy is December. Sales are slow and they will be hungry.

But it's the same dealer. Just a different location. If you are a national chain you should be good with doing warranty work on a unit bought at any location in your national chain.

If that dealer isnt good with that, dont be stupid and toss out some blackmail shenanigans to push the sale.

Maybe corporate needs to do some Undercover Boss visits to see the BS their dealers spew out of their mouths.

I ran into the same situation. I purchased from Explorer RV in Canton, Tx, and was not getting return calls when I had a problem so I took it to Explorer RV in Dallas. The first question I was ask was why didn't I take it where I bought it. I told them my displeasure with where I purchased and they accepted that, and did my repairs, but didn't seem too interested. Even the service writer ask me again why I didn't take it to the other location. The sad truth is that you go to the back of the line, no matter where you take it. Anyone, even a mobile RV Tech that's willing, can do the repairs if approved first by the manufacturer.
wanderingaimles
Explorer
Jun 23, 2019
Have you done an advanced search on RV Trader?
By using that feature you can narrow the search to the exact make, model, your looking for, and maybe you can find a mom and pop who will treat you better.
Also, with the big dealer, get ready for the add ons,
Shipping $1500 to $2000
Dealer prep $750
Documentation $399 to $799
PDI $350 to $750

Many small local dealers dont add all these horecrap fees. They may price their unit slightly higher, but when they add all the extras at the big chain stores, it's seldom still cheaper.
jmbstudios
Explorer
Jun 23, 2019
Yes. We have searched on RV Trader.

Just thought we would give the closest guy a chance.

And we arent upset they didnt match the price. It's the way the guy spoke to us after we didnt take his deal. Big or small, you dont treat customers that way.
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Jun 23, 2019
Bought my last one out of state where I got the best price. I have used a mobile service for one problem and just paid him. I needed a couple parts for other things, called the factory, sent them some pictures and they shipped me the parts. The warranty only lasts for one year. Unless you have some major problem, you won't use it anyway. If it is major you can deal with the factory. I bought my trailer for 35% off the MSRP. I paid for nothing beyond that. No documentation, inspection, PDI or any other add on "fees". If you shop around you can do the same and tell that local stealer to "kiss off". Shop the internet.

B.O.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Jun 23, 2019
I bought new out of state and NEVER had an issue getting warranty service anywhere the first three years.
Big1
Explorer II
Jun 23, 2019
Yep, that is what was told to me also so I didn't mind driving to the longer place I figure that we just take the fiver out for a little vacation. When you can save thousand yeah so we went and bought one in the next state but yes that is what they do.

If it really come to some warranty work I went to Camping World they were going to take care of me but that was my last, to the last last resort.

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