Community Forums

Dutch Star Don · 05-13-2014, 11:07 PM

Mike Thompson has ALWAYS been shady. In 2005 we were looking at a new Diplomat or Winnebago Vectra. Mike Thompson had one in stock. We went to the Santa Fe Springs store and asked to see the Vectra. They had it at another store about an hour away. The salesman asked if we were going to buy that day. I told him we haven't even seen one yet. He came back a few minutes later and told us the coach was sold and we couldn't look at it.

His name was Chance and we NEVER went back and told everyone we knew to skip them. A month later we bought a new Diplomat. For several years after that, old Chance would show up at the Pomona RV Show in the Mike Thompson sales area. We would always go in, act like we were interested, ask for Chance and then tell him what a punk he was.

edgray · 05-14-2014, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhuppert

They need full payment to order the coach because they do not have a floodplain account anymore. Buy from someone in a better financial position.

Do you know this as a fact, or are you just speculating this may be the reason for the OPs situation?

chuckster52 · 05-14-2014, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurtleKent

Join TRVN forum and you'll find a lot of recommendations for Tiffin dealers around the country. My understanding is you can expect around 27% off MSRP without any hassle. Don't be afraid to fly in to pick up a new coach. Davis and Sherman are two dealers close to Red Bay that seem to give some of the best deals and receive many positive reviews. Also Lazydays in Tampa is competitive. Many buyers pick up their coach at the dealer then drive to Red Bay factory to correct any delivery glitches. Read up on TRVN. Happy hunting.

I never ever found Lazy Days in Sneffer to be close to competitive.....We tried on 2 different occasions to buy from them...once a Monaco Dynasty and then the American.....bought both times at a considerable difference in their price...Chuck

Tony Lee · 05-14-2014, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Many buyers pick up their coach at the dealer then drive to Red Bay factory to correct any delivery glitches.

So the factory delivers the faulty MH to the dealer, the dealer does nothing, the buyer does the fault-finding and then drives the MH back to the factory to fix stuff that shouldn't have ever happened.

Strange system.

bigdonedmon · 05-14-2014, 08:39 AM

I agree with the other replies. Send the dealership in question a regestered letter to cease all action regarding the new coach purchase. It should say:
effective immediately.
You should never have to pay for a product unless you can inspect it, test drive it, review all the build sheets to ensure the product was built as per your wishes.
Any problems have your lawyer contact them directly.
This is very interesting and please let us know how you make out.

alpha99 · 05-14-2014, 08:49 AM

Quote:

"....His name was Chance and we NEVER went back and told everyone we knew to skip them. A month later we bought a new Diplomat. For several years after that, old Chance would show up at the Pomona RV Show in the Mike Thompson sales area. We would always go in, act like we were interested, ask for Chance and then tell him what a punk he was..."

Now that is damn funny, Don! ROFL!!!

alpha99 · 05-14-2014, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Lee

So the factory delivers the faulty MH to the dealer, the dealer does nothing, the buyer does the fault-finding and then drives the MH back to the factory to fix stuff that shouldn't have ever happened.

Strange system.

I agree Tony. That is why I buy used and let the original owner work out the problems and take the massive depreciation hit.

Strange system, indeed!

bigdonedmon · 05-14-2014, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Mike Thompson has ALWAYS been shady. In 2005 we were looking at a new Diplomat or Winnebago Vectra. Mike Thompson had one in stock. We went to the Santa Fe Springs store and asked to see the Vectra. They had it at another store about an hour away. The salesman asked if we were going to buy that day. I told him we haven't even seen one yet. He came back a few minutes later and told us the coach was sold and we couldn't look at it.

His name was Chance and we NEVER went back and told everyone we knew to skip them. A month later we bought a new Diplomat. For several years after that, old Chance would show up at the Pomona RV Show in the Mike Thompson sales area. We would always go in, act like we were interested, ask for Chance and then tell him what a punk he was.

I see you are pulling a Chev Silverado crew cab . Is it a 4x4? I have a very low mileage 2008 chev sileverado crew cab 4x4 automatic but can't find out is I can pull it behind my diesel pusher. Advice?

Saltydog44 · 05-14-2014, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdonedmon

I see you are pulling a Chev Silverado crew cab . Is it a 4x4? I have a very low mileage 2008 chev sileverado crew cab 4x4 automatic but can't find out is I can pull it behind my diesel pusher. Advice?

We've pulled a 2007 Extended Cab Silverado, automatic, 4 X 4 for about 30.000 miles behind three different pushers. 300, 350 and 450 all did fine as did the Chevy. We had caliper issues about two years ago, but we don't know if it was due to the towing.

Saltydog44 · 05-14-2014, 09:07 AM

We were very satisfied with or dealings at Lazy Days, but we know others have not been. They beat all the other prices when we started to walk. Maybe they were just hungry that day.

Also there has been a lot of discussion about delivery issues in other threads. You should go through the delivery process and live in the coach (LD let us) BEFORE you pay the balance. Then be sure all punch list items are fixed before you write the check or sign the papers.

Pigman1 · 05-14-2014, 05:42 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by bhuppert

They need full payment to order the coach because they do not have a floodplain account anymore. Buy from someone in a better financial position.

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgray

Do you know this as a fact, or are you just speculating this may be the reason for the OPs situation?

I don't know about these guys losing their floorplan, but Bob Tiffin personally told me that the dealer had to pay in full before the coach left the factory.

brian-nicola · 05-14-2014, 06:22 PM

Any dealer, be it autos, MH's, boats the factory is paid in full be it a percentage on order, production, shipping, acceptance or cash on shipping. This dealer either does not have a line of credit, it is reduced due to inventory they already have based on sales or they don't want to use the credit line and want to sit on the customers money for months.

edgray · 05-14-2014, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Lee

So the factory delivers the faulty MH to the dealer, the dealer does nothing, the buyer does the fault-finding and then drives the MH back to the factory to fix stuff that shouldn't have ever happened.

Strange system.

No truer words were ever spoken.

gemini5362 · 05-14-2014, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdonedmon

I see you are pulling a Chev Silverado crew cab . Is it a 4x4? I have a very low mileage 2008 chev sileverado crew cab 4x4 automatic but can't find out is I can pull it behind my diesel pusher. Advice?

I went to my Chevrolet dealer and asked them about my 2005 Silverado 4x4. They went and looked it up in their books and told me I could tow it. They went into the computer system and printed out the details of how to do it. What fuses to pull etc. Try asking your dealer. I do not tow mine because I have a 3/4 ton duramax and it is a bit heavy. My wife also prefers we tow the Buick Enclave but your Chevrolet dealer can tell you for sure about your truck .