Feeling I made a pricey mistake

[West_Beachhouse]

I thought I would share my experiences from today. We purchased a new TT and took ownership on 5/20/13. Upon arriving home (160 mile one way trip) the galley mini blind had fallen down. Maiden voyage was two weeks ago and post 5 nights and 850 miles several issues were identified including the rear window day/night shade and valance/cornice had fallen down, rear third break LED light not working properly. We dropped the TT off at the dealer with the list of warranty issues (mostly minor). I contacted the dealer for an update and did not receive and update. Today I contacted the manufacturer, who contacted the dealer on our behalf.
Interestingly we received several emails from the dealer, one such email trail to the manufacturer revealed we were labeled by the service manager at the dealer as "special needs folks."
I feel I made a poor choice in selecting the dealer. Unfortunately, there were only two dealers in our state selling the manufacturer we had selected.
I could have purchased a lessor unit 30 miles away. There is a lot to be said about a dealer's reputation.
Just sharing.

[Chris_Bryant]

I'll point out that "special needs" could mean that the customer lives 160 miles away- we just don't know.

[JJ_Spectre]

While I am sure the frustrations you feel are major, the problems actually sound pretty minor. Don't let it colour your enjoyment of the TT.

While it is true that the service manager's comments are unacceptable, something I have told many people who have worked for me over the years is "Be careful what you write in an e-mail, you lose control of who reads it as soon as you click SEND." I might just send it off to the General Manager and ask how he intends to make you a happy customer again.

Cheers and good luck

[wbwood]

You pay for something and you expect to get what you paid for. It comes with a year warranty. Everything should work perfectly for the first year. If it doesn't, then ey are going to fix it. To me, it would be a matter of principle first of all. But secondly, there could be underlying issues with problem that they may notice that I wouldn't. And lastly, if I screw up so,etching, I gotta pay to fix it. If they do, they pay to fix it. I say take advantage of the warranty period. If they are little things that can wait, then wait towards the end of e year or winter time, when you won't be using it and then take it in.

Either way, you will be at their mercy as for time. But if they want to call me names like special needs, then they shall receive a special needs customer.

[2012Coleman]

Unprofessional conduct IMHO. I'd forward the email with the name calling to the highr ups at that place... Ignorant tech didn't realize the customer was copied in, wonder what other simple things they missed.

[dwayneb236]

Warranty work is warranty work. The dealer should just fix it if it is their responsiblity and stop being childish and calling them names. Not everyone is as handy as seems to be almost EVERY SINGLE PERSON in here..

[ScottG]

Slownsy wrote:
I think he objected to being called special Ned's folks as he didn't like things falling of what was a new purchase and I don't blame him as it is not fit for intended purpose,traveling down the road.

I would find that very offensive as well as being highly insensitive to those that suffer from such disabilities.
It's clear what the dealer meant by this.

[smokedummy]

I fixed several little things myself on my new TT a couple years ago, rather than drag it back to the dealer.

However, if that's not your style then definitely the dealer should expect every new unit they sell to come back in with a laundry list of warranty stuff. They need to have the capacity to take care of that in a timely manner and with a smile on their face.

[Slownsy]

I think he objected to being called special Ned's folks as he didn't like things falling of what was a new purchase and I don't blame him as it is not fit for intended purpose,traveling down the road.

[YC_1]

My advice is. To own an RV you better be handy with a check book or a tool box. The mfgr provides all of the parts most of the time when new but the chances of everything working together without a hitch is rare, especially with really complex RV's.

RV repair shops can have extreme backlogs in the prime of the season. Workng in the service industry with farmers for almost 40 years put some extreme pressures on us every Spring. They let stuff sit until absolutely needed and then all at once everything is an emergency. I feel sorry for the RV service centers getting pummeled every Spring.

Do read your owners manual several times and then about every 6 months after that. You will be amazed at the little things you will pick up.

You are a new home owner built on an eartquake. Just keep a notebook handy to write down the little things you need to tighten or restock.

Have fun.

[BobR]

A dealer can label me any name they want as long as repairs are made professionally and timely.

[beemerphile1]

I don't get the complaint. Is the dealer doing the repairs? Have they refused? How long has the dealer had the RV? Days? Weeks? Months?

Your post doesn't make it clear what the issue is exactly.

[Fizz]

If you're not handy with tools you are in for a world of frustration.
Nothing like 1000 miles of freeway driving or 10 miles of rough roads to shake stuff loose.
Whatever goes wrong with your RV you can be sure it's happened to somebody in this forum. Ask how to fix it and you will get many replies.

If you're hung up on warranty, on principal... Good luck to ya.

[rockportrocket]

Just to understand, you took your trl to a repair facility for shades that fell down and an LED light that isn't working properly?

Please stay tuned on this forum, I REALLY want to see more on this story 6 months from now.

[Homer1]

I have no idea if this is your first RV or not, but be assured it is the norm in the RV business. If you have never visited a RV factory, do so and you will understand the RV world better.

[Bumpyroad]

Francesca Knowles wrote:
It's not clear to me what exactly you're upset about- has the rig been in the shop beyond the timeframe the dealer gave for the repairs?

And what does "special needs folks" mean? Had you asked for some service they don't ordinarily provide???

yep and why purchase a lessor one 30 miles away?
stuff happens.
bumpy