Ok, so I have been watching this thread and feel I have to throw my 2 cents in. The OP is stating what happened and how he was treated, the good and bad. This is America and freedom of speech is a great thing. Quit bashing on him... Who knows he may not be the first person to have had experiences like that. What do you expect him to do, praise the dealer for not meeting his expectations and the deadline that was set?
Its his opinion and he is entitled to it!
I am sure there are two sides to the story but since the dealer isnt on the website we wont know. All this thread is doing is giving consumers education and what to possibly expect from dealing with dealers and a certain manufacturer.
As far as dealers and manufactures being there when people need them. Well if they are not meeting up to customer service expectations then I dont want to deal with them, let them go out of business. I paid a ton of money from my camper like the rest of you and I expect to get decent customer service for that, not to be blown off or have the ball dropped. In sales and service, customer service is what makes or breaks a company.
2008 Chevy Silverado 2500 DMAX
2008 Arctic Fox 811
Vision Wheels with
Toyo M608z's 225/70R19.5 14 plys rated at 3970
Mach, If you have a problem with me posting my opinion on this forum I suggest you take it up with a moderator. This makes two times you have thrown accusations at me on this forum. I find your online manners offensive and rude. I do not see the value in further discussing anything with you, so I'm done with you.
Quote: Just ask Host Campers how business was affected when Smoothtop was laying into them.
Have you asked Host campers how much business was lost over the Smoothtop issue? For those that might not remember the Smoothtop/Host issues, the owner had made some minor structural changes with his Host camper. He lived in New York and the Host factory is in Bend, Oregon. When problems began he wanted Host to defray the cost of transport to the factory for repairs. Host was willing to look into repairs at their factory but was somewhat reluctant to pay for transport. That was the stalemate and I think most readers understood that. It was not Host bashing, it was attempting to get the camper to the factory and whether the owner was going to drive it there, spend a few days in the area while it was being fixed, and then drive it back.....or expect Host to pay for a transport to do it. In the end it got sorted out and I don't recall any serious backlash on Host from it. From my understanding most readers understood the issue was the owners reluctance to take the time and drive to Oregon, not Host's willingness to fix the (owner modified) camper.
If you can cite any data or references from Host that speaks to the amount of damage they experienced, I would be interested. Indeed, another RV.Net frequent poster named Mooney shared frequently his very positive experiences with his Host camper acquisition for his Ford 550. He even went to Yosemite and posted pics of the new camper being camped in, the first real trip in it. Anything Smoothtop did to try to get Host to pay for transport by taking up space on these forums was more than offset by Mooney and others sharing positive experiences. Host is one of few manufacturers that make a side door camper, a real plus for towing something behind and, of course, the multi slideouts. They are innovative and I hope they survive the recession. My understanding is they are still making campers as orderd.
* This post was
edited 07/22/11 01:38pm by jmtandem *
'05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed.
'09 299bhs Tango.
Disco,, glad to here that you have a date for your new campers arrival. It will be here before you know it. When you do get it we need to do some camping together sometime.
Work has had me pretty busy here lately, but would still like to get together some time for that cold beer and talk truck campers. Your more than welcomed to come have a cold beer with me in mine until yours gets here.
Blake
2011 Ford F-350 CC SWB 4X4 SRW 6.2L 4.30 Gears Torklift tiedowns/Fastguns
2011 Northstar Laredo SC 4ea.AGM'S 240 watts of solar and some other stuff.
Thanks Blake for a prime example of southern hospitality. I'll be in Atlanta until the delivery of the camper. I'll be in touch soon. We have a new local brewery in town too (Holy City Brewery). Maybe we should grab a growler and head for the hills.
Machiavelli wrote: Im sorry but no where in this thread have you apologized for starting the thread in the first place. You openly bashed a TC dealer who has been serving the TC community for 12 hours a day for many years.We have learned in this forum from anonymous posters such as "Smoothtop" that there are other sides to every story.
Newbies that want to get into the TC community and want to do research on Princess Craft will stumble upon this thread and might actually think twice about doing business with her.You might not think its bashing but just a harmless rant.Others might take it a different way.
Just ask Host Campers how business was affected when Smoothtop was laying into them.
We need all the dealers and manufacturers we have left to be there when the rest of us need them.
Relax,if your only complaint is that your new camper is a couple of weeks late in delivery,then you are ahead in the game. Your camper will arrive very shortly and you will be able to enjoy it for many years to come.
Its poor service.. plain and simple.
Quote: We need all the dealers and manufacturers we have left to be there when the rest of us need them.
Answer: Customer service. Sellers need to understand that when you purchase something and get a delivery date then it should be delivered. Excuses are for unorganized people.
I'm glad you're wait is almost over disco. I didn't see it as bashing PrincessCraft either. I saw it as a person who plunked down a bunch of cash and wanted what he was promised. I would have been frustrated too. I bought my AF from PJ in late 08'and I had a good experience so, hopefully you're smooth sailing from here on out. I'm only 100 miles south of Pflugerville so call me if you get down this way, and I'll buy you a Shiner Bock. Happy camping
07.5' Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 L/B Cummins
08 Arctic Fox 990
(2) KLX 400's and a flotilla of small boats
I believe the RV industry as a whole is in a fight to survive. I would imagine most don't have the ability to stock the inventory they did in the past and need to get orders to justify purchasing the build items.
I don't think we can use this economy to judge long term service from any of these companies.
'08 Ford F550, Lariat, Link Air Suspension, Roll-A-Long Conversion, Twin Turbo 6.4, TorkLifts, SuperHitch, "Monster Duty Truckasaurus"
'09 Host Everest, Dual Pane, AM Solar, Link 1000,Prosine2.0,Tank Htrs,Honda EV4010,HD Motosat,Wave 6.
I try as hard as I can to keep my word and expect no less from others.
If I was told that I'd have my new camper by the 4th of July I would have scheduled vacation time to try out my new camper over the 4th.
And I'd expect to be notified in advance if there was a problem... not be sitting in my truck waiting to pick it up.
To be stood-up for my camper date would hurt...
Then I try again... wait for the next date... get STOOD-UP again... no way!
But... I'm really hot for this date... so hot that I'm putting forth all of the effort... but being ignored... how many times should I expect to get on my knees and beg?
Finally... get my hopes up... I get a air-kiss blown my way... I'm starry eyed... just maybe... could it really happen?
I get a California marriage counsler tell me it's my fault... his logic seems to be it's my fault... as he usually says... in most of his 54 lifetime posts.
Wow! I get a promise again... my date is coming, my date is coming... maybe this time.
Will there ever be a marriage? Will it last?
Where will I turn if something goes wrong?
More tomorrow... stay tuned... The endless search for my true TC.
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Too many of us have to go through soap operas like this to buy our TC's... boatycall recently went through a mess similar to this also.
In the 1940's, 50's, 60's.... auto dealers were like this... and people drove around with lemons painted on their cars because they couldn't get service.... some times the dealers took yours and other peoples down payments and spent them on something else... and then started putting off yours and their delivery dates.
If a special orgered vehicle came in... all a new customer had to do to get that vehicles was to just show up waving new cash... a big handful...
the dealer would take the new cash... knowing they can always order another one for the original customer
Next they didn't do service... but they assured us that they had... in reality... the car was just parked for a day or two.
Eventually the dealers went out of business... the warrenties wern't honored. SOUND FAMILIAR?
Remember... a good sales man (woman) will always reel you back it... thinking they care about you... truth is, out of their frying pan and into the fire...
................................
Host has a better product because they had to overcome the bad publicity rendered by the smooth top... I can't remember a really bad thread about them since.
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Note: Too much annesthasia... too much knees propped up... watching day time TV and reminising.
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for a prime example of southern hospitality. I'll be in Atlanta until the delivery of the camper. I'll be in touch soon. We have a new local brewery in town too (Holy City Brewery). Maybe we should grab a growler and head for the hills.
