- Report: #1370278
Complaint Review: Traveland RV Supercentre - West Kelowna British Columbia
Reported By:
Traveland RV victim -
Peachland, BC , Alabama, Canada
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
Traveland RV Supercentre
1460 Byland Rd, West Kelowna, V1Z 1A7 British Columbia, Canada
Phone:
(250) 769-4525
Web:
http://www.travelandrvcanada.com/
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Traveland RV Supercentre Traveland RV Delivered a brand new RV with literally no PDI or inspection as to quality, safety, or function West Kelowna British Columbia
In July of 2016 we entered into a purchase agreement with Traveland RV Supercentre in West Kelowna, BC, Canada. We agreed to buy a brand new 2016 Jayco Seneca 37TS, which with the additional warranties, guarantees, road-side assistance, Diamond Cote etc etc was priced out at $280,000.00 with taxes in Canadian Dollars. A fortune to any, and to us too, a lifetimes hard work with the dream of travel in a brand new motorhome.
The promise of a new unit, ready to go, with warranty, guarantees, and assured quality of preparation by a dealer was all just car salesman talk. The unit was improperly inspected and the PDI by the dealer was literally non-existent.
Here's the facts, downplayed to be totally fair. We bought the new motorhome last summer. Traveland RV made promises to us as we were traveling from West Kelowna to Airdrie Alberta and to their new dealership to buy it. The salesman at this end in West Kelowna was Rawlin Brooks, who told us emphatically not to worry about anything that we might find that was amiss, just bring it back and we can fix anything here in West Kelowna. (mistake number 1).
We traded in a Super C Chateau 34G with a Kodiak top kick 5500 chassis that had only 20,000 miles on it and was pristine. (mistake number 2)
We took off to Alberta from BC and drove all day, the next morning we first laid eyes on the new coach, it was indoors and all washed up. It looked great but we didn't know then that the dealership was new, the staff was inexperienced, and that the promise of repairs in West Kelowna was all bull****.
We paid in full, every dime from our pockets, money earned over a lifetime. We believed that we'd have that unit forever, we even bought new Freightliner floor mats before we left our home. We also brought other personal items to adorn the new baby.
We bought the extended Coach-net warranties, the extended wheel and tire coverage, the interior protection plan, the exterior protection plan, road-side assistance, and on and on. (Mistake number 3) We thought that we had it figured out, but it was them that had it figured out, all those warranties didn't mean that the dealer had looked to unit over properly or that the staff had the experience to do it. We were about to discover how bad things can go when you buy new from a dealer who just takes your money and doesn't care about whether you got anything for the money.
So the owner himself, Dale Howes and his son were on site at the Traveland RV Supercentre in Airdrie Alberta when we arrived to get the unit and in fact we had our photo taken with Dale Howes as we were leaving, a photo that we wouldn't put in our scrap book now.
We discovered lots of small issues while we were still at Traveland RV Supercentre in Airdrie, but you know how that goes, the salespeople give you that line "don't worry about a thing, we'll take good care of you, enjoy the drive home" and "we can fix every single thing that you find wrong at the Traveland RV Supercentre in West Kelowna". What we didn't catch on to at the time was the magnitude of problems that were pre-existing that the dealer had not bothered to discover, to sort out, to declare to us, or to deal with. We were about to find out.
Not long after we set out from Traveland RV Supercentre in Airdrie Alberta, we had to make a short stop. When I applied the brakes, the passenger seat slid violently to the end of the rails and slammed. The seat on the passenger side would not lock up and it just slid back and forth. We later discovered that the bolts under the dinette seat which my wife also sat it, didn't;t have more than 1/2 the bolts screwed all the way in, most were almost totally unscrewed!
We made it home the next day and we were just parking the Jayco in the driveway when the front drivers side jack spewed hydraulic oil all over our concrete driveway. We were pretty embarrassed in front of our neighbors to have the unit fail like that at first showing to anyone that we knew, but that was only the beginning.
We got the unit to the dealership and they said that they fixed the jacks, but thereafter the same jack only came down half-way, half the time. That was the good part though as over the next couple of weeks we discovered a documented 79 items that were poorly cleaned, set up, aligned, sealed, installed, or PDI'd. We presented these issues to Traveland RV Supercenter in West Kelowna, who said that they could fix all of them onsite. The actual repairs are still ongoing despite a claim at one point that all of the repairs could be done in just four days. That claim came from Dale Howes himself later on.
We took the unit to Gallagher Lake in Oliver BC where we camp annually with friends and family, eager to show them our new unit, but by then quite nervous about the issues that just kept coming up. Friends who were well intentioned just kept finding a never ending list of things that were shoddy and not set up correctly. The poor workmanship from Jayco was appalling, but it was the physical failings of the new Jayco Seneca that would be our undoing and the reason for this report.
While we were plugged into power the unit was workable, even though we weren't provided with a walk-around, the remote for the Video system, and the hot water (instant on) doesn't work as claimed. The ribbing we took from friends when the doorway was loose, yes the doorway was loose, the screws in the doorsill didn't attach to anything at all!
We left the campground humiliated and embarrassed for ourselves and the Jayco Seneca motorhome. We felt like we had made a big mistake, but it was still going to get worse.
After we got home, we pointed out all the new problems that we'd discovered to the salesman and service department at Traveland RV Supercenter in West Kelowna. They were sympathetic but offered nothing more than to be put on the wait list for repairs. We took the unit away with trepidation but didn't realize that it didn't run when not on shore-power. Neither did Traveland RV Supercenter obviously, as they hadn't checked out a darn thing before they tossed us the keys.
We took the unit for a single weekend in Oroville, Washington and quickly discovered that the batteries were not charged, that the engine in the motorhome would not charge them, that the fridge wouldn't run on low batteries and that only the generator was charging the batteries, not shore-power and not the engine. We were in a park that allows limited generator use, we were screwed. The hot water surged between scalding and freezing due to the instant on water system. We determined that it's likely due to the pump which when it surges, the instant on water doesn't work. Combine a surging pump with variable water temperature and add a naked RV owner who is really pissed about both and you'll get the idea....we were by then really pissed off.
Here's the best part, the slides were damaging the floor. This was our tenth night out in the unit we figure, maybe the ninth night. We have driven this unit now only 200 miles in total, but there's 3,700 plus miles on it now. (wait for why that is)
We returned the unit to the dealer when we got back and asked for reimbursement, a new coach as a replacement, to trade up at our additional expense or anything reasonable. They refused to do any of the above with the exception that they said they'd take our "used RV" in trade on a similar unit if we paid them another $89,000.00 or so. Needless to say we are screwed by them now.
The dealer kept the unit as it was not useable. They started repairs last August 2016 and said it was ready to go in December of 2016. They drove the unit to their other dealership in Langley, BC to do some paintwork which they screwed up and now those repairs and others will have to be done again. They are driving the unit and getting paid to fix it while we take it in the butt. They're putting 700 km per trip on the unit.
So we got it back when the snow flew, we don't know yet what works for sure and what doesn't, we're out thousands and thousands. How much has the dealer or Jayco offered in compensation. NOT ONE DIME. They sold our trade of course!!
We're suing them this spring of 2017. We'll post the results. Don't do business with these people, they don't know what they're doing when it comes to a PDI, they don't care if your inconvenienced, and they certainly aren't going to treat you right when the crap hits the fan.
Don McPhailPeachland, BC
1 Updates & Rebuttals
RV DEALER FRAUD Investigator
Phoenix,Arizona,
USA
Don Here's why RV dealers do not like to do predelivery inspection's PDI's
#2Consumer Comment
Wed, May 03, 2017
Don let me explain why RV dealers do not like to do predelivery inspections. First it's all based upon money I don't give a s*** what anyone says I'm going to tell you the truth because I'm not selling you anything. I can argue with any RV dealership on the country on this. But let me ask you a very important question before I get deep into predelivery inspection's. Before I do that let me explain how explosive propane is.
Let's say that you go down and have A 5 gallon propane tank that you connect to your gas grill can you take this propane tank to a local Walmart or some filling station and have them put 1 gallon of propane in the tank. Given the fact that you have 1 gallon of propane in the tank inside the tank it's actually a liquid gallon of propane and 4 gallons of compressed vapor. Let's say that the propane tank has a leak in it Can you leave that leaking propane tank which has 1 gallon of propane in it in your garage. That one liquid gallon of propane in your tank when it is leaked into the atmosphere inside of your garage it expands to 270 gallons of explosive vapor.
Calculating the expansion rate of propane from liquid to vapor. One liquid gallon of propane in the tank when released into the atmosphere equals 270 gallons of explosive vapor. Let's say that you have 30 gallons of liquid propane in your tank before you go on a trip and the propane system has a leak in it inside the coach . 30 gallons X 270 when we released into the atmosphere equals 8100 gallons of explosive vapor.
40 X 270 = 10,800 gallons of explosive vapor
50 X 270 = 13,500 over explosive vapor.
I hope you understand what I'm talking about when I explain the expansion rate of propane going from liquid to vapor.
Now let me ask you how do you or the dealership know that that motorhome does not have a propane gas leak ??
Now let's get to the point why RV dealerships do not like to do predelivery inspection's.
Remember it's all about MONEY.
RV dealerships get paid to do an inspection on new motorhomes after they get them on the lock from the manufacture to make sure everything works right in the customer gets a first class impression of a new motor home. Manufactures pay the RV dealerships to make sure everything is working properly so the new buyer gets a great experience of buying a brand-new motorhome where everything is supposed to work. Dealerships don't want to take their mechanics and pay them to go through the motorhome to make sure everything works. That is profit loss on the deal.
Ever heard of a shakedown cruise ????
Are used to work at an RV dealership years ago we sold Fleetwoods, travel craft, Tiogas. FiestaS. Sun Streams and use motorhomes, and the RV sales people on the sales managers only focused on Bottom line profit.
So what happens is when you buy a brand-new motorhome the RV dealership will get you to sign all of the document Tatian and put you on your way knowing they never did the predelivery inspection to make sure everything works including making sure that the LP gas system does not leak Inside or outside.
You take your brand-new motorhome and go for a nice long what they call shakedown cruise Can you bring a notepad and you write everything down that doesn't work let you know about. You bring back the motorhome to the RV dealership that you bought it from hopefully can you ask them to fix everything that's not working or busted. The dealerships service department tells you to leave the motorhome at their dealership and they will get to it as soon as they can. In other words hey leave that piece of s*** here at the lot we will deal with it later right now we're busy selling other people motorhomes get in line.
Two or three months later if they can get the parts they will make a half assed attempt to fix your problems. Meanwhile you're making payments on the motorhome but you can't use it because it's sitting in the back 20 acres collecting dust. Sooner or later you'll get a phone call from the dealership telling you that it's fixed and ready for you to come and pick up. Like a fool you believe them because you want to you emotionally like the salesman that sold you the overgrown overpriced piece of s***. Can you bring it to a storage facility someplace waiting for your next venture on the highway and you find when you take it for your second shakedown cruise you find that a bucket load of crap has never been fixed.
Remember you are old hat to them they don't care about you no more it's time for you to MoveOn and take it to an RV service center and pay them to fix what should've been fixed or checked out thoroughly before the RV dealership put the brand-new piece of s*** on their lot for sale.
The manufactures foot most part don't care what happens to you they only care that the RV dealership is moving coaches. Next time you get a chance go to an RV show and sale. And watch out aggressive their sales people try to hammer you into a deal. It has nothing to do with customer relations. It has nothing to do with the fact that so much of the motorhome that's for sale doesn't work. Remember it's all about window dressing.
And remember the Mike Marone Lowell does not apply to motorhomes. Back in 1958 Senator Mike Monroney past The Monroney law bill. This law the MSRP law only applies to light duty trucks and cars not motorhomes. Next time you go to Norway dealership trying to find the MSRP good luck. And remember there are so many different manufacturers that make the parts then RV manufacturers use to build motorhomes. So the parts that were used to build your motorhome are short-lived.
This is the reason why I encourage people to buy used motorhomes that someone else is used for a while hopefully everything is been fixed at someone else's expense. For the most part it's cheaper to rent one of these overpriced pieces of s** and kick it to the curb when you're done with it. What the problem is everybody wants to brag about their new RV to their friends and family. And they get suckered into the eather of owning a new motorhome . Call best way to get a motorhome pre-delivery inspected is by paying an independent RV mechanic to go out and do a complete predelivery inspection. BEFORE YOU BUY IT NOT AFTER. What most people are not willing to pay for it.
At one time I used to own a RV repair business and I repaired motorhomes and RV campgrounds on I 75 between Bradenton and Sarasota Florida. Sun and fun camping call I 75 between Bradington and Sarasota Florida is where I did most of my business. I could tell you some horror stories of people that experienced from RV dealerships. Most of the sales people are like gypsies, they travel from RV dealership to RV dealership selling old motorhomes in new ones that I've never been checked out. And many of the motorhome mechanics used to pair cars someplace.
Next time you get a chance ask a RV mechanic or a so called RV mechanic what the normal LP gas pressure operation is. Ask him to explain to you how they check for leaks on a LP gas system. Most of them do not know. Nor do they have the needed tools to probably do an LP gas system leak check. And NO YOU DO NOT use the LP gas electronics never that's mounted on the wall someplace inside the motorhome.
Asked him to explain to you how they check if the LP gas regulator is operating at the desired manufactures pressures. Most of them do not know how to explain it because they do not know how to do it to make sure something on the LP gas system is operating properly.
Mini RV dealerships want to cheap labor in the shop they do not want to hire qualified RV service technicians. Because they only focus on bottom line profit.
Let me explain to you the best place to buy A RV only if you want to save money and get something for much less than what it actually worth.
Contact your local storage facilities and ask them if they have any RVs that people are storing that might be for sale. I'm willing to bet 60% of the RVs in storage facilities are RV coaches that are no longer used anymore. And many of those owners are tired of paying rent for storing these motorhomes. And they are more than willing to sell them at a drastic reduction just to get rid of them so they no longer have to pay storage.
That's where you go to get your used motorhome never buy a new one let the suckers deal with all of the b*******.
Now post your comments your questions and I will answer them. Happy motoring on the overpriced piece of s*** many RV dealers sell.
I hope you like the information that I posted next time you go to an RV dealership look at this RV technician's toolbox how big or how small is it. Call reason I ask that there are many different kinds of tools needed to properly repair motorhomes.
