it sounds like the dealer is trying to do what he can... but it's out of his control. I'd be disappointed as well. However, we're not talking about nasa employees here. I'm not making excuses, but this is not an industry known for 100% scores on their quality or customer satisfaction. Hang in there, all of this nonsense will melt away when you sit around your first campfire with your new PUP.
Mike Mentioned warranty repairs, I honestly believe this is 90% dealer and 10% manufacturer, so if you like your dealer, don't let this scare you, see what happens if and when the time comes. One thing, if you need a lot of stuff, you might ask the dealer if he'd give you $750 store credit rather than $400 cash back... you could end up with some pretty sweet supplies and he'd probably rather do that anyway, just a thought. Of course, the dealer will probably work the tab back to forest river somehow. I don't think this is a case of "forgot to put it on the truck", this is probably a case of "your camper got sent to another customer by mistake, oh crap, we have to build this guy another one". it's not like there are acres of unaccounted for campers just sitting outside the manufacturing plant, turn 'em out and shipping 'em is the name of the game.
Hang in there, this will pass, hope it all comes out oK!
04 Isuzu Ascender
04 Jayco 12FSO
Pete Rose - 4256 steroid free hits and still not in the Hall of Fame!
One would think that your dealership would make contact with other dealerships to see if the unit is in stock elsewhere and try to obtain it from another dealership if they weren't able to get it from the manufacturer within a timely fashion.
(Back in the day - when working retail, our salespeople would quote the customer a delivery date and invariably be unable to deliver - and we in customer service would have to contact another store and have delivery set up from there to satisfy our customers.)
It is a good thing that the dealership is attempting to meet your needs - what with a discount as well as a rental.
This really surprises me, I have had no problems with Forest River. Of course I wasn't buying a new camper, my issues have all had to do with replacement parts. But they have always been great.
By the way, when I was at the factory last summer there were several hundred campers to the side of the factory waiting to be shipped out. There were another 15 or so out front waiting for pickup that day. I can see how one could be missed. That is no excuse, just an observation.
One question, why aren't you calling Forest River yourself? The dealer is not as concerned about this as you are. I have never worked through a local "rep", I always call Forest River directly. Especially in this case, I would have started calling the first week it was forgotten.
I can understand your fustration. We had put the Tow Vehicle in the body shop for some (mostly cosmetic) dent, scracthes taken care of. It was a minor fender bender which also took of the mirror that hit the side window and cracked it. Make a long story short, Chrysler sends new molding for window wrong, next shipment "gets lost" (though I can't understand why they couldn't locate it thru UPS- but any way...
Lost out on our Fathers Day weekend, which is only 1 of 2 trips planned this year. It took 20 days to replace a mirror, side window, pull a dent and blend paint.
The problem is that even with a rental, you can't tow anything.
Hang in there it will get better- Looks like the dealer is really stepping up to help-- with a rental unit and $$ off I would give them A++ for service.
Enjoy the new PUP!
Families who camp together, stay together...
Dad
Mom
11yr old son- knows everything now...
5 yr old son- still sweet...
4 yr old daugher- turning me grey already...
Reminds me of the time last winter when I went to the dealer to repair the vinyl flooring under warranty because it came from the factory with a nail poking through. Fleetwood wanted to compensate us with "goodies" instead of having to repair it. Needless to say, the flooring was replaced.
'08 Fleetwood Niagara
'07 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CC
hawk_fan wrote: Reminds me of the time last winter when I went to the dealer to repair the vinyl flooring under warranty because it came from the factory with a nail poking through. Fleetwood wanted to compensate us with "goodies" instead of having to repair it. Needless to say, the flooring was replaced.
On my old 2005 Forest River Rockwood, the vinyl flooring came up where Forest River patched in a cut square into the floor and tried to cover it up with a glue that exactly matched the square border color. They did such a good patch job that it was invisible. Only when the border glue cracked and the square started coming up, did I notice their clever but deceitful patch. No dealer would touch it since it required a new vinyl floor. This required a liability that neither local Forest River dealership was willing to take. They both said to do it right, the cabinets needed to be taken out. I guess that they could be damaged. They outright stated that they don't do vinyl flooring and it needs to go back to the factory. Forest River told me that they wouldn't pick it up and that I had to pay for delivery to their factory or I would need to bring it myself. Can you image if I lived in California!!!
Since I decided to just rid myself of the pain in the butt, brand new camper, the one shop just used clear silicone RTV type of glue. It was noticable but not to bad. They actually bought the camper as a trade.
You were lucky you were able to get it repaired and corrected. I think the reason the local shops wouldn't do it because they stated Forest River had such lousy warranty policies, it was difficult for them to collect on warranty claims on certain issues. I guess if anything broke trying to get it out, they'd have to fight to get Forest River to purchase new parts.
Glad it all worked out for you, have a good one.
* This post was
edited 06/30/08 05:25pm by Mike Up *
I called them Friday and only got voicemail. I also wrote a letter to the CEO Peter Liegl which I faxed in and e-mailed in over the weekend.
But it looks like all's well that ends well. I just found out that the trailer did indeed get on the truck yesterday and we should have it tomorrow. We're still taking it out Thursday, I hope 1 night is enough to learn it all! we're only going a couple hours away anyway.
* This post was
last
edited 07/01/08 10:48pm by DrrD *
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That is a mirror image of my experiance with Forest River. The are quick to blame everything on dealers. In my case the dealer ended up eating a lot of repair costs as the unit arrived with significant list of poor workmanship issues.
In th end dealer made everything right to our satisfaction...but can't say same for factory. They are experts at blameology!
Hope you got your unit on time and that it was in satisfactory working order
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