warranty secrets revealed

[Semi_Retired_Gr]

Took me several motor homes and many years - but it finally dawned on me that the manufacturers have it figured out pretty well. Offer a one year warranty - build in a few relatively minor problems - have your buyers take their new MH's back to the dealer for service and make them wait days - or perhaps weeks - for service. Then find the need for repair parts that take weeks to arrive - and soon the one year warranty period has expired. I say this a little 'tongue in cheek' - but it sure seems our MH's spend much of their first year at the dealers taking far too long to address relatively minor problems. Nothing similar to the service we receive from the chassis manufacturers - if in fact service is ever required. The MH manufacturers can - and should - do better.

[dougrainer]

WyoTraveler wrote:
Just a humble opinion but if you read some of the fine print that rv and auto manufactures put out #1 You get reconditioned parts. Those parts may not be available immediately when new parts are. #2 They short the dealers on repair costs. The dealer gives your RV the sunshine treatment until things are slow on paid repairs. When things are slow he does warranty repairs. #3 The squeaky wheel gets the oil. You have to be pushy. #4 Don't take it in for a long list of repairs, especially little things you can do yourself.

1. Reconditioned parts are RARELY used on RV repairs. I always receive new parts for 99 99/100% of warranty repairs
2. GOOD dealers do warranty at the same rate as CP repairs
3. They sometimes short the dealer on repair costs, but that is rare too. BUY from another dealer and yes, YOU will wait while they argue over the cost. BUY from THAT dealer and they usually EAT the difference, DO the repair and then fight over reimbursement. That is why buying and patronizing your local dealer sometimes is a better idea. LOYALTY does matter for the majority of Dealers and business's. YOU have the advantage of stating you will not buy from him again if problems arise. Buying from another dealer and the dealer figuresd "WHO CARES"? You will not patronize him anyway, so what does he lose?
4. BUY from another dealer out of your location and YES, the odds are you will get the sunshine treatment, as WHY should any dealer put off HIS loyal customers that bought from him to get you into his service dept? THAT is human nature and the fact of business. Lots of dealers will make you wait to schedule your apt and then may put you behind other customers that bought from him if you live in the area and purchased elsewhere. Doug

[WyoTraveler]

Just a humble opinion but if you read some of the fine print that rv and auto manufactures put out #1 You get reconditioned parts. Those parts may not be available immediately when new parts are. #2 They short the dealers on repair costs. The dealer gives your RV the sunshine treatment until things are slow on paid repairs. When things are slow he does warranty repairs. #3 The squeaky wheel gets the oil. You have to be pushy. #4 Don't take it in for a long list of repairs, especially little things you can do yourself.

[Golden_HVAC]

In California, your warranty is extended by 1 day for each day you can document it was at the dealership.

However I can feel for you. When my motorhome was about 9 months old, a weld broke in the front end. The dealership writer said "It will take 6 labor hours to make this repair". They asked Fleetwood to pay for it, but Fleetwood said "That sort of repair can be done in 4 hours." So basically my motorhome sat at the dealership lot for a month while they argued over the amount of money to be paid for that warranty repair. Meanwhile I was making the $600 payment on a nearly new RV I could not use. While they argued over $200, I was making another $600 payment without using it.

I also had to go to the dealership, move a water coolant filter that I had installed after taking delivery of my motorhome. I had to take off work 2 hours early, take the RV off the sales lot, remove 3 bolts and used a large tie wrap (wire tie about 1/2" wide and 1/8" thick) to hold the filter in place - yet out of the way of the repairman. Why they could not remove those 3 bolts - I have no idea.

Later that same dealership had to replace a rear axle seal under the 6 year extended warranty. During a week long trip, prior to taking it in, the brakes did have a slight oil smoking smell. After not agreeing to a $546.00 brake pad charge, the mechanic at the stealership coated the brake pad in oil, then put everything back together, WAY overtightened the lug nuts (I could not loosen them with a 24" long breakerbar, and my weight is over 225 pounds). I had to use my buddy's 3/4" drive impact gun that has over 500 foot pounds torque rating. The max torque of this lug nut is only about 150 foot pounds. I guess the mechanic felt I would take the RV right back to them once I discovered the smoking brake pads. However $55 at the local Napa store, and I had new brake pads installed in a 1/2 hour on both sides of the RV.

My feeling is the leaking seal damaged the brake pads, it should have been a covered repair. Asking 10 X the value to install the pads, that is just mark up going to the extreme. They had to install one pad anyway (the old ones or new ones) so labor was covered by the extended warranty. When my wife brought the motorhome home, she ran into the house and said "The motorhome is on fire" - there was a HUGE amount of smoke coming from the passenger side brake pads. I was able to drive it over to my buddy's house without using the brakes much (drive slow and use 1 and 2 gear to slow down, try to make all the green lights) and it did not smoke much on that trip.

Lucky for me, that was the last repair they did to the 4 year old RV, and it is now 16 years old.

Fred.

[Tom_Barb]

Newmar does, we have no problems with the coach, just appliances. but when you buy a chip board queen you get less than you pay for.