PDI vs. "the owner"!

[dke1955]

As I posted earlier I am at the point of pulling the trigger on a 3791RD....but honestly the thing that is holding me back is quality concerns. I monitor this forum daily, and have for several months, and for the most part the situations many of you are in with your coaches is...and I am directing this at the manu....completely unnecessary and unforgivable. I mean just pick a part of the coach and do a search for it on this forum and someone (typically more than one) has had an issue...wow. Truly can't believe there will be a customer service rep (many reps) to help y'all with your service issues at the rally....if I was that/those reps I would be packin', cause he will surely be the brunt of all the owners frustrations....anyway that is not the purpose of this post...So I tell salesman I want to do an obsessive compulsive PDI before purchase...to which the salesman says "you will have to speak with the owner, but I'm sure it will be fine", but I am finding out the owner will not resolve any issues if found until the unit is purchased...is this common? I wouldn't think so...

[bobandbrenda]

Every manufacturer whether its a fifth wheel, truck or other consumer good is going to have complaints. You will hear many more complaints than positive comments. This forum tends to be the same. We purchased a new 3950 over a year ago and have had a few problems but nothing earth shattering and we have been using it full time since purchase. No matter what you buy there are going to be some "bugs" that will have to be worked out.

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by dke1955

As I posted earlier I am at the point of pulling the trigger on a 3791RD....but honestly the thing that is holding me back is quality concerns. I monitor this forum daily, and have for several months, and for the most part the situations many of you are in with your coaches is...and I am directing this at the manu....completely unnecessary and unforgivable. I mean just pick a part of the coach and do a search for it on this forum and someone (typically more than one) has had an issue...wow. Truly can't believe there will be a customer service rep (many reps) to help y'all with your service issues at the rally....if I was that/those reps I would be packin', cause he will surely be the brunt of all the owners frustrations....anyway that is not the purpose of this post...So I tell salesman I want to do an obsessive compulsive PDI before purchase...to which the salesman says "you will have to speak with the owner, but I'm sure it will be fine", but I am finding out the owner will not resolve any issues if found until the unit is purchased...is this common? I wouldn't think so...

There are plenty of places to buy - walk away from this dealer now.

Folks with issues tend to post more than those without. The RV industry is not known for their high quality but most units wind up pretty decent. It helps if you are inclined to do some of the work yourself.

Other options are to tent camp, rent RVs or stay in hotels.

[mlh]

All campers have problems. That is nothing new but the owner won’t fix anything until the unit is sold and then he doesn’t haft to unless he wonts to. Now let me think, naw don’t think so, see ya later make that never.
Lynwood

[jeffba]

Wow. We have bought more campers than I care to count. Everyone we did a PDI and made a punch list of things needing repair before money exchanged hands. If the Owner will not fix it before you purchase you can bet it will sit in line forever to be fixed.

I would walk away and let them know why and in any case post their name here to warn others.

[Carl n Susan]

It can't be emphasized enough. Do a complete PDI and have all the identified issues resolved BEFORE you sign the contract!!!!!! Otherwise you likely will have problems getting them serviced after. Of course there may be problems which you don't find until you start using the unit and those will have to go through the warranty process. But those should be minor if the PDI was done and everything fixed then.

If the dealer is unwilling to fix it until you buy it, walk away!!!!

[dhuhn]

As others have said if they won’t let you do a PDI and fix problems before you sign on the line,walk away there are other dealers out there that will take care of problems before you sign.

[phillyg]

Originally Posted by dke1955

As I posted earlier I am at the point of pulling the trigger on a 3791RD....but honestly the thing that is holding me back is quality concerns......So I tell salesman I want to do an obsessive compulsive PDI before purchase...to which the salesman says "you will have to speak with the owner, but I'm sure it will be fine", but I am finding out the owner will not resolve any issues if found until the unit is purchased...is this common? I wouldn't think so...

Maybe common with a smaller dealership. My experience was with two larger dealerships.
I wouldn't have even asked and would have shown up with my list. If they objected, I would have said, "Then we'll buy elsewhere. Cancel my offer to purchase and refund my downpayment (if any)."

While dealerships report they do a PDI, it ain't like the one I did (see previous posts). I take a literal view of the words. PDI refers to your inspection prior to delivery. If you accept the unit prior to the dealership repairing any problems, you've lost all your leverage. I found 13 items needing repair during the PDI I did at Lazy Days. They got on it and fixed the 9 biggest, and agreed to fix the remaining later, and I signed the contract. They never questioned my PDI rationale.

[Montana Man]

If I was told that someone wanted to do an OC PDI, I would have concerns as well. As a dealer, a nit picky customer is a pain. Fully functioning components and good fit and finish is reasonable. Beyond that, I would tell you to have a nice day, or, not give you the best deal expecting you to cost more than average customers.

[1retired06]

You are bringing the dollars, if the dealer does not want to cooperate, walk away.

[jeffba]

Originally Posted by Montana Man

If I was told that someone wanted to do an OC PDI, I would have concerns as well. As a dealer, a nit picky customer is a pain. Fully functioning components and good fit and finish is reasonable. Beyond that, I would tell you to have a nice day, or, not give you the best deal expecting you to cost more than average customers.

You must not be in need of money.

[phillyg]

Originally Posted by Montana Man

If I was told that someone wanted to do an OC PDI, I would have concerns as well. As a dealer, a nit picky customer is a pain. Fully functioning components and good fit and finish is reasonable. Beyond that, I would tell you to have a nice day, or, not give you the best deal expecting you to cost more than average customers.

First step is a negotiated purchase order and probably a deposit. You don't sign a contract till you take delivery, whether the unit is on the lot or being ordered. It's not going to "cost more" if you do a PDI.

Is it nit picky to find gaps in the roof sealant at the front and rear caps, screws instead of nuts and bolts to install the front door steps, one of which was rubbing against the gas line, a TV that wasn't properly adjusted to rise high enough so the remote could point to the sensor, one of six slides that was not adjusted properly and rubbing on the vinyl floor, only 1 of 2 batteries installed (residential fridge requires 2), leaking kitchen sink drain, cracked kitchen counter (Corian)?

I wouldn't have found all those issues, and more, without doing a proper PDI. It's no different than doing a punch list on a new house IMO. I'll take the very small risk of pissing off a difficult dealer to do my due diligence.

[DQDick]

Two things. First, if I were you I would find another dealer. When we bought our 2017 they took the Moryde steps out and cut a hole and mounted the folding steps we wanted and remounted a door before we bought the unit. That was extreme and we had a relationship over several years of having issues fixed there. On the other hand, they found an issue with our AC installation and have told me they now take the AC's off of every new units when the first arrive to fix if necessary, so fixing rigs when something is wrong is the sign of a good dealer. What is your dealer planning on doing, stick someone who doesn't notice something? Second, be careful of using this forum as a reason to worry about buying a new unit. This is the palce to bring problems, not a place to express satisfaction. There are thousands and thousands of members of this forum and the serious problems, numerically are not that large a part of the whole.

[Rsmarlow82]

The industry has gotten sloppy when you spend 50, 60 , 70,000 $ and more the quality is terrible, that is no excuse Simply they don't care
I would send mine back if I had that choice

[w5352]

My family owns a 2018 3790RD and a 2018 3791RD. Both purchased January 2nd 2018 from CW Myrtle Beach. Both have been on five trips each from the coast to the Mountains. No problems with the 5W's or the F-250's

[suny07]

A good dealer relationship is key to RV purchase.
If you are not comfortable with them, and that what it sounds like, walk away and find another one.

Mike

[WeBeFulltime]

We have bought 3 new Montanas from one dealer and have NEVER been asked for one penny until a thorough PDI was done by us and any issues however minor corrected. Run from this dealer if they say otherwise!

[DQDick]

Originally Posted by w5352

My family owns a 2018 3790RD and a 2018 3791RD. Both purchased January 2nd 2018 from CW Myrtle Beach. Both have been on five trips each from the coast to the Mountains. No problems with the 5W's or the F-250's

But for a Camping World those folks are outstanding. A number of folks here have purchased there and there used to be a member who worked there.

[Montana Man]

Originally Posted by phillyg

First step is a negotiated purchase order and probably a deposit. You don't sign a contract till you take delivery, whether the unit is on the lot or being ordered. It's not going to "cost more" if you do a PDI.

Is it nit picky to find gaps in the roof sealant at the front and rear caps, screws instead of nuts and bolts to install the front door steps, one of which was rubbing against the gas line, a TV that wasn't properly adjusted to rise high enough so the remote could point to the sensor, one of six slides that was not adjusted properly and rubbing on the vinyl floor, only 1 of 2 batteries installed (residential fridge requires 2), leaking kitchen sink drain, cracked kitchen counter (Corian)?

I wouldn't have found all those issues, and more, without doing a proper PDI. It's no different than doing a punch list on a new house IMO. I'll take the very small risk of pissing off a difficult dealer to do my due diligence.

What I said was an obsessive compulsive pdi. Way different than a fair inspection to ensure the unit is as advertised, in brand new condition. Some people have unattainable expectations. They usually apply those expectations onto others and not themselves. These trailers are not Mercedes and never will be.

[Rondo]

The dealer should have done his own PDI on the unit before it went on to the lot. It sounds like this dealer just wants to sell and not to take care of any problems that may arise with the unit. In respect to the industry getting sloppy, this is across the whole industry and if one works with the manufacturer and does not threaten them with lawsuits and etc they normally will work with you. If threats are put out by the customer or even the dealer, the manufacturer will just turn their backs. I have seen this with Keystone as well as numerous other companies. The biggest problem is a lot of the dealers. They want to be able to sell a unit but they do not want to do any repairs especially under warranty items. Keystone pays specific pay for warranty items and repairs and the dealers high prices for service repair is more than what Keystone will pay. The problem is the service techs that work for the dealers don't even get a third of the money a dealer charges and that is why there is a shortage of service techs nationwide. If your dealer does not want you to do a PDI or wants you to sign for the unit BEFORE the PDI just look at them and laugh, turn around and walk away. There are other dealers that WILL work with you on pricing and service.