Your experience follows many others. However, even more people enjoy the savings and acceptable service from their local dealers. Myself, I have never had to take my TT in for service. There have been a couple issues, but I try to repair myself. Just taking to the "local dealer" is at best inconvenient.
Getting quotes from the "wholesale" RV companies and comparing to your local is wise. Then consider what the value is to pay more locally to each buyer. Sometimes the savings is worth it, other times not.