Community Forums

Deaop · 11-30-2008, 08:00 AM

I also like to have CW around. They have some stuff that I don't see anywhere else.

I have to go to the Akron, OH store. Last year I got two recliners from them. They didn't have them in stock so the young lady had them shipped from Indiana. They were very helpful and I got the sale price two weeks later.

So are they cheap? Not always but cheap is not always the best.

Ron

lawdude · 11-30-2008, 11:42 AM

Who are we to say any business is too big? I have the total control over where and when I buy almost anything. Indeed, since the advent of Internet, the number of options has skyrocketed.

melvonnar · 12-01-2008, 04:00 AM

Famous saying: (Ijust made it up)
If you don:t like the service; Let your feet do the walking; on the internet; let your fingers do the talking.
have a nice day

chasfm11 · 12-01-2008, 04:50 AM

I've dealt with CW on and off since we bought our RV 5 years ago. Overall, I have mixed feelings about them.
I'm a current President's club member but have allowed that membership to lapse when it wasn't in my best interests (I didn't need anything large enough to warrant the expense). I would agree that they do have things that I would prefer not to by on-line and am glad that they are there when I need them for those purchases.

Like many other businesses today, they appear to be more than marginally out of control. By that, I mean that normal business processes (order entry, inventory management, etc.) are way too manual and error prone. I suspect that they have also short staffed as a cost cutting measure. The results are the erratic service that many of us have experienced. It will be interesting to see in this economic downturn, if any changes in their business processes occur.

In a parallel observation, Home Depot had many of the same problems a year ago as CW does today. I often left HD in disgust, vowing never to return. In visits over the last couple of weeks (we are remodeling), I've been more than pleasantly surprised at how much friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff Home Depot has, how much that staff is empowered to make consumer's satisfied and how much better I feel about going there. They came close to going out of business and have apparently responded with some positive programs. Perhaps if CW has a similar economic problem, they, too, will get better.

Lindsay Richards · 12-01-2008, 04:54 AM

I think RV’ing in general would be hurt if CW was to fold in these hard economic times like so many other businesses have or will. I am going to continue to patronize to do my little part to help out them and their contribution to our little corner of the entertain business. Maybe I am selfish, but I want them to be a survivor when I see so many other places struggling

Fossilhog · 12-03-2008, 07:59 AM

A few years back, CW bought out my local dealership. I brought my rig in about a year ago to replace some leaking hydraulic hoses. Week after wee (4) service writer kept telling me he can't get parts from HWH. I wrote a letter to customer service cc;d the president express my concern that a big operation like CW has no clout with the industry. 2 days later, hoses fixed, rear slidout ram replaced all paid for by HWH. Interesting to say the least.

Prior to that, I needed to replace my entire 18' awning assembly lost in a storm. I had all the specs from the catalog and stopped in to set up an appointment. The lady at the counter beat the catalog price by almost $150 and installation was $60. Can somone explain that to me? Take the good with the bad I guess.

Jim Stewart · 12-03-2008, 06:10 PM

My biggest problem with CW is their billing systems. We are not close to a store so we purchased 9 items over a 30 day period on the internet that resulted in 5 charges to our charge card. None of the charges match the receipts we printed out. When I contacted CW they could not figure it out so we have determined that we will deny all charges on our credit card from them and let them sort it out.

We are getting to old to deal with multiple problems from poorly run companies. If I create so much work for them to sort it out, in some small way, I feel like they may start to try to fix their problems. If enough people do it, maybe it will improve.

By the way, when I told the person on the phone from customer service that they had the worst credit card billing system I had ever dealt with, she said she knew, she hears it several times every day! Go figure!

Lindsay Richards · 12-03-2008, 06:26 PM

Jim, your only option is to move closer to a Camping World. I live about an hour each from two different ones (Tampa and Orlando) and have to stop anytime we get close to either one. My wife nor I can not pass one up. We have trouble like yours sometimes when ordering other stuff over the internet. You never know, you may be talking to somebody in India. I use a debit card and the charge shows up in minutes onto my online banking while it still fresh in their computers.

historyljc · 12-03-2008, 06:37 PM

Camping World is a big kids candy store. You want one of all of them, but you know it'd make you sick. Besides, most of it you don't need or couldn't use it if you had it.

There are nice places to pull off, stop, relax for a bit while you pick up some odds and ends that you just might actually need sometime in the next five or ten years. Some things they are too high on. Sometimes they are cheaper than anyone else. I bought a new macerator pump for my Sani-Con for about $50 less than I could find anywhere else, including the forum sponsor. Sometimes, we look at a few of the coaches. They have a decent variety depending upon location. So far, that just reaffirms our decision for buying and keeping what we have.

They also have clean bathrooms and free coffee. Gee whiz, what more could you ask.

Y-Guy · 12-07-2008, 08:38 PM

I've been shopping at Camping World on and off, I don't maintain a PC membership - usually just buy it for a year when I buy a new rig or if I was planning on a major purchase. As said if you shop smart they have some good deals, but timing can be a pain too.

I've used their prices to try and get my dealer to match, sometimes they will some times they wont.

For me Camping World online offers the best selection and organization when I want to find something. To big? I don't think so.

RRT2 · 12-10-2008, 10:07 AM

Haven't gone thru and read all the replies on this thread.

Recently dealt with our local CW at home. The tech did a great job on fixing clacking on our heat pump...found the furnace had a problem...got the parts ordered...and fixed within a week. Only gave us 2 days to pack before our intended departure date...but they made it...we made it.

However...too big? It appears so. They are cutting staff right and left -- again in our area from home. Trying to save the almighty dollar profit, I suppose. Not selling much of anything. Hope they don't cut the service staff...

Rose