Camping World RV Sales — Local services in Calera

We bought a camper here yesterday and it was one of the worst retail experiences of my life. We had already gone in days before, chose our camper, agreed on a price, paid a chunk down, and made plans to return on yesterday for "orientation", completion of paperwork, necessary tweaks to our vehicle for hauling, and to pick up the camper. We were told this would take a couple of hours and would be simple to do since we were doing a cash transaction.

As soon as we arrived, it became clear to me that this was going to take forever. While they wasted no time whisking away the cashier's check we brought in, it would be about 2.5 more hours before we ever signed the first piece of paper to complete the sale. There were large blocks of time where our salesman would wander off and my husband and I were left sitting there alone not knowing what was going on. About two hours in, our salesman came and told us that he had to leave and handed us off to another salesman. He also told us that they were almost done with the tweaks to our vehicle and we should be able to wrap it up soon. It was then that we were told FOR THE FIRST TIME that they would not let us leave the dealership without providing proof of insurance on the camper. This came as a shock to me since we had already paid them cash for the camper and there is no legal requirement that a camper even be insured, but the manager came over and said it was a company policy. Of course we had planned on insuring the camper anyway and had our trusted insurance agent working on it, but had no plans to secure the policy until the next day. Since it was after 5:00 when we learned about their requirement and our insurance agency was closed for the day, our only option was to call "Good Sam" and buy a policy through them, which I'm sure the dealer received a kickback on. I believe that this policy is illegal and I'm going to get to the bottom of it.

It was also very clear that the finance manager (who was super rude and misogynistic but I don't have enough characters to get into that) did not understand the process for a cash transaction. Several of the forms we were made to sign had to do with financing the camper (including a form saying we would provide proof of insurance to protect their collateral, which was inaccurate since they have no collateral interest in the camper we paid cash for) and the way he explained some of the forms (specifically the arbitration clause) was misleading, if not downright fraudulent. As we had already been at the dealership for over two hours at this point and they had already taken our money, we reluctantly signed the paperwork even though some of it made me uncomfortable.

At this point, we had been there for nearly three hours and still not able to leave. We waited around some more. We finally learned that they did not have a part that was needed for our break controller and they had several of their employees out there trying to figure out how to make it work but they said it was almost done. After waiting some more (this was around 6:15 pm and the store closes at 7...we had been there since 3:00), my husband finally told them we had been waiting too long and requested that they deliver the camper to our house at a later date. We were assured it was only going to take five more minutes to finish the job. Think again. We were finally about to leave out of there right around 7:00 after being there for four hours--to pick up a camper we had already bought and were paying cash for.

The worst part was the total lack of communication. If they had kept us in the loop more instead of just letting us sit around clueless it would have been a better experience. The manager did sling us a $250 gift card "for our troubles"--what a joke. The insurance we were unlawfully forced into cost more than that. To add insult to injury, no one even offered us anything to drink over a four-hour period so we were also super thirsty. I WILL NEVER SET FOOT IN A CAMPING...

Dealing with the Calera, AL Camping World for 2 years was all negative! They are only interested in selling campers and not providing any customer support/service after the sale, especially when it comes to warranty work. I do not recommend this dealership and here’s why.

I purchased a new 2023 Keystone Passport travel trailer from them in August of 2023. The sales process dragged on for over an hour. Time wasted, we finally came to an agreement within $100 of what I had originally offered.

I also purchase a new upgraded weight distribution hitch. Camping World installed the hitch. When I got home, something did not look right with the camper connected to my truck. The new hitch was not installed correctly causing an excessive amount of sag between the truck and trailer. I had to re-do what Camping World had installed, resulting in a level, properly installed weight distribution system.

After about 9 months the A/C unit failed. I contacted the Calera Camping World since the unit was under warranty. The earliest service appointment was a week later. I dropped the camper off and was told it would be a looked at and diagnosed the next day. I asked for feedback on the status of repair but I NEVER got a call from them. I always had to call them to find out what was going on. The one thing they are very good at is excuses. During the 5 weeks they had my camper it was excuse after excuse as to the status of repairs. It seemed almost every time I called, no service rep was available or they were out sick or off that day. Leaving a message was a waste of time since no one ever returned my calls. After about a week, I was told that the A/C was bad and Keystone was shipping them one, but this was a lie. After another week or so, I spoke to one of the service reps. He told me that the Keystone factory was shut down for a week and they could not process any warranty work or ship a new A/C until they reopened. They have had the camper now for over 3 weeks.

I contacted Keystone customer service directly. They were able to look up the work order info. Come to find out, the Keystone cabinetry shop was in a routine shutdown, but this had no impact on the parts warehouse or any warranty service actions. Keystone was able to tell me that Camping World was requested to provide them with some diagnostic test data the day after the initial work order was received over 3 weeks ago. Once the data was received they could ship out a new A/C unit, this requested data had not yet been provided to Keystone by Camping World. I asked if Keystone could reach out to the service department and help resolve the delay. Only after getting Keystone involved, did the A/C get replaced after 5 weeks in the shop.

The same A/C unit failed after only 9 months. Without going through the entire experience, Calera’s service department had not improved. Again, never any updates unless I initiated the call, warranty processing issues, delays submitting data to Keystone, and excuse after excuse. It took over 3 weeks to get the camper back.

In June 2025 we sold the camper. I purchased an extended warranty when we bought the unit and was due a refund per the extended service plan agreement. I contacted the Calera Camping World and submitted the forms and information required. After numerous phone calls to follow-up on the refund, I could never get straight answers on what was going on. Depending on who I spoke with I got different answers. One rep told me they’d have to follow-up because nothing was in the system showing a refund had been processed. I was told a refund should be received within 10 days, another rep told me it would be within 30 days, and still another told me within 90 days. After contacting the General Manager I was told the refund could take up to 90 business days. It was obvious that the excuses were standard practice and lack of customer service was just their way of doing business. It took 127 days from the time I requested a refund until...

While pricing travel trailers online I came across what I felt was a fairly good deal. The unit was located in Camping World, Calera Alabama. I have never purchased something this large from out of state (Florida). I made an inquiry on their internet site and was contacted by salesrep Mr. Fuller. Mr. Fuller was very helpful answering my questions and he offered to give me a virtual tour. Mr. Fuller was always professional and at no time did I feel he was trying to deceive and or be untruthful (unlike other sales reps from other locations). During the virtual tour Mr. Fuller went over mostly everything which I could think of and more. He asked me about the towing vehicle and ensured I was able to tow the camper. I decided to make an offer on the trailer, and of course like every dealer I went back and fourth with the Financing side. We came up with a price which I was okay with and I decided to make an offer on the unit contingent on how it was in person. I drove 9 hours to Calera and I felt very welcome. The dealer building was clean and appeared to be well organized (i didnt feel like I was at a dump). Mr. Fuller met with me and he was more friendly in person. I viewed the travel trailer and found one of the interior speakers needed to be replaced. What I didn't notice at the time, was the entry door to the unit was broken (at the hinges) and the refrigerator although it lit up, was not working. Mr. Fuller explained they were unable to replace the speaker at the time but would mail me one. I was satisfied with that conclusion. I also met by a female sales rep who explained and assisted me as I purchased items for the camper. She was very friendly but went above and beyond assisting me (I do not recall her name). I was later told the financing computer system was down and I would not be able to purchase the camper that day. This would have been a great inconvenience for me and my two family members who were traveling with me because of scheduling and a place to stay. Mr. Fuller spoke to the manager and was able to put all three of us up in a local Hilton hotel for the night (the hotel was very nice). The Following morning I met with Mr. Z. Traylor (finance rep and fellow Marine) First impression, I thought Mr. Traylor was going to try and take me for a 50 mile 50 pound ruck sack run, but He ended up being very professional, knowledgeable and amiable (Semper fi). So why the long post? Well for one I told them I would leave a review based on my experience and I'm a man of my word. Secondly, because Camping World at Calera proved to me that sometimes, you find good things in far places. I recommend Camping world at Calera as long as you can remember they are a dealer and like all others, they have to make a living. I have yet to receive my speaker as promised and have not yet brought the door or the refrigerator to their attention. If you are in the area and are shopping for a trailer, I'm sure the dealer has many good sales reps, but we found Mr. Fuller to be honest, friendly and knowledgeable he will take...