Camping World Fraudulent Repair Estimate For Motorhome Roof Ft Worth Texas

My husband and I bought out first camper in April of 2010.  So excited we just loved it.  We went camping 4 times that summer.  By the end of the summer we noticed that the kitchen table had warped.  So we wanted to go camping one more time (Thanksgiving Weekend) and then we brought the camper to Camping World in Robertsdale, AL the Monday after Thanksgiving 2010.  We were going to have them replace the table since it was still under warranty and have an awning installed over the slide out.  The awning was also purchased through Camping World.  We told them we would need it back by the end December because we would be moving to Omaha, NE.  We picked up the camper and noticed that it was the wrong table.  It didn't even match my countertops.  I told them that would be unacceptable.  They said they would order the right one and have it shipped to the Camping World in Council Bluffs, IA.  So we picked up the camper and moved the next day and brought the camper to the Camping World.  I would say April rolls around and they never called and so I called them and they said that it is not repaired yet and they would call me.  Then we go to pick up the camper in May and the table is correct but the slide out has rubbed holes all through the siding.  It houldn't do that.  They are called travel trailers for a reason.  So they fixed the siding only to pick it up again an have it do the same thing in a 30 mile drive back home.  So they repair it again (it is July now) and it was a manufacturesers defect and they had to repair the slide out.  They didn't put the decals back on the camper.  You know the nice curves and lines that campers have when you buy them.  So we picked up the camper, because we were moving to Canton, GA. They said for us to bring the camper to Camping World in Woodstock, GA. where they would put the decals back on.  We wanted them to fix the terrible cailking job that Council Bluffs did after repairing the slide out.  In doing this they called us and said that they had to replace the entire roof.  Now I am waiting on them to put the decals back on.  It is Jan.3 2012.  We have talked our heads off to these people and called corporate and nothing gets done.  I want to be compensated.  I have been making  over a $200.00 camping note every month and been paying for insurance.  This is crap!!!!  I don't know what to do.  After reading all these complaints about camping world I am freaking out as to what they have been doing to our camper.

They actually totaled our unit out!  We had 4k in damage when we got there and they added an additional $12k in damages before we got back out. It took them nine months and they never did fix it.

The more I have researched it the more and more people I have found have been ripped off and damaged by Camping World. It's unbelievable. From scamming to ripping off to shotty workmanship. I even found a website dedicated just to them (hope I am allowed to post it without getting in trouble)...(((Redacted)))

We finally hired an attorney on our unit because our insurance company will not cover the damages that they caused!  Buyer beware!  Your insurance stops when you take the unit into the shop for repairs!!!

I am a former customer service representative for Camping World. I am here to tell you you were ripped off, as are hundreds of Camping World customers every day - particularly those who fail to ask the right questions. While there are many good people working at Camping World stores all over the country, Corporate offices are in a state of change, flux and panic right now. Customer Service is at the bottom of their priority list right now. As a former customer service rep I know. We were laid off when the company moved its offices from Denver back to Bowling Green.

The RV industry is rife with corruption because consumers do not ask questions, do not get things in writing and do not understand 98% of what goes on with an RV. If you don't know the standard price of things, such as repairs, the mechanics and salesmen WILL take advantage of you. For instance, customers would call and order the RV covers for their RV's and we would tout the great quality when in fact we knew the RV covers Camping World sells are crap. The company won't honor their warranty or guarantee and Camping World will pass the buck saying they only act as an agent FOR the cover company. I personally complained about this practice but was met with hostility from my supervisors.

Camping World uses temp employees to staff/man their telephones at the call center. There are a few people who care about the customers - as I did - but most don't. It's a job. Most have never even seen an RV. I lived in one for a year and LOVE RVing so I cared and gave the advice and service your best friend would give you.

Many of the items you buy at Camping World are cheap, over-priced and available at Wal-Mart, Target or hardware stores for half the price. You can make or adapt many items to do the same thing that these items do. The ONLY products I would reccommend from Camping World are the books. But buy them through Amazon. Also, before you get involved in RVing or if you are new to RVing, please, please, please check out the FREE online groups, forums and information through workersonwheels, escapees and other FREE forums not directly tied to Camping World. For instance, the Good Sam Club started out as a great idea, but corporate types found a way to make it a money maker - offering fewer services for more money.

DO NOT JOIN GOOD SAM. There are better, cheaper and more effective camping clubs out there. Join the Free forums you'll find online and talk to other RV'ers before investing in any camping or RV gear or services. Get everything in writing when you must order from Camping World. Better yet, ask the phone rep to give you the name and phone number of the manufacturer of the product you want. Deal directly with them. If they will not deal directly with a consumer, then go to your local sporting goods store, campground or other small business and order it through them. It can be done. If a rep can't help you, call back or demand to speak with a customer service rep or a supervisor. Keep calling until you find someone who cares.

ALL telephone reps have email and internet access. They can email you the terms of a sale or the description of blinds, windows and awnings they ordered for you. MOST reps screw up your order because they are not well trained, don't care, don't understand. MAKE SURE YOU GET EVERYTHING FROM CAMPING WORLD IN WRITING, with a signature and ask to see an ID. I have taken photos of salespeople with my cell phone when they declined to give me their last name. You have NO recourse if you don't have things in writing. Mechanics will make up a bogus name and sign any name. Then you are really screwed unless you want to hire a handwriting expert. So ask to see their employee id or drivers' license or get their business card. If they won't do that, then do business elsewhere.

DO NOT BUY any of the warranties they sell. It makes the rep money and doesn't protect you. I can't tell you how many cases I worked with where the warranty was no good because they are written to protect the manufacturer, not you. If you are considering buying an expensive item, read the warranty and do your research first. Get it IN WRITING via email from the rep who sells you the item whatever it is they promised you on the telephone.

If you have the time and money, ALL CONVERSATIONS with Camping World are tape-recorded. You can go back and demand the tape of your order and conversation. They will tell you that you can't, but you can.

Keep excellent records. Note the day, date, time and name of the rep you contacted. Make notes of the conversation - because they sure do. Your comments, your attitude, your buying history - everything about you is on a screen in front of that rep when you call. They are documenting their end of the transaction, you'd better document your end if you expect them to do anything about broken items etc.

They will NOT pay for return shipping unless the item was broken, damaged or was the wrong item. Another reason for having them email you a confirmation of what you ordered. Keep trac of what you ordered and if they don't read your order back to you, then read it back to them. If you can tape your conversation do it. At least ask for the email. If they won't do it it is because they are lazy.

Some of the biggest scum bags on the earth work at Camping World repair facilities. And some of the best mechanics do too. You can't tell by looking at them so do your homework. Ask for references from friends, post a request online, ask around. ALWAYS get at least three estimates for any major repairs and get them in writing on company letterhead. Reputable companies will do this without blinking an eye. Dishonest ones will complain and whine and insist they'll "remember." Don't believe them. GET IT IN WRITING, DATED AND SIGNED - preferably by a manager.

It's a pain to do this, but it's a bigger pain to try to collect money that's been ripped off from you. As a former employee I believe that overall Camping World has gone downhill, succumbed to corporate greed and will rip you off if you aren't paying attention. Pay attention. Ask questions. Get several estimates and comparison shop before you buy. Learn all you can about RV's through books and online forums and clubs before buying. It will be a pleasant experience. If you don't have internet access or don't know how to do that, go to several local campgrounds and tell the campground manager what you're doing and ask if they can direct you to any full-time RV'ers in their campground that might be willing to talk to you about their RV or experience. Meet them in the campground office and buy them a soda or cup of coffee and just introduce yourself. MOST RV'ers are happy to share what they know. Talk to several. You'll not only make good friends, you may save yourself time and money as well.

Were you ripped off by Camping World? Yes. File a complaint with the state, with the better business bureau and with Camping World corporate headquarters. Post about your experience online in the RV forums so you can warn other campers. And warn your insurance company as well. I would also copy that letter to every insurance company that deals with RV's and there are only two or three. That will alert them to the fraud and they will be less likely to deal with this Camping World - significantly cutting into their profits and racket. Good luck and good camping!!!