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Sour Grapes? Not Really!

© Barry Houseknecht

We purchased a used 1998 Mckenzie (by Monaco) fifthwheel RV from a very well known local dealer. Our first inspection revealed several items that needed repair, including a good cleaning inside and out. We were assured (verbally) that not only would all of our items be repaired but in fact the unit would be detailed to an as new condition, including the rubber roof, which they mentioned as being included in their normal after sale clean up.

When we returned a week later to re-inspect and accept the unit we were told that the unit had a bad slide-out motor and that is why they had stopped cleaning up the unit and that is why very little had been done. Again, we were told (verbally) that all would be taken care of and we could have the unit delivered to our site the following weekend. On their word we agreed to allow the unit delivered after the part was replaced, and without (mind you another inspection). Well that somehow seems to have given them a license to steal.

Our fifthwheeL was delivered as scheduled. Not by someone from the dealership but by a contractor who's, only instructions were to drop the unit off at the site. I can live with that if the dealership had done what they said they were going to do, but guess what the same dead cockroach that we had seen on the first inspection was, still toes, up in plain site in the living room. As my wife is a clean freak she started her own detailing and guess what she found a pair of men's shorts and a baby bib (both dirty) behind the couch. Furthermore, none Yes I said none of the repair items had been resolved. Their response to my phone calls was that I had signed off on the acceptance sheet that all was OK except for one or two items and that I would be responsible for those items. The sign off sheet in question was handed to us to sign after each inspection as here is what is good and what is wrong and we will fix. However, if you read slowly it says that the items that have a check mark by them are good and then there is a line at the bottom for items that we find not to our liking. OK so far well the next line says that we accept the inspection with the noted exceptions but no repairs to good or bad items is ever mentioned

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