Doglvr
Midwest
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Joined: 07/26/2009
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Hey all, We are awaiting our ordered 23SS Rockwood Roo. By advice from many forums we bought through RV Direct as opposed to a local delaer. I have no learned that dealer will not service our Roo if we have a warranty problem and that we will have to drive back to our delivery location in Indiana from Minnesota to have the warranty work completed. Is this typical? Why does Forest River not hold their dealer to honor warranty work no matter where the item was purchased? Does anyone have someone to contact at Forest River to ask more about this. I can't see myself making repeated trips back and forth from MN. to IN.
Thanks for your feedback.
Kim & John
John & Kim
2 puppies
'09 GMC Sierra 1500
'10 23SS Rockwood Roo
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bldrbuck
Boulder, Colorado
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Joined: 02/11/2001
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talk to the manufacturer. That dealer may be eliminated. Write to Trailer Life's action line.
93 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel, DRW, Crew Cab. PullRite Hitch. 90 Nomad 28' 5er, 375 Watts Solar, 2800 Watt Yamaha Generator, 1750 Watt Inverter, 4 Trogan T105 Batteries, Spare tire and wheel and folding ladder. Me, wife and 2 spoiled Maltise furkids.
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bikendan
Napa, Cal.
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Joined: 11/21/2005
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the RV retail world is very different the the automotive dealer world. RV manufacturers don't have much power over their dealers. they can ask them to service them but can't force them.
don't believe the local dealer's threats. we heard the same threats from the 3 Roo dealers in NorCal. we drove a lot farther than you to get our Roo 23SS. we drove from NorCal to Chicago and back. Forest River helped us find local dealers willing to do the warranty work. one dealer didn't even sell any FR products. we are currently working with a dealer that no longer carries the Roo. they carry Cub and Escape hybrids. but they are willing to take the work. another dealer sold Rockwood popups but sold R-Vision hybrids. they did our warranty work until they stopped carrying the Rockwood Popups.
give FR a call and they'll help find a closer dealer who'll work with you.
Dan- Firefighter , Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur , Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever , 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
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CampHikePlay
Twin Cities Minnesota
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From the Forest River web site under dealer locator:
Forest River, Inc. strongly encourages our retail customers to purchase from their local dealership whenever possible due to the following factors:
Our Dealers are as a rule, independently owned and operated businesses. Outside of those customers they personally sold products to, they are not contractually obligated to perform warranty service on Forest River products that were purchased elsewhere. There may be an occasion that you would be required to return to the point of purchase to satisfy warranty requirements.
I guess my question is; aren't dealers reimbursed for warranty work? So even if they aren't 'contractually obligated' to do warranty work why would they turn down business and leave the "customer" (or future customer) with a sour taste knowing that you may need work performed after the warranty expires? Anyway...I do support using RVdirect and others as its always best to get the best deal.
(we bought ours throught the local dealer because it was a 'new' 2year old carryover and RV Direct didn't have that year/model we wanted...we did check though)
2005 Explorer; 4.6L/3.73 w/tow pkg
2007 Rockwood Roo 232
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gregputzer
Western PA
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I don't understand this concept myself. So the dealer is angry that someone didn't buy from him so he won't service it.
Online dealers like RV Direct and RVW aside, what about the poor guy who moves from California to the east coast (job tranfer)? He now has to drive across the entire country to get his RV services because all the dealers have a bug up their behinds?
These games were eliminated in the auto industry decades ago. Seems a little regulation is needed in the RV industry.
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Chuck_S
Broadview Hts, OH, USA
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Has you local dealer told you they won't service your trailer, or are you making an assumption based on internet forums>
I have my camper serviced every spring by the Local Dealer. The Local JAYCO Dealer. He's more than happy for the business even. Never needed warranty work.
RVWholesalers has their own network of servicing dealers across the country. But the manufacturer, not the dealer warrants the trailer.
RVWholesalers posted note here a year or two ago that they were glad to receive warranty service no matter where the trailer was purchased -- it's a money maker for them. No reason other than spite your obviously grossly overpriced local dealer won't do this.
-- Chuck
'06 Roo 23SS behind '07 Expedition out of Cleveland
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Buckeye Chuck
Grand Rapids, Mi
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"We only service what we sell" is, in my opinion, not good business. The $95 per hour rates that dealer service departments are charging for labor has to be a money maker. I'm sure they do not pay the technicians anything CLOSE to that. I understand that warranty work may not bring that rate form the manufacture, but I think they are still well paid. If I were a dealer I may give priority to the customer who bought from me but I would not turn down work from anybody. People who receive good service tend to become future/return customers.
2005 Antigua 215 SSO
Former....Ranger XLT Super Cab 4X4, 4.0 V6, 4.10 gears
Now......2006 Ford F150 Super Cab FX4, 5.4V8, 3.73 gears.
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skipnchar
Google Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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RV Direct will HELP you find a FR dealer to do warranty work should any be necessary (never has been on ours). It's really an opportunity to see which FR dealers can actually DO good service work since there is good money for them to be made if they're any good at the job. If they have one of those service departments that has to do things several times they probably will only work on units they've sold because FR will only pay them for doing the repair once. GOOD dealers will work on units whether they sold them or not because THAT'S where they make their money.
Good luck / skip
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
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TS21sso
North Central Texas
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RV Dealers are not your only place for warranty work to be done. We only have one RV dealer in town and they don't sell our make, but we have a couple of good independant RV repair shops. Both of these shops work well with the manufactures and do warranty work. I have used both. When ever I had a problem, I contacted the dealer first, told them of the problem, and because of the 3 hour travel time to the nearest Starcraft dealer, I would prefer to have it done locally. That way if necessary, the dealer could act as a go between for the local RV shop and manufacture. With Starcraft it worked out well.
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mike_mn
Twin Cities, MN
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I am in the twin cities and was able to beat the cost it would have been from RVW with my local dealer Neimeyers on my 23ss. They have locations in both Elko and Maple Grove. I would be very surprised if they would not do warranty work on your trailer. I have had nothing but good experiences with them.
GMC Denali XL 6.0L-P3-Reese Dual Cam 800
09 Roo 23SS
Me,Wife,02F,04M,06F,08M.
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