Forum Discussion

mikebreeze's avatar
mikebreeze
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017

False Advertising

Greetings Marcus- I have been a Good Sam member since 2013 and a member of this board since 2012. I got an email this morning that the new Camping World in Manassas, VA was open and to stop by. The email also stated that there would be 'Free lunch between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM'. I live in Manassas, VA so I went. I got there around 11:30 to the former Reines RV and inquired about the free lunch to the receptionist. She didn't know anything about it. So I showed her the ad. She called some guy in a red short who was busy stocking the store. He did not respond. So I walked around for about a half hour and then walked back into the store and asked the gentleman in the red shirt about the free lunch. His response was "I'll have to talk to Robert upstairs about it". He left and a few minutes later I again saw him setting up the store. So I left around 12 noon.

It is my opinion that there was a combination of lack of communication and poor customer service. The fact that they didn't know anything about the email ad (nothing was posted on their bulletin board in their foyer) and no one bothered to say something like Sorry Sir, we messed up but will have lunch (probably hot dogs, which are OK by me) later or please come back tomorrow and we'll make sure that you have lunch. Nothing. I have an 11 year old class C RV now. I am a prime customer for a new one. However, after this experience, I may just pay more and deal with a Mom & Pop place that provides better service.

Mike Calabrese
  • DownTheAvenue's avatar
    DownTheAvenue
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2017
    This is exactly how anything branded Good Sam or Camping World functions. No communication within the organization and little regard for the customer. I avoid doing business with them for this very reason.
  • austingta's avatar
    austingta
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2017
    Anyway, there is no such thing as a free lunch--

    From Wikipedia

    The phrase appears to have come about in response to the libertarian views of Henry Wallace, the US Vice President between 1941 and 1945. He wrote an article which was originally published by The Atlantic Monthly in which he suggested a post-WWII worldwide economic regime offering "minimum standards of food, clothing and shelter" for people throughout the world and offering the opinion that "If we can afford tremendous sums of money to win the war, we can afford to invest whatever amount it takes to win the peace". Paul Mallon, a Washington journalist, responded to Wallace's article with a critical piece, published in several US papers, including The Lima News, January 1942:

    "Mr. Wallace neglects the fact that such a thing as a 'free' lunch never existed. Until man acquires the power of creation, someone will always have to pay for a free lunch.

    The first record I can find of the precise phrase there's no such thing as a free lunch, comes following year, in an editorial in The Long Beach Independent, October 1943, again referring to Wallace:

    "Some people say there is no such thing as a free lunch, but you listen to a fireside chat from Washington, and the voice will tell you all about it, and how you can make something for nothing."
  • jfkmk's avatar
    jfkmk
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2017
    I would never visit a store because they advertise a free lunch, and I'd probably never complain if they did advertise it and didn't provide it.
  • Good_Sam_Care_T's avatar
    Good_Sam_Care_T
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2017
    Mike,
    Thank you for contacting Camping World and providing your feedback regarding the free lunch in our ad. I am sorry you had this experience at our Manassas, VA location. Please send a private message with your phone number so I can look into this for you.

    Thanks,
    Stacy
    Good Sam Care Team
  • SCVJeff's avatar
    SCVJeff
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2017
    kerrlakeroo wrote:
    Mike, why do you think a mom and pop will cost more? By the time all the BS fees and charges are added the pricing usually isn't any better.
    duh...
    Because he'll also have to buy his own lunch..
  • kerrlakeRoo's avatar
    kerrlakeRoo
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2017
    Mike, why do you think a mom and pop will cost more? By the time all the BS fees and charges are added the pricing usually isn't any better.

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