Complaint Review: North Trail RV Center - Internet

I seriously doubt the honesty and integrity of North Trail RV in Fort Myers, FL. If you plan to deal with them keep my experience in mind. I will be happy to prove all that I say here, except for the telephone conversations that I summarize.

In Mid-October 2012, I visited North Trail RV to look into buying a newer coach. My partner and I had purchased a 2000 Newmar coach from North Trail RV in 05 and worked with salesman John. I was happy with John and wanted to work with him again. 

I figured this would be a long search, but to my surprise John showed me a 2006 Winnebago Journey 36G diesel pusher with 36,000 miles that was perfect for me. I wish he hadnt. John wrote up a purchase contract$114k for the Winnebago, less $48k for my Newmar, a $66k cash difference. 

I told John that this happened too fast and I wanted to think about it. I said I needed to buy-out my partner's half interest in the Newmar and asked Johns assurance that his $48,000 value for my Newmar was, indeed, fair. Without batting an eye, John said I can make it anything you want. I was stunned. I was looking for a honest value, not one contrived to favor me! I should have walked then, but I asked John again if his $48,000 value was a fair and honest value for our Newmar. John said it was. John probably wishes that he hadnt said this, but maybe he doesn't.

I asked for a copy of his paperwork. He objected at first, but when I told him it was for my partner he finally give me a partial copy (clipping off at the bottom where he had signed it). Im glad I got this paperwork because his dark deed is in handwriting. 

John dutifully called my home a week later. I said I wanted to go ahead and would finish my due diligence quickly. Two days later John called again. By then I had done a quick Internet search for 36' Winnebago Journeys for sale and got a value opinion on his coach. It appeared that I can easily buy the same coach, with half the mileage, for $90,000 from several nearby sources. North Trails coach appeared to be $24,000 above the local market! When I shared this with John things fell apart.

Without skipping a beat, John said that if he lowered his price, he lowered my trade-in value too. He quickly postured that my coach wasnt worth the $48,000 he said it was, but maybe $24,000, or $32,000, or whatever depending on what he could get for his coaches. John said that his trade-in allowance figure floated, even though I had specifically asked him if the value he had given me for my coach was fair. John knew that I was paying my partner half of his floating value of $48,000!

I promptly told John of my disappointment in him and North Trail RV and ended the conversation. A short time later sales manager, Trent, called asking me what he could do to "make the deal happen." I asked him what John had told him (which was precious little) and shared the above story. He said he would look into things and call back.

A few days later we traded calls. When we talked again Trent apologized and acknowledged that North Trail RV normally does business in this manner and what could he do? And "Nothing," was my answer to Trent who seemed not as concerned as I was offended. So far as I know nothing has changed at North Trail RV.  

This is what you should know about North Trail RV and their sales team

1. Buyers cannot rely on North Trail RV's sales people to give truthful, honest answers to straightforward questions.

2. North Trail RV tactically does not publish prices for any of their coaches anywhere. They appear to inflate trade-in values to match inflated prices. I believe that most RVers expect a business relationship that is fair, honest, truthful and without the bull I received.

3. North Trail RVs underhanded, two-faced dealing hurt me financially in buying out my partner's interest in our Newmar. This is inexcusable inasmuch as John knew all the facts on my side at the outset.

4. North Trail RV ought to show the trade-in value of any coach at its true value no matter the value of the purchase. Customers have the right to expect fair and honest numbers for what they are buying and tradeing-in in order to arrive at a fair deal. These two words, "fair" and "deal," seem meaningless at North Trail RV.

I should have walked the second I heard the words: I can make it [the value] anything you want. This starts with the assumption that I am a cheat, and ends with them being willing to lie to abet it. I wish I had walked and left the papers. With all the ethical dealers that there are, there is no reason to shop at North Trail RV Center.