No, I am not a salesman posing as a satisfied customer.
And no, I am not looking for nay-sayers to post "buy local."
But I thought I'd post some comments about picking up our new Jayco 24RKS at RV DIRECT at their Des Moines RV facility yesterday ... and post some tips for those who are planning future pick-ups.
#1. Business is booming. I saved thousands of dollars over buying locally. It's really worth the trip. You'd be a fool for at least not getting a price quote from them.
#2. I had "Google Satellited" DIRECT RV's Des Moines facility in advance ... so I knew the facility wasn't a large one ... but I was a little bit surprized at how "over-crowded" the facility appeared when we drove up.
#3. There was precious little level pavement that didn't have an RV already parked ... for that matter, even level dirt that wasn't already occupied by an RV at the facility ... which kind of threw a wrench in my "install my own Equal-i-Zer hitch" on site. RV Direct does not sell Equal-i-zer hitches, so I wasn't planning on paying or soliciting their help.
#4. RV Direct asks for a deposit when you place the order, and full payment when your rig goes "off line" at the factory. That means you've paid in full before even laying eyes on the trailer. (Factory pick-up was not an option for my Jayco trailer.) I was a little bit nervous about this ... but since my entire RV DIRECT purchase and communication had been so positive, complete and low-stress, and the NET was full of positive feedback from prior RV DIRECT customers, I felt comfortable with the arrangement. And I was right.
#5 My trailer was sitting along side DES MOINES RV's sole building. This is my fourth trailer (over more than 20 years RV'ing), so I really wasn't too nervous about the PDI or having someone explain all the systems ... but I guess I was expecting the rig to be set-up inside a building, on concrete, on level ground. It wasn't.
#6 I was greeted when I walked into the building (at a previously mutually agreed time) and was promptly greeted by Rob, who said he was the one who would handle my delivery.
#7 He did a completely thorough job, explaining and demonstrating everything. As I said, this is my fourth trailer ... so to be honest, I was only half-listening, instead trying to look for flaws or fit and finish problems. I saw no immediate problems and remain convinced of Jayco's build quality ... and RV DIRECT's dealer prep.
#8. After the PDI, I asked where people installed their own sway control systems, they said there was a Walmart parking lot about a mile away ... and a large mall further down the road. So we dropped the trailer on the ball, no weight control, no sway control and left, completely satisfied.
#9. The Walmart parking lot was way to packed to pull into. We stopped a Home Depot lot, but it wasn't level ... so we continued on down the street to a large wide-open mall and spent an hour or so, hooking up the hitch and sway control.
#10. The Equal-i-Zer hitch was a snap to install and adjust (I'd never installed on before).
#11. We hit a Love's travel stop, just east of Des Moines on the way home to verify our set up on a Cat Scale. Just the truck, truck and trailer without weight distribution, truck and trailer with WD. (I know, I know, we were empty, and will double check weights and everything prior to setting out on our early summer, 5,000 mile, two month sweep out to Colorado and up to Alberta's northern most border to play in the Athabasca Tar Sands.
All in all, I'm a happy camper. It's a rainy, cold day today. Daytime temps in the low 40's. But my wife and I are headed out to an Illinois State Park to spend our first night in the rig. (Illinois State Park campgrounds stay open year-round, with electricity to most sites.).
* This post was
edited 03/27/08 10:14am by I_rv2 *
Oh yeah ... Rob did tell me that Des Moines RV was going to build a larger facility, starting late spring, so the apparent over-crowding due to booming business is only temporary.
I am negotiating a Jayco purchase with RVDirect as we speak (or read). Thanks for the info. I have to wait for a few days as Jayco is converting over to 2009 models and is not accepting orders now.
JIH wrote: I am negotiating a Jayco purchase with RVDirect as we speak (or read). Thanks for the info. I have to wait for a few days as Jayco is converting over to 2009 models and is not accepting orders now.
The 09's are actually going to be produced in Tibet. Did you know that?
2008 Rockwood 8317 SS
2007 GMC Yukon Denali
In Remission from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma since Sept/06 Me(37), DW(?), DS(10), DD(9), DS(6), DS(5)
If he is going to post 11 items as to why he thinks RVDIRECT is so wonderful and then try and convince me he's not on commission, he's going to have to listen to my spiel.
My biggest concerns with RVDirect is service. They advertise you can go to any dealer who handles that make and it's probably true, but I know from experience it's not that easy.
Having traveled coast to coast a few times; if I had a nickel for every dealer service department that after I asked for an appointment they then asked if I bought from them, I would have enough to buy a full tank of fuel. When I say no, their next appointment is always weeks or months away.
I know that by buying from a local dealer I can at least get into their service department when I need to at home at least. I also am not interested in their makes and models. I can see the local Jayco dealer here putting me to the head of the line after I tell him I bought from RVDIRECT.
Hard to believe he found no immediate problem(s) when he half listened to the PDI. Half listened? And this is your 4th RV? I know they all are wonderful and never had any problems so why listen????
Then pay for the whole thing sight unseen???? Yikes where's the guy who's upset over the $5000 deposit??Where's the guy who doesn't want to pay for his for another week and a half?
Sorry folks, I guess I should have been born in Missouri.
Tallyo
2007 Winnebago Adventurer
W-24, 6 spd Allison
Saturn VUE w/ Brake Buddy Vantage
Drinks-6, Eats-4, Sleeps-2
Semper Fi
Don't mean to seem skeptical, but given the Jayco stance on quality I would be very surprised to see them stop production in the USA. I can't see how they would benefit from producing these overseas. Where did you hear this?
I have only been on this forum for a couple months,I bought a new Cougar from my local PA.dealer in January,so I have no "interest" in RV Direct whatsoever.....but what the heck did they do that EVERYTIME someone mentions them...someone jumps on here and bad mouths them and won't believe that someone had a good exsperience there?I own my own bussiness and would expect that if a person never had a dealing with me or my company good or bad they would have the courtesy to keep their opinions to themselves unless they actually dealt with me or my company personally and had something to actually base their negative comments on...........Just my professional opinion..
2008 Keystone Cougar XLite 29RLS
2006 Super Duty V10 6 Speed 4.10S Tow Command Tow Pkg. 4X4
SuperDutyMan wrote: I have only been on this forum for a couple months,I bought a new Cougar from my local PA.dealer in January,so I have no "interest" in RV Direct whatsoever.....but what the heck did they do that EVERYTIME someone mentions them...someone jumps on here and bad mouths them and won't believe that someone had a good exsperience there?I own my own bussiness and would expect that if a person never had a dealing with me or my company good or bad they would have the courtesy to keep their opinions to themselves unless they actually dealt with me or my company personally and had something to actually base their negative comments on...........Just my professional opinion..
Excuse me but it's a forum thingy......It's called stirring the pot. I see nothing wrong with commenting on something that I have heard several times before. Truth or fiction.
But the biggy hear is..."If we all kept our opinions to ourselves" , think how boring these forums would be.
"Yes Master that's great"...."gee Sir how wonderful"......."I believe you Mr Jones"
It's supposed to be fun here as long as we don't get abusive..........
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