PDI

Topic: PDI (Read 968 times) previous topic - next topic

PDI

September 12, 2014, 08:56:12 pm

Hey Folks,

Just returned from Hersey and attended a seminar by the "RV Doctor", Gary Bunzer. Seems like a very knowledgeable individual and talked about RVIA and PDIs. Specifically, he advised that you should hire a certified technician to conduct your PDI if you're buying from a third-party. However, he stated that most reputable dealers conduct their own PDI/repairs when they take-in units on trade, put it thru their service department to check all the systems before they put them back out on the lot for sale. He stated you should ask for their full PDI of the RV you're interested.

So, my question, which no doubt has a simple answer, is why on this site do some individuals recommend hiring a certified technician if you're buying, for example, from FOT or MOT who seem very reputable. That certainly makes sense since if I did hire a tech, I would want to be right along side him to learn as much as I can when it comes to the future maintenance of the FT.

Thanks for your help, Tim

Re: PDI

Reply #1 – September 12, 2014, 09:15:14 pm

Quote from: jake62 – September 12, 2014, 08:56:12 pm

Just returned from Hersey and attended a seminar by the "RV Doctor", Gary Bunzer. Seems like a very knowledgeable individual and talked about RVIA and PDIs. Specifically, he advised that you should hire a certified technician to conduct your PDI if you're buying from a third-party. However, he stated that most reputable dealers conduct their own PDI/repairs when they take-in units on trade, put it thru their service department to check all the systems before they put them back out on the lot for sale. He stated you should ask for their full PDI of the RV you're interested.

I respectfully disagree with his comments.

Most of what I have read indicates RV dealers do NOT perform much in the way of "check all systems" PDI/repair. As my brother would say, "a little powder and paint, make her what she aint" is more what they do. Mask the obvious and turn the inventory.

An RV dealer also has a vested interest to sell you a coach from their inventory, be in a trade-in owned by them or a consignment. Are the salesman's lips moving?

An independent inspector (and don't be fooled by "certified"; some organizations offer "certification" courses whose real purpose serve the purpose of earning money for the company) has no vested interest in whether you buy the RV or not. That is the best way to ensure you get an honest assessment of a unit.

Two words - Brett Wolfe. Be there for the inspection. Ask questions. You will learn things you didn't know you needed to know.

Re: PDI

Reply #2 – September 12, 2014, 09:19:58 pm

Quote from: Michelle – September 12, 2014, 09:15:14 pm

I respectfully disagree with his comments.

Most of what I have read indicates RV dealers do NOT perform much in the way of "check all systems" PDI/repair. As my brother would say, "a little powder and paint, make her what she aint" is more what they do. Mask the obvious and turn the inventory.

An RV dealer also has a vested interest to sell you a coach from their inventory, be in a trade-in owned by them or a consignment. Are the salesman's lips moving?

An independent inspector (and don't be fooled by "certified"; some organizations offer "certification" courses whose real purpose serve the purpose of earning money for the company) has no vested interest in whether you buy the RV or not. That is the best way to ensure you get an honest assessment of a unit.

Two words - Brett Wolfe. Be there for the inspection. Ask questions. You will learn things you didn't know you needed to know.

What she said X2

Re: PDI

Reply #3 – September 12, 2014, 09:25:46 pm

Hi Tim,
Everything Michelle and John said.
Raymond

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Reply #4 – September 12, 2014, 09:28:33 pm

You answered the question in your second paragraph with the word, "seem." Having been in the car business for quite a few years, I have seen the rules bent depending on the company, the sales person, etc. How many cars recovered from hurricanes have been cleaned up and sold in another state without disclosing the damage to buyers? If you were buying a home, would you use the real estate company's attorney? Hiring an inspector you trust may cost a little but you need someone in YOUR corner, not the seller's regardless of how honest they seem. And naturally, you should be able to walk along.

Pierce

Re: PDI

Reply #5 – September 12, 2014, 09:35:44 pm

I would imagine that a reputable dealer has somewhat of a vested interest in making sure that anything they sell (and therefore has their name on it) is in at least reasonably good condition, even if they have to put a bit of money into it. Most RV dealerships don't sell that many units each year, so it doesn't take much Internet chatter to ruin a reputation (and therefore the business) if all they do is give the coach a bath. The other side of that is that a dealership that goes the extra mile, making sure that the coach is in as good condition as possible and taking care of whatever issues show up later, will soon have a reputation that builds their business.

The sales person's job is to move the merchandise, no matter what. They aren't responsible for making sure that the coach is as advertised, just to get it sold. Having a disinterested third-party inspect any high-dollar purchase is generally a good idea. If that third-party inspector is an absolute expert so much the better.

Re: PDI

Reply #6 – September 12, 2014, 09:47:32 pm

Be aware that many units, particularly at MOT are consignment units. The dealer does not own them. Some may have had great "care and feeding", others virtually neglected or even abused. The dealer has not and should not do a PDI-- if anything they do and should work for the seller.

A dealer trade MAY, repeat MAY be different.

Re: PDI

Reply #7 – September 12, 2014, 09:58:50 pm

Everything said ... makes sense to me, which is the same principle of taking a car you want to buy to have it checked over by your mechanic vs. the dealer's mechanic, who probably, to some degree, had gone over it for the dealership.

Brett,
Excellent point which I didn't consider on a consignment. I will certainly hire you or someone with your credentials when I get closer to getting down to Texas to purchase a FT the end of '15.

Re: PDI

Reply #8 – September 12, 2014, 10:00:55 pm

Good point, Brett. A consignment is, in effect, a private sale, and should be treated as such. I believe that both FOT and MOT have both trade-in and consignment coaches and they are clearly marked.

Re: PDI

Reply #9 – September 12, 2014, 10:55:21 pm

To add a little fuel to the fire. Just because a PDI has been performed and you have seen the work order generated/completed to repair the defective stuff and the RV service organization is "reputable" DO NO ASSUME that everything has been completed satisfactorily. There are some out there that charge alot for what they do not do. Don't ask me how I know.

Re: PDI

Reply #10 – September 13, 2014, 12:51:55 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – September 12, 2014, 09:47:32 pm

Be aware that many units, particularly at MOT are consignment units. The dealer does not own them. Some may have had great "care and feeding", others virtually neglected or even abused. The dealer has not and should not do a PDI-- if anything they do and should work for the seller.

A dealer trade MAY, repeat MAY be different.

We purchased our coach from FOT in July 2013. It was a consignment coach. We did not have a third party inspection performed. That may have been a mistake, knowing what we know now after being members on Foreforum for a year now. However, the salesman at FOT told us that when the coach was placed on consignment that FOT employees performed an inspection on coach. This inspection covered 80 or 90 items. I am not sure if it was a PDI. Anyway, we were told that all the things identified on the inspection as needing repairs or adjustment would be corrected. During this inspection a FOT technician noted that the inverter/charger did not seem to be functioning properly. During the next couple of days the technician observed the functioning of the inverter/charger. The day we arrived at FOT to close and take delivery of the coach, the technician determined that the inverter/charger was not working correctly and needed to be replaced. FOT obtained approval from the owner and replaced the inverter/charger. The cost to replace the inverter/charger, the new remote control unit, and rework the cabinet to fit the new, larger remote control unit was approximately $3,000. In addition, all the items identified on the inspection report were repaired or adjustment.

Our purchase at FOT may not have been the usual way consignments are handled. However, after one year and 10,000 miles, the only problems we have had are the door step would not retract when the door was closed and the fuel tank gauge read incorrect. We had both items repaired at FOT about six months after the purchase.

Re: PDI

Reply #11 – September 13, 2014, 08:39:20 am

MOT is similar - they do an inspection and inform the owner of findings prior to putting on Lot. Â If there are know deficiencies with a coach that the owner defers the repair, that is disclosed to the prospective buyer (on consignment coaches they can not force repair, but they urge repair and most owners go along with the repair.

MOT and FOT are probably above average in integrity when it comes to the spectrum of RV dealers....

Re: PDI

Reply #12 – September 13, 2014, 09:19:41 am

I know this is a different topic, so moderators feel free to move this to the correct area, but with FOT located in Naco, TX, where do those of you who live out-of-state get your FT's serviced? Just wondering if you have to return to FOT, like SOBs have to return to the factory for minor or major service items or can FTs be serviced by other service centers around the country?

Re: PDI

Reply #13 – September 13, 2014, 09:23:58 am

Cummins Coach Care locations for mechanical systems. Parliament in Florida, Keystone in PA, Tennessee RV in Knoxville. There are also locations people have recommended in Oregon and southern California. I'm sure others will chime in soon.

Re: PDI

Reply #14 – September 13, 2014, 09:54:33 am

Quote from: jake62 – September 13, 2014, 09:19:41 am

I know this is a different topic, so moderators feel free to move this to the correct area, but with FOT located in Naco, TX, where do those of you who live out-of-state get your FT's serviced? Just wondering if you have to return to FOT, like SOBs have to return to the factory for minor or major service items or can FTs be serviced by other service centers around the country?

Howdy jake62,
I took these pics of service center locations. This was posted in the FOT customer lounge. I don't have experience with any of these, except for FOT.
Dave A

Re: PDI

Reply #15 – September 13, 2014, 10:12:30 am

I can recommend Parliament Coach in St. Petersburg FL as competent and fair priced. Unfortunately I can't recommend TN RV at this time, as much as I like and trust James Holder, who is service manager and a member here.

Re: PDI

Reply #16 – September 13, 2014, 11:40:07 am

I use Central Power in Springfield, MO for work on my Detroit. They also service Allison transmissions.

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Reply #17 – September 13, 2014, 12:56:51 pm

Thanks for the information which helps a lot. Too bad about TN RV, since our daughter now lives near Nashville, and we were looking to home-base out of TN.

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Reply #18 – September 13, 2014, 04:06:50 pm

Just another opinion on TN RV. I suspect
that Tim has had an unfortunate experience at this business. In the remote past, shortly after they started up, I did too. They had some trouble with service managers and morale in the shop. One of the best Foretravel techs left. There have been other members here who have also had bad experiences. My encounters, there, however, have always been very favorable. I always ask for and get one of the older, experienced Foretavel techs, most left over from Foretravel of Tennessee. I always stay with the coach while work is in progress. I discuss my wishes with the service writer, the service manager, the tech and sometimes with the owner, Roger Sellers.
The work that I have had done has always been satisfactory, the prices acceptable (can't say reasonable). The staff has always been courteous, knowledgable and efficient. Sometimes I have to be a little patient listening to all about the family, etc. but I am retired and if that's what it takes to get good service, that's OK, it is hard to find these days.
I routinely have my service done there and will continue to do so.

Re: PDI

Reply #19 – September 13, 2014, 05:52:45 pm

Quote from: Horace B. Cupp – September 13, 2014, 04:06:50 pm

............................Just another opinion on TN RV. I suspect that Tim has had an unfortunate experience at this business. In the remote past, shortly after they started up, I did too.........................................................

FWIW,
Thank you Horace, for acknowledging that others have had different experiences (not that long ago).

I suppose that anyone can have a bad day, but it's always disappointing when it happens to you. It is especially disappointing when no one seems to care, including the facility owner (TN RV).

We used TN RV for years and had very good to excellent experience while they were part of the FT Sales and Service, six store network in Kodak, TN. Under new management in Knoxville, TN, we also had several good services while the experienced FT technicians were still there. Then we had three consecutive bad experiences that cost us several thousand dollars. BIG WAKE UP CALL!! Appeals for fair play fell on deaf ears. Short of a dire emergency, we will never use them again while they are under the Roger Sellers ownership.

Not quite the same for Parliament, but we will never use them again either. Their service manager (and our unlucky draw of several, at least four) technicians had a real attitude toward "Little Foretravel Campers". They obviously preferred to work on Prevost conversions. They successfully ruined a starter motor out of ignorance and obstinacy, during a simple oil change After I found him, one of the owners (Steve Michell) finally intervened to stop the abuse, but we paid for the ruined starter in the end. Same story, short of an emergency, we won't give them an opportunity to mistreat us again (in this case) as long as those techs are still in their employ.
Full disclosure. Different strokes for different folks. Check RV Service Reviews and SEARCH the ForeForum for informative (not just unsupported cheer-leading) posts. Trust what you hear, but verify for yourself if you value your $'s.
Neal

Re: PDI

Reply #20 – September 13, 2014, 06:55:14 pm

Wish that was my experience two years ago............

PM me for details.

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Reply #21 – September 13, 2014, 06:57:33 pm

Only used parliment last 2.5 years . 4x great each trip including this spring.

Chris the service manager drove each positive experience. Mot still my first choice

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Reply #22 – September 13, 2014, 08:44:10 pm

Paul Yasbeck in Leesburg is the guy to see in central FL.....former FT factory trained tech...he knows FT's inside & out, does it all. Busy guy (also has his own construction biz) but well worth the wait. I think his web site is Yasbeck Construction, Inc. - Home

Re: PDI

Reply #23 – September 14, 2014, 10:32:00 am

With several trips to TN RV for repairs and service, I have to say my experiences have been good, if, as Horace says, a bit high in price. They do give the Foretravel Club discount (10%).
TN RV has 2 techs who are very knowledgeable and skilled with Foretravels: David and Jimmy. I understand there is a third, but I have not met him nor used his services.

Re: PDI

Reply #24 – September 14, 2014, 03:41:05 pm

Jimmy was there when it was FT I think as was Brad. I do not remember David but there is a mobile Tech for Buddy Gregg named Jack or Rupert and he is very good as well. He used to work for FT as well.

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