If you think Camping World is just another RV dealer, one where you can get a great deal, then think again. While you may get a good price, it may be far from a good deal for you after all is said and done.
Here, in part one of a two-part series on the RV Show USA, an ex-salesman reveals the tactics salesmen use to get as deeply into your pocketbook as possible.
Watch part one of the two-part series: We’ll have part two next week.
Ridiculous! No new info. All dealers auto, Rv, dirt bike work the same. Of course salespeople key in on emotions. Selling vehicles is the job not taking people out of spending money. Audi in this is rubbish.
The beginning is a lie. You can end it there. This is guy is a liar. He uses terms like they when referring to Camping World that’s the first red flag. The second red flag is Camping World has cheap prices and rips you off in finance office. What sales person would stay some where and not make money? Anyone that works in RV business especially Camping World knows this. I work in Sales at Camping World and I have no idea what takes place in Finance office. That’s not my job. This guy seems to know a lot about Finance as a Sales person. Here is the kicker. What legitimate bank would allow a consumer to be taking advantage of? When one buys an RV they need excellent credit. There are rules RV dealers have to abide by when it comes to banks. This is all hogwash. Sounds like someone from another dealership saying he use to work for Camping World. If you use to work for Camping World then give your name. What do you have to lose? This guy is full of bull.
Instead of a video, I get this Error Message:
http://www.youtube.com unexpectedly closed the connection.
Hmm. Sorry, John. I just tried it and it worked for me. I thought maybe the link needed updating, since that was from awhile ago, but the link is the same: https://youtu.be/VYsPcwJt4BQ I hope that works for you. Have a good evening/night. 🙂 –Diane
This is the same practice the new car sales business works, they don’t make any money on the price of the new car, they make their money off the finance, warranty and add ons. Buyer beware
Do your home work shop around to at least three different dealers or send an RV make, model and spec sheet to three different dealers and ask them to bid on your purchase.
DON’T DO GENERAL RV EITHER! THEY ALL ARE RIP OFFS
I have owned 3 travel trailers. All bought used. I had a full timer friend that helped me buy the first. A no brainer, Argosy by Airstream for $2500. Yes it had issues but nothing that stopped it from getting down the road. A great start for me. Had 2 Holiday Ramblers. Both bought from private parties. Looked up book on kelleys, offered lower to give wiggle room for unseen problems. No regrets. I’ll mention that I tried many dealers and they were snake oil salesmen. One wanted way over book. When I called him on it he said those books are not accurate. Really I said they are written by dealers. And BTW your dealership is one of the contributers. One I came to agreement over phone, refused to give CC etc, I do everything in person. But I stipulated it must have 4 very good tires on it as I would be driving it from PA back to NY(4.5 hours). Of course it had 3 bald tires and no spare. Fu&^%$s. Hate most dealers.
I blame the public indoctrination centers, errr, Public School System.
In the “Olden Days”, we were taught how banking works. How many Millennials can’t even write a check nowadays, much less balance a checkbook? We were taught how compounded interest could triple the cost of an item, and were forced to create amortization sheets. We learned about consumer credit and how it *could* be a useful tool for travel and emergencies. Revolving credit has its place, and its pitfalls. We were even taught how to research our purchases. Remember the Pace Guides to car prices?
It seems to me that the schools are putting too much emphasis on protecting the egos of our “fragile” offspring now.
We sold our retail business 10 years ago. We were third generation. When I read any posts to articles like this come even close to saying anything but the fact that these businesses should be prohibited I get angry. The fact other businesses operate this way should prove that there needs to be more regulation, not an excuse for these practices to continue.
Wow! I tell of a true account dealing with Camping World and this sites comment algorithms decide that my true story is spam. Shows the true value of this site.
Hi, Mellow Man. “Wow!” is right. Are you the one interviewed on The RV Show USA? We posted it as a “true story.” If we thought it was “spam” or “fake” we wouldn’t have posted it. And you make the statement that “This sites [sic] comment algorithms decide that my true story is spam. Shows the true value of this site.” Say what?! Some of our readers (minority) didn’t agree with what you said, but the vast majority did. Your reaction (unless I’m interpreting it incorrectly) sounds bassackwards to me. —Diane at RVtravel.com
My daughter went to camping world to buy a certain camper. The salesman talked her into buying a bigger camper. He told her that her vehicle could pull it. It turned out the camper was 500 pounds over of what she could tow and that was with not a thing loaded. She ended up having to buy a bigger vehicle to tow her camper
Not to condone the CW salesman, but the old sayings: “Buyer Beware” and “Ignorance is No Excuse”….. kinda falls into play here. Anyone whose contemplating a purchase of this magnitude sure needs to do some pre purchasing research first.
Also not sticking up for camping world but a buyer should know the weight a tow vehicle can tow and KNOW that it includes whatever is on /in the towing vehicle including people and the weight of towed vehicle and everything in it (luggage, food, water in tanks, everything!) Do some homework! It reminds me of the boaters that go out because they could get financing and have no idea of how to operate safely.
. Do I let my daughter go to Camping World and accept their best deal. or do I let her accept the cartel’s even more attractive offer? What to do, what to do?
I’ve started receiving unsolicited, spam email from Camping World. I’ve unsubscribed multiple times, but it still keeps coming. How they got my email address, I don’t know. I’ve never been in a Camping World or Gander, and I’ve never had anything to do with Good Sam. I bought my RV 2 years ago, and prior to the purchase, I gave my email address to only 2 dealers, both of whom were, and still are, family-owned businesses. I can only think that CW got my email address from a campground that gives a Good Sam discount. This is a disgraceful way for a campground to treat customers, and it reinforces my intention to never set foot in a CW!
Maybe from DMV records?
People do need to be aware that these same procedures are the approach taken by Sales at most Car and Truck dealers as well. One has to understand the implications of sales all the time when buying anything big ticket anywhere. .. IT is a fact of business that Dealers (cars, boats, rv’s, etc) all have the same issue. Low profits on New vehicles. Profit in financing, and used vehicles. It does not excuse abusing the customer.. but the motivation is profit and it is not unique to the RV industry.. Finding a less selfish approach to sales for anything is a huge challenge in America today, and it is shameful.
didn’t watch the video, don’t have time, i have delivered rv’s all over the usa, last 2 times i bought one, i had one hell of a time finding a trustworthy, reliable dealer, living in california at the time, caught dealers in california, utah, lying to me, altering msrp invoices, etc.
I finally got pissed and called Grand Design back in 2016, and told them about what i had experienced, they pointed me to a dealer in Idaho, because i refused to work with the dealers that had lied to me, have bought two rv’s from them since then. mine and my son’s, I know what they cost and I go straight to the sales manager, love the product, don’t like getting lied to, it always comes down to the people !!!!
Was that Bretz RV in Idaho?
The finance flim-flam…smoke & mirror scam used by Camping World is no different than the game played by most car dealers. This industry attracts the worst of characters.
The last job on my bucket-list was to sell cars treating customers with honesty and respect.
I warned them about The financing and scams awaiting them in the “F&I office “ after the “deal was set with me. Their guard was down….after all, all they had to do was show proof of insurance and arrange the financing….the F&I guy took his toll and cost them plenty.
The fault is not with the auto manufacturers…..it is in the dealerships. BUYER BEWARE!!!!
This guy is an {bleeped}. What a load of nothing. Shouldn’t Mr. Cheyenne Camping Center actually be working instead of having this fake radio station. It’s a simple story kids… You’re an adult, this is a major purchase and if you don’t know what you’re buying lets call it —“caveat emptor”. I’m with the people who spoke up last week: This program needs to find a new towel to cry about ENOUGH of the CW story.
This guy is lying. He uses half truths. He uses term like “they” instead of we use to. Anyone in Sales are in it to make money. I don’t work for the finance department, I’m a sales person. What they do in Finance does not effect my pay. Camping World sells there Campers Cheap and take advantage of you in Finance he says. this makes zero sense. What Sales person sits anywhere and doesn’t make money? Makes no sense. If i purchase a Camper when i get into finance it’s my option to go with the dealers bank, or my own, or pay cash. It’s also my option to purchase warranty, or any other after market product. This guy is full of crap. I bet anything he’s never worked at Camping World Ever.
I bought my Dometic A/C, had it installed and bought the extended insurance policy. One day it did not work. I called Camping World and they told me that I had only 1 more week left on my warranty policy. I brought it in and it was fixed at no cost as was expected.
I have no experience buying an RV there other than browsing through the store.
Like anything else I would prefer to pay cash…when I have the funds. But if I was considering to buy an RV that was out of my cash financial range I would call the local Credit Union banks to see if I would qualify. They usually have decent ratings and I would trust them.
This interview showed nothing. Mr. X said nothing of substance, it was generic and non specific, and Mr. X was ultimately fired! He stammered and stuttered his way through explanations that he should have been able to relate clearly IF he was familiar with them personally as he claimed he was. Sad, because we have all heard horror stories about camping world and other dealers that are unscrupulous but Mr.X did nothing, in my opinion, to shed any new light on this situation. I respect the RV Show and the RV travel newsletter but please make sure that you do a better job screening the verifying those stories you chose to promote as true. I don’t believe Mr. X for minute.
Clearly dealers sell the longest time financed, possible – to get the monthly payment down -sometimes out 12 years, thus the interest paid, whether to the finance company or to the dealer is humongous, while creating an ongoing upside down condition for the buyer. The buyer owes it to themselves -their responsibility – to be aware of the interest rate, the amount of interest to be paid, and the depreciation schedule for the rv they are purchasing.
I feel sorry for any elderly person or persons who were taken advantage of by such tactics. But lets be serious, if u and ur spouse would actually sign anything without seeing actual terms or numbers or actually seeing the rv that ur purchasing…. thats on u. Not so sure this Mr X is even who he says he is. My wife and i, whether its a car or an rv, demand to see all the numbers, all the figures down to the dollar, before we sign anything. We ve negotiated to the point that the salesman gets visibly upset. Sorry, but its his job to make me happy and satisfied. And its ur job as the buyer to watch ur back and to walk away when it doesn’t feel right.
I am not a foolish person but let me tell you, I found I have purchased an RV from CW and was taken to the cleaners. Eg, the Finance person misleading me about what type of form I was signing. Eg. The Good Sam membership you get free for a year. I refused Good Sam warranties and i surance period. I ended up signing those believing i was signing something else. Surprise surprise 4200 dollars later. I now have two i surance policies. No one could tell me what my rate of interest was going to be. Thank God I got someone to email that statement to me. I had already signed agreeing to pay an exhorbant amount of interest with a half decent credit score. Environmental protection form. I was lead to believe that i was agreeing to not dump my black water anywhere except where it should be. Ya, another 1200 dollars. Before i ever signed the first highlight, the trailer was attached to my truck and pulled out. I was lead to believe i had already purchased it and if i backed out now, the 3000 dollar deposit they insisted on, as well as the 4200 dollars was not refundable. I didnt think. I could afford to lose that. I was in CW for 3 1/2 hours just for the paperwork. I had two,autistic children with me and they kept apo.ogizing for this all taking so long but they were simply slammed. My salesperson didnt even make our appt. So finally, i am in the CW store paying for some stuff when she brings me the black book with papers. I apparently had already purchased the unit. I was embarressingly shocked and i left. I pulled,over and read the papers within a half hour. My 72 payments were now 144. My 367 dollars was now 433. The RV the salesman and i had agreed to for 23000, was now almost 27000. They were asking 24000. Everything that was supposed to be thrown in, i now paid for. You know what happened when I turned right around right. Nothing. They wont take this back period. I never even opened the door. I hired a lawyer though and it wont do me any good. I have a witness to it all. Sadly, my intention had been to pay it off very quickly, and now i will never pay it off at all. I will be dead before its paid for. I could simply buy it out, but that will never happen now either.
I watched this video the night it was posted.
IF THE WORD could get out to simply NEVER BUY AN RV from Camping World, it would be a huge step in the right direction!
The only time I go into a Camping World (And that is Extremely Rare) is when I have to have something quickly and can’t wait for Amazon to ship it too me! Other than that, I avoid CW like the GREAT PLAGUE!
I wish that message could be advertised LOUD AND STRONG TO THE RVing Community! “STAY AWAY FROM CAMPING WORLD”!
I have tried to give CW a chance , but it seems every time we go it’s worse than the time before.
The latest trip was so unbelievable that I won’t even bother to reveal it because people would call me an out and out liar.
But it was so bad my wife forbade me from ever returning now even for emergencies.
What I don’t understand is how they find people willing to do these things and not have a conscience about it ?
For me it is the message from the head of camping world that if we were pro trump to not spend money in his stores. I take pleasure in dropping all relationship with them!