Dealer refusing to do Warranty work?
After owning my new Winnebago Era 70A for a few weeks, I decided to take it to a local Winnebago dealer to have some warranty work done. Nothing major, really, some adjustments/repairs, and a couple o...
Forum Discussion
This is sort of a comedy of errors. Unfortunately
the OP is guilty of trusting the RV industry. Don't do it. The entire industry is shady and has no where near the integrity of the automotive industry. The whole warrantee refusal issue is an example of this. You are not the the first or last person to encounter this issue.
As mentioned above the manufacturers are aware of this issue and do nothing to resolve it.
As a novice you need dealer assistance far more than a veteran Rv'er. Buying local becomes more important if you require dealer assistance.
Your selling dealer should have discouraged you from picking up your rig during a snowstorm if possible.
As a novice owner the OP should have not left dealer until they thoroughly understood and tested all systems.
Once you pull away you are on your own. The selling dealer is a key part of the transaction and the focal point for service after the sale. All other dealers are independents and have no obligation to your RV.
The OP could have also researched a bit more and had his local dealer Special Order the desired unit. The local dealer could have been a bit more interested/helpful and offered to order the unit as well.
In the end there is a learning curve to the ins and outs of the unscrupulous RV industry.
I wish I could be more positive but the OP was just another naive,trusting new buyer caught in the everyday web of shady tactics prevalent in the RV industry.
Don't despair it gets better,however you should be prepared to pay/patronize your local dealer or find a independent RV service willing to work with Winnebago. While it may seem the local dealer is your enemy, and they are to some degree for not offering to sell you the unit in the 1st place. The local dealer is trying to protect their own bottom line by refusing work that will lose them money in the long run. It is a losing scenario for them.
I purchased my first unit out of state and was quickly informed by my local dealer that they would not perform warranty work. Fortunately I am fairly capable and my unit did not need any warranty work. I did make an effort to buy parts and patronise my local guy in an effort to have a positive relationship vs. blacklisting the local guy and refusing to step foot in the place.
In the end we developed a decent relationship, that was beneficial to both of us.
My next rig I did lots of research and priced shopped the exact model and options I wanted to dealers locally, regionally and nationally. In the end it cam down to the local guy and a more competent dealer about 3 hours away.
The local guy went the extra to beat the competitions prices and earn my business. I still believe the 2nd place dealer has a better operation however they are 3 hours one way vs. 30 minutes.
Price,location and service after the sale must all be factored before buying and RV. A rookie buying on impulse without considering the entire scope of the purchase is a recipe for disaster.
Fortunately the OP seems to have only minor issues. I'd consider the whole experience as a wake up call and part of the learning curve of RV ownership and the true ins and outs of the industry
the OP is guilty of trusting the RV industry. Don't do it. The entire industry is shady and has no where near the integrity of the automotive industry. The whole warrantee refusal issue is an example of this. You are not the the first or last person to encounter this issue.
As mentioned above the manufacturers are aware of this issue and do nothing to resolve it.
As a novice you need dealer assistance far more than a veteran Rv'er. Buying local becomes more important if you require dealer assistance.
Your selling dealer should have discouraged you from picking up your rig during a snowstorm if possible.
As a novice owner the OP should have not left dealer until they thoroughly understood and tested all systems.
Once you pull away you are on your own. The selling dealer is a key part of the transaction and the focal point for service after the sale. All other dealers are independents and have no obligation to your RV.
The OP could have also researched a bit more and had his local dealer Special Order the desired unit. The local dealer could have been a bit more interested/helpful and offered to order the unit as well.
In the end there is a learning curve to the ins and outs of the unscrupulous RV industry.
I wish I could be more positive but the OP was just another naive,trusting new buyer caught in the everyday web of shady tactics prevalent in the RV industry.
Don't despair it gets better,however you should be prepared to pay/patronize your local dealer or find a independent RV service willing to work with Winnebago. While it may seem the local dealer is your enemy, and they are to some degree for not offering to sell you the unit in the 1st place. The local dealer is trying to protect their own bottom line by refusing work that will lose them money in the long run. It is a losing scenario for them.
I purchased my first unit out of state and was quickly informed by my local dealer that they would not perform warranty work. Fortunately I am fairly capable and my unit did not need any warranty work. I did make an effort to buy parts and patronise my local guy in an effort to have a positive relationship vs. blacklisting the local guy and refusing to step foot in the place.
In the end we developed a decent relationship, that was beneficial to both of us.
My next rig I did lots of research and priced shopped the exact model and options I wanted to dealers locally, regionally and nationally. In the end it cam down to the local guy and a more competent dealer about 3 hours away.
The local guy went the extra to beat the competitions prices and earn my business. I still believe the 2nd place dealer has a better operation however they are 3 hours one way vs. 30 minutes.
Price,location and service after the sale must all be factored before buying and RV. A rookie buying on impulse without considering the entire scope of the purchase is a recipe for disaster.
Fortunately the OP seems to have only minor issues. I'd consider the whole experience as a wake up call and part of the learning curve of RV ownership and the true ins and outs of the industry
