W-H-A-T have I learned? (segment 2) re: "Hanging up the keys"

November 21, 2011, 08:19:39 pm

I have to begin by saying how grateful I am to have heard from so many of the folks who have helped me along with my various issues. I never expected the outpouring from friends (both publicly as well as privately) like I have in the first 24+ hours after posting my 1st message. They certainly have provided me with renewed strength and YES, I do plan to stick around this forum, chiming in when I feel I may be able to impart some small thought or idea.

Even though my next door neighbor, a retired Osteopath, had built me a magnificent set of entry stairs for the FT, I knew the time had come to put my coach up for sale. One of the primary reasons I poured so much money into the coach was that after getting a really great rate from refinancing thru a Costco/Essex Credit plan, I decided to keep the coach for several more years. I knew all to well that it would not provide more than a total of 20 cents towards increasing the resale value...having gone thru this with three previous coaches and numerous automobiles.

Having contacted the Internet Sales Manager, Genevieve (Genne) K. for all of Camping World, before I heard about the special RV refinance program (from a friend on this forum), I thought why not go this route again. After all this person knew just about as much about Foretravels as I did and we had had many discussions in the past. So, as I was getting the coach cleaned out and ready for sale, I decided to tell a few friends as well as post it here on the forum. All in all what that netted me were two people showing a great deal of interest in the coach with lots of questions along with photos. One person in particular even sent me a couple of photos of another coach they later decided to buy...only thing that they never did was to let me know they had changed their minds. So what did I learn from that experience? Not everyone has the courtesy to tell you after weeks of exchanging e-mails back and forth that they were just on a "fishing expedition" and never really were as interested as they made it sound! No money was ever offered, even though there was a strong hint of a low-ball figure on the horizon. At least not all was lost as one good thing did come from that experience...it got all my thoughts on paper and photos too.

So, moving forward with a consignment deal with Camping World at the time, seemed the prudent thing to do. It was only 50 miles away and I liked the fact that most of the sales of used motorhomes went to Canadian's who have a pretty good knowledge of the Foretravel brand. Everything was all set--or so I thought. Just like we discussed the day before I was scheduled to deliver the coach, I called Genne to get exact instructions...OOPS! Something had gone terribly awry. The voice on the other end of the phone (John L.) informed me that Genne no longer worked for Camping World and that he had no knowledge about either my Foretravel nor me. I had just talked with her the week before. Something else I learned: Genne was not a Manager of anything. She presumably was just one of 12 other sales people on their lot---she sure managed to play me for a sucker, I thought.
After several phone calls back and forth that morning including a couple from the Burlington, WA Camping World's General Manager (Tim, no last name given) it was decided that they would very much like to have a high-end coach on their lot and they were "quite certain" it would be sold in less than 60 days! Thankfully, my friend Chuck, a retired pipeline truck driver from Alaska, offered to ride up to CW with me on that June morning. As we were pulling in (had hardly managed to put the parking brake on) we both heard bay doors opening and a couple guys up on the roof. Talk about a bunch of bratty kids with a new toy--clamoring all over my coach--without even so much as a word that I was the person they were expecting. And yes, these were all sales people from Camping World! Chuck and I both looked at each other and thought we must've gone to the wrong place. Before we could speak, Chuck was out the door yelling at these brats to get the H*LL off and away from this coach--"Just who do you think you are?" As I stepped out, all I saw was about a dozen very embarrassed CW employees making a hasty retreat to their office. So, what did I learn Not much I guess, I didn't follow my friends lead. I think by this point, I was feeling rather desperate to get the coach sold, that I was willing to believe anything from anybody.

Once I met John L (acting sales manager) and sat down in his office, I told him of the incident when we arrived. He not only seemed a bit agitated, but gave me his solemn word that only his two best salesmen (not a part of the idiot team) would ever set foot within 50 feet of the coach. Now as comforting as that may have sounded, one of those two BEST salesmen were told about my coach and his very first words (heard by literally everyone (including friend Chuck) in the waiting room, sales offices and office I was sitting in), "so, what kind of trailer is a Foretravel?"

After finalizing the consignment agreement paperwork, I mentioned that I should show these guys a few of the specialty features on my coach including how they operated. That we would need at least 2-3 hours, but they were only willing to give 30 minutes. I can't begin to imagine what happens when they do a "walk-through" with their customers! However, one thing I certainly have learned is I WOULD NEVER EVER BUY OR TEST DRIVE ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH CAMPING WORLD. Several years ago I learned the hard and expensive way to never let them do any maintenance or installation on anything I owned. Now you are probably scratching your heads and asking if John knew better to never let these clowns do any maintenance on his vehicles, why on earth would he let them try to sell his pride and joy. Don't despair--the only explanation I have, is that my mental health was deteriorating faster than my physical health. Besides we all make stupid mistakes, just some are more stupid than others.

In the next few months I got a couple phone calls from them asking questions that would have been covered, had they been able to spend more than 30 minutes with me. At CW's request, I sent them my entire list of amenities and add-ons along with photos--only to find they never bothered to use any of what I sent. So, all the photos they took made the coach look like it was 3 inches wide and 100 feet long. They listed the coach as having 4 hydraulic leveling jacks, propane heat, one 13,000 BTU Coleman A/c, 4 burner stove w/oven, a Caterpillar 375HP engine, and the list goes on. Needless to say, they never sold it. What's more, they never did much of anything...including never detailing it Only two possible customers ever stepped inside the coach according to the sales manager, in the 4 1/2 months it was sitting on their lot. W-H-A-T have I learned? Don't TRUST Camping World for much of anything. Some folks have said they have been treated right and for CW's sake that's great. For me, not so! And for those who have made that claim, I sincerely hope that you never have a claim with a product that CW installed while carrying XYZ product and later stop carrying it. Your tune will probably change just a bit!

As is often the case (this being no exception), I've decided to add an extra segment to the "Christman Encyclopedia" with the next segment titled "Asking for a Favor" and will be the last one I hear back from the folks that currently are getting my coach ready for sale--hopefully to an established Foretravel owner who can appreciate all of its special add-ons (aka gadgets & toys) and TLC, for the last five years.

Re: W-H-A-T have I learned? (segment 2) re: "Hanging up the keys"

Reply #1 – November 22, 2011, 05:49:03 pm

Sorry you had to learn that lesson. CW will never touch my coach. The way I learned was when I went to TN RV. Theu were great but shared a garage with CW. The questions I heard asked was amazing and the Tenn RV guys were training the CW guys. I would have asked for a training salary too.

Re: W-H-A-T have I learned? (segment 2) re: "Hanging up the keys"

Reply #2 – November 22, 2011, 06:48:28 pm

Hi John, I wanted to tell you how much the info on the Silverleaf Glass Dash meant to me, while I have not gone that route yet, it is not out of the picture, I will most likely not do the exact same features as you have. Mostly just the Basic Glass Dash, but who knows. My brother just purchased a new Foretravel with the Glass Dash, and that is over the top for sure. See many options can be fed into it.

I have been looking forward to visiting when I finally get off my butt and head for Silverleaf, maybe summer of 2012. Am certain you will have many great ideas for both Silverleaf and my coach. Have talked with them about one of their techs flying to my location and doling the conversion in my shop. Think I prefer being in their shop with all the gidgits and gadgets in their arena.

Hope you did not have to take a big licking on your coach and sure wish you the very best.
Dave M

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