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Itasca Ellipse...


LindaandEd

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We just took delivery of a 1014 Itasca Ellipse (2 weeks ago) and am guessing that just like any new vehicle, we have to get the bugs worked out. The furnace runs 'when it wants to.' And we went from a smaller 5th wheel used for recreational purposes only, to living in this full time as our retirement dream home. BUT there doesn't appear to be a way to keep the refrigerator doors from opening during travel. We are in Camping World parking lot, where we spent the night, awaiting service on numerous things. Asked the Service Tech about the door and her reply was "Call Whirlpool."

 

We had stowed everything securely for the trip here, then the techs moved stuff and moved the coach without securing and something got broken...the reply was, "We'll buy you a new one." This was a gift and part of a set from my daughter and was discontinued long ago.

 

I'm very frustrated and just wondering if this is the norm for customer service? We purchased from Camping World because they have locations all over. Maybe not such a wise choice?

 

I guess I needed to vent big time LOL! Thanks for any input and advice!

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You're kind of between a rock & a hard place since you purchased from Camping World. We've been fulltiming over 4yrs. now and tried CW for service twice. Each time they screwed something up. So I don't recommend them for routine service. But in your case since you bought from CW, maybe you should try a different one in another part of the country for warranty work since you're now fulltime. I'm sure there's one somewhere that's competent, but I won't be trying to find it.

Fulltiming since 2010

2000 Dutch Star

2009 Saturn Vue

Myrtle Beach, SC

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First off, do not settle for this sort of treatment. You bought the rig new, spent a good amount on it and frankly, deserve to be treated better. That "call whirlpool" comment is really not acceptable, especially when there is a pretty quick fix for it. If service is being flippant with you and its even at the manager level, its past time to bump this up. Camping World and Good Sam have their own forum at rv.net and specifically an area where you can post a notice or complaint to address it - the CEO is known to respond directly on occasion.

 

My recommendation is to not wait. By getting ahead of the curve you can put the service department on notice, corporate is aware and you have an advocate to assist you. Yes, there are going to be bugs in the works but flippant or dismissive responses are not good business.

 

I wish I had done this when I had my problems. Even though it wasn't Camping World, once I had corporate involved, service actually became that - service.

Berkshire XL 40QL

Camphosting and touring


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Ed, I think you are the one in the park with us in Tomball.

 

As for the customer service from CW, DO NOT expect much. Get on the RV.net site www.RV.net and at the top pf the forum is a DEAR MARCUS section. They do rear this, so post your complaints there and some will probably get back with you.

 

When you get back, I can show you how most manufacturers secure the frig doors on the RVs.

 

We are in site #10.

 

Ken

 

PS., CW in Katy will never work on my RV again after the last fiasco. They lost the 5er and after an hour they found it, then they could not find the paperwork and the final straw was no one had the keys. It took them another hour to track down the keys.

Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot

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If you are parked near Ken, he is probably your best bet for reliable help. I'm no fan of Camping World service, but it can run good or bad, depending upon the tech that you happen to get. I was told by a tech that they do not pay as well as most shops and so they have mostly new, inexperienced techs who leave for better pay as soon as they get some experience. I know that the techs in most CW locations turn over pretty quickly.

 

If you want warranty support you are probably stuck with the shop where you bought the RV but if you share as much detail as you can with us here, there are numerous contributors who have a lot of RV technical and repair knowledge and are happy to share it. Even if you do not do the work yourself, knowing more of what the problem is can only help in getting the correction done properly.

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

            images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqFswi_bvvojaMvanTWAI

 

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Ed, they secure the frig doors one of two ways.

 

On the three door friges, there is usually a strap supplied buy Winnebago that loops through the door handles and then secures to a hook or cleat on the cabinet wall next to it.

 

Usually on the two door friges they supply a long 1/4" bolt that had a flat knob that spans the two doors. Near the top and between the doors there is a hole in the cabinet of the frig that the bolt threads into. Screw it down and clamp the door shut.

 

Tell CW that the response to call Whirlpool is not acceptable and they need to find the security device for the frig doors.

 

Ken

Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot

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CW has had many complaints about their service but there are some locations that are better. If the CW where you bought does not give better service then get the CEO of CW (Marcus) involved. I've read on line of instances where he's corrected issues for CW customers. Also you may try a different CW location. We had great service at one near Madison, Wi.., so there are some that are better than others. Sorry to hear about your issues. You should not have to put up with that. Hopefully you'll get your repairs done soon and it will all be just a bad memory that you have learned from. Best of luck, Dave.

2006 Coachmen Aurora 36ft. Class A motor home. 2009 Honda CRV toad. "Snowbirds" apprx. 6 mos. each year. Travelling to the SW each winter than returning to Wi. each summer. Retired and enjoying our travels along with Buddy the cat.

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Thank you all so much for your help. We escalated it to the GM here at CW and he took notes and promptly addressed the issues.

 

One thing I forgot to mention is our front privacy shade wasn't installed properly and our techs answer to it being ripped was that she would SEE if they would replace it. It wasn't in the track so pulling to the side where it got all crumpled up and ripped a little.

 

A new shade is ordered. They had forgotten to install a piece on the refrigerator door - that is fixed. Our discussion with the GM was where we said, this is our HOME and we expect anyone doing work to treat it like they would treat their own home.

 

Our appointment with Service was for 9:30 AM yesterday as a Waiter. There we were with our pups and no one even looked at it until 1:30 PM. It's sort of like if you are retired they think your time isn't as valuable....but we were assured this would not happen again.

 

Yes we are in Tomball (this is Linda) and my first time on any kind of Forum EVER so I'm not sure yet how to reply to individuals LOL. Not only learning a new life but a new method of communicating!!!!

 

We do intend to write a letter stating good and bad experiences with our departments...one of the GOOD was that we were invited to partake in CWs Thanksgiving meal and made to feel like part of their 'family' with catered dressing, turkey and ham, and each employee contributing a pot luck dish, it was really nice.

 

Thanks again one and all I'm loving this Forum!!!!

 

PS diesel is $2.99 at Spring Cypress and 249 in Tomball...HURRAY!!!!

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Linda, this is Ken. I have talked to you and Ed and the pups. I am the one with the Standard Schnauzer. We are in site 10. DO not be shy, knock on the door.

 

Ken

Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot

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Years ago we gve up on Camping World. They no longer have parking if you are pulling your RV, there lots are full of RVs they want to sell and that is all they care about. We were at the Camping world near Williams, AZ and couldn't find anyone to check us out. We finally just put our items down and walked out. Also, we drive a MDT and had to park on the road.

 

I really feel Camping World lost their way many years ago. Once they started selling RVs everything went downhill.

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We've only been to 2 different CW's so far and I had outstanding service from Spokane/Liberty Lake both in RV sales and service. We didn't buy an RV from them but did try out several and sales were extremely accommodating (sort of a duh). The telling point was service, we had an issue with a fan and a tech found a loose wire in about 10 minutes. Re-crimped the connector and was done - no charge. We will go out of our way to visit this store, they earned our business and loyalty.

 

Boise on the other hand gave us a different feel. It was like we were too poor to be in the store and too stupid to know what we needed (had a broken a/c grill I wanted to order). Granted we stopped there only because it was on our way and the wife wanted to look at the other goodies but hey we did stop. This is a store I will avoid even if based solely because of the negative feel. Nothing else to judge them on really.

 

Caveat: We stop at CW mostly because we like the parts and goodies in the store. There is something to be said for the ability to touch and feel the items rather than just look at pictures online.

Berkshire XL 40QL

Camphosting and touring


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  • 3 weeks later...

Paul and Marilyn,

 

We are still working out the bugs. I like the quality of the line and aside from having to buy all new pots and pans for the induction burners, and figuring out the convection oven, things are falling into place.

 

The transition from part to full time was amazingly easy, so was getting rid of all our STUFF!!! Loving the digital photo frame I just received for my birthday, what a spacesaver!!! And an easy way to hang onto memories!

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Guest ticat900

I read with much interest the Storys about Camping World and there are way more bad storys than good regarding tech service and the abilty to do diagnose

and then to execute the repair properly

 

I watch the show called the "Profit" in which Marcus Lemonis stars in it and is the sole owner of Camping World. I love the show and the guy is great.I find it a little perplexing he allows

his multi billion dollar CW business to constantly get bad press??????????

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CW makes its own decisions and it a company culture that prevails there are some exceptions but not many. My question is why would anyone deal with them? With the internet available it is easy to vet a dealer so everyone should be walking in with their eyes wide open.

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Guest ticat900

CW makes its own decisions and it a company culture that prevails there are some exceptions but not many. My question is why would anyone deal with them? With the internet available it is easy to vet a dealer so everyone should be walking in with their eyes wide open.

obviously they do more good than harm and the greatest % of buyers like them or they would not be the biggest rv repair and sales dealer in the entire world?

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Affinity Group is such a nice bunch of folks and so easy to deal with that they had to shed the name and start sucking the good will out of the Good Sam Club's name. Everything Affinity has touched has changed and not for the better as many RVers have found out. There is competition out there and as folks come to see the way things are it will grow.

 

Still they can be a good place to shop for specific items, just treat them like Best Buy and hope you don't need any after-sale help from them.

First rule of computer consulting:

Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day.

Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime.

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CW was OK, expensive, when they were a parts/products store and did some repairs(not sure of their reputation at that point). Then they saw dollar signs and started selling RVs, at that point the dollars took over. At that point they stopped having parking for RVs, only the tow vehicle(and at some, driving an MDT, that is tight), and concentrated on selling RVs, service and products went downhill.

 

They are the largest because they started with a large base as a parts store. I have never seen any statistics regarding how happy there customers are but I have heard too many stories of "not caring" about the customers rig.

 

We have been lucky I guess, never had to take our rig in for any servicing from a dealer(except for a Dometic recall, made appt, in/out in 30 minutes. We have been Rving for 40 or so years so we feel we have the experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

We have had our current fifth wheel worked on at CW in Ft. Worth and they did great work. Now, this was about 2 and 1/2 years ago so there is no telling how things are now. But then, we were more than satisfied.

 

Joe

2017 Dodge 3500 Laramie 4x4 dually 4.10 Aisin trans. Rear factory air suspension.
2016 DRV Mobile Suites 43' Atlanta

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