After owning a Delta for 6 months, it has spent exactly 3 months in the service center. Nothing earth shattering. Just fixing incredibly sloppy workmanship. Like gouging of the flooring and trim damage from screws dropped on the floor and not picked up. One wrong screw holding couch to floor extending beyond flooring gouging linoleum. Wire harness hanging out between frame and flooring. Failed awning. Drains on gutters not attached properly. Door installed incorrectly. Things like that. A grand total of about 4 hours work to repair. Well, why was the trailer in the shop for 3 months you ask? We’re waiting for warranty approval from Alliance. We’re waiting for parts shipment from Alliance. BTW, did you know there does not seem to be any spare parts? Nope, all parts are held for trailers under construction. If you want a new part, like a trim piece, you sent to manufacturings to make a new one. You wait. You want your trailer fixed? Well it has to remain in the Q. Ok, so I’ve been without use of the trailer for 3 months for 4 hours work while waiting on Alliance. I asked Alliance to extend my warranty by 3 months as a good will gesture because of sloppy workmanship, unreasonable time delay, and loss of use. What is reasonable? What do you think they said?
What’s Reasonable for Warranty?
- Thread starter CaptTPT
- Start date
- Status
If they are small issues, then why leave it at dealer? Get it back...use it...then take it back to dealer once all parts have arrived and they do the 4hrs of work.
That's typical RV warranty nonsense. I reserve warranty for major issues that I cannot fix myself.
If I can fix it myself I just take care of it. Using the warranty is more trouble than it's worth.
Just taking rig back in forth to dealer is not worth the trouble if I can fix it myself.
The whole RV warranty procedure is flawed. It is an industry wide issue not just Alliance. It just part of the shady practices that permeate the RV industry.
Now that I know how the industry and warranty work, I try to conduct an extensive PDI. From there I assume I'm more or less on my own.
I reserve warranty use for major catastrophic issues that are beyond my skill or equipment level.
With that in mind I have never needed to use the warranty, simply because I have not had any major issues.
Had a few small issues over the years that I fixed myself.
I would even be willing to pay out of pocket to expedite things and avoid playing the RV warrant game.
Just not worth the delays and aggravation.
If I can fix it myself I just take care of it. Using the warranty is more trouble than it's worth.
Just taking rig back in forth to dealer is not worth the trouble if I can fix it myself.
The whole RV warranty procedure is flawed. It is an industry wide issue not just Alliance. It just part of the shady practices that permeate the RV industry.
Now that I know how the industry and warranty work, I try to conduct an extensive PDI. From there I assume I'm more or less on my own.
I reserve warranty use for major catastrophic issues that are beyond my skill or equipment level.
With that in mind I have never needed to use the warranty, simply because I have not had any major issues.
Had a few small issues over the years that I fixed myself.
I would even be willing to pay out of pocket to expedite things and avoid playing the RV warrant game.
Just not worth the delays and aggravation.
Socal-Paul
Well-known member
Had the same floor problem with our 5er, called Alliance who gave me the number of a couple of outfits that did repairs. I contacted one who gave me an estimate which I sent to Alliance for approval, then back to the outfit for an appointment. The place where I purchased the trailer told me there was a 4 month waiting list and I would have to leave the trailer and wait in line. No I couldn't just bring it in and take for use returning when the parts came in. Alliance was helpful when I explained the BS that the dealer was shoveling. I also do my own repairs whenever possible fortunately that has not been very often.
2 Allies
Well-known member
As Socal Paul said, personally contacting Alliance helps keep the Dealer honest and the Service team at Alliance wants to keep you camping. IMHO have been fantastic in supporting us. The service team at Alliance sets themselves apart from other manufacturers.
Good luck in your adventures,
Bruce
Good luck in your adventures,
Bruce
The whole parts approval ordering process, time to fix it, approval process is a big charade deliberately designed to slow the warranty process to a crawl. Which ultimately discourages consumers from using the warranty.
I am not a fan of the process it simply does not have to be that cumbersome and slow.
I am not a fan of the process it simply does not have to be that cumbersome and slow.
Well now that sounds really easy and is what most anyone would expect. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. When you ask that, they say great. Drop it off and we’ll get to it when we can. Your back in the Q.
Sure, I completely agree. Two problems with that approach. First, pulling the flooring out and stuffing wiring harness back in, cutting out linoleum and splicing new in, obtaining new door and replacing, removing couch and placing the proper screws, removing trim around slide out and making new that doesn’t match and replacing, buying new awning and replacing are jobs requiring a huge amount of time at home. I have all the tools and know how but are those jobs you really want to do? Sure, fixing the drains is not worth taking it in. The second issue is, you never know when they are going to say your warranty is now void because you worked on certain things. Do you want to take that risk?
The sloppy workmanship I see in assembling my trailer is nothing short of disgraceful. I purchased an Alliance because I thought they were a cut above the majority. They told me this stuff is expected. It becomes clear that it is much cheaper to rebuild RV’s at the dealer than to pay a decent salary and hire competent workers. Paying piecemeal gets you sloppy work. When you shrug your shoulders and say this stuff is expected, and then you give written instructions that may result in more damage than you already have, I question that they “set themselves apart”. Of course I have not purchased other trailers so I have nothing to compare to.
Completely agree. After this kind of timeframe you have to wonder if it’s by design.
Guess I wouldn't drop it off until they have confirmed they have all the parts. On that note, I would highly recommend contacting Alliance to see IF the dealer has actaully ordered the parts. I have heard many stories of the dealer saying they are waiting for XYZ manufacture to ship parts, when in fact the dealer hasn't even contacted the MFG.
I agree. I did that. They shared the communication from Alliance. Alliance refused to provide the trim that surrounds the slide out from there stock sitting on the shelf. All of that stock was allotted for units that were under construction or planned for construction. They had to order from whoever builds the woodwork to construct a new trim. They had no extra. They stated the timeframe for that was 3-5 weeks. It took a month. The dealer was perfectly ok with me picking up the trailer and bringing it back when that part arrived, but once in you wait in the Q. Leaving it there, it took 45 minutes when it arrived to install. I’m not even going to share what instructions they gave for other repairs. Too scary. Made me embarrassed for them frankly. Fortunately my dealer appears to do great work. So far anyway.
It is a reasonable request to answer your question. You were deprived of 3 months to run the rig and possibly shake out a few more issues. Unfortunately, here is where the advice of lawyers step in and doing it for one person opens a flood gate of now having to do it for others. I have railed about this before, but most of this points to Alliance not really supporting their trailers with a full 24/7 parts department. This would included next day shipping or hot shot trucking service. Let the owner decide if they are willing to pay for "rush" service. I am of course talking about "after warranty" situations. I am sure the independent mobile repair movement, would benefit greatly and provide better service than the dealerships. Hell, they may even decide to start stocking some parts, if they felt they were replacing enough of a part each year. I am predicting that the mobile repair service, is going to grow tremendously. It is going to be a great gig for a retired tradesman, that has the electrical, carpentry, and plumbing skills to take advantage of the dealerships approach to service. Alliance will work with mobile repair companies.
I had many many many problems, which were fixed by myself or technician. When my warranty was almost finished, I asked for and extension on my warranty. They replied by advising that they were going to give me and extra 4 months. I replied and asked for 6 months and was granted the extent ion. But now trying to get replacement parts on appliances,
Or anything that has a warranty of one year they do not want to cover.
Or anything that has a warranty of one year they do not want to cover.
Midnight Rider
Well-known member
WORD!
I’m new to the forum here. I think your suggestion about a warranty extension is reasonable and you might have a legal leg to stand on…I’m not a lawyer but lawyers work for me. There are a few questions here as far as I am concerned. We know they have a warranty. But when a manufacturer provides a warranty they must have at least two elements present after the sale; an adequate repair network and the ability to return warranty service in a reasonable time. If they have neither, in an individual case or wholesale, they are in violation of the Magnusson Moss Warranty Act. Litigation is not a bad thing and we owners pushing back on manufacturers is the only thing that will change the industry. The keep on delivering shoddy products, deliver horrible warranty service, we all know it, and we keep on purchasing the rigs. If you owned the business it’s the most profitable setup one could imagine. I’d look at your State Bar website for an attorney who deals in warranties. I can almost assure you that those materials earmarked for another rig to be built will be on their way and they’ll extend your warranty. They might even compensate you you for loss of use.
2 Allies
Well-known member
I would take the opportunity to send your concerns along with the last 6 digits of your rig's serial number to service@alliancerv.com. I have found they are very responsive and want you to be satisfied.
- Status