A dad and motocross enthusiast went to Camping World and purchased a recreational vehicle (RV). He says he asked the retailer to “winterize” his purchase. Indeed, a marker on his unit reads, “This unit has been winterized.”
But he’s claiming that Camping World failed to properly inspect his purchase, a Springdale Keystone RV. And this led, he says, to a blown water heater that the company failed to take accountability for. When this man tried to get Camping World on the horn, he was pointed to what he claims is a fruitless warranty application process.
He said the customer service process was a “joke” and called for a “boycott” of Camping World in his video.
The customer in question, TikTok user Blake Simpson (blake_simpson22), has posted about the issue repeatedly since March. One of his most viral videos about the saga has 892,000 views. When reached via Instagram DM about whether or not he’d but another RV from Camping World, Simpson didn’t mince words: “Absolutely not, at the end of the day they did fix the issue with the unit but all the hassle I had to go through to get it fixed. Isn’t worth the time.”
And it’s not just him, apparently, who is unhappy with the service at Camping World.
What does it mean to winterize a camper?
The water heater blew because, unbeknownst to Simpson, he says, the unit had not been winterized, so putting water in it blew the frozen pipes.
Had it been “winterized” at purchase, the staffers would have drained the RV’s water system. In addition to cold weather prep like adding antifreeze, checking the tires, etc. For RV enthusiasts, it’s a key component to owning one.
What is a Springdale Keystone RV? How much does one cost?
They are traveler trailers from the Springdale brand known for their affordability. Reddit reviews are generally favorable, though many warn to look for wear and tear in unexpected spots when buying one secondhand on Facebook Marketplace.
They start at about $38,000 and go up into the 50s depending on the floor plan.
What does Camping World sell?
“America’s recreation dealer” sells RVs. It sells parts, furniture, and gear for them. Camping World also sells camping clothing and boating, watersports inventory. The brand has been around since 1966.
Did his Camping World issue get resolved?
Simpson said in a video from the weekend that, yes, eventually, Camping World solved his blown water heater problem. But, he said, about 25 people have reached out to him with similar problems, and he’s now working to get “them to some point of closure.”
That was his biggest regret from the saga, he said: “Not being able to help more people that have had the same issues with the company.”
Simpson encourages customers to “make noise” and “post on the internet.”
“You don’t need thousands of followers,” he says. “The camping community is super passionate about doing the right thing and making sure these units come off these lots the way that they should.”
A comment on a video of his from April 10 reads: “I wrote a negative Google review. Within minutes the GM was calling me and ended up with them sending me a $2,500 check after several conversations. If you are tenacious, you will get what you want.”
Does Simpson have any regrets over speaking out against Camping World?
“No regrets at all, I did the only thing they left for me to do. I would have been just as happy if they would have heard me out and helped fixed the unit from the beginning,” he told the Daily Dot.
And that’s what he’s most proud of from the ordeal. Being an advocate for the camping community and “[n]ot being afraid to speak of my situation, it seems many people have had similar issues going on but no one had said anything.”
As for whether he’s gotten to enjoy his purchase with his family yet? “No, I had to take the unit out before they ever contacted me to fix it, but I plan on taking it out now it is fixed.”
The Camping World that Simpson called out has 2,079 Google reviews as of press time and a 4.4-star rating on Google.
We’ve reached out to Camping World corporate for comment.
Why did Camping World recently shut down a location?
There are 250-plus Camping World dealerships across the U.S., KRON4 notes, and one in North Carolina closed this week amid regulatory issues with its giant American flag. Per ABC12, Greenville, North Carolina officials denied the retailer a permit to fly its massive flag. Due to the fines, Camping World management decided to consolidate branches and close one of its North Carolina stores.
@blake_simpson22 What a joke…#camper #camperlife #campingworld #fraudsters #camperproblems #camping #family #scammed ♬ original sound – Blakesimpson22
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