Florida RVS Florida RV & Marine Unfair business practices, Not honoring agreed upon price, selling substandard RVs Jacksonville Florida

My wife and I decided we wanted to buy an RV. While researching dealers we came across Floridarvs.com, which is located in Jacksonville Florida. I live in Atlanta Ga, but I have a brother who lives in Jacksonville so I gave him the address of the dealership, stock number and price as it was listed on the web site of the RV we were interested in.

On Monday, June 27^th at approximately 10:30AM my brother went to the dealership and met with the salesman (Ray). My brother and Ray negotiated an “out the door sales price of 11K”. I briefly spoke to Ray on the phone about the unit but advised him I was also interested in another coach they had listed as well.  Ray advised that he was part time but he would share the information with another salesman who would assist me with the deal.

I called the following day and spoke to Cody Snow who advised that he was aware of the deal and would assist me as needed. Cody and I spoke in reference to the 1998 Fleetwood Bounder and he stated that Ray told him that the negotiated out the door price of 11K was the best he could do. I decided to by the 1998 Fleetwood Bounder, which was going to be a cash deal. On 06/30 Cody stated that he needed to confirm the 11k price with Ray because he felt the price was lower than what he would have sold the coach for. Cody forgot to call me back because he got busy with customers but he sent me text on 07/01 stating he got busy and forgot to call me back but the price for the 1998 Fleetwood Bounder was 11k, and the price for the 1999 Fleetwood Bounder was  $13.5K (See attached text confirmation). I agreed to the price and told Cody I was on my way to pick up the coach.

I arrived at the dealership around 4:30PM and met with Cody. Upon my arrival Cody had the coach cleaned, the a/c was on blowing cold air and the coach was perfectly staged. I inspected the coach and it appeared to be in pretty good shape but as I was closing the slide, it stopped working. I made Cody aware of the problem so another gentleman, who was later identified as the owner came out to inspect the coach. I told he gentleman that it appeared to be the hydraulic line. He inspected the coach and advised that one of the hydraulic hoses had burst causing the fluid to spill out and the slide to be inoperable. A short time later Cody came back very apologetically and sad I have some bad news to tell you. He stated that his boss told him they couldn’t sell the coach for 11k. Cody stated that both he and Ray misquoted the price and the least they could take was $13.5K. Cody went on to explain that Ray told him what agreed upon price was and he had no knowledge they could not honor the agreed upon price.  I requested to speak to Cody’s boss so he escorted me inside where I met Todd Totzke. Todd asked me who told me 11k and I showed him the text message from Cody on my phone and I advised him that I had driven 5 hours from Atlanta. Todd stated that there was nothing he could do but he wasn’t going to let the coach go for 11k. We went back and forth about my inconvenience, expense and time but he stated that there was nothing he could do. We looked at a few other units but there was nothing in the 11k price range I had already gotten certified funds for. I asked Todd if they still had the 1999 Fleetwood Bounder for $13.5k and after checking he stated that they did have the unit and the final preparations are being done it.

Cody showed me the 1999 Fleetwood Bounder and told me that the coach had brand new tires, brand new roof, and brand new carpet but just needed to clean prior to delivery. I inspected the coach and saw a few small imperfections but felt it was reasonable for a coach 16 years old. I asked Cody to start the generator and when he attempted to start it the generator would not start. Cody stated that it could possibly be the fuel level so we drove the coach to the gas station and put gas in it. While driving to the gas station Cody and I noticed that engine was louder than normal. I asked Cody if he had any idea what was wrong and he said we would ask Todd when we got back to the dealership. Cody attempted to start the generator at the gas station to no avail, the generator would turn over but it would not start.

We returned to the dealership where we met with Todd and the mechanic. I asked Todd and the mechanic about the generator and advised them that it was a deal breaker if we could not get the generator running. The Mechanic looked over the generator and removed a black hose then told me it was the fuel pump. He stated that he would give me a replacement fuel pump and I could have it put on. He began spraying a chemical in the carburetor which made the generator seemingly start. He then went on to say how easy it was to install.

I asked Cody to turn on the water inside the coach and when he attempted to do the water would not come on inside the coach. Upon inspection of the coach Todd showed me where the left rear tire had a blow out and the rubber from the tire hit the tire wall and damaged the PVC pipe which caused the water not to work. He showed me the two lines that needed to be repaired. Todd went on to explain that the usually repair all of those issues in house because they have a team of people they pay $12hr to make the repairs versus sending out to be repaired by an outside company. Todd stated that both repairs would cost about $200.00 so he deducted the price off the coach by $200.00.

I then told Todd I felt like I heard an exhaust leak and he told me that Fords seldom have exhaust leaks and the coach would level out after driving.  We completed the deal and I advised him that I would call him if there were any issues with the generator, water, or exhaust leak. Todd stated that if there were any problems he would take care of it.

I drove the coach to Atlanta and while in transit the Check engine light came on. I called Todd the following day after I had a tech look at the coach. The teach advised me that the impact of the rubber from the tire damaged the PVC pipe behind a wall that was not visible and as a result the water cold not flow through pipe (See pics). The Tech did repair the two damaged pipes and circumvented the lines so water could be produced but stated the damage behind the wall was severe.

The tech was attempting to replace the fuel pump provided by Todd and his mechanic but realized that the fuel pump provided was not for an Onan generator. The tech further inspected the coach and found that two of the bolts that go into the manifold were broken off completely and as a result it was making the loud noise. He stated the check engine would not go off until it is repaired.

The tech installed a fuel pump and started the generator but power was not supplied inside the coach. The tech then discovered that the generator was not supplying power. The tech discovered that the brushes (see receipt) and some others issues were causing the generator to malfunction. The tech repaired the brushes and the other issues and power was supplied to the coach. The generator is currently working but cuts off after 20 minutes of use. I have not taken the unit back to the tech to have it repaired.

I called Todd and made him aware of the afore mentioned issues and he told me that he spoke to his boss and his boss has agreed to make the necessary repairs. He told me that his boss’s brother has a store in Dublin Ga, therefore I could take the coach to that location which was only 2 hours away. Todd went on to say that there was nothing he could do because it was the weekend but instructed me to call him back on Tuesday and he would make the arrangements.

I called Todd on Tuesday several time and he did not answer. On one occasions he answered and immediately hung the phone up. I then called Cody who advised that Todd was there and he would have him call me back. Todd never called back. The following day I called Cody again and he stated Todd was present and he would get Todd to call me back. Cody stated that the Dublin store was a good place to make the repairs and assured me they were very good. Cody stated that he could not make the arrangements but would have Todd give me a call.

I continued to give Todd a call to no avail and now I’m stuck with a coach that is useless to me. I purchased this coach to take my elderly parents on a trip since they are afraid of flying and I have been embarrassed and disappointed that I ruined the 4^th of July plans by not having the coach I told them I would have to take them away for the weekend.

I would like to return the coach in good faith in its current condition and get a full refund……… Since I’m sure you are not agreeable to that I’m willing to trade it for the Winnebago you currently have listed on your web site. The pricing of the two units are relatively the same as Todd told me that he could put my 1999 Fleetwood Bounder on the lot and sell it easily for 17k.

I feel that we have been more than reasonable in our attempts to be fair throughout this process and at this time we are simply asking that you dealership do what is fair and above board.

I will hold off on having anymore repairs made to the unit until we can mutually agree on resolution that is fair and just.

on 07/18/2016 Todd sent me an email stating "nobody at the dealershiop said they woldn't help you get your issues resolved. He sated that I should have taken the unit to their Dublin store. I sent him an email explaining that I called the Dublin store 3 times and nobody knew what I was talking about and I was told not to bring the unit until I had made arrangements with the Florida store. Todd then responded by say his hands are tied unless I pay the balance of $1,800, which was the difference I we gave him in a check which we stopped payment on 5 days after he refused to return my calls. I told him I would give him the balance after the $1,140.59 I paid for the geneator is deducted.