Is this normal? Dealer service question.
Is it normal when making an appointment for WARRANTY service to have the dealer say: 1. Well that is an engine issue, you need to take the RV to a Maxxforce dealer. 2. Well that is a transmissio...
Forum Discussion
Yes, that has been our experience. Actually, I like it in some ways. At least the tech working on the rig is likely to have had experience working on that component. The average RV dealer tech normally fixes RV toilets, adjusts RV blinds, finds wiring problems and has a great knack for finding rattles and squeaks. That doesn't make them qualified to be tearing apart a diesel engine or transmission. No different than the medical field. You might know the greatest podiatrist in the world, but I wouldn't choose them to be my brain surgeon.
Automobile dealers are franchised by the manufacturer. A franchise for an auto dealership is extemely difficult to obtain. Their dealer agreements with the manufacturer require them to provide warranty service to everyone. RV dealers are not franchised in the same way. The manufacturers, frankly, don't have a big hammer to hold over their heads. If Toyota tells a dealer to honor warranty work or they will lose their franchise, panic sets in and there would a long, long line of dealers waiting to pick up that franchise. If an RV manufacturer tried that same tactic, the odds are the dealer will tell them, "have at it". RV dealers buy the rigs from the manufacturer, they are the manufacturer's actual customer. If a dealer kicked a manufacturer to the curb, there would likely be another manufacturer knocking at their door, asking them to carry their lines, because RV dealers that can floorplan expensive motorhome inventory are scarcer than hen's teeth. Even though RV dealerships and Automobile dealerships seem to be similar at first glance, they are actually polar opposites as far as dealer/manufacturer relationships go.
Automobile dealers are franchised by the manufacturer. A franchise for an auto dealership is extemely difficult to obtain. Their dealer agreements with the manufacturer require them to provide warranty service to everyone. RV dealers are not franchised in the same way. The manufacturers, frankly, don't have a big hammer to hold over their heads. If Toyota tells a dealer to honor warranty work or they will lose their franchise, panic sets in and there would a long, long line of dealers waiting to pick up that franchise. If an RV manufacturer tried that same tactic, the odds are the dealer will tell them, "have at it". RV dealers buy the rigs from the manufacturer, they are the manufacturer's actual customer. If a dealer kicked a manufacturer to the curb, there would likely be another manufacturer knocking at their door, asking them to carry their lines, because RV dealers that can floorplan expensive motorhome inventory are scarcer than hen's teeth. Even though RV dealerships and Automobile dealerships seem to be similar at first glance, they are actually polar opposites as far as dealer/manufacturer relationships go.
