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

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.

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..

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,StacyGood Sam Care Team

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.

False Advertising | Good Sam Community

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017
Dang! I just re-read this entire thread again.... Dang! I'm hungry now! Gotta wait for the son to show up so we can go out tonight! Dang! All this hot dog talk ... I'm hungry! Dang!
wski
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017
I believe the poster got it wrong. The free lunch advertised was not a hotdog, but your wallet.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 23, 2017
"wonder why the Good Sam team needs the OP's phone number'

So they can send him lunch! lol
valhalla360
Navigator
Jun 23, 2017
Good Sam Care Team wrote:
the bear II,

Thank you for contacting Camping World and providing your feedback. Our customers are more than welcome to post publicly the outcome from their posts; however, we do request sensitive information, such as phone numbers, be sent privately.

Thanks,
Stacy
Good Sam Care Team

Then state that up front that you will request some personal info for follow up and indicate that you will post the outcome (minus any personal info) when it is addressed.

This common issue with the "care team". It goes off line and nothing more is ever heard. In practice it appears to be more of an effort to shut down complaint threads than fix the underlying issue.

That said: This seems a rather silly complaint. The OP probably paid more in fuel to drive to the store than the cost to just buy a hotdog.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017
Tom Raper RV in Richmond, Indiana always had hot-dogs and fountain soft drinks in their show room store. We always made it a point to stop in when we traveled that way and grab a dog, look at the new campers, and usually get a do-dad of some sort.

When Camping World bought out Tom Raper, the hot-dogs and drinks stopped, and I did not any more. Now I just keep driving on down I70. I kind of miss that after all these years. Oh well, things and times changes. Nothing remains forever!

Actually, now when we travel, we like to stop in on the Spartenburg, SC Camping world. They've helped me a few times now, and we've bought our "do-dads" there, since we drive past there (too) at least once a year (From near Indianapolis). Been to the Indianapolis store many times as they are closest. They did have hot-dogs once, a few years ago. We hit it just right. That store has done us OK too over the years. We did buy our second trailer from that location when it was still Stouts RV.

The hot dogs are a nice treat! But as others have said above, there is no such thing as a "free lunch."
Terryallan
Explorer II
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.

In actual fact. Mom, and Pop will give you a better deal, and better service than Camping world. Why? Because they want your business, and are not so large, That one customer don't matter. they all matter to Mom, and Pop.
stickdog
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017
Since I left my parents home 47 years ago I have provided my own subsistence. We were camping in Idaho once when a boy scout group provided a pancake breakfast to all campers in the park. Didn't even ask for a donation so I guess that was free.
Good_Sam_Care_T
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017
the bear II,

Thank you for contacting Camping World and providing your feedback. Our customers are more than welcome to post publicly the outcome from their posts; however, we do request sensitive information, such as phone numbers, be sent privately.

Thanks,
Stacy
Good Sam Care Team
the_bear_II
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017
It seems Good Sam will contact the OP directly so we won't get to see the response/final outcome. One upset customer vs. the whole forum upset.
dks
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017
I wonder why the Good Sam team needs the OP's phone number? The post state all the details required to investigate the story.