In a shocking turn of events, the RV industry has been rocked by a recent settlement involving one of its major players. Camping World, a well-known RV dealer with multiple locations in Oregon, has found itself in hot water with the state’s Department of Justice (DOJ).
The company’s deceptive pricing practices have led to a substantial financial penalty and a mandate to reimburse affected customers.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparent pricing in the RV market and the potential consequences of misleading advertising. As RV enthusiasts, we often dream of hitting the open road, but this story proves that sometimes, the biggest bumps aren’t on the highway – they’re at the dealership.
This breaking news was reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
The Settlement Details
Camping World has agreed to pay a hefty sum of $3.5 million to the state of Oregon, with $3 million earmarked for customer refunds. This settlement comes after a lengthy consumer protection investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice Civil Recovery Section. The investigation uncovered that Camping World had been charging customers more than the advertised prices for RVs in 2017 and 2018.
Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum stated, “Our investigation found that Camping World would advertise a heavily discounted ‘Dare to Compare’ price. During negotiations, Camping World would claw back its purported discount by double charging consumers for freight and prep charges that had already been included in the advertised price.”
Well, folks, it looks like Camping World’s “Dare to Compare” turned into “Dare to Overcharge.” I guess they took the concept of ‘hidden fees’ a bit too literally!
Customer Refund Eligibility
Customers who purchased an RV from Camping World between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, and paid more than the advertised price are eligible for refunds from the $3 million pool. But wait, there’s more! Those who bought vehicles after December 31, 2018, may also be eligible, provided they submit a written complaint to the Oregon DOJ within six months of the announcement.
The DOJ advises, “Consumers that submit written complaints should include any information that they have to demonstrate they paid more than the advertised price.”
It seems Camping World customers might need to become amateur detectives to get their refunds. Who knew RV shopping would require CSI-level investigative skills?
Future Implications for Camping World
Moving forward, the DOJ has laid down the law for Camping World. The company is now prohibited from charging more than the advertised price for vehicles. Moreover, these prices must be available to all consumers and cannot be contingent on payment methods.
This new rule is like putting training wheels on a bicycle – it’s there to keep Camping World on the straight and narrow path of honest pricing. Let’s hope they don’t need a helmet too!
