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RE: First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
I have been looking into the purchase of a diesel pusher as my first RV and found this posting interesting. It confirms many of my thoughts cocerning the selection process.
I have purchased a very useful tool in evaluating RVs from the RV Consumer Group. It provides pricing and ratings for all RVs. You subscribe to either the trailor ratings or the motor home ratings.
In the price section, it indicates that for most RVs, the average price paid for a new coach is 79% of the list price. This means to me that some people pay more and some pay less.
For those of you who have already purchased a new RV, does this agree with your experience?
Thanks.
If you are willing to spend sometime looking, then you should be able to get between 38-40% off new coaches. You may have to travel some distance for those deals, but they are out there. These dealers offer the same as most dealerships. Some do not fill your fuel tank for you, some don't even give propane, but do the same quality of pre-delivery as most dealers except the price is quite a bit less.
Speaking of Pre-delivery. Check out this forum for more information on that. DO NOT EXPECT that any dealer to do a thorough inspection of the coach. YOU are the FINAL INSPECTOR.
Bottome line is that you need to conduct yourself as the CEO of your RV firm. Warranty repairs are very important. For whatever brand name you choose, talk to the owner of them in RV parks, on this forum, and in the parking lot were repairs are being done. If you are bold, even aske the technicians what they own, if any, and what they think. You will learn a lot if you ask direct questions, and are willing to do the work.
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retiredlife
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09/27/08 11:27am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
I just wanted to share my thoughts on some options that you may want to avoid in purchasing a travel trailer, motor coach, 5th wheel. etc. Two absolutely worthless items that I purchased with my motor coach was a central vac and bedroom ceiling fan.
The central vac with the attachments provided did little to clean the carpet. We ended up bringing our old trust worth stand up vacuum cleaner to clean the carpet after several trips with just the central vac. There are accessories that you can purchase that will add to the efficiency, however, the cost far exceed the value.
Our bedroom ceiling fan is a 12v fan (unlike the ceiling fan in our 5th Wheel which was 120v). I am on my second one and fighting to get it replaced again. Our first fan shaft wore out, and the current fan shaft has enough play that when you are sleeping in the quite of the night it will wake you up. It either squeaks, or rattles, depending on its mood. The technician told me that this is the way most of the 12v fans are. I am asking for a third replacement fan. Unless you are a very sound sleeper, you might want to avoid this one.
Our coach came with the central vac and I thought it would be something we really wouldn't use, but we love it!! Our works really well and I like the extra feature in the kitchen, the toe-kick lever where you can sweep dust and dirt into (has major suction!).
Also, our bedroom ceiling fan is quiet and works well. That is ONE feature that I would not be without as I like air flow (summer and winter).
Just my take...
MM.
Glad to hear that someone has better luck the us. The floor kick toe was not avaliable on our unit. All we got was some plastic tools and a floor brush with retractable brush for the carpet. We have a dog and it truely does not suck the dirt out of the carpet. We carry our upright vac with us.
Can you tell me the brand name of yours? It has to be a 12v Ceiling fan because that is the wiring voltage. I have been looking for an upgrade to this fan in the hope that it will be a better one. Anyone out there have any url's???????
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retiredlife
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09/21/08 12:38pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
We're on our way from Flagstaff to pick up our first motorhome. I think that any of us who have survived the "buying a used RV experience" should get combat pay. We looked at 9 different dealerships from Flagstaff to Tucson. La Mesa in Tucson was the worst. We walked in with what we wanted and how much we'd pay for it. Don't these people ever LISTEN to what you're saying? It was one salesman after another(the vultures were circling) trying to get us to buy something that was over the price we'd budgeted, playing one game after another. By the time we got out of that place, we were both so angry that we just wanted to go home. Then we did get a unit in Mesa at Camping World. We were scheduled to do a walk through the following Friday. My husband took a half day off and we drove the 160 miles it is from our house to Mesa. The last thing tested on the unit was the generator. It didn't start. I thought - Of course it doesn't work. They promised to have it ready by Saturday morning, so we got a hotel. The next morning my husband called the dealership to inquire as to when we could pick the unit. The reply to his question was, "Huh? I don't know what you're talking about. We don't have anybody here to fix it until Monday." So here we are going back to Phoenix to try once again to pick it up....Oh, the last thing the salesman said to us after we'd bought it was, "I'll make sure that everything goes smoothly from here." We tried :h:hto call him when it wasn't going so smoothly but he called in sick. Is this normal?
If you are asking an opinion; the answer is yes; this is normal. "You Will Not Get What You Thought You Paid For". Good luck on getting warranty work done. Anything that isn't WRITTEN IN THE CONTRACT didn't happen by law, unless you can prove it by witnesses. You must assume that every word that the salesmen says is a lie; period. Always have a good attorney in your back pocket. It is a requirement for doing business in the RV Industry. I look at the RV salesmen the same way I look at a used car salesmen.
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retiredlife
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09/21/08 12:32pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
First Time Buyers in Phoenix and elsewhere,
After the fact. After purchasing a used 2004 pusher from Beaudry RV in Phoenix and experiencing some very difficult situations and safety issues we checked with the Better Business Bureau to discover they had an UNSATISFACTORY rating with BBB.
Shame on us, unexperienced RV buyers who made a very big emotional compulsive mistake.
Please make sure to check with the BBB to find out how other consumer's rate the business you are dealing with.
JJsedona
Beaudry just got bought out by Lasy Days in FL. The problems may not go away. Robbie
As of last week, the Lasy Days buy-out may have fallen through. Robbie
Talked with the sales people about two weeks ago, and Beaudry had fired its Senior Mangers, half the work force, and is desperate for business. No surprise here. Trouble I see is Beaudry is still Beaudry, you don't change management attitude at the top when the top guy is still there.
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retiredlife
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09/17/08 01:14pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
I just wanted to share my thoughts on some options that you may want to avoid in purchasing a travel trailer, motor coach, 5th wheel. etc. Two absolutely worthless items that I purchased with my motor coach was a central vac and bedroom ceiling fan.
The central vac with the attachments provided did little to clean the carpet. We ended up bringing our old trust worth stand up vacuum cleaner to clean the carpet after several trips with just the central vac. There are accessories that you can purchase that will add to the efficiency, however, the cost far exceed the value.
Our bedroom ceiling fan is a 12v fan (unlike the ceiling fan in our 5th Wheel which was 120v). I am on my second one and fighting to get it replaced again. Our first fan shaft wore out, and the current fan shaft has enough play that when you are sleeping in the quite of the night it will wake you up. It either squeaks, or rattles, depending on its mood. The technician told me that this is the way most of the 12v fans are. I am asking for a third replacement fan. Unless you are a very sound sleeper, you might want to avoid this one.
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retiredlife
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09/17/08 01:06pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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Mobile Internet Service Providers
I am looking for a internet service provider were I can access the internet without looking for wifi and is cheaper or better than the cell phone providers. I heard that there is such a thing that you can be mobile in your RV and still have service.
Does anyone know of such a thing
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retiredlife
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07/16/08 05:39pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
First Time Buyers in Phoenix and elsewhere,
After the fact. After purchasing a used 2004 pusher from Beaudry RV in Phoenix and experiencing some very difficult situations and safety issues we checked with the Better Business Bureau to discover they had an UNSATISFACTORY rating with BBB.
Shame on us, unexperienced RV buyers who made a very big emotional compulsive mistake.
Please make sure to check with the BBB to find out how other consumer's rate the business you are dealing with.
JJsedona
I posted a thread on Beaudry RV about a month back. I got ripped off by them too, except on service issues, not a new purchase. I am glad I didn't buy anything from them
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retiredlife
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05/24/08 05:17pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Check out the dealership before you buy
I think it's important to report positive experiences as well. We just purchased a used 1999 Travel-Lite Bantam 19' hybrid from Driftwood RV center in Cape May County NJ. The trailer was being turned in as a trade on the day that my wife was shopping in the dealership. We met the previous owners and got the lowdown on the vehicle from them. The dealership gave us a great deal on the camper and the hitchwork. They also walked us through set up and breakdown of the trailer, repaired little problems that cropped up during the demo, installed a new battery, set the camper up on their campground for us and brought my tow vehicle to the campsite when the work was done. We have to say that we were pleased with the entire sales and service staff from the RV center and the campground.
It is equally as important to report good dealerships throughout the Nation. Having both type of write-ups is important to us all.
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retiredlife
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05/09/08 12:29pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Beaudry RV in Tucson AZ - Complaint
Have all of you been living under a rock somewhere? Beaudry has had this poor reputation for as long as I can remember.
Sad to say some friends who had service there (not warranty work), thought that they did a good job on their repairs. Not realizing (have my head in the sand) that they may screw me on warranty repairs, I stop. We have been in west Texas since we got the camper, and having family in Tucson we thought that we might get service there. My family did not know of Beaudry RV since they are not RVers. Think it is a waste of money.
On the recommendation of one of the forum members, I sent an email to Monaco Coach regarding the incorrect technical information (street horn issue) and Beaudry RV in general. I sent it last Thursday, and haven't even got a note back from Monaco yet.
I will post the results either in the thread, if positive, or post a separate thread if negative. I have gotten mixed reviews as to whether Monaco takes care of its customers. We will see.
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retiredlife
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04/30/08 10:17pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
NOTE ON BUYING NEW 2008-09 etc... We are still looking at around 35-37 feet diesel and plan to tow. VERY little dealer info on what is required of towed car, how it is hooked up, front wheels of ground, etc.. or costs or what is best method hardware to use to tow
BUT REAL RIP OFF we found was the TV sets. NEALY ALL say.. "LCD" etc..b BUT.. we found that nearly ALL were of the LCD BUT NOT HD.. which will be ONLY ones OK after digital kicks in. We asked dealers about that and got kind of dumb look of "Aw well....etc". One said NOT an issue as you will go Sat for receiving. so asked about what happens if we want local TV if parked somewhere as "local while on move" is question? We then find that a lot of "LCD" TV on sale, and more so installed in RV's is NOT HD.. and friend in TV business aaid, huge discounts being given at whole sale levels on the NOT HD but are LCD for use in any area, not just homes.. So WATCH what you get. the "Big LCD may not quite be what you thought it was.. and none could discuss if we wanted to play CD's, the old ones we have, as well as the new HD what happens then???? Seems that buying and knowing what you get is more difficult each day.. more so in RV land.
I have a Toyota that I use as a tow vehicle. Since it is necessary for the front wheels to be off the ground during towing, I bought the Demco Kar Kaddy SS. Retail Price is around $3500, however you can buy it for around $2300 on the net.
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retiredlife
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04/28/08 08:50am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Check out the dealership before you buy
Getting back on helping the First-time buyer: Whatever is being sold on the lot according the the salesperson is good quality (even if it isn't) because that is the only thing he has to sell and make a commission off of. If you are the average buyer, they salesperson will say that don't worry about it, it is covered by warranty, sign here.
The first-time buyer (and that is what we are talking about here) is surprised when he returns for warranty work after a week of checking out the coach and home, he has to wait 1+ months to get it serviced, and then 1+ months to get parts, and 1+ months to get it an appointment for the install. Summer is over, perhaps you can use the unit next year.
Case in point: If I wasn't an experience buyer the following would have gone differently.
I recently purchased a 08 Monaco Dip, and I added a few extra caveat's of my own to the contract, which were agree to by the dealership. I ended up exercising them to their disadvantage. My salesperson stated that the coach was ready for pick-up and in only three days after delivery to them they were able to do a complete PDI. I ask the salesperson, have you gone through the unit? Reply: Yes. Are you sure it is ready for pick-up? Reply: Yes. When I got there (1700 miles from home) we did our own PDI to their surprise which took us two days (motor coaches are much more complicated the trailers and 5th wheels). I spent another month there while they got parts. My caveat was simply, if not ready because of warranty issues, they were to pick up the lodging tab.
I thought that my salesperson was fairly honest, but at the end of the day he wanted his commission, otherwise they would have called me with the REAL PDI was complete, and I would not have to do one myself. In fairness, I did miss a few things myself, but were minor enough to disregard and fix myself.
My point is simple, even if you think you know the person, or your gut tells you it is ok, all buyers should remember to ask questions, trust know one when $$ are involved, and take on the responsibility of protecting your own interests and rights. No one cares more about you getting a fair deal, then you.
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retiredlife
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04/26/08 09:34pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Beaudry RV in Tucson AZ - Complaint
Retiredlife
I am not trying to be a knucklehead I under stand sometimes it is just best to keep going.
Have a good visit and travels and we will see ya on the road
JimR
I never thought you were. I appreciate your input.
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retiredlife
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04/26/08 08:03am |
Class A Motorhomes
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Check out the dealership before you buy
One of the biggest mistakes I have bad over the years is not doing my homework when it comes to dealerships. When I started RVing there was no forums, just word of mouth. Word of mouth is good because they will either tell you about the best or worst of the dealership, but it is limited to the number of people you know.
Belonging to RV forums, you get the vast knowledge of all those that surf the net. Take advantage of it. Before you buy, as the question "Has anyone done business with ...........?" You should get a fair amount of feedback to make an informed decision.
Remember, the contracts you sign are your only evidence in most states, therefore; "Buyer Be Ware". Most states exclude spoken words from the contract, and your contract will also exclude unwritten promises. Unless you can get the salesmen to admit it in court, it is not admissible.
Currently the economy is in the tubes, therefore there are going to be a lot of promos out there, and good deals. Remember, "forwarded is forearmed". Happy RVing.
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retiredlife
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04/26/08 08:01am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Beaudry RV in Tucson AZ - Complaint
Some more food for thought . Was the tech who was put on the job making french fries last week ? If so, we have to pay for incompentence . Did they even look at the coach ? If not, they charged you for nothing . Charging for diagostics is a fair charge if it was really done my a competent tech, WHO would have found the problem
I think that they are just crooks, and that should say it all. It takes a real low life to screw as many people as it sounds like Beaudry RV has done. There is nothing dumb about this crook. They simply have no moral or ethical values.
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retiredlife
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04/25/08 11:02pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Beaudry RV in Tucson AZ - Complaint
I do have to agree with a lot of the posts here but:
My fault, your fault, nobodys fault if you have an estimate that does not list a charge IMO you do not pay! I have signed some estimates that say warranty and I expected nor did I pay anything. The only exceptions to that is a shop that I trusted and a minor repair was done just to get it done and out the door. If they hold your MH as ranson there are other ways to recoup your money back.
A question here:
In your state does the estimate on a repair order hold any weight? I know in CA when I wrote an estimate I had to be very close or my boss whould ask a lot of questions and if the estimate was to go over the customer was called for an OK or to come on down and look for themselves. An estimate for the insurace company was even more critical..
JimR
In this case, I am simply visiting my son here in Tucson and we be will continuing through with our travels. I know nothing of the state's requirements.
The irony of it was that I was going to bring it back just before we left for a wash and wax. That is a lot of $$ for them, but that will never happen now. It is their loss is the way I look at it because they will never get another dime from me, and of course the bad press may hinder a sale or two.
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retiredlife
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04/25/08 10:56pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Beaudry RV in Tucson AZ - Complaint
Several weeks ago I was at Beaudry's in Phoenix for work on my Hydro-Hot. After several days of trouble shooting, parts and labor ($450) they told me it was the controller. They said the only one they had was the one the tech used to do tests. They told me I could have that one ($450 more) and they would order him a new one. My complaint is that the first thing they should have done was a ten minute job of unplugging my controller and plugging in the tech's. That would have saved me two and a half hours of labor and the other parts they changed.
Dan
I wish I had posted the question "Who as done business with Beaudry RV" before I went there. I am sorry that you had the experience. The main reason why I posted the message was to warn others. Thank you for your feedback.
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retiredlife
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04/25/08 09:35am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Beaudry RV in Tucson AZ - Complaint
Beaudry RV, another good and valid reason to patronize an honest, straight-forward, quality, above-the-board dealer like DeMartini RV.I know that good dealerships are out there, but I wish I had a list of them for services as I travel. No doubt, I am sorry I stopped at Beaudry RV.
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retiredlife
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04/24/08 09:32pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Beaudry RV in Tucson AZ - Complaint
Well, I have a different point of view and appreciate yours.
If the customer states DO NO WORK THAT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, then don't do any work. If you don't have the expertise to solve intermittent problems, then skip it, and move on. DON'T STIFF THE CUSTOMER.
First, I am a retired automotive engineer with many, many man hours of experience in electronics, mechanical engineering, automotive design, and trouble shooting the most difficult electrical issues that goes well beyond the capabilities of the most experienced technicians. Motor Coaches like mine are hardly advanced engineering designs. Techs do require a through understanding of why a slide may jerk and stop several times as the slide move out regardless if service tech sees it.
For example it could have been low voltage, to small of a motor with not enough amps to do the job (manufacture's fault), or out of adjustment. These are common problems, and an experience tech knows his capabilities. Any idiot can push the button and let the slide out, (as in my case) and when it goes out, say NO TROUBLE FOUND, and then charge you .5 hours labor on a two minute effort.
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retiredlife
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04/24/08 09:23pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Beaudry RV in Tucson AZ - Complaint
I agree.
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retiredlife
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04/24/08 10:21am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Beaudry RV in Tucson AZ - Complaint
I would agree that they have the right to charge if I specifically hadn't stated that I did not want any work done that wasn't covered by warranty. The problems that I encountered with the coach are real, valid and were acknowledged by the Service advisor as common to the 08 Monaco Dip.
The posture that puts the responsibility for the technician's capabilities in the constomer's hands is a bad one. It means that even if a repair facility has inexperienced technicians which are just not experienced enough to find the problem we have to pay for it. Why don't we just pay to send them to school too.
That is why that most states require a repair facility to provide the costs in writing.
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retiredlife
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04/24/08 07:44am |
Class A Motorhomes
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