Bad experience picking up RV at LaMesa RV in Davis, CA .

Picked up my new Class A last week at LaMesa RV in Davis, CA. Having dealt with LaMesa before, I should have expected problems, and I wasn't disappointed. My appointment was for 1:00 p.m., but when I got there, they were having a pot luck and weren't finished with my rig. After waiting an hour, my service agent said my rig was ready for the PDI. The walk through with Jim took about an hour, and was pretty much comprehensive. This being my first motor home, I had lots of questions, which Jim explained how things worked. After the PDI, I returned to the office to complete the never ending stack of papers for signing. We waiting for another hour waiting to be told the rig was ready for me to transfer my stuff from my trade-in to my new rig. I walked back to the service bay and found nothing had been done, and no one knew what was happening with my rig. Seeing my trade-in parked near my new rig, I began moving things over until someone came out to finish getting my rig ready. That took another hour. Finally, my rig was ready to drive away. Then we noticed a problem with the passenger seat belt which needed to be replaced. I also noticed a problem with a piece of trim that required the rig to go back to the service bay for repair. After another hour (if you're keeping track, that's five hours now) I noticed all the service personnel leaving for the day. I walked to the service department to find out the status of my rig. No one was around and the service department was closed. I found my service agent as he was leaving and asked about my rig. He said it was ready quite some time ago and that I should have been informed that it was ready. Someone should have driven the rig back to the office and informed me of the repairs. That was never done. Also, I was missing some shelves in my refrigerator that the service manager said he would order right away. That never happened either. I called recently and they ordered my shelves. Why would the shelves be missing from my refrigerator unless they were removed to put into another rig? The shelves were there when I purchased the rig. The service agent told me he couldn't take some from another rig to put in mine due to some manufacturer "law". Seemed odd, but I accepted his excuse thinking I would get my shelves in time for our first camping trip. Yeah, right. When pigs fly. I hope others getting new rigs at LaMesa RV in Davis have better results than I had. I'm thinking this is the last time I'll ever do business with them.

Class A

24 Replies

Chevytrkr
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
pusherpilot wrote:
"Sea Of No Cares" wrote:
Well if you had problems with them in the past, why would you deal with them again. Shame on them for the mistreatment during your first experience with them. Shame on you for putting yourself through that again. there is lots of other dealers out there that would have treated you better and given you a much better experience.

If your post was directed to me, the reason I went back is because they had a specific model, equiped in a certain way that I was interested in. Unlike other shopping, RVs are really hard to shop for and then make an informed decision about when seeing it for a short time and in particular when you've got a hyperventilating sales rep breathing down your neck. The best I've found are those who introduce themselves, hand you a card then ask if you want to be unescorted or not and then check with you every 15 min or so to answer questions. I don't need to be "engaged" by a rep till I want to talk about things I need to know etc.
The very worst sales tactics are the one where the reps are "on the clock". One guy greets you and follows you around talking 90 mi per hr as you go. When his "time" has expired, usually about 10 min he leaves and another rep shows in about 5 min and repeats the process. This happened to my twice. once at Giant RV and again at La Mesa.
These tactics must sell RVs but they are the quickest way to get rid of me!!!
Ron

That's what happened to me. Bob started first then handed us over to Marty. Guess it worked because I purchased the rig.
pusherpilot
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
"Sea Of No Cares" wrote:
Well if you had problems with them in the past, why would you deal with them again. Shame on them for the mistreatment during your first experience with them. Shame on you for putting yourself through that again. there is lots of other dealers out there that would have treated you better and given you a much better experience.

If your post was directed to me, the reason I went back is because they had a specific model, equiped in a certain way that I was interested in. Unlike other shopping, RVs are really hard to shop for and then make an informed decision about when seeing it for a short time and in particular when you've got a hyperventilating sales rep breathing down your neck. The best I've found are those who introduce themselves, hand you a card then ask if you want to be unescorted or not and then check with you every 15 min or so to answer questions. I don't need to be "engaged" by a rep till I want to talk about things I need to know etc.
The very worst sales tactics are the one where the reps are "on the clock". One guy greets you and follows you around talking 90 mi per hr as you go. When his "time" has expired, usually about 10 min he leaves and another rep shows in about 5 min and repeats the process. This happened to my twice. once at Giant RV and again at La Mesa.
These tactics must sell RVs but they are the quickest way to get rid of me!!!
Ron
MaverickBBD
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
I have found that writing a review on www.rvservicereviews.com good or bad and then e mailing the facility a link to the website and review goes a long way in getting me satisfaction.
Chevytrkr
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
My intent of posting this item was not to discredit La Mesa, but to make potential buyers aware of the "after the sale" experience you can expect from them. They will continue selling RV's long after I'm dead and buried. My issue was with the lack of customer relations they showed us at the dealership. We were there for over 5 hours and only one person showed any interest in our being there so long.

The problems found were not discovered during the PDI because they were not on the checklist. They were only discovered when we were ready to leave the dealership. The repairs were made because the service reps said they were quick fixes and we wouldn't have to come back later for the RV.

We decided to buy from La Mesa even though I said I never would. The RV was exactly what we were looking for and at the right price. The wife loved it and that sealed the deal. This will be my last purchase from them, and this time I mean it.
charles
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
I purchased a new unit back in 2001, had a 10:00 AM appointment, got there at 9:30, nothing was done, not even washed, I waited until 11:00 and still nothing done, I left. At 5:00 I got a call asking why I didn't show up???. I explained, told them to deliver it and be sure it was perfect or no check. 3 days later it was delivered and except for a scratch on a cabinet, it was perfect. Only give the absolute minimum down with a credit card, or your trade as a down payment and hang onto the title, they know then that you can get out of the deal without losing your deposit. I purchased several new motorhomes over the years and that was the only bad experience but from that point on I let them know in advance what would happen.

Nick
bluwtr49
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2013
Interestingly, our experience was the exact opposite when we bought our Beaver at Beaver Coach Sales in Bend, OR.

Right from the onset we were told to allow 2-3 days (if possible)for familiarization and checking all the systems while living in the parking lot. We did just that and found a small laundry list of items to be taken care of which they did on a priority basis.

They treated us more like family than customers and we couldn't be happier. Now we schedule a stop every summer and stay at "Camp Beaver" for several days. If fact every visit is more like a mini rally than a service stop and we always meet new folks.

Just wish all dealers were like these guys, it would make shopping a much better experience.
traveylin
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
Dad gum it....I just been profiled....overweight, middle age and light hair...
strudeau
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
I spent most of March down in Mesa Az. In our 5ver. Our plan while we were there was to look at Class A Coach's while we were there. DW and I along with two other couples drove onto the La Mesa RV lot in Mesa and got the treatment outlined below. This is a Yelp post our friend did after our La Mesa Rv incident. Needless to say we left. The following day we dropped $190 K on a Coach from another dealer. Money well spent because it didn't go to these Jack*_%}>}

(Several friends along with my husband and I went into look at high end diesel motorhomes. We were greeted by salesman driving a golf cart ( overweight, middle age, light hair). He was extremely rude and condescending. Yes we made a wrong turn into the service area. A good salesman would have asked us how he could help us not be an ass. Our friends were ready and able to afford an expensive motorhome. Lost their business and ours too. Hopefully the management will read this and either retrain or fire the employee.) Yelp Post March 2013
dons2346
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
" Having dealt with LaMesa before, I should have expected problems, and I wasn't disappointed....... After waiting an hour, my service agent said my rig was ready for the PDI. The walk through with Jim took about an hour, and was pretty much comprehensive."

Looks like you have dealt with them before so why did you go back? You should have known.

You did the PDI so why didn't you see the problems before you went to sign the papers?
fredbon
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
I believe dealers use afternoon delivery attempting the rush the unit our without a through PDI.

fred