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10-30-2012, 06:10 AM
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#1
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Gone Traveling
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: ALBUQUERQUE
Posts: 248
M.O.C. #12840
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Dometic A&E unhappy customer
I wrote, on this site, about the slide out awnings I had installed on my Monty. The type, from Dometic A&E, have what is called 'alumaguard' at the attachment point to the trailer. The first night I was out with it we had only moderate winds and neither my wife or I got any sleep. This alumaguard rattled on all 4 slides unbearably. The alumaguard is intended to protect the fabric roll and attachment point from the elements when rolled up. What I thought was a prudent upgrade for my rig turned into an expensive nightmare. Because there is not enough fabric on the roller to simply remove the alumagard section, the entire fabric must be replaced. The product is clearly faulty and the company says that there is no fix.
Dometic is sending the replacement fabric, at no cost, to the dealer that installed the original BUT I will be charged for the installation costs (over $500). They even had the nerve, when I expressed my dissatisfaction, that since the original awnings were new that I could sell them to someone else! Fortunately I don't have any enemies to sell them to. Let me know if you do!
As you can imagine I am not happy with Dometic's response. My intention here is to warn every RV owner that deals with this company to beware ...THEY ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS and there is nothing worse than that for an unsuspecting consumer. If just one RV owner decides not to buy this product from Dometic I will be happy.
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10-30-2012, 06:19 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Many in the company probably would like to, but the legal department keeps a lid on that type of thinking.
I imagine when you have thousands of 'Widgets' in the field, admitting to a problem with them opens yourself up to a plant closing..
Sorry for the problems, if you come by, we will see if the Ozzman can tighten them up 
Can you take some close-up pictures of the assembly? I will try and look them up.
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10-30-2012, 10:43 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Have you considered changing them out yourself and selling the ones you don't like? I have never done an awning replacement, but I believe I could with 1 helper. From what I've read it is not very hard to do.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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10-30-2012, 11:22 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Sorry to here about your problems! We looked at those when we bought ours and decided against them. Glad we did.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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10-30-2012, 04:25 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Eastern
Posts: 1,155
M.O.C. #7270
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They are simple to remove and replace. I changed one of mine you can also tighten them up by sliding them off and winding another turn on the tube just put two nails or carter keys in it to hold it.
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10-30-2012, 04:31 PM
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#6
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Gone Traveling
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: ALBUQUERQUE
Posts: 248
M.O.C. #12840
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Well as of 7 hours after my original posting I am up to about $5 per read here ... translates to over 100 slaps at Dometic. Hope that Good Sam puts my comments sent to them in their magazine. That should get a good many more slaps.
Don't get mad .... get even!
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10-31-2012, 01:41 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Unfortunate problems with Dometic. They have always been straight with me.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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10-31-2012, 07:20 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Copperas Cove
Posts: 1,426
M.O.C. #12096
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Hmmmm I have never had the toppers but my awning on my old Alpenlite was one of those alumaguard awnings and we loved it. We liked it because it seem to roll up tight and never had any rattles or banging. On the road or in high winds I highly doubt it could come unraveled like vinyl awnings. When this one buys the farm we already said we want to get another one with the alum guard. It sure does help when you rub a tree branch and it don't take a large tree branch either.
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11-01-2012, 08:27 AM
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#9
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Gone Traveling
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: ALBUQUERQUE
Posts: 248
M.O.C. #12840
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by McIver
Well, as of 2 days after my original posting I am up to about $2 per read here ... translates to over 200 slaps at Dometic. Hope that Good Sam puts my comments sent to them in their magazine. That should get a good many more slaps.
Don't get mad .... get even!
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11-01-2012, 10:43 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Navarre
Posts: 1,527
M.O.C. #9765
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What Bobbie said. Wife and I removed all 4 and reinstalled.
Mike
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11-04-2012, 09:00 AM
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#11
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Gone Traveling
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: ALBUQUERQUE
Posts: 248
M.O.C. #12840
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Thanks, for your comments, everyone. The bottom line of my complaint is that Dometic is not paying for the reinstall of these awnings. That is over $500 more out of my pocket (I am not skilled, nor do I want to be, in awning installation). One can draw only one conclusion about that company ... shortsighted. I would not have hesitated to speak well of them if they had dealt with this as a truly customer centered company would.
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11-04-2012, 12:36 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: No. Attleboro
Posts: 338
M.O.C. #6002
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I agree with Dave. I believe they are pretty simple to replace with just 1 helper.
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