By Chuck Woodbury
EDITOR
The Good Sam Club was once a quality organization. It was established as a for-profit business but its founding mission was to not only turn a profit but to do so by serving and caring about its members. On occasion, the club lobbied Congress, state legislatures and other organizations about important legislation that affected RVers. It published Highways, a quality magazine. It held wonderful rallies. It encouraged the creation of local chapters and helped the organizers better serve their members.
No more.
The new Good Sam Club, under Marcus Lemonis, has minimized the club to what it is today, a discount club for Camping World, Gander Outdoors and Overton’s stores, and practically nothing else. In an industry interview shortly after acquiring the club Lemonis referred to members as “marketing tools.” If you’re a Good Sam member that’s how much he cares about you. He’s got bigger fish to fry than little ol’ you and me.
The only real benefit left to members is a 10 percent discount at Camping World, Gander Mountain and Overton’s stores, and participating Good Sam RV parks. A park pays a fee to fly the Good Sam flag and is then encouraged to advertise in the fat Good Sam campground directory, which is packed with ads, making it a cash cow for Lemonis.
If you visit the Good Sam Club’s website, you will see almost nothing about the club’s social benefits. There’s no mention of local chapters or national rallies. The reason there’s no mention of national or even regional rallies is because none remain. Marcus cut them out. Local chapters of the club remain but are gradually disappearing as aging members die or become too feeble to participate.
The club is about selling you things – RVs, RV parts, and member discounts for roadside assistance, RV insurance, warranties … and anything else that Marcus and his cohorts can concoct to transfer money from your pocket to theirs. Hey, sign up for a Camping World Visa card and Marcus can make a buck off you every time you use it.
Watch the official Good Sam video below. UPDATE: A month after we posted this article and the video below, the video was removed. Coincidence? We don’t think so. The video downplayed RVing, focusing instead on fishing, hunting, cycling, tenting, kayaking and boating. Is that what an RV club is about?
SO THE CLUB THAT WAS FOUNDED BY RVers and once cared about them – and not just their pocketbooks – is on its final legs. It’s morphed into a discount club, that’s it. If you shop enough at Camping World and/or stay at more than a half dozen Good Sam RV parks a year, then a membership is probably worth the $29. If not, save your money.
Why do I even care about all this? Marcus Lemonis, after all, is entitled to every penny he legally earns. I am simply upset that he has destroyed a once-vibrant club and used its members to build an empire that with each passing month has less to do with RVing and more to do with Marcus.
I wish you could watch the video below, but, like I said, Good Sam removed it after we posted this article.
We are life members of Good Sam Club, and since Marx lemon took over I wish I could get my money back. I was an annual member until I was elected as president of a local chapter in AL at which time I decided to become a life member. That was over 25 years ago, it is shameful what 1 man has done to a once good organization. May he forever be cursed with his money!
Just my 2 cents…before Amazon and retailers went on line, we used to have a Camping World store near to us in Faifield, Ca. It was big and convenient. They had a parts counter where you could order many things specific to your brand of rig. Some time just after Marcus bought the company, they built a new facility farther away. It’s much smaller in comparison…the parts portion of it. I don’t think CW can compete on any level anymore. Personally, I don’t understand anyone’s need to go there anymore. If you like to see or touch a product before you buy, visit another retailer in your own town or as close by as you can. I love reading the responses here…Chuck, good job- keep up the great work. Chuck, I think one of the reason’s he doesn’t want to discuss this stuff with you here is the fact that anywhere else means there will be many fewer rv’ers or people even remotely interested in the subject. And, as with anything else he probably wants to cash in on the “event”.
I’m very surprised that Walmart doesn’t turn their tiny little RV section into a small CW-type store, most especially with the number of RV’s that are using their parking lots as layovers or even RV parks!
Lemonis may also be bringing the RV industry to its knees this year by “drastically reducing” stock on dealership lots. http://rvmiles.com/embattled-camping-world-juggles-executive-assignments-reduces-inventory/
McAfee says that link contains malicious code. RV Miles is above board, so the page has probably been hacked.
My Wife and I are both Life Members and as of August this year, we will NO LONGER Carry their Road Side Assistance anymore.
It was a good club to belong too, until Lemonhead took over.
I HOPE LEMON-Man realizes he can’t take it with him on his last day on earth?
I guess if he ever decides to Liquidate Camping World and his other properties, he will Burn them down one at a time, and reap the profits. Too bad.
I continue to tell people, DO NOT SHOP at CAMPING WORLD! Maybe if sales and stock prices drop enough he will sell it off to someone else!
I’ve belonged to Good Sam for decades. I’ve never had a problem or an issue with them. I’ve used their road service and the results were outstanding every time. My daughter bought 2 trailers from Camping World and they were just fine with the whole process including some warranty work.
While it’s true they have seemed to back away from much of their social services these aren’t things I ever used or would consider using. Personally, I find my membership cost effective and very worthwhile.
As for your constant railing against them, it really gets tiresome. It’s constant and virtually somewhere in everything you post. Both you and Good Sam provide a much needed and welcome service but your hatred for Lemonis seems to me to be unhealthy. You really need to back off. At the end of the day is he really worse than Bezos or some other money grubbing CEO’s out there?
Patrick M. I first joined the Good Sam Club 30 years ago and I stayed a member for years. I still am, in fact. But it started going downhill Day One when Lemonis took over. When I heard him say a few years ago that Good Sam Members were “marketing tools,” that was it for me. You’re right, I am not his biggest fan, far from it, and, yes, there are lots of greedy businessmen just like him out there. But I don’t like business people who put profits way, way ahead of the people they serve. And Lemonis is the biggest player in the RV retailing industry these days and I don’t like the way he operates. Notice I put this article in our Editorial/Opinion because it’s just me talking. If you want to write something with some meat to it that presents a different picture, we’d welcome it.
Good Sam Club is no longer good, and the CEO is a true scumbag.
This is the only reason to remain a member of Good Sam: https://www.rvpluscard.com/
RVTravel.com needs to cut the same deal with FlyingJ and Pilot for a fuel card. Then we can all drop Good Sam and pay for a annual membership with RVTravel instead. Please consider getting this done as a top priority.
Flying J and Pilot Diesel prices are so inflated that the discount is worthless! Maybe ok if you buy gasoline, but 10% to 25% premium to buy diesel at Pilot/Flying J is foolish. And an extra charge for credit. Where is RV Travel at exposing this rip off?
Been traveling since 1997. I used to use the truckstop pumps because I knew there would be room to maneuver my rig through the pumps, but I never saw a competitive fuel price at them. Even using their discount fuel cards the price to me was no great bargain.
I used to have the same concerns as you until I had a chance to talk to a senior VP for LOVES last year and I learned some things that put the Big Rig pricing issue in perspective — issues that most regular fuel stations don’t have. State regulations for large dispensers of fuel are required to have differently constructed tanks, more fuel spill safety systems, emergency spill procedures, more inspections, fuel transfer systems between tanks, and contamination procedures. Their tax basis is higher because of the much larger land mass they occupy and they have higher overhead costs to handle so many big rigs and truckers. Many services are made available to truckers and while some of them are fee-based, the fees usually do not cover the service. Fuel prices vary from company to company based on the volume they purchase per year. RVers who own rigs that are too large to use at regular stations and are even larger if they tow ( I am 70’ long with bus and pick-up) are “private” consumers and we pay the highest freight to use the big rig stations. According to the VP I talked to, he said that they are 2% higher in net costs over conventional stations because of the larger overhead costs just to open their doors. What makes them more profitable is that they usually sell several million gallons of a month of diesel. So, the higher cost is pretty much assigned to all the super rig centers regardless of brand.
What should be a bigger question is “why was diesel fuel cheaper to make than gasoline before 1990 and today it is nearly a dollar more per gallon. Diesel fuel requires less refining! Go figure, but try to understand Love, Flying J and et al are different. If you have a small rig and can fit in a conventional fuel station, go there! If not, just look around and see what’s different with the big boys and just enjoy your travels!
The more I learned about Lemonis the more disgusted I became with all aspects of his empire. I no longer shop at CW unless desperate, dropped my GS Roadside Assistance in favor of AAA, and don’t ask for the GS discount at RV Parks.
Hello, how do you remove the G/S Club decals off TT ( gel-coat ) ?
Hi, Charlie — Here’s a video from RV With Tito that we shared awhile ago about removing decals: https://www.rvtravel.com/easily-remove-old-ugly-decals-rv/ It should help. Good luck! —Diane at RVtravel.com
Use a heat gun or blow dryer to slowly heat the decal until you can peel it off. Heat the area where you want to start first, then continue to move across the decal. Be careful – don’t overheat the gel coat to hurry the job.
Another idea just came to me. I think I’ll put a piece of red electricians tape diagonally across the decal. Kinda like the round “no parking” traffic signs.
Use car wax
Heat gun and time.
I’m in complete agreement. RV Travel could be the next club to do what GS used to do. Go for it!
Amen!
Chuck Your continued ranting concerning Camping World Good Sam and Marcus Lemonis is getting old. I know of no RV dealer ship that would not offer 20 year loans to perspective buyers. Camping World offers RV related items that Wal Mart Amazon Costco and others sell. Autimetly the consumer will decide were they want to spend their money. I think as RV buyers we should be more concerned with 2 RV manufacturers building 90% of RV’s. Also Marcus purchasing all the RV dealerships. Seems as if Marcus is offering these dealers enough money since they are selling out in record numbers.H
George Shafer, I believe by pushing 20-year loans Camping World has forced other dealers to do the same to stay competitive.
I watched 2 episodes of The Profit and no more. We would like to say Lemonis is a crook, but he is not. He is a shyster, no doubt. I’m no fan of his or his show. I never saw him pull a gun and force a deal on anyone. From what I saw it was either terrible business decision or greed that made them take his money. His methods are terrible, but people ask for them.
CW ~ I’ve found the best prices and service (warranty and non) at the CW nearest me. There are several dealers in between, but they cannot or will not compete. I’ve bought my last 3 5ers there. Supplies are purchased when on sale. Good Sam is far from what it used to be but still a great value to me. Have the RV Plus card. Have, but never used the roadside assistance. Use the CG discount often. My Elite membership is good until 2022.
Wondering which of the practices of CW you hate, Chuck that is a practice of no other dealer. On the last purchase CW found financing lower than my banks or CU could offer. The kick was it had to be for over $50K. Now, only a fool would take cash from investments paying 3 times the interest rate. I am thankful for that 20 year loan. I have no idea what the payment is as I’m able to send $2100 – $3500 to pay it off and still have my investments. Again, that is a decision everyone must make for themselves. If I could not afford to pay cash or have cash in reserve I’d buy a much lower cost unit.
I agree with he poster above. You CAN do better than GS. You have the following. Lemonis has no competition. Give him some.
I have no love for Lemonis or CW – will not shop there – but I am a lifetime GS member. Love my RV Plus/Flying J card and I really like and use the trip planner on the Good Sam website. I’ve tried a few others and find that one easiest to use when planning out routes and stops. The card has more than covered the cost of membership over the years – and we’ve stayed at some nice GS parks. Not costing me anything to maintain the membership so I’ll continue to use what works for me. The man is a slime dog and his business ethics are non-exsistent. I appreciate you warning folks about the perils of 20 year loans on an RV with a life expectancy of 5-10 years…maybe. Everyone needs to make informed decisions on their purchase and payment options but they need to make those decisions with a full picture of the consequences. Education is never a bad thing.
Chuck, I have asked Bob Zagami to filter an email to you on my behalf. You have struck the nail on the head in many ways, but at the same time you have insulted a fine group of Samaratins that strive to continue the legacy that made the GS name a valuable commodity. Don’t sell short folks caring for others. I wish NOT to offend you but rather seek your assistance to perpetuate our missions.
The Maine Good Sam chapters exemplify what the Samaritan Spirit is all about. We invite all to get to know, and join, us before conclusions are reached.
Martin, what I wrote was only about Marcus Lemonis and how he has ruined the club because, frankly, he doesn’t care about it except for its mailing list. I know there are still local chapters doing good things, but I honestly don’t know the members even need the Good Sam affiliation to do what they do. I’m not offended by your comments, which I appreciate, but I really don’t see how any Good Sam member would find my observations offensive. If so, I apologize.
Wrong . You don’t know me and have never spoken to me to know how I feel or what I think. Would be glad to discuss
When do you want to talk Marcus?
If that’s truly Marcus Lemonis (anyone could say they are him….look at my handle), I for one would LOVE for Chuck to sit down with him – video interview.
This is just another TROLL wasting everybodys time. Don’t fall for it.
Exactly, the REAL Marcus would not be signed in as a guest, his ego wouldn’t allow it. 🙂
Marcus,
Surprised you are on this blog. My complaint with CW is they sold me a ‘brand new 5th wheel’ and after one week of ownership I found the entire under belly of my new rig was sagging. When I took it back to a CW closer to where I was camping the dealership found that my rig had been used for parts. The CW had taken my factory installed gray water tank out to replace a damaged tank in another rig and replaced my tank with one that was to small and was held up with straps. Instead of being braced by the slats as designed. This rig was sold to me as brand new. I demanded my money back and you guys refused to take it back, took months to repair it, while i continued to make monthly payments.
Sadly, after trading the unit at a great loss, I found in my paperwork that the state where I purchased the unit allowed for a 30 day return if the unit was a lemon. My question is why your dealership refused to make this right, never pointing out my legal right to return the unit and made me believe that i would have been the one who would have been in financial ruin if I failed to make payments?
Don’t lie to us Marcus. You have zero intention of speaking to end consumers.
You are a very public person, and we have observed your ACTIONS, and seen the horrible degradation of Good Sam club, and the difference in business practices at Camping World.
Your problem is we know you all too well, and smoozing for 30 minutes on your best behavior with your talking points in hand will not overcome it.
Marcus is the worst thing to happen to the RV Industry. This coming year will prove more of the lack of integrity and leadership
The Samaritans in the N.T. were not popular with tribe of Judah. Makes one wonder why the GS Club is on its way down.
We will not set foot in a Camping World unless we have an emergency need with no other option.
That said we’ve been happy with Good Sam’s. We are perhaps not the most sociable of folks so local chapters etc. have never been that big of deal. We have used the GS roadside assistance and let me tell you it is head and shoulders above FMCA, who once left us stranded at a rest area for 24 hours while they were playing two tow companies against each other. We left FMCA completely after that.
No doubt that the GS CEO is a jerk – not to get political but when you tell supporters of the current POTUS that they aren’t welcome and treat your members like product I have to wonder how smart you really are.
Terrible Organization. I purchased towing coverage from them instead of aaa. I broke down in Florida. I called them . i was 80 miles from home. aaa would have towed me 100 miles for free. After speaking and holding for 1 hour in 96 degree weather. They offered to tow me to the nearest RV park. I argued and they said they would tow me to a repair center. The place was in a Tampa ghetto. They were closed. I had to pay 680.00 to get towed home. Never ever would i recommend these Losers. Bye Bye and stay gone. AAA is the way. Car boat and Motorcycle. Burn me once you’re the fool. Burn me twice I’m the fool. Asta la Vista. Kissa me keesta.
Thanks, Chuck, for continuing to point out the weird, bad and ugly, as well as the wonderfully silly, good and sublime of RVing. Too bad if it bothers those who want continuous happy talk, they can stop reading. Most people prefer facts, even if it means we might have to respond in some productive way, or else suffer from cognitive dissonance.
Lemonis is a prime example of a vulture capitalist. Buy a company, cynically take advantage of its prior good reputation, strip it down, then finally sell off to the highest bidder. In the meantime, cut your staff and make those who remain do more for the same pay while you rake in the bucks.
These guys remind me of the parasitic aliens in “Independence Day”. They are the parasites of our society.
Unfortunately, this is merely the logical conclusion to the “business Uber alles” mentality enabled by our politicians for the last 30 years. Can anyone explain how else these guys’ salaries/benefits have increased exponentially while the average workers’ have been stagnant, even decreasing when taking inflation into account?
Notice how our politicians and POTUS continue to rake in their large salaries while hundreds of thousands of OUR federal employees (as well as the local economies that depend on them – there’s a real story if you care to check it out) are robbed of their relatively small pay?
Lemonis is simply a symptom of a broken system.
The real question is, as Americans, what do we do about it? We can say “oh, I don’t like politics” and continue to get fat off cheap food while watching our cheap TVs. The reality is, politics is all about PEOPLE. If we don’t start paying attention and acting now, instead of living in a modern Gilded Age, we’ll be headed for New Age Feudalism.
Camping World just bought out a good RV dealership in the Tri-Cities, Washington area. Russ Dean RV is gone now. They were always easy to work with and helpful beyond the profit margin. Camping World has never achieved that status with me.
My good Sam card more than pays for itself in fuel discounts and camping stays.?I’ve never attended a rally
Tom, have you tried GasBuddy, I have their free card, and get .05 a gallon discount almost everywhere except club stations. They have a great app also….. and did I mention its FREE.
I also use Gas Buddy for the .05 discount. However, it only apples to the first 20 gallons which is fine for the car but the motorhome holds ? gallons. I have been able to run my card twice for the pickup (35 gal) but the card can’t be run a 3rd time and it’s a pain anyway, although one could then use a different card. Up in the cold North of ALASKA the only stations that participate are Shell.
I just tried to sign up for the free GasBuddy but they wanted bank account info. I’m guessing so they could debit gas from my checking acct. Is that what you have as well, to get the 5 cents off?
I have read so many lousy reviews of Good Sam over the past few years that I would never join it. And as they are shills for one of the worst RV dealer chains in the country … Camping World … I’m glad I never joined.
Saturday morning and I’m enjoying reading this weeks RV Travel Newsletter when I get an email from Good Sam. Headline is… Get Protected with Good Sam Identity Theft Protection. Perfect timing to support Chuck’s well-pointed article.
I have a two year membership with GS and have saved some money on park stays. However ,for the most part in booking space ,have been told the discount is already reflected in the published price. So if I weren’t a member I would be getting the same benefit. We do like the big book of RV parks but probably won’t renew. We have a great RV dealer with extensive repair capabilities locally. I can call them with a problem and will get avenues to explore to fix it myself. They are locally owned and not a franchise so they value their reputation.
Thanks for your article, Good Sam Club, Rest In Peace, it is very informative. The Good Sam insurance cost is shocking to me. They wanted nearly $2000 for one year for a 39′ fifth wheel, but I was able to buy it for under $400 from my auto insurance carrier. Some carriers are far less but, I’ve trusted my guy for over 40 years. I’ve been an RVer for over 15 years and haven’t met one RVer who had an accident where the unit was totaled. The RV fires I’ve seen along the highway are typically older rigs. My guess is this is very profitable from the wallets of Good Sam Cub members. It pays to compare.
If we were to use the criteria of who is running a corporation is a “scumbag” when choosing which companies we deal with and are loyal to, the list would be very short. We would not be shopping at Walmart or Amazon. We would not be purchasing fuel at most gas stations run by multinational corporations. It is not fair to single out one company because you do not like their business practices. They are all in business to make a profit off us, who are most likely their stockholders. This is no place for hippoccrisy
E Shane. Why is it not fair to discuss a company that dominates the RV industry about its practices?
Chuck, I have only been a subscriber for a short time, but you are constantly harping on this subject. Make this one of your newsletter polls. “Am I tired of Chuck bashing Good Sam and Camping World” I have been enjoying your newsletter for the most part and learned some things, and I thank you. We all obviously have strong feelings about who we do and don’t like to do business with. Those are personal choices. All large corporations have business practices we do not agree with. Unfortunately, we have to overlook those sometimes or we would have to move to the wilderness and live off the land. Sometimes you just need to hold your nose, and your tongue.
People and newbies need to be warned and get the truths. I don’t mind hearing the “horror” stories. It just reinforces my opinion of CW. I drive a block away from CW and bought our TT and buy our supplies at a family owned business who is truly grateful??
New RVers NEED to be warned about the predatory business practices of Camping World, and understand that the service departments can only handle small repairs effectively.
Chuck, I have been camping for over 40 years and have met and talked with hundreds of people. The vast majority agree with you!
Most of them did not know your newsletter even existed and still have the same opinion of the RV industry. Please keep doing the newsletter the same way you always have, filled with FACTS to the best of your knowledge and your honest opinions. If some people want to run around with their head in the sand, so be it.
It is frustrating what is going on with GS. But I am glad I have a camping world near by to be able to buy rv supplies without having to travel to a major city. We have a active local chapter in GS as well as active state rally’s. That part of the organization is still good in spite of Lemonis!
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones Chuck. I mean business is business. I’m no fan of Lemonis’s Camping World business model, but I like their selection of items and do shop online occasionally since I moved away from having a store close by. I always have had good service from their shop in my previous area. Sorry to say, but you are describing this newsletter/website as well. I mean (out of your revenue goals) it has evolved into mostly an advertiser’s rag full of money-making splashes, with a few articles smattered around here and there. Hey, you deserve to make money too! Still worth reading, just ignore most of the money-grabbing advertising. By the way, not to be too negative, but your “Leave here with a laugh” is 90% the most “unfunny” selection of crappy jokes.
I disagree with your assessment of this newsletter. I’ve subscribed to it for years and have not noticed a decrease in interesting articles. The increase in ads is merely a testament that RVTravel has been getting enough new subscribers to attract the attention of retailers. Chuck deserves more revenue for the years of struggle he put into building this newsletter, which, in case you haven’t noticed, is FREE.
Thanks, Gail. In fact, we are publishing far more news and information than ever before.
This newsletter is awesome and Chuck and staff do a great job.
Camping World is beyond terrible and Chuck only states what most of us are thinking
At the Indianapolis CW we were told we had to sign z buyers contract before we could test drive a motorhome!
jgvtxman, I shop at Camping World on occasion when traveling and I need something. I don’t have a problem with the store. I do object to how the company conducts its RV sales business and to how it has hugely diminished the appeal of the Good Sam Club, but that’s basically it. Some Camping World stores do perform adequate repair services. I have never expressed an opinion on that aspect of the business, but readers have definitely weighed in. Also, about 90 percent of our ads are served by Google, which has more than million different ads it shows depending on the interests of our readers (which, Google knows from their browsing history — that’s another story). We pulled the “leave with a laugh” section and received so many emails saying “put it back in” that we kept the jokes coming.
Thanks for the reply Chuck. Not trying to bust anyone’s chops here. I just have the impression that there are many, many more adverts appearing all over the place. Maybe that makes it seem like there are fewer news article. I like your newsletter and cogent ideas and articles. I also believe you are a businessman who is advantaging yourself from the popularity of the newsletter through promotions. That is really the American way. No prob. You may be right about the RV sales model of CW, and GS Club. They do have nice stores and RV specific products which we all like and need. Their online experience is as good as any. I love a good joke, I just get bummed when they are too long and complicated and not really very funny. Just had to comment on it. Keep the section, I guess maybe just strive to find funnier stuff. Maybe I am too serious. Lolol
Hold on folks. Chuck said his main concern was that the GS club was not doing what it use to do. I would love to have a GS rally close by sometime. I have a membership and will probably renew, but only because of the fuel discount. That adds up quickly and Chuck did not mention it. I won’t shop at Camping World anymore because the CEO opened his mouth and got political. He said he didn’t want half the country in his stores. So guess what?
Unfortunately it’s not what I said. But I respect your perspective
So what did you say, I missed it?
Pat, in defense of Marcus — and I have said this many times — that is not at all what he said, but social media has twisted the meaning all around. I may have concerns about how Mr. Lemonis conducts his business, but to boycott Camping World over something he did not say is simply not fair.
I saw and heard the total interview. He insulted a particular political group. And didn’t want them shopping there. Well, I don’t shop there now.
Me either.
I cancelled my GS Insurance policy (issued through NG), my two-year subscription to Motor Home Magazine, and my GS Roadside Assistance (went with Coach Net). I requested a prorated refund for my Lifetime GS Membership, and they tried to cancel it without refund instead.
So, Mr. Lemonis, when you choose to take sides politically, don’t be surprised when you alienate longtime customers. What really disturbed me was that we were in the market for a newer Class A motor home at the time, and we found one we really liked down at the Camping World store at New Braunfels. Needless to say, we purchased elsewhere. At least PPL didn’t want to play politics – they’re too busy making sales and taking in consignments to bother with virtue signaling. They’ve also got a great RV parts and accessories department too. That’s where we ordered our toad’s towing system from.
In the early 90’s when we joined for the first time (popup camper back then), being a member meant something. Now that it is just a marketing tool, I think that I am better served with my Amazon Prime membership instead. It does just about everything I would have used GS Club for….
Would be happy to discuss with you directly
I would love to hear you state again ‘At the end of the day…it’s about helping others less fortunate than ourselves.’ I continue to serve the GS chapter members on Maine thst have that as their battle cry. The Good Sam Club represents the RV Samaritan Spirit. Yes or No?
Just a quick question. Do management and employees participate in any form of profit sharing or bonus based on customer service at camping world? In my experience, in another service industry business, those folks taking ownership in their daily routine assured that the customer was well taken care of. I always gave my employees (2200) the authority to make decisions on the spot to assure customer satisfaction and needs met. As rule most were more judicious with company money than I was and the customers usually went away happy with the out comes. Just curious what your inter company policy is. Give it some thought. Retired and loving it. By the way I bought a new Sprinter based B+ from CW in OKC before the manager was moved to Florida. Good store here then, not so much now.
Same here, I played the interview 5 times to make sure I heard it right. The original, not the edited one
Some people will hear what they want to hear…While I’m not defending Marcus, I also listened (several times) to what he said, and it wasn’t telling a certain political group to not shop in his stores.
Yep, as I stated above, his political bent is now out there for everyone to see. But mainly, the lousy quality of the CW dealers has been ongoing for quite a while.
Not renewing my membership. I’m one of those that are not wanted shopping there??
I have been a GS member for 14 years, and will let my membership lapse after the current subscription, along with my Roadside Assistance. I bought my Class A from CW, their Sales department was awesome, not so much the service dept. All three times I took my coach in for warranty work they messed it up, cut wires instead of fixing the issue, installed a ladder on the wrong side (no support blocks) after I gave them the rear wall block diagram, seems their tech’s can’t read, and installed a steering stabilizer incorrectly. I will NEVER take my coach to CW for anything ever! As for the RA I have only used it twice, both times a longish wait, but the contracted service truck did repair the issues, and the co-pay was reasonable. ($100 for a split heater hose, and $110 for a tire repair) I have joined the Escapees and they are the club GS used to be, with much more, love their club owned RV parks with $25 a night fees, friendly people, and lots of social events, of which GS has none. It’s really to bad GS’s focus has drifted away from the RV community and towards other pursuits, but everything I can buy at CW I can get cheaper online, and the social aspect of RV’ing is the reason many of us were drawn to it.
With regard to CW, the lousy service quality is the crux of the matter. People tie up a huge chunk of their resources in an RV (which BTW are of lousy build quality to start with) and very often have to take it back to the dealer so some bumbling tech can make a half-hearted attempt at a repair.
That is true, but I get 5% on gas with my credit card, and many gas stations have their own rebate/discount programs (i.e. can still get those good deals without GS membership).
I would love to have an open discussion on this. We can do it any time anywhere but it must be open for all to see and hear.
I’m glad you are speaking up, Marcus. Chuck seems to have some sort of vendetta against you, Camping World and Good Sam’s Club. Now, he is off and running against your recent outdoor store acquisitions.
Marcus, may I email you with some ideas? Or email me with a better email address: chuck@rvtravel.com . Some real good could come out of this, both for RVers and for your companies.
Chuck, good luck on this. As the owner of RV Tips, (a Facebook group with over 137000 members), I emailed Marcus with this same question a couple of years ago. I invited him to the group to answer questions and concerns from our members, he answered my email with these four words “I would love to”. I replied to his answer and tried to set up a date and time and never received a reply, even after numerous attempts to contact him. I hope you have better luck than I did.
Thanks, Ed. By the way, love your RV Tips group!
Hey Marcus,
I just wanted to thank you, and say how much the Good Sam’s Roadside Assistance Membership Program means to me and my family.
It quite literally may have saved my life by getting me off the roadside, TWICE!
I know this as fact, as I’ve been hit before in the breakdown lane on Rte. 2, Lexington, MA with my left arm being 60% severed.
I truly know the value of safety on the road, and how much your services mean to me, my family, and all those who belong to your club.
Sleep well my friend, knowing you’ve likely saved numerous lives and prevented countless sorrow.
I know it’s literally saved me thousands of dollars in times of need, and I can’t imagine traveling without it!
The peace of mind it provides is Priceless!
I left a detailed comment above in another post, if you can find it.
Also, (elevator speech here) I’ve reached out to you previously about “StarBarks, the Worlds most Compassionate Coffee with 100% of our “Profit” supporting Animal Welfare”… a perfect product for your stores, brought to you by RVAnimals.com.
Sipping is believing…
When that first sip of coffee touches your very soul, you know you’ve done a good thing… a very good thing indeed.
Sincerely,
Mike Callahan
mike_callahan1@aol.com
RVAnimals.com
StarBarksCoffee.com
StormDogRescue.org
FMCA and Coach Net offer better roadside assistance plans – with more knowledgeable operators.
Yes! So glad you two will be talking. We look forward to good ideas resulting from this.
In all my years of having GS membership, I have never been asked to prove membership in order to receive a discount at an RV park.
WE have many times
We have, everytime.
I have been a GS member for years…always bought my camping supplies there as CW was always the best selection for the best price.
Even without a GS membership!
I had two stores within 30 miles of my house and it was always a fun drive to go to either one for stuff and have lunch somewhere nearby.
Now, the nearest CW store is 200 miles away and I find that the only time I ever go to a CW store is if I just happen to be in the area.
And most of the prices just aren’t that far off from anywhere else right now.
So, my GS membership just lapsed…I don’t think I will renew it.
It seems that most campgrounds give the GS discount anyway without asking, and getting the gas discount was always a PITA as you would have to go inside and stand in a long line just to leave your CC card (or prepay an unknown amount)…then have to go back inside and stand in yet another long line one more time just to get the receipt (and your CC card back)!
Meanwhile, other drivers are shaking their fists at you while you are hogging the gas pump while screwing around inside!
Just not worth the hassle.
As far as politics…don’t care about any of that as most of my friends are on the opposite side of the fence (uh…I mean ‘border wall’) issue than I am and politics just don’t weigh in to my buying decisions.
However, where I live now is an RV paradise of RV dealerships and supply stores, so I don’t need to drive that 200 miles to get what I need anymore.
My GS Roadside Assistance is good for a couple more months and will probably let that go as well…
Maybe someday I’ll renew…but I doubt it.
I’ll leave those round GS stickers on my RV for now, though!
If you get the Flying J credit card which has no annual fee and links to your GS membership then you can pay at the pump. There is no interest charged but the balance is due upon statement. Also the discount is a few cents more than if you only have the GS membership. Yes, GasBuddy usually shows nearby stations cheaper but every now and then FlyingJ/Pilot is the most convenient also at those times its handy to top off the DEF.
have pulled into those nearby cheaper fuel stops with my 37 foot motorhome with tow’d and took twice as long to pump the diesel and had to sweat the maneuvering required to get in and out, not to mention idiots driving cars blocking us thoughtlessly. Much rather pull into truck bay where everybody (well most everybody) is thoughtful for others and I can fill 60 gal in a few minutes.
Paul, yes, some fuel stops are more convenient than those at a truck stop. But there are plenty of exceptions. I’ve used regular gas stations routinely through the years with my motorhome and toad with none of the issues you use as examples.
I’ve found that if you stick to gas stations along the interstates at the exits chances are you won’t have problems getting up to a pump. It is when you follow Gas Buddy into the small towns to find the cheapest price on gas/diesel that the trouble begins.
Chuck is obsessed about Marcus Lemonis. Hardly a week goes by that he doesn’t bad mouth him and Camping World. I’ve had the worst experiences with other RV Dealers and the best experiences with Camping World. I enjoy saving 10% at Good Sam’s Campgrounds and at Camping World Stores. As far as RV financing, Chuck should spread around his ire at all RV dealers who also offer extended loan arrangements and not make it seem that Camping World is the worst. I guess that I am like most campers and am not at all interested in local clubs, so why shouldn’t Marcus downplay a feature of Good Sam’s Club that is no longer in demand? I guess Chuck will soon get on Ford for not making sedans any longer. Talk about being set in your ways. Give me a break!
Charles, we all have our opinions of Camping World, good or bad. I probably dwell on the company because I remember life before Mr. Lemonis took over, and the club changed, in my opinion for the worse. I noticed that he responded to a comment today with an invitation to talk. I hope to do that.
Looking forward to that conversation. Thanks for replying to his offer.
There is no need to email. Let’s just meet in a public forum with someone else moderating. Invite anyone who wants to come. Be prepared to discuss facts I don’t find your tone to be very professional so we will keep our conversation public, right here. It’s important since you have judged me without knowing me and that’s fine but I will continue to monitor this site so I can ensure that you use facts.
Let me know where and when and who will moderate. We can do it on feed so others can view and participate.
First of all, thank you Marcus for participating in this discussion. You are the first ranking member of the RV industry who has even bothered to stop by. I don’t think I am the only one who has judged you without “knowing you,” as you can tell by the tone of many of the comments here. I hope one way or another we can meet in person to explain ourselves to each other. My belief is that a man with your influence could do a lot of good things for the RV community, which I believe would play out positively for you and your businesses. I will be in touch.
While I want to believe that is actually Marcus I would strongly suggest getting him to email you some ID, Chuck.
Have you considered when Diane offered to edit Marcus post and with Chuck response they actually see the email address, IP and have ascertained something monumental has happened?
Maybe Chuck can now productively engage with Marcus and both of them can help take baby steps towards improving a portion of RV life, even if there is profit involved?
I am more than willing to pay for goods, services, membership, insurance and more, if I believe it is a fair deal.
When it comes to repair, I’d be happy and loyal supporting an organization that efficiently does the repair, has shops from coast to coast, stands behind the work and can repair quickly. That is a tall order because it’s not like a Ford Fusion with 1.3 million sold in the US alone, in 5 years, and they are all close to the same car with quality control that is rarely seen on RVs. By contrast, many of these RVs models had very limited production runs (10, 50, 100), and wiring (for example) can be practically custom.
For repairs, I know Class C and Class B chassis production numbers are higher, but I can take that Ford Fusion to any Ford dealer, almost any dealer, and thousands of competent local shops. Not so much with a 20,000lb MH that doesn’t even fit in the door and it’s below freezing outside.
So, here’s to hoping!
Were you a Good Sam member from way back? Used Camping World before money grubbing Marcus took over?
The differences are ASTOUNDING – in a negative way.
My big problem with camping world is they treat you like a second-class citizen when they find out you have a pop-up or you’re interested in buying a pop-up camper. Also at the Gander Outdoors stores they seem to be high pressure at trying to selli you a Good Sam Membership.
Not only is the GOOD SAM club being re-directed… the Airstream group is too. If you own a new Airstream your in one group… if you own a older one .. your in a different lower class group. It seems that its all about the money these days and not the fellowship that comes from social and enjoyment.
We went to one rally and was assigned a parking spot… only to be asked to move so that a newbie (elete new trailer) owner could park next to the others that were the same. We had to hook back up… and instead of staying we asked for the money back and left. We went down the road and did some boondocking… with others and you know what.. had a heck of a good time with them.
We quit the Airstream group and won’t go back due to their conceited attitude… we didn’t join to be belittled or shun because we don’t keep up with the so called elet’s
Its all about the money and how it makes you more important.
Sorry to hear that the GOOD SAM clubs are going away… but being a member and participating is not in the interest of the new RV’s it seems. The ‘I’ generation (Me movement) seems to be the new directions. So if they need to sell, sell its the only way that they can keep alive.
I won’t comment on Chuck’s beliefs and feelings regarding Camping World because we only joined the RV community a few years ago. I appreciate the news letter and would enjoy watching a webcast of Chuck and Marcus discussing issues.
I am a member of Good Sam and use it where it benefits me, and use other services when they provide a better benefit. I think the GS Trip Planner is a strong product in our RV life (though I wish they could somehow list more campgrounds in outlying areas). I also appreciate their store when I need something in an emergency; normally the prices are more than I can purchase else where, but I appreciate service/supplies they stock. When I went to purchase my TT they did not have the model we wanted.
In regard to financing, I belong to the Buyer Beware club. What Chuck does fail to address is that some of the people taking out long term financing periods may be doing it for multiple reasons; they plan to sell the unit long before financing is complete, and/or, they want to lower payments for their own budget needs. I don’t like predatory lending, but if one is purchasing a product worth thousands of dollars they need to do their own finance investigating. If a salesperson is unethical they should be fired.
I am a Senior now and have grown up seeing the first jet plane land at our airport, watched the chip, computer and Internet industry’s birth and growth. I also have watched products, such as the typewriter die. While I really enjoy Chuck’s articles I’ve lived through too many changes in life to focus upon what it used to be. Now is now. If Camping World continues to serve the RV community, they will be around to serve us. If RV parks remain profitable, we will be able to use them (rather than being forced to only boondock). And if people continue to support Chuck, this newsletter will be around much longer than some of the individual companies that serve the RV community. Here is to hoping that we do, because RV Travel is my first “read” every weekend.
What I’d like to see is Marcus and Chuck figure out ways that they can work together on issues (such as “RV electrical tech training.” I’ve believe that we can always find ways to work together to benefit others; if it too much for Chuck to stomach maybe someone in his organization can reach out.
Good comments Joseph. The “Good Ole Days” are not coming back. Serenity Prayer is in order here.
I have had the Trip PLanner and GPS for several years. Loved it when I first got it. However, the site is spotty and not well maintained. The support is nil. Keep your map books handy for when it freezes in the middle of nowhere!
The Good Sam logo is being used by Coast to Coast. Which is part of TRA – Travel Resorts of America. would not be at all surprised if they are all owned by the person. We have been Good Sam members for a long time, shop at Camping World and recently joined Coast to coast. Thus far satisfied with all 3.
Marcus Lemonis told us to shop elsewhere (won’t go in to that any further). So I will shop elsewhere, mostly Amazon. I have also bought products from the dealer who sold me my trailer.
I actually did not
Moot point anyway, I wouldn’t touch any of your CW dealers with a 10 foot pole. All I hear about in my area of SW FL are awful stories about the ineptitude of the employees and the lack of quality with things like repairs. Then I read on line that it’s not much different nationwide.
Here is what Marcus really said. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/camping-world-ceo-trump/
So, are you suggesting that what uber liberal Snopes says is to be believed as the absolute truth?
if you don’t like snopes, go to their bibliography at the bottom on where they got their information. I don’t know about you but I learned to use bibliographies when I was in high school.
Typical, bash the truth when it doesn’t support your beliefs.
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/snopes/
Snopes is not the only source where I’ve seen that information.
Me too!!! Not renewing my membership ??
Camping World is another Big Box Store just like Best Buy, Walmart, and the like. They all have problems of one kind or another. GS road service left me hanging for 4 hours and I finally decided to get a tow from a non-GS outfit.l The tow truck was there in 30 minutes! GS said they could not find anyone during that 4 hours. Question: is GS paying the tow outfits? I am investigating others like AAA, and Escapees. All those have their limits. CW stores, the employees simply are not trained like they should be, and in some stores, the help turnover is really bad. CW purchased a dealership in Marion, NC. Can’t find anyone there anymore that knew me or my trailer. Not too courteous either. I go to independent dealers as much as I can, even though they are getting scarce. Especially when we are on the road and need something. I think Marcus Lemonis needs to personally go to different stores incognito and see first hand what is going on. He should not have any announcement where or when he is going. Like a “mystery shopper” deal. And change rental cars in between visits. That way the stores would not be on their best behavior. I do use the diesel discount but mostly use the out front non-truck areas in Flying J or Pilot if possible. Thanks for the rant.
Anyone seen the camping world stock in the last year? No wonder…
Dear Chuck,
Sorry, being a full time RVer for only 3 years, I don’t know what it may have been in the past, but I can’t say enough good things about the Good Sam Club that I know and love today.
They very well may have literally saved my life.
You say:
“The club is about selling you things – RVs, RV parts, and member discounts for roadside assistance, RV insurance, warranties … and anything else that Marcus and his cohorts can concoct to transfer money from your pocket to theirs.”
And your point?
During my “Journey Across America” in support of animal welfare, shelters, and sanctuaries ( Videos available at: RVAnimals.com, 16,000 miles of AWESOME!), I broke down twice on the same trip, and was towed to nearby RV parks while getting my vehicle serviced.
I can’t imagine how many thousands of dollars that saved me in my first year of membership alone.
The first time in Louisiana, a single beat up old tow truck towed us about 15 miles to an RV park, Wilderness Bayou RV Park, belching smoke and barely chugging along, but it was a “God Send” to me at the time, and got me off the highway.
The second time we broke down , near Padre Island Texas on the way to the 2017 CampFest on the beach, they sent out 2 tow trucks.
One took us and our trailer to the Padre Island State Park on the beach, while the other tow truck took my truck to a local Ford dealer for service.
The peace of mind in knowing you won’t be left stranded on the highway, or anywhere else, while traveling is absolutely priceless to me and my loved ones.
If the ONLY thing they offered was roadside assistance, at DOUBLE the price, I would still worship the very ground/cyberspace they walk on or operate in.
I’ve read some negative things about Marcus (and I love his show, the Profit), but for me, he can do no wrong.
Good Sam’s possibly saved my life in getting me off the side of the highway that day.
I know this for a fact, as on June 13th, 1986, I was struck by a car in the breakdown lane of Rte. 2, Lexington Ma. while assisting a woman who had broken down, and my left arm was 60% severed.
I’m lucky to be alive… although some may disagree…ha!
I know the extreme dangers of being broken down on the side of the road all too well, my friends, all too well indeed!
We are obviously seeing things from two different points of view, and I certainly respect your opinions, but I think that by discouraging GS membership based on your opinions may be doing your readers a disservice.
As RVer’s, we are an AWESOME community of like-minded and compassionate people, in my experience.
While I’m here, I’d also like to share with your readers an opportunity to help a very worthy cause, and that would be Animal Welfare.
Many of us (Most?) travel with our beloved pets, and as a private pilot, and volunteer with the New England Aquarium transporting endangered sea turtles, I’ve been an avid animal welfare advocate for many years.
I’m also an Executive Producer with ActonTV.org, producing videos for National Distribution on the Public Access Television Network.
Unfortunately, the recent Cali Wildfires left many animals displaced, desperately seeking their lost homes and owners.
I’ve launched a fundraiser on FaceBook, for StormDogRescue.org at https://www.facebook.com/donate/319121588878511/ to help support these rescue and reunification efforts.
If there are any RVers out there able to transport or adopt, please let me know, Mike@RVAnimals.com. or Mike_Callahan1@aol.com.
I am also launching my “StarBarks Coffee, The World’s Most Compassionate Coffee” project, with 100% of all profits supporting Animal Welfare.
This site should be fully functional by next week at StarBarksCoffee.com. or through my RVAnimals.com site.
Sipping is believing…
When that first sip of coffee touches your very soul, you know you’ve done a good thing…
a very good thing indeed.
Ya, it’s sorta like that!
Support your local shelters, sanctuaries, and the compassionate people supporting them.
Having said that…
Hopefully, my experiences may help your readers in making their informed decisions in regards to Good Sam, especially the roadside service part.
I love this RV site, and enjoy reading the many informative & valuable articles and posts I find here.
Hopefully, this would be considered one of them.
Sincerely,
Michael Callahan
RVAnimals.com
StormDogRescue.com
StarBarksCoffee.com
We are full time in a Class A Tiffin … we use the fuel discount almost regularly and appreciate the ability to do so … we rarely shop at Camping World but when we have done so, we have found the stores welcoming and the staff helpful … the ability to dump tanks at CW is ,an additional benefit as we dry camp often … Good Sam campgrounds do not offer enough of a discount for us … we prefer Passport America for the times we hook up … but we will continue as members mainly for the fuel benefits … interesting “discussion” here … thanks for all perspectives and for sharing information.
That is a large complaint I have in addition to many already given. I used to love the fuel discount, with Flying J! When they were bought out, you could apply discount and you’re still paying five to fifteen cents more than stations around, except LOVE’s which prices are also too high!
You had a better experience than we did with GS Roadside Assistance. We broke down in the turning lane off a Hwy exit and could not move. Called GSR Assistance. The agent was helpful but could not get any one to come and help us. Said we would have to contact police and have them get a tow company to come out in rotation. We would have to pay the tow and submit to GSR Assistance for reimbursement with no guarantee of payment. Not very reassuring.
We were stranded on Fathers Day. Missed our family gathering and sweltered in 90 Degrees with no AC due to the breakdown. We were finally towed after being on a busy Hwy for over 4 hours
When I tried to get reimbursed from GSR Assistance I was told I had to submit my $650.00 claim on a form they would only use snail mail to send me. After over 2 weeks I received the claim form which could have been emailed to me. It was nothing special, a piece of paper, no carbon duplicate or anything. I filled out the form and sent original receipts as they required. After 3 weeks I contacted GSR Assistance. They said they did not have a record of my claim, my breakdown and did not receive my claim form with receipts. I was not happy.
I asked to speak with a supervisor. I told him the story and said the claim form would have to be emailed to me. I was not going to wait another 2 weeks and I would not have the original receipts since they were already mailed. He did what I asked and I resubmitted my claim after waiting 3 days for the promised email.
Again, after more than 2 weeks and not being contacted by them, I called. They said my claim had been approved and was being sent to another department to be paid. They said it could take 2 or 3 weeks before I would receive my check.
Finally, I received my check after 2 1/2 months of struggle. I did not renew this service and have upgraded my AAA with the RV rider and unlimited mileage for towing. Now that is peace of mind. What do you have in your wallet?
I agree 100% with you Terry. We have the same coverage with RV rider. in my opinion there is no better, a professional organization all the way, covering you anywhere you travel. The travel insurance saved my wife and I from certain financial ruin this past summer – paid 100’s of 1000’s of $’s on that claim, no problem, and saved my wife’s life. AAA, CAA, all the way.
Last month we shopped for parts at a major RV dealer in Fort Meyers, Florida, can’t remember the name. Then went to Camping World as my wife said we get a 10% discount. The CAMPING WORLD PRICE WAS AT LEAST 10% MORE. Watch your prices.
.
However, CW does publish specials online at their dealers. I have for instance taken advantage of fixed price installations from time to time, e.g. $39 or $89 (don’t recall, was few years ago) for their toilet install. They do make independents competitive at some things.
I guess it’s time to shred my Good Sam life membership card and my Good Sam credit card also. Marcus can take his 10% and put it where the sun doesn’t shine. I should have done this a long time ago.
Would be happy to discuss with you
How about discussing it with the consumers
Marcus, how about stocking your shelves, lowering prices, hiring employees that seem like they care, get competent techs. I personally like shopping a well stocked CW and with the discount, prices are not that out of line.
Daniel, and Marcus, if you’ve been following rvtravel, the lack of qualified techs is a serious issue across the board. Helping out my son in CA with a Pleasure-Way Traverse that had a propane leak, we finally found a small father-son-run place near Marin County that finally found and fixed the problem. Having knowledgeable techs at non-rapacious prices is a key to helping owners with issues. I’m glad that at least some in the industry have recently recognized this. Marcus?
…and answer the phone. Agree with every point you made Daniel.
I would love to see you write an article for this newsletter and really discuss what you see coming down the road (pun intended). There are so many differing opinions on Camping World and would really like to see things from your point of view.
Feel the same! And CW messed our MH up everytime they touched it! Never again!
It’s not just Camping World…but just about every other RV dealership out there these days! Sure, there are lots of great dealerships around the country, but they are few and far between. I bought two brand new RV’s in the last six years from two different dealerships…both promised the world on how their service department would take care of me after the sale…and both failed miserably when that time came for warranty repairs.
John, you are right. Lots of RV dealers out there whose interest in RVing is about selling them, and then basically forgetting about them. There are good dealers, too, but not enough of them.
Chuck, this is where I believe some use of a real voice for change could be useful. I have had dealings with over a dozen dealerships and not one including the one in I purchased from could do my warrenty work in a timely manner, to me anything simple like replace a faulty axel under warrenty in less than three weeks. Is there anywhere you or your readers can post a story about a dealership that produces quality work in a reasumble time. I have attempted getting work done in CA three , KY three, PA over four, OH and in each case they refused to even do warrenty work or the wait to get in exceeded 3 weeks. Yes I got my axle fixed under warranty but lost my rig for two months. Only two of these crappy dealers were CW.
Hi, Benny — Here’s a link from this week’s RV Travel Newsletter for a searchable database of customer reviews of RV service centers around the country. http://www.rvservicereviews.com/Index.asp It looks to be a very thorough list of where to go and where to avoid taking your RV in for service. We hope this helps. —Diane at RVtravel.com
RVservicereviews.com is very out of date. Not too many people take that list very seriously anymore.
Thanks for the update, JohnD. At the bottom of their front page it says it was last updated today, so hopefully that’s the case. If it has out-of-date information, maybe it’s still a starting place for people searching for service for their RVs. —Diane at RVtravel.com
That probably just means that somebody, somewhere, maybe posted a review. Where I lived before I hit the road (Denver) and no longer need my dealerships for anything, most of the latest reviews were over five years old and many of the businesses on the list are no longer in business. Plus, that old website looks like something from the Windows 98 days.
I agree. Thanks, JohnD. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Benny, getting work done on an RV whether under warranty or not, is a huge problem right now. This is a very important issue and we definitely need to devote a lot more time trying to help find solutions. Thank you for bringing this up.
Problem with lists like these is that the minute you find a good repair tech, they get woo’d away from that dealer by another one who offers them more pay…and then it happens again and again…over and over. Every time I find a good tech, they move on and the dealerships won’t tell you where they went to!
This simply confirms what I’ve been feeling for the past few years – goodbye Good Sam.
We are lifetime members of Good Sam and have been since around 2000. We have a very active local group and Ohio has 3 RV rally’s a year (May, July and Sept). They may not be as big as they used to be, but we still have a grand time. The Ohio Rally’s only cost $65 for camping Thurs, Fri, and Saturday. Includes entertainment, games, a supper (usually hot dogs, sloppy joes, or bean soup, a breakfast (biscuits and gravy), and doughnuts. Lots of socialization and getting to know other RV’ers. And actually, if you come in early, it’s only $10 a night. That’s really cheap camping! We support the local food banks and many other charities. I’m not saying they are as big as they used to be, but we are doing everything we can to keep up the comradery with fellow Good Samer’s.
Linda –
We also are fortunate enough to have fairly active state and local chapters, but many are dying out.
The question is, if the national organization is doing nothing other than flying the GS flag, can our clubs not continue to have fun, enjoy camping and share that with others WITHOUT having to be a GS national member…or being required to use the GS logo, which is free advertising for corporate? (Club flags, badges, etc. are required to have the GS logo somewhere on them.)
There are many social camping clubs based on RV brand (Newmar Club, Winnebago Club, et al.) who sponsor rallies and events and are aimed at bringing campers together — and, yes, brand loyalty .
The reason the rallies disappeared is because local or even state chapters find it difficult to afford this without some corporate support…which they are no longer getting. We still have rallies — but struggle to find the resources to continue. Campgrounds are no longer influenced by or interested in the “Good Sam” name promotion, other than as a lure for individual campers looking for that 10% discount.
The 10% campground discount: that is something available at many campgrounds (Good Sam and others) via senior citizen, military, first responder, national park pass, and the numerous other camping clubs such as FMHA, et al. — Good Sam does not have the corner on discounts.
Road side assistance: there are numerous providers…many just as good and many cheaper than Good Sam. When the organization first began, road side assistance was a group called Good SAMaritans…maybe one of the only good things left about the Club.
Perhaps that is the real issue: distinguishing the Good Sam Camping Club membership and benefits from all of the new add-ons which are financial products, not member services. Labelling those financial products under the Camping World brand to separate them from Good Sam’s original mission would go a long way toward diffusing some of the frustration with the new direction of the Club itself.
Have you checked the Good Sam and Camping World independent reviews? They have some of the highest complaints posted on numerous consumer sites…and their own Facebook page has plenty of complaints.
Our Good Sam state chapter and most of our local chapters are still alive, but many are on life support. I wonder what the purpose of the Good Sam organization will be once there are no longer any chapters? It will simply become a branded product line for individual campers, no different from any other merchandising program.
Bottom line is that Good Sam CAMPING Club is no longer a camper-centered support organization. It is all about the $$. Period.
There are two rally’s that are going to be announced in the coming weeks. Many have written to me about it and I agree we are due for a couple.
Marcus, please re-examine your grammar on your next post. it is rallies, not rally’s. It makes you look rather uneducated..Bill Semion, travel/outdoor writer and all-around grammarian.
Not that I am a fan of Good Sam club and in fact I just let my road side service lapse in favor of FMCA and AMAC. I also always found it confusing to have so many different sign ins for Goodsam and good sam club and good sam road service. ? However, I do want to point out that if you still have a goodsamclub membership that is paid for, ( I believe I signed up for five years at some point. ) they do have a travel planner that is better than many. It is on their main web site and not easy to find. First sign into the goodsam memeber page and then go here: https://www.goodsam.com/trip-planner/ If you are not a current member ,,,,, I don’t advocate joining just for that. AMAC’s road service also has one for members only. And there is still mostly free, roadtripper and RVparky which now also shows low height restrictions. Thanks for the great news letter. ds
Marcus, your answers here are very similar to those in your depositions of Stetler versus Camping World. Short, informal and irrelative. I doubt you have any real interest in camping, rving or the great outdoors. Your interest is in making money. That’s a good thing, especially for your stockholders. Lots of people love CW, not me. It’s always been overpriced, poor customer service and many times lots of fine print to get all those juicy discounts and benefits. I am looking forward to you and Chuck having a sitdown although I don’t envy Chuck. Based on your show and the deposition videos you’re tough to beat. However, this isn’t about winning anyone, it’s about what GS and CW really offer the rving community.
I’m not sure how a legal deposition tone and approach has anything to do with how the rv business and industry function. The deposition you are referring to was a shakedown which by the way went no where.
I pride myself on being straight and I’m more than willing to answer any specific questions or take any constitutive criticism as long as it comes with facts and suggestions. I know you can appreciate that.
Mr. Lemonis — I think you meant “constructive” criticism, but I don’t want to edit it unless you approve. Thanks. —Diane at RVtravel.com
Diane, maybe you should just let people’s illiteracy remain unedited. It helps us get to know them better.
I think it has already been determined that neither of the two posing as Marcus and Marcus Lemonis are the real McCoy…just someone pretending to be him. And if you really do believe they are the real thing, then I have some ocean front property for sale in Arizona…real cheap!
😆 That’s very true, Sam. I usually leave things alone, but very occasionally I’ll pretend I’m a built-in spellchecker and correct an obvious error, just to make something understandable, or so the writer isn’t embarrassed by their typo. I’m going to ask at our meeting tomorrow if there’s any way that commentors can go back and edit something they’ve just posted, like can be done on FB. That would be nice, but I don’t know if it’s doable. Have a good night. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Perhaps had eaten too many hamberders.
Shakedown ML is what you call that deposition? If this IS a shakedown I would have taken your offer 8 years ago. Its not about Money its about standing up to bullies and fighting for whats right and I’m right and you were wrong to me
Just a random thought to ponder…Am I the only one that has noticed that ‘Markus’ is also posting here as ‘Markus Lemonis’? In other words…two of them posting as one! Which one is the real one? Or is either of them the real one and only??
Been a Good Sam’s Club member for many years. The Lemonis “Trump Supporters are not welcome here…” comment pretty much did me in! I’m done and won’t renew.
Same here – I contacted both Camping World & Good Sam after that comment & asked them to discontinue any mailings to my house…..they complied…for a while… and my local Camping World shut it’s doors last week. I found another place to buy my camping supplies a couple years ago, and apparently so did most others
Sounds like a good reason to join, to me!
me too.
Just like Trump, you feel facts are not important. Check “Snopes” for thorough explanation of facts. Lemonis was only referring to the Charlottsville incident/rhetoric. Many CEOs public condemned Trump for that.
However, Lemonis seems to be slimy like Trump, However, I don’t think Lemonis is batsh1t crazy.
Just like Pelosi you tailor the “facts” to your bias. You evidently don’t understand what Trump said in his comment… and he is RIGHT ! (ANTIFA, BLM, etc, etc) And if you’re using Snopes for your truth-acid-test then you’ll continue in confusion.
Steve, Snopes is a credible source.
If you believe that…I’ve got some ocean front property in Arizona for sale…cheap!
Fine, John. Name me a better source of accurate information. Please!
What does having another source have to do with Snopes being credible or not? Research use to be a tedious job, today the less ambitious use single resources like Snopes as their ‘truth’ finder. One of the many downsides of the internet age.
FOX
No it is not. Nor is Wikipedia. This is just one of many fact checker of a fact checker.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/29/the-unreliable-facts-of-a-fact-checking-site/
Trump is not RIGHT as often as you probably believe! His tweets are written at an 8 year level, with CAPS and he keeps it dumbed down to communicate with his base. Just because it’s in CAPS or he shouts it over and over, doesn’t make it true or right. Many people find him morally repugnant; many people question his sanity; many people do honest fact checking and find Trump really ‘stretches’ the facts, but that has nothing to do with this discussion.
The discussion is about what LEMONIS actually said. Just that.
You can use Snopes and refer to their sources, or dozens of other sources. Please look somewhere besides Fox & Friends or POTUS tweets for facts. SPOILER ALERT – they are not always reliable.
Chances are you didn’t check the facts of Lemonis statement because you are a hater and remaining ignorant allows you believe you are correct.
To rattle your cage and get you frothing at the mouth a little more, here’s Twain, as he would probably say it today. “There are three types of lies: lies, damned lies, and Trump lies.”
Ok then, have a nice day.
Mark B. Yes, no more talk about Trump. That’s off topic.
Thank you. Politics will ruin your site. Most of us want some relief. Just like the NFL has forever lost some fans, the same thing will happen here.
Thank you for stopping political discussion on this site. The hatred that flows over politics is beyond terrible, it has become an obsession for some. Chuck, this is one reason some tire of listening about CW over and over again. Critics can not change the world, they have to produce a working alternative. Using a bully pulpit can be counter productive to a growing business.
Thanks Chuck , my feelings exactly
I hate when people’s me bring politics into everything. This site is about camping and being in the outdoors. Be a grownup and keep it at that!
Per Snopes article, “However, contrary to his own inaccurate descriptions of his CNBC interview, Lemonis did strongly appear to have suggested that anyone who agreed with President Trump’s controversial remarks about the events of 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, should not shop at his stores.”
Trump’s remarks, per Snopes, were …”President Trump’s widely criticized remarks on the rally, in which he said there was “blame on both sides” and that there were “very fine people” on both sides.”
I believe Trump was correct. Both sides were to blame and, yes, there were good people on both sides. Both sides had good people from their group trying to stop the violence, no matter their political beliefs.
Based on the Lemonis statement (again, per Snopes), “There’s no doubt that there is [sic] probably not many consumers in this country today that are in favor of what has been said in the last couple of days and if they are, quite frankly don’t shop at my business.”, I, and 19 other fellow RVers, have dropped all shopping and transactions with Sam’s Club, Camping World, Gander Outdoors, etc.
Gottcha! We and our friends feel quite the same way.
Huge Trump guy here in Canada ducking in – don’t shoot we don’t allow guns here so I can’t defend myself BUT, just for the heck of it, anyone in the audience happen to read Gregg Jarrett’s two recent books “The Russian Hoax” and last year 500 pager “Witch Hunt”?
Much bigger than what you get from a Liberal controlled 45 second clip on the evening news. Much bigger!
I agree…if you want your business to be political I’ll judge your business accordingly and take my business elsewhere.
I bought a lifetime membership years ago. It has never been what we thought we were joining. It at one time was kinda worth to get the discount on camp sites, but now to get a discount on camp ground is a joke. Wish i could just get a refund of part of the purchase price. It is now just a card they ask for every now and then at Camping world, which is so outrageous on prices that you pay an arm and leg for what you get. We just order from Amazon.com, have it delivered to the camp ground we are at.
Yes Amazon
Amazon=Skynet (Terminator)
We didn’t renew our roadside membership after Harvey. We broke down in Orange, Texas and called them for help. They sent a jakeleg mechanic out who didn’t know sick’um from come here….absolutely no help. Then when we tried to get a wrecker for tow thru them, they said couldn’t help us at same location. ..if we could go couple miles down road, they could assist. We were broke down…no movie.
Marcus, you seem to be spending a lot of your time lately on your television show I am fixing small businesses. When are you going to put some more effort into fixing the problems with Camping World? The main problem I speak of is the loss of over 60% of the Value for stockholders. I would think this is a problem he would want to be addressing. Look forward to your answer to this.
We { TranQuil Gardens RV Park} are no longer a Good Sam park–But we will honer the discount,for you folks in Texas the T.A.C.O. book is better.Texas Association of Campground Owners is the best way to travel and see Texas.
The cost to be a GS park is no longer affordable for small parks.
RV owners bickering about benefits of a $-30 year GS membership? The purpose of this forum is to share comments and experiences that are helpful to other RV’ers; many of the comments here are not helpful to us at all, just a venue to complain. Some politically motivated against their management? No room for political discourse here. If you don’t like the GS Club, spend your money elsewhere, cheap arses! I don’t particularly care for Camping World prices on some things, just like any other merchant, comparison price shop. BTW I am an unbiased GS Club and AAA RV Club member, have used both memberships and been completely satisfied with the service. I’m an active RV’er, owner of Class A beautiful RV that I did not purchase from Camping World.
AAA RV “club”? Isn’t it just a roadside assistance plan? No secret handshake, no meetings. Oh yeah, 10% discount on overpriced luggage tags. Free passport photo. Maps. A club is an association or organization dedicated to a particular interest or activity.
Evelyn
That’s what everyone should do as there are better organizations everywhere. Why waste money with Good Sam ,Gander, Camping World and anything else Mickey Mouse Monus manages ?
Don’t complain about complaining
Evelyn, As a relatively new PAID UP member of the service Chuck, Gail and crew at RVTavel provide I believe one of the most important objectives Is to allow and encourage dialogue that educates and informs.
In print journalism, those are the functions, foundations and MO of the service.
This is not a comic strip. It’s a forum for serious people with serious money at play to exchange ideas & opinions that enhance an RV experience.
In the case of the topic being discussed, I value very very much the education I have gained both here and in places, I’ve fact checked veracity of what I’ve learned here.
Holy cow, surprise surprise, turns out beyond any doubt that CW and GS have changed direction radically under the present owner, with some of us choosing not to buy the direction, the obfuscations and many other things most of which are not of benefit to the Recreational Vehicle owner.
I’m very pleased to have that info, despite some “bickering” & the enduring of some warts if it all ends with me and you down the road with a clear blue sky in front of us – with one more “entrepreneur” with a hand in my pocket checked off the list.
Totally agree with your editorial about the club and it’s CEO. The RV industry as a whole is changing, social media is becoming a key component of many RVers’ lives and – thank goodness – there are new options for discount RV parking. With more and more Digital Nomads venturing out, either full-time, part-time or as often as they can, fresh thoughts and great leaders are emerging. IMHO, that is a good thing. We will all roll on just fine without Mr. Lemonis’ directions, thank you. Now, let’s GO RVing!
I’m scraping the Good Sam sticker off my RV!
We avoid Camping World if at all possible because of their overpriced products. Sometimes that is the only place you can buy an item, that you need for your RV , so we bite the bullet and go in the store.
The RV repair service is not top notch either, and we have been disappointed in that. So if possible we avoid Camping World all together. RE: The Good Sam club. WE have the Roadside Assistance and have been disappointed in that as well. When stranded on a major interstate a few years ago we waited for hours for help. Meanwhile the traffic whizzed by and we observed two accidents right outside our motor home. Of course the biggest problem was the motorhome and as far as we are concerned we will never own another one. We went back to a Fifth Wheel and a diesel truck. No more of those trips that kept us in suspense about whether we would make it there and home without a problem. More often than not there was a problem.
Have to ‘log in’ ~ make it easier to find!
You no longer need to log in
Sad that it has come to this.
I guess I am more fortunate than many: I am retired Military and get camping discounts at lots of places. As for CW, we bought are first RV there (CW of Richmond IN), felt we got taken on the financing end, but WE should have taken more time checking on the numbers. When financing thru CW, they offered $5K off the RV, we went outside CW so they didn’t offer is the discount. Had some minor warranty work performed on it, turned out OK. Traded it to a non-CW dealership for a 5th wheeler. Happy now. We are GS members, mainly for the Roadside Assistance – we’re satisfied with it so far, but haven’t had to use it. Our new RV is awesome. Like others have said, the 10% off is no big deal as internet buying and CAMCO / Walmart / other RV dealerships sell similar items. CW in Kissimmee FL are great people! Did some warranty work on my 5er while I was on vacation there. I, too, hesitated to buy from CW due to the political remarks said, even though almost all of them (CW) fly the US Flag. We all have our opinions on which party is right on which issues. I like to see what’s being offered in their stores, then go try to find it online – I’m a touchy-feely guy! LOL My stance – if you don’t like ’em, don’t buy from ’em. Stop bashing because of your own personal views, we all have them.
Mike could you explain how you’re happy with a service like Good Sam’s Roadside assistance “you haven’t had to use…”? If my wife hasn’t used the can opener I gave her for Christmas could she be said to be satisfied with it?
Hmm is there something I’m missing in your telling?
Above all – thank you for your past military service helping keep Americans and my fellow Canadians safe
Pledge of Allegiance to Marcus Lemonis
Soon after taking ownership of Good Sams International Mr. Lemonis issued his set of rules that basically superseded any existing charters from the prior regime. Each Good Sam Club was to submit a new set of By-Laws to align with the Lemonis rules. One of the more onerous rules obligated each club’s leadership to pledge allegiance to Mr. Lemonis as a component of their submission. As a Past President of our club (which was chartrered in 1989 by the Good Sams International organization) I was asked to prepare and submit our club’s new (and approved) rules/By-Laws. Intentionally excluded from our submission was the Pledge as our sole Pledge of Allegiance “… is to our flag and the Republic for which it stands…”. Needless to say, the local District authority did not forward our submission, having returned it to us requiring several modifications that would better align with Mr. Lemonis’ rules. We opted not to comply and refused to make any changes.
Since then our club has pretty much distintegrated as have many, many others. The recession and the related crash of the RV industry, the lack of new memberships from the ranks of the impoverished Millenials, and the impact of an aging membership have reduced our numbers to a modest group of “happy campers” whose remaining allegiance is to the modest member discount that is still available. Every “campout” in recent memory is enervated by the “horror stories” experienced by the poor performance of Mr. Lemonis’ product line(s). I believe that Mr. Lemonis’ corporate performance of late is indicative of a spiral into bankruptcy, a result for which I have little sympathy.
CW cannot “force” any dealer to do anything they do not want to. My 20 year loan was at a rate no one else would touch at 5 years. My loan is NOT with CW but US Bank. Yes, CW got a rebate just as they would have from almost any other lender with any timeframe. CW did not put a gun to my head to take out any loan. Chuck blames Marcus while I believe anyone that NEEDS any loan to buy an RV or boat or any toy is a damn fool to purchase one. In 3 years it will be paid off and investments remain intact.
Every CW location is different. I use the Myrtle Beach location and it is great, both sales and service. I have GS Roadside but have never used it. I would much rather go to CW than any Walmart store, have not been in one in decades. Amazon has y’all hooked. I can always find items for less even when shipping is required.
During the great Obama Recession techs had to look for work and did not come back as it will happen again. Every dealer, every location is finding good techs a hard commodity to find.
I save more on CGs than the membership costs. I save many times the membership on fuel.
Captn John, Okay, the 20 year loan works for you, as it does for many others. But let’s just assume for one minute, that like with many people, five, ten, 12 years into your loan, which you were paying off each month on time, you got really sick and could not work. Or maybe you lost your income for some other reason — got laid off, whatever. In that case, there could go your ability to pay your loan. And if you tried to sell your RV the banker would say, well, you’ll have to write us a check for $15,000, which maybe you don’t have. . . So, this all works for you, but Captn John, you are NOT EVERYBODY. So just because the 20 year loan worked for you, don’t assume everybody has their lives go just the way they plan for the next 20 years. These are the people who get in trouble with these loans. And, frankly, anyone who needs a 20 year loan to get their payments down to where they can afford them on a depreciating asset, this case an RV, should not be buying that RV.
Agree Chuck, completely, and choose carefully the language used when dealing with anyone using the word “investment” in association with RV’s or 99% of anything else with wheels – the 1958 Corvette being the exception.
A point of view about Roadside Assistance programs. I have mine with the American Motorcycle Association. It covers cars, motorcycles, boats and RV’s. I once had a blown tire in a small town on a Sunday afternoon. I’m bad–I hadn’t checked my spare (used car and wrong tire) and it was not the size of my other tires so I couldn’t change it myself. I contacted AMA Roadside Assistance and they worked like the Devil to get someone to tow me to a tire shop and/or bring me a tire that was correct. They apologized profusely, but every shop was closed within a hundred miles. I had to take a motel room until the next morning when several shops opened and AMA took care of me at that time. Now, I could write here that I will never do any business with the AMA Roadside Assistance program again, but it would not be fair. If someone is out in the Boondocks on a Sunday afternoon and has a problem, then they shouldn’t expect their Roadside Assistance program to immediately come to their rescue. Life is not always fair and neither is blaming Camping World’s Assistance program or any other company’s Roadside Assistance program when it is an impossible situation. About a year later, I had one of my wheel hubs break as I was pulling into my driveway. I could not even limp to a repair shop. I called AMA and in about an hour they had a tow truck deliver my car to a repair shop. So, you see that blaming a Roadside Assistance program may not be their fault if it is an impossible situation so let’s not, in this forum, just point out bad instances with Camping World when bad instances can happen with any Roadside Assistance program.
Also, P.S.–Let’s not get petty with poor grammar, typos, etc. If such errors obviously don’t change the gist of the conversation, why make a big deal out of it? It could be that Einstein and Marcus didn’t major in English.
Hi Marcus. Ey recently extended my membership and Camper World sent me $50.00 worth of cash coupons that were the real deal. Thanks to you and to all the knowledgeable and friendly and helpful people at CW. Don’t worry about all the whiners and snivelers—that’s all they know how to do. (And Chuck, nobody tells you how to run your business, why do you think you should tell anyone how to run theirs).
Loneoutdoorsman
I applaud all opinions even those proving that many folks loyalty can be bought with ” $50.00 worth of cash coupons” only redeemable at the vendors retail store!
Chalk one up for the smart guy at the till.
We joined GS in 2001 as we were leaving on our first RV trip. Loved the campground discount, as we didn’t know of any other at the time. Then found a Passport America Membership our dealer had given us for 50% off!!! Wow. GS went through Flying J discount and then moved to Loves – never had a good experience with a gas motorhome at Loves, no separate island etc. Now have Flying J card with GS and enjoy the diesel discount and using the truck lanes. When we first started There were fewer than dozen Camping Worlds and we thought of them as candy stores, never missed stopping and buying something using our President’s club discount. Our Road service was and is with coach-net another “gift” from the dealer who sold us our first coach. They have not disappointed me in 18 years of cross country RVing.
We went to a GS Rally in Syracuse NY and were sorely disappointed in the experience compared to FMCA Conventions and Escapees Escapades. Today I would not take my coac h to CW – or any other dealer – for service, we full time and dealers always have 30 day to 90 day waits for service that needs to be redone, not great for full timers. We use Mobile service for work that can be done that way and service centers for work that requires a bay. We are lifetime GS members and for now the only use we make of it is fueling at Pilot/Flying J.
CW is a retail business. It specializes in the RV market and could work harder to satisfy the many branches of that market.
Here is one idea; set aside one service bay in each store for quick fixes, staff it with top techs and focus it on jobs that book for under 3 hours, do NOT accept reservations, make if first come first serve. Tiffin Motorhomes Service has express bay service with a similar arrangement. Do not give priority to any class of RV.
They could also schedule service and repairs so when you do bring your unit in, repairs can be scheduled together. I need service on my unit and they gave me an appointment. Then they told they would need at least 2 weeks after the initial appointment to effect the repair. I am full time and it is more expensive to get service at CW than to pull my 5th wheel across the country to the factory who effect the repair in 2-3 days, not 2 weeks.
It’s easy to criticize, complain and Monday morning quarterback other people’s business decisions from the comfort of a laptop screen. Whatever the Good Sam Club used to be doesn’t matter now. That was then, this is now. One can lament the “good ole’ days” but to what end? Nothing stays the same. Circumstances change. Markets change. Consumer’s buying habits change. The only constant in this world is change. Simply put, Camping World is a business. If you don’t like it or it’s policies, don’t patronize the brand. No one is forcing anyone to buy from them. Vote with your pocket book. Or better yet, risk your own capital, time and reputation to build a better mouse-trap. If CW and GS are indeed that bad, there’s an opportunity to create an alternative consumers will flock to. The market will reward those who serve the customer better. As for those 20 year loans, it’s not the job of the business owner to educate the consumer. To be sure those businesses who go the extra mile to provide additional value are often rewarded with market share but its not a sure thing. The consumer ultimately bares the responsibility of researching their options so they can make wise choices for their personal situation. Folks these days seem all too quick to blame everyone but the individual making the decision. Personal responsibility and accountability are never out of style in my view.
Well well, thanks for the lecture Dad…uh, I mean Brad. is it ok to voice our own opinions now? I happen to agree with Mr. Woodbury.
Well said…
At the heart of Brad’s comment is that more and more consumers want someone else to hold their hand, to check on them, to make sure they’re not choking on debt of their own making – ETC ETC ETC.
Today if you travel to a strange place 2000 miles from home and fall off a cliff or get bit by a bug only known to that area it is someone else’s fault for not telling you about the cliff or the bug. Those types I’m more than fed up with. When did god stop installing spines?
More to the point of the topic , enough of Marcus & what’s left of GS for us.
When we commence travels in the spring of 2020 the license plate frame will have been replaced and the membership not renewed. We’ve never had a problem, and don’t want one. To many bad reviews they’re gone!
Thank you Chuck for keeping this alive; we’ve been paying attention.
We were Good Sam members last year. No more. They let us down big time when we needed them the most. Paid for roadside assistance and when we were broken down miles from home on an interstate highway, they conveniently couldn’t find our subscription. Ironically, we received a very nice flyer from Lemonis saying to contact him with any concerns. We did. No response. No surprise. They got our last dime.
Can’t seem to find a place to discontinue subscribing to your weekly newsletter….unfortunately we are no longer RVing.
The place to unsubscribe to our newsletters is at the bottom of the email alert which you receive notifying you that a new newsletter is available. Just look at the bottom of the email and you’ll see “SafeUnsubscribe.” Just click on that and follow the simple instructions. No hassle. Sorry to see you go and that you’re no longer RVing. Take care. —Diane at RVtravel.com
The video in editorial about camping world is unavailable
Thanks for letting us know, Barry. I think Good Sam pulled their video. I’ve contacted Chuck to see if there’s another video that might replace it for his article. Have a great day. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
IMHO …Sammy used to be worth it, not anymore. Back in the 90’s when I first started rv’ing they were a great organization to be a part of, but slowly were destroyed by corporate greed. There are so many more options these days, and I like to search and find the smaller mom and pop rv shops out there when needed… they do still exist. Other options are online outlets (rvupgradestore.com, etrailer.com) also, which may not be as feasible to full timers. I guess my point is, the big chains like cramping world and crazy days are NOT the only option !
Good Sam used to demonstrate a comradery for RVers. Now, along with Camping World it is a disgrace. Trying to get service is nearly impossible, members continue to be stymied trying to use extended warranty or road service. Groups such as FMCA and Escapees represent RVers much better and offer better services.
Don’t waste your money 10% is a joke, try Passport America or others, they are not the only game in town!
Don’t waste your money 10% is a joke, try other clubs like passport America and more!
Seems like most of you think that all there is to being a Good Sam Member is buying things at CW or using their roadside assistance. Being a Good Sam Member means being a camper willing to do things for others, having fun with other campers, joining a local camping club to share fun times, see new things, and of course, having fellowship while enjoying good food! Many states still have GS clubs and smaller chapter groups in the state. We belong to the Kansas Good Sam Club and then to a chapter that goes camping together every month during camping season. Kansas has 23 of these smaller chapters that make us 4 area groups. We have an area rally in the spring and a state rally in the fall. Both are a lot of fun. While Marcus did cut the national rally, he has not totally forgotten us. We (the state organization) still some financial assistance from national to help fund our state rally. The state director also receives some financial assistance for office supplies, etc. So while we are getting smaller in numbers we are still thriving in many other ways. Maybe those of you who are complaining about your GS membership just need to join the state and local chapters to find out how much fun being a Good Sam member can be!! Just google Kansas Good Sam Club to check us out.
And yes, my husband and I use to have roadside assistance. When we found out that there were not very many tow truck companies that accepted GS roadside assistance because of the companies unwillingness to pay up, we joined a different company.
But we love being Good Sam Members and campers with the Kansas chapter!
What happened to my earlier post?
Do you mean the one you posted about an hour ago and which I see immediately below this one, Betty? 😉 —Diane at RVtravel.com