We've been customers of Trailers Plus for six years, have bought two trailers from them, and have had repair work done with them numerous times. Up until this year, we've been very happy customers. We've referred customers to them. We haven't even LOOKED anywhere else for our trailer needs.
But that all changed this year. In February, I ran over a large piece of tire and it kicked it up and caused damage to the stone guard and a panel on my trailer.
I called Trailers Plus to get a quote and schedule a repair. They had me text pictures. The next day, I still didn't have a response, so I texted again.
I had to leave town for another show. When I got back a week later, I still hadn't heard back, so I called and emailed.
I had to leave town for another show. When I got back (two weeks after the first contact), I called again. They sent a quote and told me that it would take a week or two to get the parts, and less than a day to repair.
Two weeks later, I hadn't heard back so I emailed and called for an update. They still said the part was due in soon, and I was welcome to bring the trailer in and drop it off.
I dropped the trailer off a few days later and left it there for two weeks. I made it very clear when I would need it back, and they assured me that it wouldn't be a problem. On the day before my next trip, I went to pick up the trailer. It wasn't ready. They still didn't have the stone guard. And the manager told me that the repair guy no longer worked there, and that they had no way of repairing it anymore. This was SIX WEEKS after I initially contacted them, and a full month after getting a quote.
I started researching alternatives, but had a hard time finding any place to repair it. Carry On (the manufacturer) was no help. They won't sell to consumers (nor to most trailer repair companies). I was out of town a lot, tied down with big projects, and unable to pursue it.
In August, I contacted them again and was pleased to find that they had a new repair guy (and a new manager). They would now be able to repair it. But the process had changed. They would send me a form that I had to fill out and fax back. Their call center would call me to collect a 50% deposit on the parts. Then they would order the parts and schedule the repair.
It turned out much more complex than that. I had to call multiple times to get the form sent. Then I had to call multiple times before their call center called me.
The cost of the stone guard more than doubled from my February quote to my August one.
I was told 1-2 weeks to get the stone guard. After a couple weeks, they told me that the stone guard would be in the following Thursday. I was going to be out of town, so I scheduled the repair for the Tuesday after that.
I showed up on Tuesday, my one day back in town between trips, when I'm under a lot of pressure to get everything done before I leave again. Except I didn't realize they didn't open until 11am. So I waited a while, then ran an errand nearby, returning a little after 11am.
When I went in, the manager was watching what appeared to be a company webcast about customer service. (Oh, the irony.) I had to wait. Finally, the service tech came out and wanted to go outside to look at the trailer. I walked out with him, and he told me that they didn't have the part yet.
I WAS FURIOUS! I've been dealing with this for SEVEN MONTHS, had made multiple trips in, had left the trailer for two weeks, had dealt with two service techs and two managers, had wasted HOURS trying to get it resolved, had jumped through their hoops to get the order placed a second time, had an appointment, and they couldn't even let me know that the part wasn't there before I wasted yet another trip in.
I lost my temper. I raised my voice. I told them how ridiculous it was, and everything I had been through. The manager got upset with me as well, and told me I couldn't treat his employees that way.
If they're going to treat customers this poorly, they REALLY need to get customer service de-escalation training, because the manager only inflamed the situation.
I went home, fuming. The next day, after I had cooled down, I talked again with the manager. I apologized for losing my temper and made it clear that I wanted to go forward with the repair. I was told that the part would be in the following Thursday.
Thursday came and went, and no call. I called the manager again, and he said that his boss wasn't sure he wanted to do business with me anymore, but that he would talk to him.
I called back again about a week later to find out what the status was. He said that he had cancelled the order, and that they would no longer do business with me.
They may have cancelled the order, but they didn't refund the deposit on the parts. I had to dispute the charges with my credit card company.
I called the corporate offices to let them know about the situation. They weren't interested.
I WILL NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH TRAILERS PLUS AGAIN! read more