Jubilee RV Centre

Where is the best place to buy an RV?

First of all I am happy to be writing RV articles again. I have missed the last couple of issues because I was having heart surgery. I now have a new valve (pig beef) in my heart and I feel great and ready for a new year merchandising RVs. Thank you for the emails from customers and readers wishing me well.

With the Canadian dollar being at par or even a little better I've heard a few people say they were going to the U.S.A. to buy their next RV.
Quite honestly as a Sales Manager of a large RV dealership you might think anything I say will be sour grapes.
I'm a very firm believer in buying locally because anything man made often has problems. I live by the firm belief that everything God makes dies and everything man makes breaks.

Canadian dealers spend millions of dollars at the wholesale level buying from American manufactures. As a consumer you really don't believe that your able to buy an RV at a lesser price than a dealer does, do you?

Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) where your purchase your next RV. I can relate to problems that people have had in the U.S.A. particularly getting warranty work done and people driving hundreds and even thousands of miles only to find out that the RV they purchased on-line or over the phone was not as represented and were powerless to do anything about it and even getting their deposits back.

I believe the most important reason to buy locally will be proven by the rest of my article. I have taken some excerpts from a U.S blog that will prove my argument that it is very wise to buy locally from a dealer you know and trust. Remember that these blogs are written by Americans and the problems they have. You can surely understand that a Canadian buyer will get even less service. The American dealer doesn't care about his Canadian reputation.

Peter writes: The somewhat less satisfying service record reported in regards to dealers may be due to several factors. First, the modern RV's are now coming equipped with far more sophisticated gadgets than earlier years, like computer driven devices and multiplex wiring systems. These systems are often changed or enhanced every year. This requires trained and experienced dealer service technicians. This is a challenge given the dealer's profit margins, not only the salary, but the cost of ongoing training too.

Nick R writes: We bought a new ---- that was a total lemon. Neither the manufacture or the dealer we bought it from would resolve the problems.

Larry J writes: Close to the end of the warranty period I had several problems. Fuel pump, entry step and a leveling jack. The dealer said yes he would repair the problems.
Several times they called me to pick up my MH as it was repaired. Three times when I went to pick it up it wasn't ready.

Jerry P writes: We purchased a new------ last June. We have had a lot of problems and have had it in the shop a least 8 times. The dealer has taken good care of us. But what about the rest of my warranty?

Donnette C. writes: We purchased a ----- and had some problems, but it seems when we upgraded to a ---- that is when major problems began. Two of the slides are not working and a refrigerator door fell off. We pay a local man to do the repairs we can't do. We haven't even tried to get reimbursed.

Chuck writes: We bought a new ------The dealer provided one hour PDI. On our first night out fuses blew, water leaked and tires had bubbles. We paid cash. It was delivered without a fire extinguisher and no weight certificate. We complained to the sales person and this is what we were told. "most buyers are smarter than us and can fix what breaks on their RV".

Bud W writes: We purchased a new -----. After 7-8 months and 11 or 12, 150 mile trips to get repairs we finally got an attorney. We still haven't got any money and our RV is rotting because of water leaks.

The complaints you are reading about are legitimate and are just a miniscule sampling of what the American consumer is experiencing.

Canadian dealers are licensed and as a salesperson I am licensed and must adhere to a code of conduct that protects the buyer. Canadian Dealerships are very cognizant of customer satisfaction and will go out of their way to satisfy you. I know of no American state that requires sales people to be licensed.

Looking at the waiting times to cross the border 2, 3 even 4 hour waits are not uncommon. I sure would not want to be in that lineup waiting to take my RV to an American dealer who may or may not repair my RV. Some manufactures will not pay for warranty claims in Canada for products bought in the U.S.A.

Protect yourself. Buy in Canada from a dealer who will take care of your warranty problems. You could save yourself a lot of stress, time and worry about your RV's problems.

I'm proud to be Canadian.