Buying RV from a far away dealer

We bought our Jayco Class C in NJ while we lived in GA (about 800 miles away). When we needed warranty work, the nearest Jayco dealer at the time was in St. Augustine, FL, about 100 miles away. The first thing they asked me when I called was, did you buy it here? After I said "no", they told me it would probably be a month before they could get to it. The next nearest dealership was in North Charleston, SC, about 180 miles away. They told me to just bring it in. Turns out, they didn't sell Class C motorhomes, so I couldn't have bought it from them. A week after dropping it off, we drove back to pick it up.

About a year later, we used them for warranty work again and had the same great experience. Unfortunately, they were bought out by Camping World, so we won't be going back there.

-Michael

I love in Phoenix and purchased are 5th wheel in Las Vegas. I could not find what I wanted at any Phoenix dealer. I have never had any trouble getting service. Have taken it to several Phoenix dealers as well as RV repair shops. No problem for both warranty work and non warranty. Best service has been at an RV shop. They handle warranty work without issue.

NJRVer wrote:
What difference does make when the local dealer says they can't fix your warranty work for 6 months or a dealer 1000 miles away can't fix it for 6 months either.
Buy where you get the best deal. You are going to end up fixing yourself anyway.

Bingo! Still looking for the elusive quality RV repair center. Until then, I guess it's me.

What difference does make when the local dealer says they can't fix your warranty work for 6 months or a dealer 1000 miles away can't fix it for 6 months either.
Buy where you get the best deal. You are going to end up fixing yourself anyway.

I was once told by a Harley dealer rep that if I didn't buy my bike from them they wouldn't service it. Same could happen in the RV world, I suppose.

Neither.

GDS-3950BH wrote:

way2roll wrote:

GDS-3950BH wrote:

way2roll wrote:
Any RV we've ever owned I looked for the best deal and if it was worth it, travelled to get it. Often this was far away from our home. NEVER had an issue getting warranty work from my local dealer. This is my experience living in different states with different dealers. Communication with the dealer and the manufacturer is key. But never had a dealer turn down paid warranty work just because I didn't buy it there. That would be cutting off their nose to spite their face. People move, people travel etc. This isn't a problem. Not sure why some folks continue to say that it is.

Maybe because it is. At Camping World near me they will do your warranty work if you did not buy from them. It might take them 3 months to get to it, another month or more to get the approval, and another or two to actually do the work. The entire time your rig will sit on their storage lot a mile down the road.

I don't buy my RV's from CW and I also never had this problem.

Ok, it doesn't happen at all since it has not happened to you. Got it.

Perhaps all the manufacturers should eliminate this type of verbiage from their brochures based on your experiences.

"your ownership experience is of paramount importance to us. Timely and efficient service, as well as maintenance of your product is a key factor to a positive ownership experience, while enhancing your lifestyle.

The Dealer plays a significant role in your ownership experience and a Dealer located thousands of miles from your residence or the primary use location of your product will be hard pressed to provide you with the service you deserve.

Below are a few things to seriously consider when making your purchase and choosing a Dealer:

Dealers in our Industry are not franchised like automotive dealers and therefore not obligated to work on your product when it is not purchased from them.

Our Dealers are independently owned and operated businesses. Service and scheduling is at their discretion and priority is commonly provided to customers that purchased from their dealership.

Pre-Delivery Inspections and the customer’s product orientation educating them on their new purchase are often more thorough and convenient for both the customer and dealer when performed by your local dealer.

Proximity to your dealership determines the ease of follow up on questions that may arise.Your first uses may result in some needed adjustments and tweaks. Often referred to as “shake down,” these minor adjustments are much more easily addressed by your local (and selling) dealer.

Scheduling timely warranty repairs and adjustments through your local dealership provides far greater flexibility and convenience to you the customer!Purchasing locally allows you to establish longstanding personal relationships with your dealer, enhancing your overall experience and adding value in future transactions from product to product.

Local dealers are more readily available to assist their loyal customers with product questions, user tips, and are more knowledgeable regarding uses and regulations within the dealer’s region.Your dealer’s knowledge of how your product is serviced and maintained can help to enhance its value when you make a trade.

Buying locally provides you a greater opportunity to develop relations not only with the dealer principal and managers, but also those team members at the dealership who actually service your product.

Buying locally helps you support local businesses who in turn support your community by providing jobs and aiding the local economy."

In one post you write this: "There is no shortage of stories around about local dealers who suck, even when you've purchased from them. "

And in another post you drone on and on about advocating using your local dealer. Well, which is it?

GDS-3950BH wrote:
......

Proximity to your dealership determines the ease of follow up on questions that may arise.Your first uses may result in some needed adjustments and tweaks. Often referred to as “shake down,” these minor adjustments are much more easily addressed by your local (and selling) dealer.....

Buying locally provides you a greater opportunity to develop relations not only with the dealer principal and managers, but also those team members at the dealership who actually service your product.

Buying locally helps you support local businesses who in turn support your community by providing jobs and aiding the local economy."

As with a car, a quality RV should not require a "shake down". Nor do I understand what "adjustments" should be needed.

When I buy a car I am really not interested in making friends with the dealership "team members". I do not intend to see any of them again and most are likely to be working somewhere else when and if I return to buy another unit.

I also fail to understand the argument of buying locally. RVs are typically not made locally but in a single remote location. We have been through this argument with Walmart and other national chains. They typically provide better prices, better selection and better overall convenience. That is why they displace many of the local providers who did a poor job.

way2roll wrote:

GDS-3950BH wrote:

way2roll wrote:
Any RV we've ever owned I looked for the best deal and if it was worth it, travelled to get it. Often this was far away from our home. NEVER had an issue getting warranty work from my local dealer. This is my experience living in different states with different dealers. Communication with the dealer and the manufacturer is key. But never had a dealer turn down paid warranty work just because I didn't buy it there. That would be cutting off their nose to spite their face. People move, people travel etc. This isn't a problem. Not sure why some folks continue to say that it is.

Maybe because it is. At Camping World near me they will do your warranty work if you did not buy from them. It might take them 3 months to get to it, another month or more to get the approval, and another or two to actually do the work. The entire time your rig will sit on their storage lot a mile down the road.

I don't buy my RV's from CW and I also never had this problem.

Ok, it doesn't happen at all since it has not happened to you. Got it.

Perhaps all the manufacturers should eliminate this type of verbiage from their brochures based on your experiences.

"your ownership experience is of paramount importance to us. Timely and efficient service, as well as maintenance of your product is a key factor to a positive ownership experience, while enhancing your lifestyle.

The Dealer plays a significant role in your ownership experience and a Dealer located thousands of miles from your residence or the primary use location of your product will be hard pressed to provide you with the service you deserve.

Below are a few things to seriously consider when making your purchase and choosing a Dealer:

Dealers in our Industry are not franchised like automotive dealers and therefore not obligated to work on your product when it is not purchased from them.

Our Dealers are independently owned and operated businesses. Service and scheduling is at their discretion and priority is commonly provided to customers that purchased from their dealership.

Pre-Delivery Inspections and the customer’s product orientation educating them on their new purchase are often more thorough and convenient for both the customer and dealer when performed by your local dealer.

Proximity to your dealership determines the ease of follow up on questions that may arise.Your first uses may result in some needed adjustments and tweaks. Often referred to as “shake down,” these minor adjustments are much more easily addressed by your local (and selling) dealer.

Scheduling timely warranty repairs and adjustments through your local dealership provides far greater flexibility and convenience to you the customer!Purchasing locally allows you to establish longstanding personal relationships with your dealer, enhancing your overall experience and adding value in future transactions from product to product.

Local dealers are more readily available to assist their loyal customers with product questions, user tips, and are more knowledgeable regarding uses and regulations within the dealer’s region.Your dealer’s knowledge of how your product is serviced and maintained can help to enhance its value when you make a trade.

Buying locally provides you a greater opportunity to develop relations not only with the dealer principal and managers, but also those team members at the dealership who actually service your product.

Buying locally helps you support local businesses who in turn support your community by providing jobs and aiding the local economy."

Living on the overpriced West Coast, we bought our first new trailer from a Chicago dealer 2000 miles away. We made the 4000 mile RT to get it and bring it home. Forest River found us 3 local dealers willing to do the warranty work. We also could have used a mobile RV tech.
We're probably going to do the same thing for our new 5th wheel.