Monday, March 02, 2009
YOUR NEW FLEETWOOD COACH WILL NOT BE UNDER WARRANTY UNLESS YOU BUY IT FROM A FLEETWOOD AUTHORIZED DEALER
from Greg Gerber of RVIndustryNews
RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Fleetwood RV announced late last week that it was modifying the terms of its limited warranty. It's a change that pleases some dealers, while irritating others who don't normally carry the Fleetwood brand, RV Industry News has learned.
In a Service Bulletin jointly issued Feb. 27 by Craig Biazo, director of travel trailer parts and service, and Chuck James, director of motorhome parts and service, the change takes affect immediately and impacts all Fleetwood motorhomes and travel trailers in stock at authorized Fleetwood dealerships.
"The Fleetwood limited warranty will no longer cover units that are not originally sold by an authorized Fleetwood dealership, ie: sold at auction, repossessed, salvaged, or sold in an otherwise distressed condition," the bulletin read.
The change does not impact motorhomes and travel trailers sold by authorized Fleetwood dealerships.
Biazo and James said the company will provide Fleetwood dealers with a list of all units in their inventory, and adhesive labels to be placed over the existing page of the Fleetwood owner's manual to reflect the change.
"Fleetwood is implementing the change to protect and distinguish sales of units through our valued Fleetwood authorized selling dealerships from sales through unauthorized channels and/or sales of units in distressed condition," the bulletin read.
One non-Fleetwood dealer contacting RV Industry News expressed concern that his company would not authorize repairs to brand new units purchased at auction sites as inventory from bankrupt dealers is liquidated. He said the move would create more orphaned owners because the buyers may not be able to get service at an authorized location without driving a considerable distance from their home.
For example, if the local Fleetwood dealer goes out of business and a competitor down the street acquires the existing inventory on the lot, the change in policy appears to prevent the competitive dealer from providing warranty service on the unit -- even if the closest authorized Fleetwood service center may be hundreds of miles away.
Yet, another Fleetwood dealer praised the company for making the move. He feels Fleetwood is stepping out to help their dealer network by ensuring that more business is directed to them. "That means dealers looking to pick up bargains won't be able to offer a warranty," he said in an e-mail to RV Industry News. "That's good news for me. I hope other manufacturers pick up on this because it helps me sell my stuff."
"We want the work performed by an authorized Fleetwood dealer," said Heather Everett, Fleetwood public relations director. "In addition, we want to protect the value of our authorized dealers Dealer Sales and Service Agreements by protecting their interests in the event they are forced to compete against a non-authorized dealer selling the same brands, and we need to ensure that our products and warranty is not misrepresented in communications to customers by a non-authorized dealer."
RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Fleetwood RV announced late last week that it was modifying the terms of its limited warranty. It's a change that pleases some dealers, while irritating others who don't normally carry the Fleetwood brand, RV Industry News has learned.
In a Service Bulletin jointly issued Feb. 27 by Craig Biazo, director of travel trailer parts and service, and Chuck James, director of motorhome parts and service, the change takes affect immediately and impacts all Fleetwood motorhomes and travel trailers in stock at authorized Fleetwood dealerships.
"The Fleetwood limited warranty will no longer cover units that are not originally sold by an authorized Fleetwood dealership, ie: sold at auction, repossessed, salvaged, or sold in an otherwise distressed condition," the bulletin read.
The change does not impact motorhomes and travel trailers sold by authorized Fleetwood dealerships.
Biazo and James said the company will provide Fleetwood dealers with a list of all units in their inventory, and adhesive labels to be placed over the existing page of the Fleetwood owner's manual to reflect the change.
"Fleetwood is implementing the change to protect and distinguish sales of units through our valued Fleetwood authorized selling dealerships from sales through unauthorized channels and/or sales of units in distressed condition," the bulletin read.
One non-Fleetwood dealer contacting RV Industry News expressed concern that his company would not authorize repairs to brand new units purchased at auction sites as inventory from bankrupt dealers is liquidated. He said the move would create more orphaned owners because the buyers may not be able to get service at an authorized location without driving a considerable distance from their home.
For example, if the local Fleetwood dealer goes out of business and a competitor down the street acquires the existing inventory on the lot, the change in policy appears to prevent the competitive dealer from providing warranty service on the unit -- even if the closest authorized Fleetwood service center may be hundreds of miles away.
Yet, another Fleetwood dealer praised the company for making the move. He feels Fleetwood is stepping out to help their dealer network by ensuring that more business is directed to them. "That means dealers looking to pick up bargains won't be able to offer a warranty," he said in an e-mail to RV Industry News. "That's good news for me. I hope other manufacturers pick up on this because it helps me sell my stuff."
"We want the work performed by an authorized Fleetwood dealer," said Heather Everett, Fleetwood public relations director. "In addition, we want to protect the value of our authorized dealers Dealer Sales and Service Agreements by protecting their interests in the event they are forced to compete against a non-authorized dealer selling the same brands, and we need to ensure that our products and warranty is not misrepresented in communications to customers by a non-authorized dealer."
