Artemus Gordon wrote: My suggestion remains the same. If product not fully backed by service everywhere you travel, then don't buy it. To answer an earlier question about reimbursement, dealerships get most of their income from the service department. The lions share comes from warranty and extended warranty reimbursement. You will find that the last thing a dealer wants, is a call from manufacturer! Believe me the dealer lives and dies based on making manufacturers happy. Weak manufactures, not so much. Strong quality minded, customer service oriented manufactures demand it.
Had this conversation with Keystone representative prior to buying my Montana, he assured me I would be treated well anywhere I went. Stopped at dealer 2000 miles from where I purchased my fifth wheel. The manager at that location dd not care where I bought trailer. Answered our concern, treated us with respect and even checked on us three days later by e-mail. Called the Keystone representative and he said " told you"! Pick a strong manufacturer with large network !
The reality is there is a non selling warranty issue. Dealers that didn't sell the rig are not obligated to do warranty service on it.
Most dealers don't have a problem working on a rig that is 1000 miles away from home, but some do take exception to working on a local rig whose owner by passed them to purchase elsewhere.
The dealer network is not that closely knit like the auto industry.
Pay rates and policies are deficient. This issue across all brands. The dealers are independent operations. The the manufactures do not control the dealers. Some even point this out in their literature.
Bottom line a dealers can and do refuse to do warranty service on rigs they did not sell. I agree the system should not work this way but it does. The manufacture often step in to resolve these issues,sometimes they recommend another dealer or independent service guy to do the work. Honestly I would not want any entity working on my rig that did not want to do it.
You missed the point entirely! I evidently lost my ability to explain (facts) any clearer! I tried... Lol
I don't think I missed your point.The RV warranty system is flawed it does not matter what make you buy. They are all suffer the same problem. Keystone is no better or worst than any of the others when it comes to warranty. I don't doubt that Keystone would not step in and help resolve a specific situation by recommending another dealer or expediting parts however it should not be an issue. I don't have to contact GM to get my Chevy fixed under warranty regardless of where I take it.
The basic problem is a non selling dealer can take their preferred customers first and in some cases refuse to do warranty work on your rig if you did not buy it there. If you choose to buy out of state you should not be intimidated by this issue but beware this issue exist.
I have encountered this warranty refusal with my last RV.
Unfortunately the RV industry as a whole is somewhat unscrupulous and allows this issue to persist.
The route of the problem is how the dealers are reimbursed for warranty claims. Many dealers are willing to suffer the loss/headache if they sold the unit but if you chose to drive by them to purchase elsewhere they are reluctant to do warranty work on your rig. Your purchase savings becomes their warranty loss because they are not fully reimbursed for warranty work.
The way to alleviate this issue is for manufacturers to implement a better warranty payment system, One that dealers feel will fully pay them for dealing with warranty work.
The whole situation is so ridiculous I wish I where making it up, but warranty refusal is a real issue that occurs regularly.
Very sorry your feel the way you do. I agree that warranty issues do exist, but your statement are not supported by facts. Most Warrantys "not honored" are based on customers over expectation of reality, understanding of their contract and or demeanor while trying to obtain service. If not then the law is on your side, hire an attorney and standup for your rights. Your negative opinions perhaps and or experiences, have unfortunately set your thinking in stone. Thus, perhaps, it may be impossible to prove to you that things and the laws have changed. I have never once experienced, nor found your perception to be the norm. I have hundreds of personal transactions to back up that statement. Perhaps in the past your statements might be realistic and certainly some businesses are slow to adopt "today's way of thinking". However, painting the entire industry with such a "broad brush" is, in my personal opinion, unfair and flawed. All industries including the RV business, have worked to change the way business is done. Maybe its because I demand service, and would not hesitate taking necessary legal action if I feel taken advantage of by a business. My statements are not meant to create hostility, but to help us all move forward with "facts" not personal perceptions of the way I think things are done.
Artemus I can only hope your right. I personally had my local dealer tell me they would not do warranty work on a rig they did not sell. Texas Train gave a similar account earlier in this same thread.
Maybe you are right the industry is improving and no longer practices these tactics. I generally do my own work and seldom require dealer service for warranty or anything else.
Back to the OP I'd give the local guy a last chance to match (you have nothing to loose but the long drive) if he refuses take the drive and don't look back.
Do a very thorough PDI as you already mentioned and don't be intimidated by tactics of warranty refusal if practiced by your local dealer.
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