Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: paying extra for tech support (Read 2816 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #25 –
Just called today to speak with tec support. Needed an answer to one, (what I think is a very simple question) and was told that in order to speak with the tec support staff, I have to be a club member and incur the associated $95.00 cost.
All I can say is WOW.
1993 U-240
KD0GEG

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #28 –
Or, you can ask your question here.  You may or may not get a (correct) answer, but at least you get what you pay for!  :thumbsup:
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #30 –
Quote from: MRpotter –
Just called today to speak with tec support. Needed an answer to one, (what I think is a very simple question) and was told that in order to speak with the tec support staff, I have to be a club member and incur the associated $95.00 cost.
All I can say is WOW.
I received an answer to a question by sending an e-mail and waiting a few days.  But then again I remember a large self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) being to price of admission.  And my ever frugal way around that was a self addressed double post card from the Post Office.  Amazing how many vendors inserted the post card in an envelope . . .
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #31 –
Quote from: MRpotter –
Just called today to speak with tec support. Needed an answer to one, (what I think is a very simple question) and was told that in order to speak with the tec support staff, I have to be a club member and incur the associated $95.00 cost.
All I can say is WOW.

I hear ya.. try getting a part number lately with the club membership..

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #32 –
I don't have any inside information but I'm convinced that something very bad is going on at Foretravel. I suspect the company will disappear within a year. Again: no inside information--just too many recent disturbing developments.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #33 –
David,

How do you see your comment as helpful?
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #34 –
Quote from: amos.harrison –
David,

How do you see your comment as helpful?

Well Brett, if true it is a heads up warning. If not, it's his opinion. Since the thread was about declining service at Nac, it's appropriate imo.
Last year we went to the ladies driving course. Learned a lot. But one thing that struck out at me was the brain drain at Foretravel. Few guys left from the old days. That is a problem for guys with older coaches that depend on them for their knowledge.

I called Foretravel the other day for tech advice on the AC install. No one answered the phone so I left a message.
They did call back pretty quick but by then I was asleep for the 12 hour night shift I was going to the next 3 nights. So they are still there, still in bizness, and hopefully will be for sometime.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #35 –
Quote from: MRpotter –
Just called today to speak with tec support. Needed an answer to one, (what I think is a very simple question) and was told that in order to speak with the tec support staff, I have to be a club member and incur the associated $95.00 cost.
All I can say is WOW.

Wow indeed.  Expecting personalized free tech support on a coach built in 1993.  The fact that it is available for the absolute pittance of $95.00 is what is amazing to me. 
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #36 –
Could'nt find the question,what was it???/
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #37 –
Let's see, senior tech to answer questions all day, with wages, benefits, and taxes 150k plus a year. I can certainly see why the company wants to recoup some of the cost. I wouldn't mind paying FT direct, just don't need to belong a club just not my thing. 
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #38 –
Quote from: John44 –
Could'nt find the question,what was it???/

 It was added to an old thread that was related to his problem rather than starting a new thread.  I believe this is "IT"

speedometer

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #39 –
Quote
The fact that it is available for the absolute pittance of $95.00 is what is amazing to me. 

I'm with Chuck. I think the availability of phone tech advice is pretty unusual. I haven't called for a few years but have taken advantage of the parts discount. Just saved $60 on the six pack I just bought.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #40 –
We dropped some serious coin at the FOT remodel shop not long after we purchased our coach.  At that time the remod shop was allowing 10% Motorcade Club discount on parts and labor.  We saved enough to pay the club dues for 10+ years, so I'm still money ahead on our membership.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #41 –
Quote from: bbeane –
Let's see, senior tech to answer questions all day, with wages, benefits, and taxes 150k plus a year. I can certainly see why the company wants to recoup some of the cost. I wouldn't mind paying FT direct, just don't need to belong a club just not my thing. 
I received a response to my e-maill with the information I needed.  It just feels wrong.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #42 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
We dropped some serious coin at the FOT remodel shop not long after we purchased our coach.  At that time the remod shop was allowing 10% Motorcade Club discount on parts and labor.  We saved enough to pay the club dues for 10+ years, so I'm still money ahead on our membership.

"Perception is everything"

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #43 –
Having had eight relatively new or new RV's over the last 30 years I can say Foretravel is the best when it comes to stocking parts.
My last unit (6 years old) had a clearance light fail, and the factory did not respond, the dealer sold my the mismatched replacement and I could not get the correct one on line.
Having said that - parts is the only extension that answers, Service is always to voice mail.
Must be a busy place!
Hope it stays in business, hope it continues to support our older rigs!
David & Emma Roche
Dino (Golden Doodle)
1999 U270 WTFE 36' Build # 5534
Xtreme "Lights, Stripes & Roof"
Motorcade# 18321
Dayton, Ohio
Towd: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Two Townie Electra Bikes

Life is made to enjoy, the Foretravel helps!

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #44 –
Quote from: bbeane –
Let's see, senior tech to answer questions all day, with wages, benefits, and taxes 150k plus a year. I can certainly see why the company wants to recoup some of the cost. I wouldn't mind paying FT direct, just don't need to belong a club just not my thing.

Hate to beak the news.. your already in the club and part of it. The sweet part? This club is free and full of benefits... welcome to foreforums!!

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #45 –
Quote from: amos.harrison –
David,

How do you see your comment as helpful?

I shared my opinion based upon observations of various changes at Foretravel over the past several years. None of those changes appear to indicate the company is "healthy"; they instead appear to indicate a company that is struggling to keep its "head above water" and is becoming more and more a shadow of what it used to be. If my sharing my observations and opinion offends you then I apologize. I'm simply practicing what I believe is a sound principle of "sharing what I know and learning what I don't."
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #46 –
I've been a Motorcade Club member for as long as I've been a Foretravel owner, over eleven years. Yes, a lot has changed. I actually bought my coach from a Foretravel dealer in California.

I would be a MC member if the club only offered rally events and Motorcades. Tech support and a discount at FOT are very nice added benefits.

In the distant past, I've made good use of tech support. I remember being on the phone with James Triana, each of us looking at the same pages on my schematics. Invaluable.

And after Grandvention, we're heading for FOT to have David F install MCD shades at discount.

But my friends at our California Rallies, Grandventions, and Motorcades are what the MC is all about for me. We so much enjoyed the Alaska Motorcade this past summer that we have signed up for the Heart of America Motorcade next summer.

As for FOT involvement, yes times are a changing. The Motorcade Club is now a separate non for profit organization. The club is now selling ads in the Motorcader magazine, including ads from FOT competitors. And FOT is no longer selling coaches to end users, once again selling through dealers. 

I for one am grateful for having both MC and FOT as valuable resources.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #47 –
No one mentioned that they have a new tech support guy - Ronnie Blackmon.  He admitted, the other day, that he has mighty big shoes to fill.  To bad FOT didn't double-box him with JT for a year or so to ease the learning curve.  Nis job is, literally, like drinking from a fire hose.

Another issue is the lack of quality control in the FOT shop.  Lots of corners got cut on our coach...to the point of being deplorable.

Larry

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #48 –
Quote from: U295 Owner –
No one mentioned that they have a new tech support guy - Ronnie Blackmon.  He admitted, the other day, that he has mighty big shoes to fill.  To bad FOT didn't double-box him with JT for a year or so to ease the learning curve.  Nis job is, literally, like drinking from a fire hose.

Another issue is the lack of quality control in the FOT shop.  Lots of corners got cut on our coach...to the point of being deplorable.

Larry
Larry, curious what problems did you have with your 1995 U295 at the shop?
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: paying extra for tech support

Reply #49 –
Jim, I hate to launch into this diatribe...but you asked.  This was in regard to our new (to us) 2002 42' U320.  We had FOT do a headlight conversion instead of XTREME (please don't make that mistake).  FOT was unable to match the color shade on the conversion...and, yes, it has the original FOT paint colors.  FOT left the passenger-side fog lamp just hanging there.  When we insisted that they remedy it, they still left it adjusted so that the lens stares up and to the right.  FOT pressurized our coach to find and fix leaks, and left us with a severe living room slide leak.  We had new carpet installed, for which FOT had to remove seats and disconnect accelerator pedal.  They forgot to reconnect accelerator which caused a check engine light.  They fought and fought to force us to go to Cummins and have it checked.  Eventually, they caved in and ran diagnostics, which found the unhooked accelerator pedal.  We weren't around one evening when they pulled the coach out.  A/C was running.  FOT didn't level the coach when they parked it, which caused zone 2 A/C to dump a HUGE amount of water on the new carpet before we came back and found the situation. I leveled the coach and the downpour stopped.  It took about 2 weeks of fans constantly running to dry it out.  As far as my wife is concerned, they ruined her new carpet.  FOT denied any responsibility to level a parked coach (the lot has considerable slope).  There is more, but I'm getting tired of writing.  Anyhow. quality is NOT job one at FOT.

Larry