Good Sam Reputation & Service

DownTheAvenue wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
The current price for a Good Sam membership is $27.00. For that much money I would set my expectations low. Considering that traditional retailers are dropping like flies (Sears may file Bankruptcy at any moment) the fact that Camping World is still in business is a testament that maybe they do have a successful business plan. Retail RV supplies are mostly one and done sales. To expect competitors to enter the RV market is pretty much wishful thinking.
Other posters are correct, people are much more likely to post complaints than they are to post positive experiences. Several of their business lines are in sectors that have high customer complaints. They do repairs, they provide roadside assistance, they broker insurance and they sell complicated vehicles. All of those are businesses with a high propensity for customer service issues. When you consider the volume of business that Good Sam does through their various profit centers I doubt their success to complaint ratio is much different than any other large retailer/insurance broker/repair facility.

This is a well thought out post. However, if you are the one faced with a horrible repair situation, knowing that others may have a good experience is not very comforting. I am sure Camping World has completed many repair orders successfully, but when they screw up, it seems horrendous and beyond belief often causing more damage than repair. I have found any RV accessory available for better pricing from many other sources than Camping World.

The bottom line is anyone is better off to avoid anything branded Camping World or Good Sam.

If you are seeking a RV accessory and feel the need to see it before you buy it, Camping World is about the only choice. You could go hit and miss at the local Walmart, Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Sporting Goods store and the like, but you will probably find it at Camping World. Factor in gas and frustration, Camping World can be a deal.
Personally, I often pay more for the advantage of actually seeing what I am buying. I am not a big fan of ordering online, waiting a couple of days, then having to repack and return things that aren't as I envisioned them. And sometimes instant gratification is more than just a good feeling, it is necessary to continue with my trip or project. I don't always have the luxury of waiting for online orders to deliver. Camping World sometimes fills a true need.
As for repairs, I again use common sense. I would never, ever expect Camping World to repair an engine, but I think they are more than capable of replacing a dump valve or water pump I just bought from them.