Head West not so young Man

   / Head West not so young Man
  • Thread Starter
#481  
guys thanks. S&S Apache RV was outstanding. Tim the service mgr was both a gentleman and tried every avenue either of us could think of. He spent three hours with me trying to get this settled and at the end, he said he was sorry. A company named Lippert makes both the slide motors and the leveler motor. Incredibly, their home office parts dept said they had zero in stock and no eta on when they would get more. Isn't that amazing in this day and age? And Winnebago stocks zero of the parts either, their parts dept just calls Lippert and has it drop shipped. There is no ability to field search for parts, and there are many variations of this motor so something similar might not work at all. And there is a trail of superceding part numbers so Lippert has a problem and is pumping out new variations apparently. And whatever they have is likely promised to the factories whose lines they will literally stop without supply. So who is more important, me or the general sales manager of Winnebago/Itasca?

Sometimes one has to know when to fold them, like the song. I've already done a ton of research on this, have spent hours on the phone with both Winnebago and Lippert and consider them both utterly lacking in knowledge and helpfulness. I will never buy another rv from Winnebago for failing to live up to their promise of first year concierge service. I was willing to eat the thirty grand depreciation on a new motorhome because I thought that would bring me the security of a warranty and nationwide expedited service. That turned out to be a poor joke. And shame on Winnebago for performing so poorly.

So...enough, done, a first class pisser, but it's not going to ruin my day. No prawns...darn.
No country dancing in Dallas with a certain tbn member.

The best analogy I can give is you are about to go on vacation and none of your windows will go up and down in your car. So you have to open your car door to deal with tolls. etc , etc. And they have no replacement window winders in stock. Anywhere. I am not driving through the rest of the US without a dining room table, which goes up when the slide goes out. And dealing with these leveling boards is getting old, though I sure wasn't going to whine. Guess I have a right to whine now... But I won't. Just a learning experience.

Back to our regular programming. In a small but very nice rv spot in Meridian MS. Says if I started now and kept driving I could be home in 15 hours . I decided I needed to stop someplace pretty close and just cool off. Driving upset is dangerous. And this place has a small but sparkling clean pool that looks like they just opened it up. I'm going to go over and put my feet in the pool and no, I won't be in the Gulf, but you just have to play the hand you're dealt. And it's hot out there...
on beautiful though ugly...concrete pads, looks like an abandoned shopping center with rvs in the parking lot, not much on landscaping but it sure works and the rv is dead on level. Sure is nice when they get that right...

So I am going to go soak my head and emerge happier. And then sit down with the computer and see if there is anything I can see on the way home that makes sense. It's a truckers route all the way from here to 81 into PA.

The motto of the service manager was never to give up. It really grated on him to have to tell me there was not only nothing he could do, but highly unlikely anything I could do either.

I thanked him sincerely, and said I agreed with him. He really wanted me to at least keep going to New Orleans, but my curtain had just dropped.
 
   / Head West not so young Man #482  
17000 views and it was just getting going. I was following with interest had even been browsing Winnebago web site. If they don't do something to get you on your way, they are off my list for sure.
 
   / Head West not so young Man #483  
I know you don't want to whine, and are a resourceful fellow. However, in reading the story, it seems to me that you have gotten a lemon, traceable to one supplier and business practices of not stocking spare parts. Also, seems to me you have, on more than one occasion, sought a reasonable resolution to the problems you are experiencing. I would even go so far as to say that there is a breach of contract involved, considering that you have a new RV and were promised service in exchange for consideration...your RV purchase. I think that it would be interesting to send Winnebago a certified letter detailing your purchase, understanding of their part of the contract regarding service, their failure to perform on the contract, and inquiring what they intend to do to address the losses you have incurred because of their failure, including the vacation you have been forced to abandon.

How about addressing your letter, personally, to Randy Potts, Winnebago CEO.
According to this, Stock Quotes & Company News | Reuters.com , his background and expertise is legendary.

Mr. Randy J. Potts is Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer of Winnebago Industries, Inc.Previously he served as Senior Vice President - Strategic Planning (from November 2009 to January 2011), Vice President - Manufacturing (from 2006 to 2009), and various engineering and management positions within Winnebago Industries since his initial employment commenced in 1983. Based on Mr. Potts' extensive knowledge of Winnebago Industries and experience gained as a result of his over 30 years in various management positions at Winnebago Industries, his specific skills in strategic planning, financial operations, engineering, manufacturing and administration, and his contributions as a current Board member, the Board concluded that Mr. Potts should serve as a director of Winnebago Industries at the time this Proxy Statement is filed with the SEC.

Apparently he makes over $1.6 million annually...why not simply ask him to replace your lemon with a brand new RV, and if he will give you his personal phone number, you will give it a reliability and quality test and report back to him, personally, but only when a problem is identified...no problems, no phone calls:drink:

To get attention...be sure and note the number of views your thread has achieved...over 17,000...that's an amazing readership...and all are following how Winnebago addresses your problems with their product.

Also, reference their Mission Statement

Winnebago Industries - "Moving forward with innovation and quality."


At their web site, they tout their TripSaver Emergency Parts, Winnebago Industries Service , as follows:

Never get stuck waiting for parts. Our exclusive TripSaver emergency parts program guarantees parts for warranty service ship within 24-hours of your service call.

Hmmmmmm...wonder what would happen if you posted your experience on the Winnebago facebook https://www.facebook.com/winnebago

Here's a list of all their officers, including photos. Winnebago Industries - Company - Investor Relations - Management
 
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   / Head West not so young Man #484  
I've never been West and I was really looking forward to go with the internet version of a vacation. So sorry for you Drew I know you planned this for a long time and it meant something to you. Have a safe trip back.
 
   / Head West not so young Man #485  
Sorry to hear the results of your visit to the dealer. Before you head home. Consider taking you motorhome to the factory. Most people get very good service from the factory repair centers. Another choice is Lippert in Elkhart, IN.
Visiting the factory manufacturing can be very entertaining.
 
   / Head West not so young Man #486  
Oh me. I think old TEXASjohn gave some good information! If Winnebago does no better than this, I'm gone from them for future RV purchase! Keep us posted on ye travels back north.
 
   / Head West not so young Man #487  
TBN'ers, I tried to locate an email address of any senior Winnebago executive and failed. If we believe that US Executives really do want to produce quality products, then we must believe that they are interested in knowing when a problem arises which cannot be fixed via normal channels. But, normal channels are telling them all is well, so Daugen needs a path around the roadblocks he has encountered...to contact someone at very senior levels in Winnebago.

Can anyone find an email address for a Winnebago senior executive, preferably Randy J. Potts??:anyone: Let's give Daugen a hand!!:cool2:
 
   / Head West not so young Man #488  
Yep drove straight home 15 hours moving at 85+ on I65 thru Alabama. Construction in Kentucky, Detour cut thru by a Jim Beam Distillery. In laws lived in Carryville .

Carryville is one of the few towns that make Altha look big. Glad you made it home in one piece.

Larro
 
   / Head West not so young Man #489  
Ah, don't go home Drew. Give Facebook and Twitter social pressure a chance first. It often works to get a company's attention when they see there name is getting bad press in front of millions. Just lay out the facts and see what happens. Ya got nothing to lose and maybe you'll feel less stressed over the the thing in a couple days.

Meanwhile, find a nice quiet corner and relax. You are in the wrong area of the US, or you could relax here in Maine. I've got a big driveway and an RV power outlet. :)
 
   / Head West not so young Man #490  
Drew, so sorry to hear of your troubles. If Winnebago won't make it right, we will all bombard them with negative PR. Something you might thing about though, is a quick trip back home to park the RV, and continue your vacation in 5* hotels and restaurants. When you think of the price of gas, it might even be cheaper than driving the RV. Then when you are done, you can sue the he!! out of them.

Larro
 

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