Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > THE OWNER'S CORNER FORUMS > Tiffin Owner's Forum
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-24-2023, 04:57 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 27
I was told since I didn't buy my rig from a dealer, they won't perform warranty work.

I have a warranty item that needs to be fixed, so I contacted the closest Tiffin dealer, and they told me that since I didn't purchase my rig from them, they won't do any warranty work on it.

Is this typical? Or did I just get the wrong person the wrong time of day?

Also, should I expect the same kind of treatment for recall items too?
__________________
2021 Tiffin 32SA
chugchug is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 04-24-2023, 05:16 PM   #2
Community Moderator


 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,186
I have heard this is a common theme. It doesn’t seem right, but it seems to happen a lot.
pasdad1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2023, 05:20 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Winemaker2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Western NY
Posts: 6,136
I'd be contacting the mfg for guidance as to where I could get warranty work done when specific dealers have refused?
__________________
Don & Marge
'13 Newmar Ventana 3433 - '14 CR-V TOAD
'03 Winnebago Adventurer 31Y - SOLD
Winemaker2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2023, 05:29 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
dons2346's Avatar
 
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,752
That is the way things are going now days and it isn't going to get any better. Call Tiffin and find a dealer that might work on your coach but be prepared to wait and wait.
If it is something small and shouldn't be expensive, I would go ahead and use an independent repair facility if you don't think you could do the repair yourself. Sometimes it isn't worth fooling with a dealer.
__________________
Don
2002 Country Coach Intrigue
dons2346 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2023, 05:31 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Newmar2856's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 881
This is very common. I’d reach out to Tiffin and see about a mobile tech service doing the work if you don’t want to go back to your selling dealer. RV manufactures don’t hold dealer networks to the same standard car manufacturers do.

As for recalls, don’t be surprised if you get the same answer, unless it is chassis related as those service centers are more in line with how car dealers handle warranty and recall work.
__________________
John, Laurie & the 3 Schnauzers
2019 Newmar Bay Star 3609
Ford V10 - 24K Chassis
Newmar2856 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2023, 11:44 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
ernieh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,978
They probably did you a favor. Most dealer service departments are not very good. If Red Bay is a reasonable option, take it there
__________________
ernieh
2019 Phaeton 37BH
ernieh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2023, 03:37 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Balls Creek NC
Posts: 304
Unfortunately this is how it is...

Most RV centers, like most other trades, don't have enough qualified techs to handle their own customers, let alone other folk needing warranty work. They try their best to take care of their customers first. I would call Tiffin for their suggestions and worst cast scenario schedule your warranty work to be done in Red Bay.
__________________
DL & Darlene Turbyfill
Balls Creek NC
2006 450 Lxi Wanderlodge
Prof_T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2023, 04:32 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
MevetS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Three Oaks, Mi.
Posts: 280
Even when they charge $174 per hour. That's not for Warranty work, but that's the going rate in our area in the Midwest.
__________________
Started back in '82 in the "Pumpkin" '79 Dodge Van
2022 DYNAMAX FORCE 34KD
2019 Jeep KL (Cherokee) TOAD
MevetS is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2023, 05:34 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 989
I realize some people on this forum have had good experiences with dealers working on their coaches. But many have not. Often, the coach will sit in their lots untouched until they get around to it. Often, the story is, "we are waiting on parts". My one and only experience with a dealer was the actual dealer I bought it from. I caught them in a lie with that story. They said they ordered the parts, but at Tiffin, the parts ordered are tied to the VIN. Tiffin confirmed the parts weren't ordered yet. So, I ordered them under warranty and fixed it myself. Interestingly, I just stopped calling the dealer and they never called me to get the work done. They never intended to. I don't know what you need done, but if you are handy and have the time, I would do the work yourself. I cringe at the thought of any dealers around here in Houston touching my coach. That dealer may have done you a favor. But I do realize some work can't be done easily if it is a big or complicated job.
__________________
Tommy & Franci - Houston (Clear Lake), TX
2019 Allegro Red 340 33AL;2020 Jeep GC Limited
Part Timers-Looking Fwd to being Anytimers
thegats1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2023, 06:15 AM   #10
Senior Member


 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: NY State
Posts: 3,089
One thing to weigh is the cost of going to and from a dealer for warranty work. I elected *not* to go where we bought the coach for several things after buying and getting it home because my time (driving there and back twice) and the cost (in diesel alone) were not worth it, and they're only 100 miles or so away. I figure our direct expenses at about $1-1.50/mile, and I do everything I can do myself. For the 2K+ mile round trip to Red Bay I can get a lot done in my driveway or locally for less.

That said, some things are worth going to the Red Bay area, like slideout floor replacements that cost 25% of what it would cost to get done here.
__________________
John
1976 Southwind 28', '96 Winnie 34WK,
2006 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40QDP
n2zon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2023, 09:19 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
MKwilli's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 203
We've had the same issue with two rigs. On the first rig, we talked to the dealer's head manager (not the service manager), but the wait for an appointment was long. The other rig, we talked with the manufacturer and got the name of a service center they authorized to warranty work. That was a great option.
__________________
2024 Brinkley G 3500 #39
2017 F450
Always in the Dawg Haus
MKwilli is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2023, 12:09 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 592
I agree, they did you a favor. Find a good, reputable, local repair facility and use them. Tiffin will let many reputable locals work on warranty work. At least, they have for us.
AllegroD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2023, 12:37 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
ernieh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,978
Quote:
Originally Posted by AllegroD View Post
I agree, they did you a favor. Find a good, reputable, local repair facility and use them. Tiffin will let many reputable locals work on warranty work. At least, they have for us.
Not only shops, but they will often send you the parts to do it yourself if they feel that you can handle the job. That's a real win-win in my book.
__________________
ernieh
2019 Phaeton 37BH
ernieh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2023, 10:14 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
MarkMaxPayne's Avatar


 
Newmar Owners Club
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 529
Unfortunately, very common. They just don't care as they feel you screwed them by buying elsewhere so why not return the favor?

The flip side... Even when working with the local dealer you have purchased from, a set of Amazon Blink cameras scattered throughout the coach with a local MiFi connecting them to the cloud via internet over cellular are required (IMHO) to keep your local dealer honest. If I had a dime for every time I was told they did something to the rig when they didn't I'd be rich. This is especially true of the chassis dealers (in my case Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis). I cannot tell you how many times I've called after seeing all they've done for weeks and weeks (3 months once) simply moving the rig from point A to point B vs actually touching it. I call? Oh, yah, we've done XYZ. Bovine scat... Then that day or the next day they actually decide to work on it.

Lastly, I agree on doing it yourself or with a mobile tech if you can. On my rig I did most repairs myself with Tiffin gladly shipping me the parts for free under warranty. I just had to have a good write-up with pictures attached in my request. One time I tried to buy new parts from them for a DIY project (adding puddle lights over the cab doors as they were shipping their newer models with them and I like the look and safety aspects) and they simply shipped them to me for free with a friendly note that said "Enjoy! Good luck!"

I guess the moral of my story is Tiffin is great when it comes to parts / service. Dealers? Not so much... If you use a dealer, trust, but verify with motion triggered cameras that record to the cloud.

Best,
-Mark
__________________
2023 Newmar New Aire 3543
2018 Tiffin Wayfarer 24BW
2013 Fiat 500 Turbo Dinghy
MarkMaxPayne is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
dealer, warranty



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Someone told me they had a compressor refrigerator powered by propane? MWeiner RV Systems & Appliances 12 07-29-2021 11:42 PM
Newmar Dealers Who Will Not Perform Warranty Service on Coaches Purchased Elsewhere turbopilot Newmar Owner's Forum 64 10-20-2018 08:28 PM
Local Dealer Won't Work on Other Dealer RV Wendsong Jayco Owner's Forum 104 12-19-2015 08:09 AM
Things they didn't do to a new rig. bigdog National RV Owner's Forum 1 10-23-2010 05:45 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.