Is this a typical start to RV ownership?

[JMH]

Lesson, as long as you hold the money the dealer will make most any concession. Once they have their money you don’t exist. Can’t make it any plainer than that.

Newmar is great at correcting manufacturing defects, but they have their limits.

[lizch]

I just want to re-iterate a couple of things I mentioned in an earlier reply and add some more info.

1. This was NOT a case of a dealer lying. I have all kinds of criticisms of our interactions with the dealer, but this turns out to not be one of them. Newmar called us and confirmed that this specific issue of being told every 2-3 days that it was almost there was, in fact, the delivery company lying repeatedly to the dealer. Newmar themselves retrieved the RV and a Newmar employee delivered it to Grass Valley last Friday.

2. Newmar has agreed to compensate us. They understood that as the ones who chose the delivery company, the responsibility lies with them. (I hope they go further for future deliveries: they need to insist their delivery companies use GPS trackers)

3. We plan to stay close to the dealership to iron out problems. We have no deadlines left to hurry us away. And yes, lesson learned: don't invest in picking up an RV until it's confirmed to be on the lot! In fact, we won't head south again until we hear they believe it's ready for pickup. (And then, based on the flood of advice on this thread, we won't believe it's really ready....)

I'm feeling a lot better than when I first posted, and hopefully a bit wiser too.

Thanks again everyone!

[vadertime]

Originally Posted by lizch

Thanks. You're probably right--life is only interesting with stories, right?

------------------------------------------
Sounds like you are off to an interesting story already. It's too bad the transportation company screwed up and it's a shame that Newmar didn't step up to the plate to take ownership of the issue. However, I am sure if you get on the phone with customer service, they will accomodate you. Reputation and customer satisfaction are very important in the RV industry. I hope you get your new RV soon and begin your full-time adventure. Cheers.

[johnh10]

I have a somewhat similar story. I agreed to buy my used RV from a dealer and agreed on what they would fix/upgrade before we took possession 6 weeks later. We were also selling our house and had a fixed closing date.

Well the closing date came and went and the dealership wasn't close to finished so they paid for us to stay in a hotel and a rental car and later even airline tickets for my gf to go to a concert where we were supposed to be with the RV by that time.

I think we were in the hotel ~3 weeks before they finally finished, but I felt the compensation was good.

[OHMikeandKay]

Dealer territory is absolutely true. We tried to purchase a Ventana last year with a specific floor plan. There were none in the State of Ohio. Ended up going to Independence RV in Florida and got a good deal but getting small warranty issues taken care of is a problem. We asked numerous times why RVs can't be shared across dealers like they do with cars and trucks. It's all about the "territory".

[Oregoner]

First, we purchased from DeMartini and it was a great experience.

Second, how did anyone think they could deliver a motorhome across the Western U.S. in late February, early March? That was very unrealistic, and a bad idea. It isn't even safe crossing Wyoming even in May most years.

[vincee]

Well, it sounds like things are starting to smooth out for the OP. Yeah! Good for them, I'm sure there is a huge level of excitement to start their next adventure in their lives. Good Luck!

To the post that said customer service is dead in the U.S than they have never ordered anything from Amazon. There are some opinions that Millenials will be very spoiled in the future expecting all customer service being of the quality that Amazon offers. They have re-written the book that "the customer is always right".

For temporary housing which it seems the OP will not be in need of, most larger apartment complexes have corporate apartments that come fully furnished and stocked of everyday essentials. My DW used to be a property manager and they were one of their most popular products, often for folks such as the OP's situation, but more often folks building a new home which wasn't ready when promised, and they closed and moved out of their prior house. My guess is this arrangement would be less expensive and a nicer arrangement than an AirBnB or Comfort Suites type temp housing.

[Dan Paranick]

You have had a rough road to get started. I have to tell you that we have a 15+ year relationship with your dealer in Grass Valley. We purchased 2 Monaco DPs from them, a 2005 Diplomat and a 2009 Camelot. We also consigned both of those units to them and they sold them. They have a family owned and operated dealership. The staff have always done what they said they were going to do without exception. To this end we have sent many friends there way and all have been very satisfied.

They have a 3 full hookup RV park on the property for customers to use. We used it for delivery and for service appointments scheduled for the next day when passing through. You may want to check it out and hang around there for awhile if you can.

My advise is to not alienate your relationship with the dealer. They will treat you right.

Good Luck-Safe Travels-Keep the shiny side up.

[Kendorado]

Take delivery in ANY state but CA and see the sales tax/registration severely cut. Usually you have to be out of state for a few months but the $$ saving is well worth it. Look at North Dakota.....

[plane]

Originally Posted by OHMikeandKay

Dealer territory is absolutely true. We tried to purchase a Ventana last year with a specific floor plan. There were none in the State of Ohio. Ended up going to Independence RV in Florida and got a good deal but getting small warranty issues taken care of is a problem. We asked numerous times why RVs can't be shared across dealers like they do with cars and trucks. It's all about the "territory".

True, Except that the Dealer pays Newmar prior to receiving the coach or at least in that time frame. So any coach on a lot has been paid for by the dealer so unless a deal can be made between dealers which is difficult it won't happen. And if it does it won't be without a cost by all involved.

[corgum13]

Originally Posted by lizch

We were so excited to be taking ownership of our 2020 Canyon Star 3927 and embarking on a full-time RV life.

Our dealer let us know in February that our RV was out of the factory early and was leaving for CA on February 24th. So on March 1st we set out to drive down to Grass Valley, with the understanding the RV would be ready for us to drive away on March 5th.

On March 3rd (only after we called the dealer to check) we found out it had only left Indiana the day before and was expected on Wednesday 5th, so wouldn't be ready till Friday at best. Wish we'd known that earlier, but OK! On Thursday 6th, we got the update that it had only reached Eastern Wyoming, so dealer expected it late Friday. Nothing on Friday. Today, Monday March 9th we learn it never left Indiana. It's still sitting there at the delivery company. Dealer says delivery company has been lying the whole time. Newmar supposedly is going to take the coach back from that company and deliver it themselves. But also, supposedly, Newmar was going to call us personally to apologize for all this. Crickets.

It would be frustrating anyway, but it's become a tangle of problems. We will be full-timing, and have to be out of our house in Seattle by March 25th. At this rate, we can't trust that the RV will arrive in time to get back for that date. So do we drive back home empty handed, clear out the house, and then sit around homeless for a while? Or do we just say this is a sign that this isn't meant to be and just walk away from the purchase?

Everyone says Newmar has the best customer service, but we haven't seen one scrap of it.

Sorry that my first post on this forum is such a rant, but I'm beside myself with frustration and disappointment!

Well, before we bought our class A, I read, researched, listened, read again again and again and researched some more and all of this told me that problems with buying a new coach, on average, usually start the moment you enter the RV dealership property and get the salesperson sales pitch and only go downhill from there. These problems only intensify, like for example the dilemma you are currently experiencing, and for at least the first year of ownership, matters worsen and is a constant battle with the dealership and manufacturer to trying to get 'warranty" items covered.

You easily pay on average of 6-figures for a new class A and would assume the quality of the product is presumed and expected but the harsh reality is that it is not so. Keep records of all your dealings with the dealership and manufacturer to include to the extent possible names, titles of persons and dates and times any interaction occurred. This documentation comes to play if and when a lawsuit is or being contemplated. In government work, I learned that whoever has the most documentation, on average, wins.

All this sounds negative and harsh, and it is but, it does get better after tasting the bitter pill of brand new ownership.

[gjbales]

Originally Posted by V3600

Go home and wait for the call from the dealer that it has arrived. If you need a place to stay try a hotel or family or friends. Seems rather simple to me.

NOT simple at all! Not everyone has the time just to "go home and wait for a call." The dealer lied. Told the customer that the unit was leaving 2/24. Now almost 3 weeks later, it is STILL in Indiana?? Goes to show Newmar and its dealers are NOT as good as all the Newmar owners state in their posts!! They are all about the same.

Gene & Jeanette
2015 Thor Palazzo 36.1 DP
2016 Jeep Wrangler

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by gjbales

NOT simple at all! Not everyone has the time just to "go home and wait for a call." The dealer lied. Told the customer that the unit was leaving 2/24. Now almost 3 weeks later, it is STILL in Indiana?? Goes to show Newmar and its dealers are NOT as good as all the Newmar owners state in their posts!! They are all about the same.

Gene & Jeanette
2015 Thor Palazzo 36.1 DP
2016 Jeep Wrangler

Have you read this whole post? It's delivered and it wasn't the dealer's fault.

[mhaston]

Originally Posted by lizch

Thanks Ray. Good idea on saying we're recording the call.

Our dealer is saying it's not possible to change delivery location at this point because of dealer territories. Not sure if he's just trying to protect his commission or whether it's really impossible at this point.

At this point I would tell Newmar to leave it at the factory so you can fly in and pick it up on their dime. That way you know you have your Rv and your sales person can get his commission from Newmar