Mrs. Mik
Abbotsford, Wisconsin
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Joined: 04/01/2002
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Not wanting to take over someone else's thread and the joy of their new Cedar Creek, but wanting to answering questions, I thought I'd just start a new thread.
The "issues" we have with our Cedar Creek have been there from the beginning. There are only two, and it seems that they are completely unable to get them fixed.
First off, our surround sound was not installed. It was "forgotten." This was a biggie for us, because we like our music and we like surround sound for the occasional movie on a rainy camping day. The speakers that were installed are the cheap tinny ones that come in every camper. We wanted better quality sound, which is why we paid for the surround sound option.
Second issue is the fact that our sink is cracked. It's not leaking, but it's cracked. There are also chips in the countertop near the bottom edge. Bottom line: it needs to be replaced.
I dealt with Craig at the factory quite a bit to get these problems solved. We came up with what we thought was a workable solution: bring the CC to the factory when we are at the CC national rally near the factory in April. No problem -- we were willing to work with them to get our CC fixed
Craig Claire told us that the subwoofer would go into the open space below the TV unit. OK, we lose the space, but we gain the subwoofer. The 4 cube speakers were to be installed around the entertainment center. OK, we can live with that. Factory install would have been to have two cube speakers in back and two in front. Oh well. We're more interested in the quality. There are also two of the cheap round tinny speakers in the front that come with the surround.
When we got to the factory, we discussed with Craig what was to be done and he handed us off to another person. We THOUGHT it was understood what was to be done. I was told I did NOT need to remove anything from under the sink to have it replaced, so I didn't.
The subwoofer was installed in the ceiling, not in the space under the TV. NO PROBLEM! I didn't lose that extra space. Two additional cheap round tinny speakers were installed near the subwoofer. NO CUBE SPEAKERS WERE INSTALLED ANYWHERE IN THE UNIT! So, now I have EIGHT, yes EIGHT tinny, lousy, cheap sounding speakers and a subwoofer.
The sink is a whole 'nother matter. Instead of ordering a sink for me, they attempted to FIX the sink, and decided that it COULDN'T BE FIXED! DUH! I only found one crack, but they found about FOUR other cracks -- yet they STILL tried to repair it! What about the chips at the bottom of the countertop you ask? Well, NOTHING was done about those!
We were told that they could ORDER a sink (huh? I thought it was there WAITING FOR ME!) and have it there by Saturday. Could we bring the CC back? HUH????????? We're supposed to on Thursday, finally go back to the campground at 4 p.m., and then break camp to bring it back again on Saturday and then go back to the campground, set up again, only to break camp and go home on Sunday, all so they could fix what should have been done in the first place? I DON'T THINK SO!
We had the CC at the factory for at least 6 hours. That was plenty of time to install a NEW sink and install the surround sound. Instead, I not only do NOT have surround sound, but I have a cracked sink that looks TERRIBLE.
The absolute WORST problem with this entire ordeal was the way my coach looked when we picked it up. From attempting to repair the sink, it was sanded, and sanded and sanded and sanded. Have you any idea how much fine dust flies around from trying to sand a sink? Once we got to the campground and I realized how bad it was, I could have cried. I spent at LEAST four hours wiping and vacuuming everything in our BRAND NEW coach to get rid of the dust from their attempts to fix our sink. Just about every square inch of our coach was covered with dust! I have dust in places I never knew existed, and will absolutely NEVER get it as clean as it once was! Every time we travel, when we stop, I find more dust that has shaken loose! NOBODY at the Cedar Creek factory did ANYTHING to try to minimize the dust and dirt left in my coach!
To top it off, we were told that they would IMMEDIATELY ship the sink to our dealer and we could take the coach to the dealer to have THEM finish the job the FACTORY was supposed to do. OK, FINE. I really don't have a choice now, do I?
Well, guess what? MY DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE MY SINK! The rally was in APRIL! My dealer also does not have the four cube speakers that I'm supposed to have so they can finish installing my surround sound! The dealer has called and called and called and done everything they can.
Apparently, Craig Claire and Doretta Repach don't want to deal with this problem. I don't understand it. I have been VERY vocal about how lovely our Cedar Creek is and aside from these issues, we have been VERY happy with it. In large part, because of all of our praise, Cedar Creek has had close to 10 sales of brand new units!
To be treated this way is quite disheartening. Some of the things we heard at the factory were also disheartening. There is a Cedar Creek RV Club and forum. It is through THAT forum that the National Rally was scheduled. When asked if they monitor that forum, Doretta told us "NO, but we monitor RV.Net." Seems to me that they should be every bit as interested in a forum started for owners of their own coaches. It's incredible to me that they don't.
The CC forum used to have phone numbers posted of Doretta, Craig and other representatives. Those phone numbers are now gone. I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that it's because of me. When we got back to the campground and I discovered how filthy our coach was and wanted to talk to Craig about that and the fact that our surround sound was STILL not installed, I called his cell number. He answered the phone, and I was told to find the factory reps that were at the campground. The reps were gone. I tried calling his cell phone again, and I'm assuming because of caller ID, he did not answer. Five minutes later I used another CC owner's cell phone to call Craig. Guess what? Craig answered, and was NONE TOO PLEASED that I had caught him in his attempt to ignore me! The next day, the phone numbers were OFF the forum!
So, THOSE are my "issues" with our Cedar Creek.
Julie
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dylansmom
Sioux Falls, SD (Fulltiming, could be anywhere)
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Joined: 09/14/2003
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Good Sam RV Club
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Jule, sorry to hear about your problems. I know how excited you were when you got it, even braving that snowstorm to get it home!  There is no excuse for the way they are treating you, or anyone!
I hope you can get your issues resolved.
Because, just remember, if you influenced folks into buying a CC, you can just as easily discourage them as well!
Jackie, Greg, Dylan the dog
2006 Winnebago Adventurer 38T
2006 Jeep Liberty CRD (the toad)
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The Mad Norsky
Yankton, South Dakota
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Joined: 04/14/2003
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Manufacturer has to realize that, good or bad, folks are going to post their experiences with a company for all to see on forums such as this.
So Forest River / Cedar Creek has just hung out their dirty laundry for all to see.
They have also damaged what is probably most important, their reputation for other potential buyers of their product.
I really hope you can get this resolved to YOUR satisfaction. Cedar Creek has some damage control to get busy with.
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Mrs. Mik
Abbotsford, Wisconsin
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Joined: 04/01/2002
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Thanks, Jackie and Joe! Yup, the dirty laundry is now there. The funny thing is, I KNOW they monitored my posts, as they commented on them more than once, and thanked me for what I did to help boost sales. Even received a "thank you" gift. After outlining our problems in a fax to Craig, I specifically stated that I would NOT post anything on the forum, assuming that things were fixed to our satisfaction, and in a timely manner.
Things were NOT done to our satisfaction and NOT in a timely manner. We've waited long enough, and now we are moving and will have to drive even further to get to the factory to get it fixed. So, aside from all the stress of moving, etc., I'm slightly irritated with the treatment I'm receiving from Forest River/Cedar Creek. Hopefully, they WILL take notice and they WILL get this taken care of!
Julie
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Hotel California
Northern California
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Joined: 06/07/2004
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Hi Julie,
Why don't you let Bruce (CCC President) have a crack at the folks at Cedar Creek. He's been able to get results for others in the past.
I too have a couple of small issues with my new unit. Nowhere near the extent of yours, but still very irritating that I have not gotten responses to 3 emails to my dealer over the past 5 weeks (who unfortunately is 2,100 miles from my home). Same dealer as yours, as you already know. I'm able and willing to personally do all the repairs to my rig, but I need the parts!
For anyone reading this...there is value to buying from a dealer close to where you live...I knew that upfront, but I saved $7,600 by driving from CA to WI to buy it.
Doug & Juanita
2005 33' Cedar Creek Custom
The Cedar Creek RV Owners Club
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Hotel California Slideshow
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butkus21
On Galveston Bay
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Joined: 02/22/2004
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I think I would start at the top and work my way down the food chain until someone responded! These issues are relatively easy to repair/replace, so don't allow them to make excuses. Furthermore, why should you have to bring the coach to them? Isn't this something the dealer could do, assuming they have the parts in question? I can only imagine your level of frustration...wishing you the best. Keep us posted!
Terri
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TSLinden
Greenville, Tx
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Joined: 05/05/2004
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Julie you have my deepest sympathies... I know how devistating it is to have something that you loved turn into a pain in the ass due to the actions of others.
I am very disappointed in CC based on what you have said here. I am really shocked that they would treat you (or anyone, but you especially) so poorly since, as you said, you were the most vocal CC proponent on these or any forums I checked. You were more than a little responsible for my decision to go w/CC - I really hope you get some satisfaction on your issues.
Hopefully this can be chalked up to a bad run of luck, one time thing or something not representative of the level of CC post sale customer care.
CC & Forest River, if you really are monitoring these forums you will quickly remedy this issue for Julie in a satisfactory manner. Honestly, if I had seen this b/f I placed my order I would definately be worried about CC after sale care.
2004.5 Dodge Ram SLT 3500 LB SRW
Heavy Duty Cummins 600 Turbo Diesel
5.9L HO/4 spd auto/3.73
2005 Cedar Creek 32BHBS Fifth Wheel (Pics Forthcoming)
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TWOSTROKE
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
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Joined: 06/23/2004
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I feel for all of you with problems. We have had problems with our motorhomes too. Here is what has worked for us most of the time. There aren't any RV dealers in our city so we have to buy out of town. I don't like driving 80 miles for repairs so I have found a repair service in Pine Bluff that can do what I need, Warriner's RV & Auto. We purchased a Fun Mover customized by Pete's RV (pictured below) and had some problems with structure. I talked with Four Winds and they wanted me to bring it to the factory, I told them I had a repair shop I felt comfortable with and they could do the repairs. We emailed pictures and Four Winds called the repair shop and told them to fix it. They paid the repair shop directly.
We had a Coachmen that had all kinds of problems, Coachmen and Chevy both did the same thing. It was so bad that Chevy bought it back but they also let Warriner's repair it for them including Chevy parts like computer, exhaust etc trying to fix it first.
I would suggest you find someone in your area that can complete the repairs and ask the manufacturer to work with them. You should not have to go to them to fix it.It is under warranty and it is their product. If you haven't already, start a journal and write down every phone call you make, how much time it takes, who you talked with and what they say, all of this will help in they event they don't want to cooperate. Then check with the Attorney General's office in your state and ask for their advice and assistance.
The Adam Family
2004 Gulf Stream Crescendo 330 Cat/Allison
1997 Eldorado Class C Ford V-10
2000 Custom Hauler - Fun Mover Ford V-10
Dodge Dually w/Cummins 5 Speed
2005 Yamaha FJR1300 & FZS600
Having fun along life's highway
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TWOSTROKE
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
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Joined: 06/23/2004
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I am sure you are fed up with it. Have you asked Four Winds to replace it? Sure it will cost them to do it, but they will make it up in good will and reputation quickly.
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fppf
Buffalo, NY, USA
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Joined: 06/10/2002
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I just stand behind that all campers are junk.
Never factory order, they don't have a clue.
Look and look and then look again before you sign the papers!
I have been to Forest Rivers factory with my All American Sport with very simular results. Got home and everything they touched was broke again. Just fix it your self and hope they are nice enough to get you the parts you need.
So far I have no problems with Fleetwood but I found the wall panel on my front living room slide is starting to delaminate. It was cut a little short and then just packed with caulk. So when that did not hold (duh) water started to weap into the wall board. I will let you know how it goes. My dealer said they need to take pictures first and send them to Fleetwood.
1997 International 9800 Flat Floor COE
2004 Fleetwood Terry Quantuim AX6 365FLTS
Trailair Air Ride Pin Box with custom Fab auto ride height leveling
Trailer Wire Convertors:
2 wire to 3 wire
3 wire to 2 wire
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