Beware of winnebago factory service dept.

[texastimbers2]

If you plan to take your coach to the factory for service. Be prepared for it to be buried in the bowels of the service dept. When you get it back it will not be ready til the next day and you will be charged a extensive fee of which you have no control how long they worked on it.
I recently had my coach worked on for approx. 15 hours. The problem was worst when I got it back. Paid the bill $1000.00 left for HWH the next day . HWH fixed the problem in 6 hours. This time it was fixed correctly. The service writer at winnebago stated it took them 9 hours to attempt to fix the problem. HWH took 6 hours to fix the problem.
If you try to report this kind of problems to the CEO. The service Dept. short cuts your letter. Meaning the management doesn't know about this.
I shall never return to Forrest City
817-964-2868

[RickO]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry you had such a bad experience at Forest City. Reports like yours do seem to be rare however. Most folks post that they had much better result. I've had my coach back there twice and been happy both times.

Best of Luck...

Rick

[ChiefJohn]

" I shall never return to Forrest City." ???? Again, your experience appears to be the exception and we have always received outstanding support from the fo0lks in Forest City. Ditto Rick's comments.

[rream]

where do these guys come from ? First post is a slam.

Just ignore him.

[George Z]

First post with no personal info offered when signing up begets no credence to the post. Some one is upset and trying to get revenge.

[Dan DeBruin]

I do not know the first poster but would not be so quick to consider his statements as false. I have had a similar experience with "diagnostics", not at this service center but at a well known one here in our area.

He probably is angry if he spent all that money for nothing, my advice is to never go to a dealer expect under warranty or for some routine maintenance. I try to go to the specialist, they may charge a bit more for hourly rate, and may be a bit further away.... but they know thier stuff because it is what they do.

Just my 2 cents.

Take care

Dan DeBruin
Nellie the Newmar
1998 Dutchstar 38 DP

[zippo]

Originally Posted by texastimbers2

If you plan to take your coach to the factory for service. Be prepared for it to be buried in the bowels of the service dept. When you get it back it will not be ready til the next day and you will be charged a extensive fee of which you have no control how long they worked on it.
I recently had my coach worked on for approx. 15 hours. The problem was worst when I got it back. Paid the bill $1000.00 left for HWH the next day . HWH fixed the problem in 6 hours. This time it was fixed correctly. The service writer at winnebago stated it took them 9 hours to attempt to fix the problem. HWH took 6 hours to fix the problem.
If you try to report this kind of problems to the CEO. The service Dept. short cuts your letter. Meaning the management doesn't know about this.
I shall never return to Forrest City
817-964-2868

Some folks are more tolerant of problems than others. Some of us become frustrated very easy when repairs don't go as we thought it would or should. Some of us have no clue if the repairs done to our RV's were done correctly. Some of us are much more forgiving of folks that work on our RV's and yet can't seem to do it right the first time or maybe ever get it right. Some of us are willing to believe that our RV's are a very complicated and you can't expect to purchase an RV without having several problems after the purchase. Some say for the price we pay for these RV's they should have much less problems than they have. All types of people own RV's. If as the posted states Winnie took 9 hours and the problem was not fixed and HWH worked on the same problem 6 hours and fixed it Winnie owes the poster a few dollars back. Someone said ignore the poster. Sounds like just the person Winnebago might want to hire for a service manager. Yes customers can be rude and right out nasty at times. But sometimes the business needs to step back and see where the customer is coming from. It would be a nice world if we all had the ability to stay calm when these problems arise, but we don't. Yes I have been to Winnie service in Forest City. Most of the work they did was good, but a couple things I had to again repair myself because it was not done correctly. Yes I was upset that I had to follow behind and do the repair over. But mine didn't cost me a $1000, mine was warranty. The guys that work for me don't always do a perfect job for a customer. Sometimes we do what we think is a perfect job and the customer doesn't. So we talk it over and in the end most customers are just good folks.

[stik]

Originally Posted by George Z

First post with no personal info offered when signing up begets no credence to the post. Some one is upset and trying to get revenge.

I kinda of agree except "no personal info offered" . . . Doesn't a phone number count?? I'm just sayin" . . .

stik

[ernieh]

The last time that I had service at the factory, my coach was NOT "buried" in the service dept. They even had safety glasses available for me to use to check on my coach.

That being said, it's probably best to let them work on the "Winnebago" part of the coach, not the chassis or complicated "vendor items".

[George Z]

Originally Posted by stik

I kinda of agree except "no personal info offered" . . . Doesn't a phone number count?? I'm just sayin" . . .

stik

No year, make or model info. No statement as to what was to be repaired, and how long he was informed it would take, or any mention of a conversation as to why it couldn't or wasn't repaired. The unit was worked on for 15 hours but only 9 hours are disputed. What else was repaired and was it satisfactory. Was there follow up with the service writer about unsatisfactory work? Who approved and accepted the work that was done and paid for and why, if it was not completed. How does the service dept. intercept mail or email to the CEO. There must have been follow up with the service dept. as he knows they intercepted his letter. Was any compensation offered by Winnie? What did HWH do that Winnie service didn't? I believe a lot more info would be needed if anyone were to form an opinion of weather or not this was legitimately a ripoff.

I guess I just expect too much before I am convinced someone was taken advantage of and am willing to support their cause of company reputation mud slinging

[bachler]

We have owned 7 coachs 3 were new Winnebagos Which we still own a DP: I will say this ;I am not affifeated with anyone;;;;;; The best coach , Quality; useage'; Workmanship;; And the amount of repair shops. Plus the factory ;; Is the Winnebago Itasca Motorhome line ; There are things on a motorhome that can be a can of worms, If you have a 80% satisfaction. Buddy you are lucky; Let he that has never made a mistake Cast the first stone;;;; Think for a minute of all the complex things on a motorhome, Your cooking, refg/freezer; Water system.Water heater. Furnace , air conditioner, OH lets not for get the sewer system. I could go on and on. The point is an affull lot can go wrong and it takes a lot of time to check it out; OR we can go somewere that they just replace parts hoping they solve the problem. the Bottom line is 99% of the employees try hard to do a good/honest job for the customer; It makes me feel sad when someone feels they got cheated, Or overcharged.. Someone has to pay the employees wages all the shop over head. And then I as owner would like to make a little to. Lets not vent the NEgative things,, OK.

[rream]

Originally Posted by zippo

Some folks are more tolerant of problems than others. Some of us become frustrated very easy when repairs don't go as we thought it would or should. Some of us have no clue if the repairs done to our RV's were done correctly. Some of us are much more forgiving of folks that work on our RV's and yet can't seem to do it right the first time or maybe ever get it right. Some of us are willing to believe that our RV's are a very complicated and you can't expect to purchase an RV without having several problems after the purchase. Some say for the price we pay for these RV's they should have much less problems than they have. All types of people own RV's. If as the posted states Winnie took 9 hours and the problem was not fixed and HWH worked on the same problem 6 hours and fixed it Winnie owes the poster a few dollars back. Someone said ignore the poster. Sounds like just the person Winnebago might want to hire for a service manager. Yes customers can be rude and right out nasty at times. But sometimes the business needs to step back and see where the customer is coming from. It would be a nice world if we all had the ability to stay calm when these problems arise, but we don't. Yes I have been to Winnie service in Forest City. Most of the work they did was good, but a couple things I had to again repair myself because it was not done correctly. Yes I was upset that I had to follow behind and do the repair over. But mine didn't cost me a $1000, mine was warranty. The guys that work for me don't always do a perfect job for a customer. Sometimes we do what we think is a perfect job and the customer doesn't. So we talk it over and in the end most customers are just good folks.

No thanks I am retired and do not need a job.

[DeanLinAZ]

If texastimbers (OP) had an HWH jack or slide problem, why didn't he drive over to HWH to begin with? All Winnebago does is install these vendor components, not fix them.

Sounds like he is just an angry person.

[Midniteoyl]

The problem was worst when I got it back. Paid the bill $1000.00

Why did you pay for it?

Last time I had something like this happen, I had paid for a repair where they had kept my truck for 3 days and charged $800+. On the way home, the problem came back. I went back and was told to they would look at it. They called later and quoted another $800 as it was "a different problem". I called BS and wanted to talk to the Service Manager.. who wouldnt see me. I called the owner, told him the story politely and informed him that I could not be w/o a vehicle for another 3 days. 20 mins later the SM came out and told me to head over a pick up a loaner.. When I went back to pick up the truck, the SM admitted their mistake in the original repairs.

Usually all it takes is a little talking.. and to the right person.

[Grimesy]

It's not only Winnebago, today I came home from a Freightliner facility with a $3000.00 bill, over 2 grand to replace a fan motor pump and $700.00 labor cost to find a $12.00 part. Upset? You bet I am. I am presently composing my poison pen letter.

Don, WIT 70041

[vectra400]

I've had our coach to the factory several times, in fact, we have an appointment for Dec 6th for some work to be performed. I've also taken it to the authorized dealer service centers.....but...... I'd rather drive the distance because I've always had good service, courteous advisors and when they do, do something wrong, they make every attempt to fix the situation........like when the Fork Truck's brake failed, and rolled into the front of our motor home. Oops!

[Wayne M]

The sleuth in me says that it is R & D out of Arlington, TX

In all due, he most likely had the experience that he claimed. Isn't this forum a way to vent? And, also be informative as to service problems that one encounters so the next person can have some insight.

Many have had good experiences at Winnebago, and a few have had a bad experience. It goes with the flow.

[wagonmaster2]

Originally Posted by Grimesy

It's not only Winnebago, today I came home from a Freightliner facility with a $3000.00 bill, over 2 grand to replace a fan motor pump and $700.00 labor cost to find a $12.00 part. Upset? You bet I am. I am presently composing my poison pen letter.

Don, WIT 70041

My experience with Freightliner and Cat shops is they will really stick it to a motor home owner, after all look at all the money we have. A Freightliner shop charged me $330 for an afternoon looking for an electrical problem, which they never found but were willing to keep looking the next day if I wanted to pay for their time even though they had no idea what to look for. A Cat shop charged me $450 for 2 hrs 15 min labor to adjust the valves on my engine. Consequently they've both lost a customer.

Wagonmaster2

[rv rick]

This certainly does not mesh with my Winnebago factory service experiences. We have had our coach there 3 times for service (twice under warranty, once outside of warranty). In all cases they were professional, accurate and very helpful. After the warranty, they fixed several items on a courtesy basis and any repairs I paid for were clearly explained and reasonably priced (in my opinion). I am happy to go well out of my way to specifically drop by Forest City for any needed repairs.

[max49]

Originally Posted by Midniteoyl

Why did you pay for it?

Some times you have 2 choices.
1 Pay the bill
2 Get a ride home and take them to court.

Many people choose # 1 because they realize the shop doesn't know what they are doing and would like to have their MH back, imagine that.