RE: Damage At Dealership-Vent

kathybrj · Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM

We purchased our camper from a very large dealer with 3 locations. When we found cracks in our ABS panels, we took the camper to the location we originally bought it from.

The warrenty guy looked at the camper and said no problem with replacing the back ABS panel and the panel under the trunk lid. The back panel came in fine and they replaced the front panel, but not the panel under the trunk lid, which was the one that was cracked. So they ordered that one.

Yesterday, they replaced that panel. While it was in the shop, the service manager noticed a huge dent in the aluminum panel, just behind the stepper door, but high up. Someone had hit the camper and dented the panel, took out a roof latch and broke a light. They were able to replace the light and the latch, because we are supposed to leave on a trip Friday.

This dealer is moving all it s inventory to a new location, which will also have a Camping World store in it (first in NY state), so they figure it got hit by a yard guy with another trailer and they didn t realize it until it was in the shop.

They have apologized a million times, the service manager has been on the phone with us after hours and several times during the last two days and our sales guy is beside himself. They have offered much in compensation (store stuff), have put a " rush" on the aluminum panel, but I m heartbroken that I have to take it out looking the way it does.

What should have been a 3 days turn around in warrantied repairs has turned into a one month ordeal and a damaged camper. I know they are trying to make things better, but I m so upset.

Needless to say, we ll be taking it to one of their smaller locations the next time it needs anything done to it.

Thanks for the chance to rant a little.

whitestar505 · May 06, 2003, 12:31 PM

kathybrjkathybrj,

We talked about this yesterday on another thread, Leaking water lines, well after two days of calling to dearlers about repairs, neither one could bring it in for repair before our next trip ,10 day from now, to get it repaired. The dealer we bought from asked if I would bring it to him,45 mins away, and pop it up so they could look to see if it was a small repair. Could not understand why I just wanted an appoinment for repair and pickup date. What a run around.huh

Well, you may make out with this problem if they keep apologizing. Hope all goes well for you...

AustinBoston · May 06, 2003, 12:33 PM

kathybrjIt s often been said that the dealer is as important as the brand of camper. It sounds like you have an otherwise decent dealer that happens to be accident prone, or you both ran into a streak of bad luck at the same time.

Here s hoping your trip is great despite the dented panel.

Austin

garym053 · May 06, 2003, 01:00 PM

kathybrjHi Kathy! At least they admitted it up front, so you have a better than average chance that everything will be made right! The dealers I ve used have not be as honest!
Bought Jayco in Feb, 99, one month later took back to have heater installed, when I went to pick it up the bottom flange on the ball hitch was bent straight down in one spot so that it wouldn t settle onto the ball. Dealer said " must have been that way when you brought it in!" I said " How the heck did the camper and TV stay connected if it won t even go onto the ball, Luck?"
Next year took it to dealer #2, for tent stain removal, wheel bearings check, etc. Cost me almost $550.00 to get it back, BUT at least there was no damage.
This last fall took it to dealer #3, again for cleaning, waterproofing, and to add a roof vent. Cost was cheap this time, less than $200.00! Opened it up this Sping, tent material full of stains appears to be from whatever they tried to clean it with, no water proofing, and a nice drill bit sized hole though the screen and plastic window, as if someone was walking in the door carrying a drill in their left hand and punctured it!
I m running out of dealers!!! Guess I ll go back to the expensive one, at least the work was done and they didn t damage my camper!!!
Thanks for the chance to rant!!!

kathybrj · May 06, 2003, 01:32 PM

kathybrjGeez, Gary and that s 3 different dealers?

The service guy was so nervous when he called, he made me even more nervous. My salesguy told me to come down this afternoon and we ll all open it up and see if there is bed rail damage. If the camper isn tmuseable for the weekend, they will get us a loaner, but then I have to transfer what I need for the weekend out of the Utah and into the loaner.

[:@]I have such a headache! But, yes, at least they didn t try to say, " ah, no, we don t know what happened" . I just hope the rest of the camping season isn t like this!

NCSunshine · May 06, 2003, 01:58 PM

kathybrjEven though it was an accident and you have been upset, they do seem to care about their customers and are willing to make amends. Our dealer is the same way, will do what is right and what they can to make the customer as happy as they can.

But I understand the sadden and broke heart over your " baby" being damaged. Hope all turns out well for you.

tlhdoc · May 06, 2003, 05:12 PM

kathybrjKathy I hope you have it back for our trip this weekend. I am happy that your dealer is trying to make things right. My trailer is in the shop too. One of my brakes isn t working. They told me they would have it done by Friday for the trip.

farmer · May 06, 2003, 05:59 PM

kathybrjKathy
We purchased our PU from (I imagine) the same large dealer, at the exit 16 location. On initial pickup the brake controller needed replacing, which the shop crew did after hours. During my short journey(as I attempted to turn around) at a Northway park and ride location, I drove off a substantial drop off in a dirt lot and smashed off the trailer electrical plug from the bottom of the van and bent the safety chain hook. The shop crew also changed this stuff for free, even though it was obviously my mistake. Then when we got home and popped up I broke the screen door latch(forced a locked handle), they repaired that at no charge. I am very pleased with the exit 16 shop crew(don t care for the manager s personality but the actual performance is GREAT).
Farmer

kathybrj · May 06, 2003, 06:37 PM

kathybrjYes farmer, same dealership[&:].

I have had work done at the exit 16 shop- they were very efficient.

I took it back to the other shop, thinking there would be an issue of the one year warranty and I wanted the sales person involved.

We picked up the camper this afternoon, among apologies galore. The dents are noticeable, but nothing that interfers with the useage of the camper. So I got it stocked and cleaned and feel a little better.

I was thinking about making a large bandaid to put over the dents!

The new panel is already on order and the staff was great. Hopefully, in a week, my baby will be as good as new! [

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jawilson · May 09, 2003, 03:05 PM

kathybrjWhile they obviously had some litany of problems you at least seem to have found someone responsible enough to own up to it and do whatever they can to rectify the situation. I can assure you that s not the case with the vast majority of them, if my experience is any indication.

kathybrj · May 29, 2003, 07:56 AM

kathybrjWell after waiting a few weeks the new panel finally came in. I received a call from the service dept. yesterday. I asked when it could be taken care of and the service manager said they were booking service appointments out for 2-3 weeks! Before I could say anything, he said, " BUT, since we damaged the camper you can bring it down anytime and we ll have it done by the end of the next day, except for Sunday, of course."

So Blaise took it down last night. I m keeping my fingers crossed that it will NOT get hit again. Most of the RV stock has been moved to the new Camping World location and Blaise says the lot at the service location looks much more organized with fewer vehicles.

My salesman called alittle while later to make sure we understood that we could bring the unit down anytime and have it done by the end of the next day. I told him it would be on the lot in the service area by 7pm that evening.

Our next trip isn t until later in June, so we aren t under the gun to get it back for this weekend. I ll also be looking for a Camping World gift certificate, when we do go pick it up! [8D][

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whitestar505 · May 29, 2003, 08:18 AM

kathybrjkathybrj,

Great! Hope all works out for ya..

By the way, would you know if the road construction is completed on route 7 heading to Bennington Vermont yet?

kathybrj · May 29, 2003, 08:23 AM

whitestar505

QuoteORIGINAL: whitestar505

kathybrj,

Great! Hope all works out for ya..

By the way, would you know if the road construction is completed on route 7 heading to Bennington Vermont yet?

Don t know about Rt. 7. I haven t been out that way in years. We go to VT through Cambridge, NY (farther north) and into Arlington.

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