lanerd
Ridgecrest, CA
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Joined: 03/03/2003
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This past summer, while in Oregon, I made an appointment with Guaranty RV in Junction City. On the morning of the appointment, I was assigned a “service agent” who would be my liaison with Guaranty during the repair process. After all info was given to him he said he would have a service technician take a look at my problem (dash AC) and then provide us with a written estimate. At this time, he also said that they would provide a “free” inspection of my roof if I wanted them to. Since a free inspection would not impose any financial requirements from me, I said “yes”.
An hour later, the service agent provide me with the promised written estimate for the repair of the dash AC and also “verbally” informed me that I had cracks in both the front and rear cap seals resulting in water leakage and that they would repair them both for $398.00. He said that even if I was unaware of any sign of water leakage, it was definitely leaking.
Since the coach is only two years old and that we had been in Oregon for a couple of months (with plenty of rain, I might add) with no evidence of any leakage, and also because I had a new roll of Eternabond that I could use….. I told them “no”, I would take care of it myself but would like for them to take me up on the roof and point out these cracks. He said fine and that he would get the service tech to show me after they were finished with the dash AC repair.
The following day, we picked up the coach, paid the bill, and then requested to be shown the roof cracks as promised. The service agent informed me that he was very sorry, but my service technician was off on another job and wasn’t available for this effort.
Flash forward a month, and now we are home and since it was a really nice day, I thought it would be a good time to put on the Eternabond. Got up on the roof and inspected the two cap seals and really could not see the “cracks” as described by Guaranty. I could see the outline (in places it was a dark line that resembled a crack) of the sealing tape and thought that was what they were talking about. I checked all of the suspected dark lines and could find no evidence of the tape lifting. However, since Guaranty did such a good job on my dash AC and that the service agent fulfilled all of his duties in a very nice manner, I decided to go ahead and defer to their expertise.
I removed all tape, caulking, and other sealing “stuff” on the front cap, cleaned everything thing with acetone and it became very obvious that there were absolutely no leaks of any kind. The connection between the roof and cap was like new!
So, did they lie to me or were they incompetent. Either way, I would have been out $398 for nothing if I had ok’d the work. Since they failed provide the roof inspection I requested (and they agreed to).... that they vehemently insisted that there was leakage.... and that once I looked and could find no outward indication of “cracks”.... and once all material was remove and no indication of leakage was present.... I surmise that this was an unethical ruse that they used to try and get more money from an unsuspecting and inexperienced rv owner.
What do you think?
Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35
Toad: Restored 86 Toy 4x4 P/U
Tow Bar: Sterling
Brakes: Unified
TPMS: Pressure Pro
RETIRED!! How sweet it is....
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Briteskys
Mesa, AZ
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Joined: 09/21/2006
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Quote:What do you think? I wish everyone (including me) could write a narrative as well as you.
Yes, it does sound a bit fishy since they weren't willing to show you the so-called crack.
'02 Beaver Patriot Thunder
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Ron & Jane's Travels
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Homer
Northwest Ohio
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Joined: 11/23/2000
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No doubt in my mind you were set up be scalped. You used good logic and follow up.
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sneakers145
CT
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Joined: 06/18/2006
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I had a similar experience at a dealership that is making me question using them again for service.
On numerous occasions I asked them to check/fix a leak in my rear window which was present since purchasing the unit. Even replacing the window (it was fogged) to the tune of $1000 didn't fix it. To their credit they did reseal the window several times at no charge.
Last time I took it in for service I was having health issues which precluded me from poking around on the roof. I asked if they could check the roof seams for me. I was told my seams were fine, but the whole roof needed replacing to the tune of $5000. I declined, as there were no signs of leakage at that time. A few months later I was able to climb up onto the roof myself and inspect it. The rubber was fine, but my rear cap seam was cracked. I fixed it with Dicor and guess what? My window stopped leaking! It was the end cap seam leaking that whole time.
Now I'm facing taking my MH in for routine servicing and maintenance but am leary about being sold a bill of goods after that last experience.
Jay
Two kids and two Brussels Griffons
Nights camped in 2009: 27
2000 Fleetwood Bounder 32H
2007 Ford Focus
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coolbreeze01
Redding, Ca
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Joined: 08/24/2006
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Good tip. I won't allow anyone up on my roof.
2008 Dodge 3500 CTD LB SRW 4X4 6-Speed Auto
P3 Blue Ox Sway Pro
2007 Komfort 212
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Popsie
Livingston, TX, USA
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Joined: 04/04/2003
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lanerd, I think that you are extremely lucky that you happened to have "self repairing" roof cracks.
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Jerry9n
SE Michigan
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Joined: 10/28/2008
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The name of the game is money. They work off commission. That is one repair that it is doubtful someone would followup on like you did and if they did do it, there is no downside, save the money you would have to pay.
Similar thing on my van. The computer conked out and it was towed to the dealer. Computer was under warranty. Then they said by the way the trans fluid was black and needed to be changed (at my cost). I said no thanks. I am an old time gear head and my son works for Ford and has an automotive degree. Bottom line is trans fluid is nice and red and no smell of burned.
Money money money.
Jerry9n
2009 23' Cikira Escape EXP
2006 Ford Expedition
Reese Pro Series SC
Tekonsha Voyager
HTT Mods
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univmd
Maryland
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Joined: 03/02/2009
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Thank you for the heads up. I guess it is true that nothing is free. Makes me think twice about using those free inspection coupons from service shops.
2008 Gulfstream Tourmaster T40C
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Saftman
Lafayette, La.
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Joined: 08/14/2006
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Common sense and ethics are virtually non-existant anymore.
'06 F250 SC, FX4
'06 Cedar Creek 36 RLTS
Me, The Wife & 1 Big Dog
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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It SOUNDS like you got your moneys worth for a free inspection. Glad you decided to look for yourself though and didn't pay THEM to fix the unnecessary repair. Where things went wrong was removing all the old caulk to install the Eternabond. Putting on the tape was a GOOD thing to keep from having leaks in the future though. Sounds like you came out ahead and saved yourself from making unnecessary REPAIRS and gave yourself a good reason for doing so good preventative maintenance. Good luck / Skip
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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