How safe is the dealer with your stuff?

Not an RV, but we had a car in for service once, that was stolen out of the dealers "secure" back lot. It was found one morning by the police burning behind a discount store. Reason it was at the dealer's was for, it was running about a mile and shutting down, the store was a mile away from the dealer. Dealer didn't know it was gone when called after being contacted by her the next day, 12 hours after we were contacted by the police 24 hours after it was found. She was told "it would be done tomorrow." She advised of theft. Dealer said "turn it in to your insurance", we said "no". 3 months later, the day after our attorney contacted the owner of the dealership with his intention to go to jury trail and would be subpoenaing the records of purchase and selling prices of all used cars for the months since ours had been stolen, by his dealership. The dealer sent us a check for the purchase price from a year before and our attorney's time, that day.

Navyskcs I feel your pain, but in this case CW is within reason, rare I know. Had you parked in any parking lot and been hit by any passing vehicle your recourse would be that person's insurance. I see no real difference in the CW parking lot, UNLESS the passing driver was a CW vehicle mover in which case of course they would be liable. Once CW takes possession of your vehicle and moves it about, it is their responsibility, but not before that.
Please note IANAL (I am not a lawyer), I just play one for kicks now and then.

I took my FW in for warranty work and got a call to days later from CW that someone had wrecked the front of my trailer. I asked CW what they were going to do and was told that they are not liable for any damage if I leave it in their parking lot while waiting for the work to be done. I was lucky as the person that hit my trailer (cracked the front cap) left his insurance card. I was a little peeved. Final out come is I took it to another dealer to get repaired the cost over $4000 for a new cap. I will not go back to CW for repair work if I can help it.

In almost every service/repair facility I have ever been/worked in there is a sign that says something to the effect of . . . DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE or NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST OR STOLEN ITEMS.

Do what you want. Without substantial evidence of theft, you WILL LOSE in court should you decide to sue.

Chum lee

OK, lets hear from the Technicians side on this. MY Pet peeves
1. You bring it in for a TV/entertainment problem. I cannot find ANY of the remotes
2. You bring it in for items that you KNOW the Tech will need access in the storage. Your storage is filled completely FULL and I have to remove the items and then try to reinstall, which I CHARGE you for
3. You bring it in for water system problems. Your coach is completely DRY and no water and plugs and valves pulled/open. Which I also charge you for.
4. You do NOT leave the necessary keys for the doors and storage doors. Yes, I have certain master keys, but I want YOUR keys, I may not have the master key for your brand units doors. Especially Airstream trailers
5. Yes, I go thru all your cabinets and drawers because you fail to leave remotes and such out and I have to waste time finding them. Yes, you would be amazed what I see and find. Lets just say the children of the owners would be embarrassed, what their parents have in the RV:B
6. FIREARMS. Get them the hell out when you drop off. When we find them we notify you and then lock them up in the Dealership safe. NOT a safe thing to do leaving them in the RV.
7. GOOD dealerships ALWAYS lock the customers RV's. GOOD dealerships do not mingle Customers with new stock. Our insurance will not cover if we leave the unit unlocked. There MUST be damage from a break in that shows we did due diligence.
8. I have your unit in the shop and another non dealership person/s walk in the RV, I am extremely RUDE and tell them to GET THE HELL OUT. How would YOU like someone going thru your RV? We have numerous signs stating non dealer personnel are NOT allowed in the shop unless escorted or have been checked by dealership people.
This list could go on, but this is the big items. Doug

Quick answer)
Ditto to what DutchmenSport said.

Long answer)
I too had the same question while my rig was going into service for the first time. What I found out later was definitely an eye opening experience.

I had previously installed "always on" internet and several devices that work with SmartThings Hub. I put in motion sensing cameras, leak detectors, open close sensors and smart lighting. I didn't specifically outfit the rig to monitor the service center, but Boy, did I learn first hand what goes on. And all was caught on camera with audio!

Things I saw:
1. RV Shoppers entering rig and going through drawers and cupboards. Nothing taken, but got to listen to interesting conversations, including "I can't believe they just leave people's RV's unlocked".

2. After getting a bathroom leak alert on my phone I turned on the camera to see the kitchen sink running and no one in the rig. I had written up that my grey tank level indicator was not working so they were filling the tank. I called the service center and told them about getting the alert. I watched on the camera to see a tech finally run in and shut off the water. Turns out he forgot about water running, probably went on lunch, and the grey tank overflowed into shower stall and out onto the floor. For 15 minutes. :-(

3. I also got to see how much, or how little time was spent actually working on my rig. One time I had to leave my rig for 8 days, while the actual time working on it was only about 10 hours.

4. And finally... I did see one tech go through some of the cabinets. He did not take anything, but it looked like he was looking for an opportunity.

After all the above, I wrote a letter to the Service Manager and we had a "conversation". He seemed very embarrassed and vowed to take corrective actions. We'll see....

But, maybe the best outcome is that now the service techs know they're being monitored and even wave to the cameras. It also seems that they take better care of the "Guy that has the cameras".

By the way, I go to pick up my rig from service later today. I reviewed the camera clips last night and no issues from this time in the service center.

I seldom drop the coach off and instead ask for power hookup in the parking lot and than I just stay with the coach. A couple of time that was not possible and had no issues but I will only take it to a dealer with some security.

Two Jayhawks wrote:
...I would not leave any valuables like cash, firearms, jewelry, etc. Other than that I don't unpack anything...

Same here.

If you take your car into a repair shop, what do you leave in your car?

If it has value to you, take take it out of the camper before taking it in for repair. You can't remove everything, but if it has value, is costly to replace, then it's better to be safe and remove it.

I've never known or ever heard of anything being stolen while an RV was in for repair.

Years ago, while shopping for a TT, I was roaming around a dealer lot looking at different units. I was opening doors, looking in to see if I would be interested in going into unit, and I found some that were obviously owner units as they had clothes, food, etc. on the chairs and beds.

The dealer had mixed the "in for service" units, with the doors unlocked, with his "for sale" units!!

I would never take my unit to them.