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01-16-2017, 03:25 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: SWNC
Posts: 26
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Camping World: To Be Believed or Not?
OK, I'm going through the (I suspect) typical "newbie" routine of looking at various TT units at various dealers, including 3 Camping World locations, and several "independent" dealers.
At two of the 3 CW locations, I got the "sales pitch" (which, may be true, that's what I am trying to determine) that if I buy (presumably, a new) TT from a Camping World, then if I am on the road and have a problem, I can stop by any Camping World and get the problem looked at. Not for free, of course, but at least, because I will be part of the Camping World "family," I won't simply be told to "get lost."
So, my question is being posed to those of you who have purchased your RVs at Camping World locations, do you, in fact, get some sort of "preferred customer" treatment at different Camping World locations than the one where you bought your unit?
It seems to me, as compared to independent dealers I've talked to, the Camping World dealers have more "add-on" fees (e.g., destination charge, "documentary fee," etc.) that they add on to the bottom-line, negotiated price for the unit. The independents seem to more or less quote one, final, "out-the-door" price.
I'm trying to determine whether it's actually worth it to pay more at a Camping World for a particular unit than it could purchased from an independent dealer.
Thanks
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01-16-2017, 03:32 PM
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#2
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
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Can't comment on their "preferred customer" treatment, but as for the add-on fees, ALL dealers have those. Some just try to hide them, others will drop them if you hold their feet to the fire!
The only thing that really matters is the bottom line figure. Just tell all of them that's what you want and that you won't pay a dime more than the price they quote!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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01-16-2017, 03:38 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: North Bend (Coos Bay) OR
Posts: 21
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I would not want them to work on anything of mine!
__________________
Andrew & Linda
2009 Camelot 42' PDQ
N6ZPK N6ZPL
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01-16-2017, 03:48 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Byhalia, MS
Posts: 3,367
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If you haven't already done so, you really need to do some research on CW. Most of their stores have a very poor reputation. You can find a number of threads here on irv2. Most educated and experienced campers tend to stay away from them. Far away. I buy odds and ends and supplies etc, but thats it.
I guess from what you are saying they won't work on anything unless you bought it from CW. Otherwise they tell a customer to get lost. Interesting. First I've heard it put that way. That in itself would make me want to go elsewhere.
jt
__________________
2019 Tiffin Phaeton 40IH
2005 Newmar Kountry Star Gas (Sold)
2022 JL Wrangler 4xe or 2017 Harley Ultra in tow
JT, Em & the boys, Kong & Baxter (rescued grey tabbies)
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01-16-2017, 03:49 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,055
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If you read through the posts here you will find a long littany of CW failing to live up to that claim. The local dealer I might say would do it if you went to the correct location dropped their affiliation.
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01-16-2017, 03:51 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Fort Mohave AZ.
Posts: 89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaisooba
I would not want them to work on anything of mine!
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X2 plus I would not buy another MH from them do yourself a big favor buy some where else.
__________________
Rich and Louise 2009 38 FT. Monaco Diplomat 400 ISL Cummins 2014 Ram 1500 Limited Laramie
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01-16-2017, 03:55 PM
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#7
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,248
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Nice sales pitch. Now about their "family". If you take it to any CW you will be placed on a list. Those with the biggest most expensive repairs go to the front of the line. If any dealer anywhere had time open you will get in for repairs.
Regarding fees: if you don't see fee they are either built into the final price, or the dealer is discounting them as an incentive.
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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01-16-2017, 04:01 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: western NC mountains!
Posts: 4,106
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Sales Pitch only
Though we did not buy our Palazzo at CW, they have worked on it several times with no problems, and serviced it once, and all with not much waiting...
while CW's are, as a whole, a brand, I have seen a lot of difference from one to the other, you may never know what you going to get, good or bad, at any of them until you try...
CW sales staff can certainly add this sales 'benefit' to their pitch, but I don't believe that I would buy a coach from anyone just because they might 'put me at the head of the list' for repairs, either...
if you are a 'weekend' RVr, never go too far or too long, and live near your dealer, then a good Local RV dealer is a good choice - they know you...
if you are, like us, full timing, or traveling extensively countrywide, then you might not worry about who you bought it from, but more who has many, many dealerships countrywide, like CW...
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01-16-2017, 04:02 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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I agree. I had Camping world do two things to my RV
Install an inverter: After the install I did a power audit to see which devices were on L-1 and which were on L-2 (50 amp) Both Air conditioners were on the same leg.. NOT RIGHT.
Oil change.. I specified Full Synthetic, they used regular Dino and failed to check one of the levels. (They did fix that one).
So they are zero for two on service, I've not been back since.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
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01-16-2017, 04:03 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 6,777
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Keep in mind, even if CW was good at service, you may not be anywhere close to a CW when you do need service. Many of us do most of our own service to get the quality and keep costs down. I understand that some RVers can't do the work or are best kept some distance from tools, and that's fine. Others just may not want to do the work and that's great as well, provides jobs at the service centers.
New or used any RV will require some service along the way. Some good folks use their credit cards as their favorite tool, sweet.
__________________
Fred & Denise (RVM157) New Mexico
2007 Excel Classic 30RSO & Coach House 272XL E450
2007 RAM 3500, Diesel, 6Spd Auto, SWD, 4x4, CC & LB
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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01-16-2017, 04:51 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 680
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I have not had any problems with CW to date. We've purchased two travel trailers from two different CW stores and both experiences were great. We bought our latest TT from one CW and recently took it to a closer CW for some minor warranty work and I had the wheel bearings repacked. Made an appointment, took it in and the work was promptly done.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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01-16-2017, 05:09 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northridge, Ca
Posts: 751
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Although Camping World is a single company the stores are only as good as the local employees. I limped into Portland/Wilsonville Oregon Camping World about 3 years ago at 4:30pm, close to closing time. The staff stayed over to make me right and road worthy before they closed, an easy 1/2 hour past closing. I owe that team a great deal. It was not a Camping World purchase. Just nice people. There are plenty of negative comments going around about Camping World, and I do not doubt any. Personally, when purchasing an RV I would get the best deal possible from a dealer that has what I want. Forget service, that is a different department. Again, personally, I would not take my RV to a dealer for service, unless their reputation was excellent. There are plenty of local RV techs working hard to maintain an independent business to do what work is need. Happy Trails.
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01-16-2017, 06:05 PM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
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I don't see any advantage in multiple-outlet businesses like CW. Rarely do the other stores treat you different than any other customer, even for warranty work. The many reports on this site about getting work done at CW seem to bear this out - buying there gets you no special treatment.
I've generally not had trouble getting RV service on the road anyway. Sure, there is often a waiting list at every dealership & shop during the busy summer season, but CW is no different.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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01-16-2017, 07:04 PM
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#14
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Registered User
Freightliner Owners Club American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Dallas, Ga.
Posts: 618
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We bought a half million dollar (not what we paid but that was MSRP) coach from Camping World fully knowing that we would never, ever return to them for anything.
We've had a few minor "warranty" issues we paid an awesome local independent shop to fix. CW would have kept our coach for 6 months, not fixed it and we would have had 15 more issues than when we took it in.
The only reason we bought from them was the awesome deal we got.
Regardless of dealer don't believe any salesman.
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