Community Forums

Gadget Man · 12-26-2006, 11:37 AM

The Good Sam Club - Before I bought my Providence last month, I called around for insurance rates. One of those companies was sponsored by Good Sam. Their rates were more than double than the rates I was quoted by everyone else, so I politely said no thanks. I am not a Good Sam member, but I now receive Good Sam junk mail 3 to 4 days a week. You would think an organization committed to folks who love to enjoy the environment, would reduce unecessary waste. I know a lot of folks love the organization, and I apologize, but they are wasting my time by cramming my mailbox every week.

Camping World - They are so big that they just don't care. I've been trying for hours today to call and schedule an appointment at my local store, to have my RoadMaster braking system transferred over to my new coach. I get an option to leave a voicemail, but there is no voicemail box. I called and asked for the manager, who without blinking an eye, transferred me back to the line that no one answers. I'm ready to give up and look for an independent shop.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox now....sorry. I needed to vent.

Gadget Man · 12-26-2006, 11:37 AM

The Good Sam Club - Before I bought my Providence last month, I called around for insurance rates. One of those companies was sponsored by Good Sam. Their rates were more than double than the rates I was quoted by everyone else, so I politely said no thanks. I am not a Good Sam member, but I now receive Good Sam junk mail 3 to 4 days a week. You would think an organization committed to folks who love to enjoy the environment, would reduce unecessary waste. I know a lot of folks love the organization, and I apologize, but they are wasting my time by cramming my mailbox every week.

Camping World - They are so big that they just don't care. I've been trying for hours today to call and schedule an appointment at my local store, to have my RoadMaster braking system transferred over to my new coach. I get an option to leave a voicemail, but there is no voicemail box. I called and asked for the manager, who without blinking an eye, transferred me back to the line that no one answers. I'm ready to give up and look for an independent shop.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox now....sorry. I needed to vent.

SeeTheUSA · 12-26-2006, 12:00 PM

. . . ah yes, the NEVER-ENDING junk mail . . .

SteveR · 12-26-2006, 12:10 PM

I agree 100% on the Good Sam mail blitz. I wish I had never joined at times. Between email and snail mail I get a ton of junk mail that appears to be from Good Sam or where then gave my name to someone else.

As for Camping World....I had a rather "heated" discussion with the manager in the installation area. I asked him if they would install an inverter in my motorhome and he started in on a long-winded argument about how I did not need an inverter...etc. Yada, Yada , Yada...I told him he obviously did not understand what an inverter did or he would not have made some of the statements he made to me. I told him I would just do it myself and he just lost my business. He just hung up the phone. These people need to learn what Customer Service means.

GaryKD · 12-26-2006, 12:47 PM

GodSam - Since I joined, in 1978, they have been notorious for junk mail. Sometimes their junk mail provides a free gift just for calling them. If I want the free gift I call them. Today I just got a 2007 road atlas. I get one almost every year. All I need to do is call for a free quote of RV insurance. I tell the rep right up front I doubt they can compete with Progressive at $927 a year. We go through the routine and in 5 minutes or less (they have my prior quote requests on file so they just need to verify the information) I get my free gift.

CampingWorld - Their quality of service and installation personnel vary greatly by store. I can tell you the store in Nashville, TN is very good.

rex · 12-26-2006, 01:02 PM

About the only thing Good Sams is committed to, is taking our money. It is NOT providing any of us service or help. I have dropped my membership, and will never rejoin.

Route 66 · 12-26-2006, 02:55 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> . . . ah yes, the NEVER-ENDING junk mail . . .
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I called Good Sam several months ago and told them to stop sending all the junk mail..............and they stopped!

Izzyblueye · 12-26-2006, 04:12 PM

I stopped my membership in Good Sam's club several years ago. I got the feeling all my membership fee was doing, was going up, and into Sue Bray's slush fund for sending more junk mail.
Even Motor Home magazine leaves a lot to be desired when compared to the earlier, 20 years ago, editions that really addressed the average guys issues. All owned by one huge conglomerate Affinity enterprises.

SideRoads · 12-27-2006, 04:28 AM

You can go to the Good Sam website and opt-out of junk mail.

Worked for me for almost a year now. I have a charter life membership with GS, and they use to send me offers to join.

Get the highways magazine, seldom use the GS discount campgrounds, usually get a better discount with one of the other orgs we have.

Good luck on the junk mail.

rebelsbeach · 12-27-2006, 05:31 AM

Used to enjoy reading Bill Estes articles in the front of either the Trailer Life or Motorhome mag, now he's retired....

I read the FMCA and the Newmar Kountry Klub mag more now....

Good Sam NEVER was able to compete with State Farm's rates as I have multi-car and accident free and all that other stuff...

I opted out of the junk mail and don't receive it anymore,just the Highways mag that,after I tear out all the inserts there isn't much left to read....

Buy your stuff from rvupgrades....they've recently enlarged their catalog, don't send you spam AND are a corporate sponsor of this site.
Prices aren't bad either!

rebelsbeach · 12-27-2006, 05:33 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Xplorer:
rvparkreviews
rvservicereviews
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Xplorer, I see you have these in your signature...do you have any connection to eithe of these sites?

If so,I'd LOVE to chat with you...

SideRoads · 12-27-2006, 05:54 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by rebelsbeach:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Xplorer:
rvparkreviews
rvservicereviews
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Xplorer, I see you have these in your signature...do you have any connection to eithe of these sites?

If so,I'd LOVE to chat with you... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have no (double negative) fudiciary relationship with the above sites. I have no relatives, associates or friends associated with them that I know of.

However, I do use them religiously, as these sites seem to have the most consistent and beneficial info I need when searching for information on parks and/or service. I also use google earth and search forums if we are heading to a park and plan to spend more than a night there.

We enjoy staying at places we have researched thoroughly, as it makes the stay more of a positive experience. I hate surprises., lol.

Anyway, I use them in my signature, because I hope others will find them as helpful as I have, and will post their experiences, which is selfish on my part, because I will have more information available in researching locations.

These sites seem to be the easiest to research, and use compared with others. So far, I have not found any other sites that are as comprehensive as these.

Hope that answers your questions and hope others get as much benefit from them as I do.

I Am and will remain retired, LOL, the only financial interest I have is in my monthly annuity, which is satisfactory for our lifestyle and in the interest rate Bank Of America publishes as my CD's mature.

I do have an IRV2 sticker on my coach, hope others finds that useful also as there are a lot of knowledgeable folks here.

Happy Motoring.

Oemtech · 12-27-2006, 05:58 AM

The real problem here is who/whom owns Good Sams and Camping World, the Affinity Group. They are all about the bottom line. Check their web site and you may be surprised at what they own. Such as RV.net, Trailer Life etc.

Me I am about to dump them... I will be looking at Coach Net for ERS. As for insurance I call and they were double the amount I pay State Farm, even with my accessories rider (awning, TV antenna etc).

Lastly, they were the ones that bought out Campers Choice from the Tiffin boys. Must have created to much competition.

Gadget Man · 12-27-2006, 06:17 AM

Well I finally got through to Camping World (San Bernardino) yesterday. The kid that answered the phone had no idea what a RoadMaster 2nd Motorhome Kit was, so he asked if he could research it and call me back. Four hours later, I called them back, when no one called me. He said they couldn't install it since I didn't buy it from them (he didn't ask). I told him that I ordered it off of the CW web site, which I had. He said "Oh", and placed me on hold. He came back and told me that the labor to install the kit was $300. I told him that I was quoted only $90 when I visited their store in person just last month. He said "Oh", and placed me on hold again. He came back and said I must have been quoted the wrong price the first time. I told him what I thought of his store and hung up.

I called the La Mirada CW store. After I finally got through, the service rep. there quoted me an install price of $198.

How in the world can I get three different quotes for the same service from the same company? I think I'll research Xplorer's RV Service Review links for someone that knows what they're doing.

Craig