We took the
RV in to get the washer fixed on Thursday the 15th, plus a couple of
the awnings and the tile with a big chunk out of it replaced. It was to be a
one day job so we waited in their lounge until our service advisor came out and
said that everything was done except the tile needed a day to cure. So, we
booked 1 night in a hotel.
We went back
in the early afternoon to pick it up and then the service advisor said that the
awning needed to be reinforced better and they needed to use some silicone that
would need some time to cure. They said we would have to bring it back for that
and they were fully booked the next week and our appointment would need to be a
week from this one. Uh, NO. So, I asked if they did it today and it could cure
over the weekend and we would pick it up Monday. He agreed that would work. So,
we checked back into the hotel for 3 more nights.
So, Monday
we check out of the hotel and went to pick it up in the afternoon. Our service
advisor comes out and says we have some real problems. The awning is much worse
than they had thought when they went to reinforce it. He said it was missing
half of the “whatevers” that hold it on and the ones that are there are too
short. It’s missing a plumbing stack. (I said that like I knew what that is) He
said it was missing the reinforcement in the roof and his honest opinion was
that Fleetwood (the RV manufacturer) should replace the roof as it was cracked
where the rivets had pulled up from driving. Mind you we have driven the unit
no more than 20 miles since we have owned it. (the 2 trips to the RV Repair
shop and our initial test drive) He also said that he had called Fleetwood 6 or
so times and they no longer were taking his calls and we should call and see if
they will listen to us. They said they didn’t have a fix figured out yet and NO
they won’t pay for any nights we have or would need to stay in a hotel. So, we
go check back into the hotel and wait to see what the “fix” will be. As we were
sitting in the repair lounge, I can tell you we had thoughts of throwing in the
towel and licking our wounds and taking the loss and selling it back to La Mesa
RV. SERIOUSLY, how can so much go so wrong with a brand new motor coach.
Tuesday, we
still don’t have a fix, but La Mesa was waiting for a call from Fleetwood. We
checked out of the hotel again and go wait at the RV repair shop. They repaired
the crack with some silicone so it won’t leak, but they still don’t have a fix.
So, we go check into a hotel. This time we switched from Fairfield Inn back to
the Residence Inn. (we just prefer it)
So,
Wednesday we check out of the hotel and go to La Mesa. Our service advisor said
he still did not have a fix from Fleetwood. He said they disabled the awning
and we were take the RV and wait to see what Fleetwood comes up with. Many more
phone calls ensued with Fleetwood…. We went back to Outdoor Living RV Resort
and booked 3 nights until we figure out what to do. Mind you we have paid for
our stay here on top of the previous hotel nights.
We decided
to do some laundry now that the washer was fixed. OR SO WE THOUGHT….. The start
button is sitting cockeyed and now does not work at all. At least before it
worked after about an hour of frustration trying to luck out that it would
start. (Greg said if he wanted a slot machine, he would have bought a slot
machine….) So, I call the appliance repair place that did the work and they
said they would need to order yet another part that wouldn’t be in until next
Wednesday. Of course, it has to go back to La Mesa to be uninstalled AGAIN. She
did say we could call Whirlpool and see if they have the part and could
overnight it. Whirlpool sent us to them to do the repairs. So, why can’t they
contact Whirlpool instead of us?
Thursday, we
have had some progress with Fleetwood. (I’m being generous here) that the guy
in charge said he thinks they have a fix, but they want us to take the unit
back to La Mesa so he can get on the phone with their technicians as he seems
to not agree that the roof is cracked. (not sure how he can know that sitting
in his office in Illinois) La Mesa said there is no need to do that and the
technicians there know very well what the situation is and can talk to him
without us stowing everything and bringing it in just for that. So, here it is
Thursday night and no one called back today.
We’ll see
what happens tomorrow! At this rate, we will stay in it until next Wednesday
when we need to take it in to get the washer actually (hopefully) fixed and
then whatever the “FIX” is for our roof/awning.
We have a
better view in this space we rented. It has a lovely view of the lake and
waterfall, but no bohio or outdoor furniture except that token picnic table.
Our summer
is fading away and we can’t get out of Florida!
Well, our
Nightmare on RV Street continues…..
Friday has
now come and gone with no resolve from La Mesa RV or Fleetwood. Neither
returned a call today.
Since the
appliance repair place said they should have the part by Tuesday and we should
be ready to have it fixed on Wednesday. So, I called then to set up the
appointment for Wednesday and they said they can’t put us on the schedule until
they actually get the part in. She proceeded to say the schedules would already
be made up and if they had to cancel us it would mess up all of their routes. I
said, “well as long as your business is not inconvenienced I guess it’s better
that we be inconvenienced.” I said all
of this could have been avoided if it were repaired right the first time. We
have to coordinate their visit with La Mesa so our hands are tied. La Mesa
still insists we shouldn’t have to bring the coach in for their technicians to
talk to the Fleetwood techs. Fleetwood is insisting that is what needs to
happen. So, we extended our stay here another 3 days that takes us up to next
Tuesday. The Fleetwood guy did say they would pay the hotel stays in the future
to repair the manufacturing issues. The technician that installed the roof and
awing screwed up as did the quality inspector.
More
conversations have been had about selling this and just scrapping the whole RV
thing. We didn’t buy a motor coach to sit in place or have this kind of
aggravation. We expected the normal learning curve, but not this nightmare with a brand new coach.
OK, I’ve ranted on long enough. The saga will continue next
week……..and yes I would like some cheese and crackers with my whine.
Since are still in Florida we have a few shots of some wildlife we see on our morning walks. Some are here at the RV park and the others were taken at the hotel. We do see a lot of Sandhill Cranes, but we never had a camera with us when we see them. The Roseate Spoonbills were taken near a pond by the Fairfield Inn. The lizards are here in the RV park.
taking a nap
the view from our RV
Red Head Agama (also called a Rainbow Lizard)
Curly Tail Lizard
The Redhead Agama or Rainbow Lizard is a non-native lizard and was first found in Florida in 1976. They come from West African subspecies and an
East African subspecies.
The Curly Tail Lizard is native to the Bahamas, and was
introduced to Florida in the 1940's to combat sugar cane pests. Their curled tail when held up in the air easily identifies them. Hard to get a photo of that since they seem to do it as they speed away.
They both eat Anole Lizards which are pretty common in
Florida.
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