I have been a member of the Good Sam Club since the 1980s, however as with the RV industry in general, their customer service has slid; in fact more so (with a few exceptions) with the Good Sam Club where customer service and the help I pay for as a member is totally non existent!
Sadly this was not always the case.
Here are just a few of my experiences
- Emergency Road Side Assistance;
Twice I have contacted Good Sam ERS once just outside the largest town for over 100 miles) with no help ever to arrive (in one case I was able to fix the problem myself and get going about an hour later, in the other I finally called a local tow service) - Good Sam Action Line;
While back in the early 90s I got an excellent response (back when Good Sam was “Good”), a more recent request (for my Onan Generator) went un-answered. - Inaccurate ratings in Campground Directory that NEVER get corrected despite many persons complaints;
An example is Comstock RV Park in Carson City Nevada, where the facilities were poor, the place was dirty with many old truck campers sitting off the truck, narrow spaces that were not 5th wheel accessible (as per my father who also went here in a 5th wheel), non functioning Spa, despite calling ahead to only find it not working.
If the reader would like more proof, simply read this website (some reviews are good, but not the majority and the three persons I know personally that have camped here all gave it a major thumbs down):
http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/Nevada/Carson_City.html - Most recently, I have attempted to interact on the Good Sam Blog (as I have with others RVer blogs with relevant comments, questions, experience, etc.), only to never have my comments appear (I blog considerably with Word Press & Blogger, mostly for my Aquarium Information profession in areas such as lighting, sponge filters, treatments, etc.).
Although I also realize this can happen, so this was not the real problem, rather the multiple emails and phones calls which went unanswered (which I have made in the past for other non responses by “Good” Sam [actually Rotten Sam]).
In the phone calls I was told on at least three occasions to expect a response within 48 hours, however no return call or email was ever forthcoming!!
This last incident really sums it up, because this is the most basic of customer service courtesy; Returning calls or emails!
I know with my business, that even emails/calls from persons that are rude need to be returned & if anything I have been “patsy” according others who know me well in putting up with this type of treatment for a long time before finally taking action (as exemplified in my post about problems with my Onan Generator Problems and rude treatment at Siskyou RV World)
I am sorry if this blog post might seem offensive or overly negative, as my intension of this “Endeavors” website is to post stories/post of a positive nature for others to enjoy, but I feel to look the other way after all this would be both dishonest and a disservice to others who might be on the fence about a Good Sam Membership
If you are a Good Sam Member and have thoroughly enjoyed it; GREAT! However if your experience is similar or if you are on the fence about a membership, I would encourage you to think this through and maybe consider another club such as AAA which in the short time we have been with them, the difference in customer service in night and day!
