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Post by doublewa on Oct 9, 2017 9:57:37 GMT -5
Hi All,
I'm closing on my Sportsman Sportster this Thursday. We went in early so the wife could sign her portion and the finance manager went over the options for the Good Sam Maintenance Package. To get the maintenance, exterior protection, and gap coverage would add $40/month to my package or $7,200 across the life of the loan. I'm tossed up on adding it to my loan.
Does anyone have any experience with these packages? Is it a worthwhile investment or just another way to scam money out of you (as my Father-in-law, a former Service Manager for Camping World claims)?
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Post by Chuck on Oct 9, 2017 11:09:31 GMT -5
doublewa We also bought the extra protection (forever warranty), but the way I look at it is for a little amount of money each month I do not have to worry about it ... So some owners will say save up the money in your bank account, that's a good idea as well ... We did not buy the Good Sam protection, they offer us like I said the Forever Warranty, so we have to take our trailer in once a year to have it inspected for any problems ... With the forever warranty I can take the trailer to any RV repair shop an have it inspected or repaired an it's covered, we do have a deductible which is $200 if i remember right  Chuck |
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Post by lynnmor on Oct 9, 2017 12:20:27 GMT -5
Total scam. You might get a bit of service for that $7,200, but you need to take the trailer in and of course they will find numerous things that aren't covered to sell you at an obscene cost.
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Post by doublewa on Oct 9, 2017 12:38:24 GMT -5
Total scam. You might get a bit of service for that $7,200, but you need to take the trailer in and of course they will find numerous things that aren't covered to sell you at an obscene cost. That's what my Father-In-Law says. As I mentioned, he ran the service dept for them a few years back. He knows how to fix everything on these rigs and how to get the parts and such, so he told me to just pay for the parts and have him do it and he'd show me how to fix these things myself in the process. That's the way I am leaning. I'd much rather apply that $40/month to the principle and get the darn thing paid off faster. I was just curious if anyone here had experience with it. I've been reading the fine print since my 1st post about this. It appears that if you don't keep strict records and receipts AND do the maintenance at the correct intervals, they (Good Sam) can void the plan AND keep your money. I'm sure they love that scenario. |
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Post by jetzen on Oct 9, 2017 12:44:31 GMT -5
I'm pretty much with lynnmor on this one. Save you money or put that second A/C on.
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Post by Chuck on Oct 9, 2017 12:50:56 GMT -5
lynnmor I have to disagree some what, are there dealers an RV shops that do such, yes, they will take you for a ride an tell you that you need things you do not need, there are car dealers who do the same thing ... This is why when I take my car. truck, 5th wheel into the dealer or a repair place I ask them to show me why, where an when fixed show me the parts that were replaced. Saying such they may play the switch the parts for ones that are replaced from another job but more than likely I at least can tell which I believe others can as well if in fact this happened ... I myself have marked parts to be replaced at different dealers just to see if in fact it was the same part, I also have walked in when least expected an ask to see what was going on. If they tell me they can not do such after the repair I will never go back, I have yet to have any repair shop tell me they can not show me what was going on. The service writer or person at the desk may walk me back to where my truck, car or trailer is but they have never stated they can't ... At one time I would do all my own work, but now for the most part I can't for heath reasons i won't go into, so thus I have to rely on either a dealer or a repair shop to do such. As I stated above there are people/owners who will say it's not for them, I don't disagree but for me it worth every penny. As well I know when someone is trying to scam me an i will not go back to them. it's like going to a restaurant when you get bad food or service, going in you do not know what to expect, once you have been there an see such you do not go back Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by Edd505 on Oct 9, 2017 22:18:07 GMT -5
I'm with Lynnmor & Jetzen, save the 7K. If your are at all handy almost all the appliances are under 1K, the rest is all basic 12V/120v wiring, and plumbing PVC/PEX. I did a blown tire repair on my last 5W CW est $1500. CW screwed around until I did it myself. Parts $250 & shipped to my home $250 about 3 hours work. It was the first time I'd done that but I'm sure I could do it again in 1.5 hrs.
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Post by 2ndchance on Oct 10, 2017 5:05:06 GMT -5
I was introduced to these things back in the '60s when I started in the service business, working for a Sears service dept. They called them maintenance agreements and you could buy one on every appliance they sold. They weren't overly expensive and covered parts and service. We were really pushed to sell them on every service call and even given a 6% commission on each sale. Bottom line, Sears made a lot of money on them. Then, Sears did all the work on them but today most are simply insurance policies sold by companies that have nothing to do with service and they are still big money makers. All the big box stores sell them and and contract out the service work. If you own a vehicle that is out of warranty I'm sure you get cards in the mail offering an "extended warranty" made to look like it came from a dealer or car maker when in fact it's an insurance policy and most have requirements in the small print that leave plenty of outs. They're hawked on tv as home maintenance plans by companies that have no connection to service work and they always include a list of possible huge repair costs to scare you in to buying one. I guess if you buy a lemon you might come out ahead but in most cases they are a waste of money.
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Post by doublewa on Oct 10, 2017 9:23:42 GMT -5
I'm leaning as to not getting it. I'd be better off adding the extra $40/month to the principle and get out of the payment faster
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Post by lynnmor on Oct 10, 2017 11:30:00 GMT -5
Good choice, there is a 100 per cent chance it would cost $7200 plus lost interest gains. There is little chance that you would have that much repairs.
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Post by rvdude on Oct 10, 2017 23:11:59 GMT -5
There would have to be some really major defects or problems to get any money's worth out of a warranty for that much money. You could pay a little extra each month like you said, and at the same time put a little away each month in a "future expense" fund. Several years down the road when you do need something done, you would have some cash just waiting to help you out.
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