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Topic: Great service at ZipDee .... (Read 784 times) previous topic - next topic

Great service at ZipDee ....

After living with this cockamamie AutoAwn (that is very nice, but so seldom worked properly) and throwing money at it we were really ready to just scrap it and go to a manual. BUT ... in May, in Tucson, after installing ANOTHER front power arm AND a new motor (!!) it operated just right and we set off for the summer. WE got to Oklahoma, where the temperatures were ridiculous and wanted to use the awning.  Nope ... it was all cockeyed and wonky again. Jimmy at ZipDee tried his best to figure it out over the phone, but it was even beyond his Yoda-like skills.  He invited us to come to the factory when we could and he would look at it personally.  Fast forward to yesterday ...

After driving in hellacious Chicago traffic, we found their location easily and maneuvered alongside their building. Of course, the Chicago weather began to dump rain on us, so we had to do some additional fancy maneuvering to get backed into their garage bay. That accomplished, Jimmy, Nate and Alex began dissecting the awing and it's components to trace the issue.  Fixing proved much easier than finding. The main problem traced down to the wiring that comes off the panel just inside the door of the coach and goes through the wall to the power arm of the awning.  The wire used looked like speaker wire (their words) and was so brittle that when they tried to strip a bit for a new connection, it just broke off.  They ran new wire to the panel, reconnected the arm, set the limits properly for the new motor, replaced some parts that were leaking air inside the bay, replaced the little board that lights up AND showed me how to perform some service routines that I was fuzzy on.  All this after hours and at no charge, with a cheerful attitude and loads of great information given to us.  We also had them measure for our slide topper awning, that is old and needs to be replaced ... they will do that for us when we return in about 10 days. 

I cannot say enough about their customer service ethic and how well we were treated.  I can't say for sure ... but I wonder if you get the same treatment at Girard????  We are very well pleased that we made the trip. 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #1 –
Come on  Carol that's just a little slow down in the morning for a Chicagoans.
On a related topic, I went to HWH yesterday. crazy good service they worked for about two hours on my coaching and just charged me for an hour.  Found four air leaks not associated with HWH and two of their solenoids that were leaking.
Total bill out the door $97. Ashley who is the customer service rep was amazing. If you're anywhere near Moscow Iowa make it a point to stop.
Also it looks like they're trying to come up with their own coach chassis to sell to converters. Interesting what they're trying to do but they been added for 14 years and the prototype is still sitting in their shop. Looks like it might be quite heavy one done wonder what would be left for conversion and cargo.
One bad thing about Chicago there just isn't a decent campground anywhere near the downtown area. New York certainly has a speech with the Statue of Liberty RV park.
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #2 –
" We are very well pleased that we made the trip.  "

Well, after I recover doing +1,000 miles in 3 days I might be pleased. 

Just kidding, we are parked in front of our grand daughters house in Yorkville and will get to see many friends in the Chicago area while we are here.  Now, if we can figurer out where we are headed  after we leave here...... decisions, decisions....

We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #3 –
Hi Carol I ordered some parts from them last week and was told no more service at the factory. Have they changed company policy or did you charm them? Wishing you all the best
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #4 –
I too can not say enough good things about Zip Dee and Jimmy.  I believe you are hearing about their commitment to "If we say it will work, we will make it work, period."

I had them turn my stretcher arms around last summer before they stopped service at the factory.  Really makes the big Patio Awning easy to use.  Way more resistant to wind gusts than the popular Girard.

They suffer from builders not following their recommendations on how to install.  There is always a cheaper way that will last through the warranty period so someone else can correct it at your expense.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #5 –
Door county WI unless you have already been there!!!
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #6 –
One of the other Care-A-Vanners here has ZipDee awnings on his SOB. He mentioned that he, too, had the claw arms reversed at the factory and that the factory no longer does the service work, but a dealer down the street does the actual work. He said that reversing the claw arms was one of the best things he did to his coach.

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #7 –
Quote from: John/Pat –
Hi Carol I ordered some parts from them last week and was told no more service at the factory. Have they changed company policy or did you charm them? Wishing you all the best

They do not really have the space to perform service at their location, to be fair. It is not a large place, and while we were able to pull the coach in to a space between 2 buildings, and later maneuver it into their garage/bay ... they are not set up to handle many vehicles. The work Jimmy offered to do for us was all "after hours" ... they close at 4:20 (??) and that is when they help customers out in their limited workspace.  They DID get to us earlier, because we were there and rain was threatening and they had the time ... but it was lots of troubleshooting and investigation and head scratching before finally finding and correcting the issue. We are not done yet, however!!  At our daughter's home in Yorkville yesterday, Jeff extended the w=awning.  The remote did not want to work, so he used the button on the box in the bay. Extended properly.  But ... in the evening when it was time to retract, the motor rolled up the shade but the arms never collapsed.  The awning is just sticking up straight over the coach.  Jimmy is getting the first phone call this morning!  It's always something!!
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #8 –
Carol:  As u know I have the same awning and recently it has worked everytime except I have to give the back arm a push to get it to extend but then it does it on its own and works great.  Love it when it works ;D  hate it when it doesn't :'( .  Depends on what mood it is in.  I am keeping it as it is paid for as I have not used it that much any way. 
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #9 –
Carol I hope they get it fixed for you. Least you and Jeff are close. Have a great day and our thoughts are with you and Jeff always.
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #10 –
The awning is now rolled up and stored properly at the roofline of the coach.  The problem was with the arms not collapsing when the awning was told to retract. Jimmy does not know why the new box is not getting and relaying the proper signals to the power arms.  There is some sort of solenoid, perhaps that did not want to release the pressure and unlock them.  At any rate, we got the front arm to release and then by jiggling the back arm manually it came "unstuck" and the motor rolled up the awning to the storage position.  We go back there next Thursday for the installation of our new slide topper awning.  Jimmy is gathering info and we are having a "come to jeezus" meeting about a manual replacement.  Stay tuned!!! 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #11 –
Quote from: John/Pat –
Hi Carol I ordered some parts from them last week and was told no more service at the factory. Have they changed company policy or did you charm them? Wishing you all the best
I am, of course, known far and wide for my charming manner ... but the folks at ZipDee have a Customer Service ethic that you just don't see in many places.  The work we had done was performed after hours, by employees who were staying because they care about this stuff working.  Yes, we were buying a new slide topper awning, but they traced problems, replaced wiring and gave tutorials.  They replaced at least 3 parts, went over everything they could find, and all with a cheerful attitude and lots of energy.  Our awning failed the first time we tried to use it ... I called Jimmy and we are going to have another discussion re: what they can do for us regarding a manual unit. 

After our dismal experience at Cummins Crosspoint, I called ZipDee and asked for the name of the RV service place near them, where they refer folks for work that they no longer perform on their premises.  Here is the info ....

Ehrhardt's  ... 776 W Oakton St, Des Plains, IL  60018    847-437-3421    Ask for Tim. 

We have an appointment for Wednesday to do all the things that Cummins Crosspoint couldn't seem to manage in 2 days.  Ehrhardt's has a place to park overnight, elec, water and a dump.  They are about a mile from Zip Dee.  Fingers crossed!!
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #12 –
Quote from Carol..  "I am, of course, known far and wide for my charming manner "

See why I love my wife?  ROTFLMAO.....
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Great service at ZipDee ....

Reply #13 –
Oh Yes Jeffief  !!!
1993 U300, 6v92
build 4366
USAF retired, Flight Engineer, C124, C130
 ATP, A & E.  & ex AI