This actually was originally posted on the Open Roads forum. then thought you Barth guys might be interested.

The middle of March we took our 34 ft Barth into a supposedly reputable shop in Albuquerque, NM. We had used them a couple of times before and were pleased with them, except for a few minor things like the owner not returning calls . They had just acquired the customers of a great RV repair shop in Albuquerque, Osborne's, whose owner had retired. (in fact, Ed Osborne was the one who turned us on to Barths)

I asked him specifically if he did this kind of work and he said, SURE he did. No problem. The owner of the new shop ASSURED us he could install a washer/dryer, install a workspace, new carpet and wood floors. He told us to bring it in the following Monday (middle of March) and he could have it ready in a week. I told my husband, that was hardly likely, but we didn't need it for three weeks. We took it in. I even called the carpet place he said he used, went by, picked out the carpet. He had already assured us that the existing wood floor would be matched perfectly, so I didn't pick out any wood.

Two weeks went by. We called repeatedly and he finally returned our call and he said he had the sofa out and had ordered the washer/dryer and it would be finished by the end of the week. Three weeks later, after not being able to reach him, only his receptionist. I stopped by the shop unannounced. (We live two hours from Albuquerque.) I asked the surly woman at the desk (she's always surly, so no big surprise) to give me the keys and I looked inside. NOTHING had been done. Nothing. I asked the owner what was going on? Could I just take it back now and forget about it? He said, and I quote "The washer dryer just came in and we're going to start on it tomorrow." I beleived him. I didn't want the poor guy to be out the cost of the washer/dryer.

We had already had to cancel a visit to South Texas for a friend's birthday and we had lost our patience. We wanted our RV back. Last week my husband called him for about the tenth time. He is IMPOSSIBLE to get hold of and never returns calls. He said, and again I quote, "Well, I'm not happy with the cabinets." Now this implied to me that the cabinets had been finished, just not to his satisfaction. He had told us previously that the cabinets were all that needed to be finished. My husband said I was going to be in ABQ and would pick it up anyway. They had now had it 6 weeks and supposedly it was only going to take a week...HA. So, I went down to pick it up last Friday. Hoping that the cabinets were "okay". I was sure the carpet and wood floors had been finished, and was lamenting the fact that we no longer had a couch, but we DID have a workstation and a washer/dryer. I needn't have lamented at all.

I went to the surly woman and asked how much we owed her. "It's not finished, correct?", I said. "You don't owe us anything. We didn't do anything." Okay, big joke, here. I was stunned. "You didn't do ANYTHING??? "Tom had said the washer/dryer was in, and the cabinets had been done, and the carpet ordered." She replied, in her surly manner, "I don't know anything about that. Tom just told me to give you the keys." Of course Tom was no where to be found. I was furious. Six weeks, innumerable LIES and nothing to show for it.

We now have it home, and would like to know if ANYBODY knows a good RV repair/renovation shop in Albuquerque? Or Santa Fe. We will probably take it all the way to Joplin, Mo and Chuck Bentley's place. (who is GREAT, by the way) Just infuriating that we were totally LIED to for six weeks. I think the problem is that he started getting too much business. I doubt seriously he'll have that problem much longer.

Postscript: I got in the RV to leave and it started right up. I was fuming not only from the fact that we were at square one again but this man, rather than tell us to just take it home, had LIED to us continually. It was rather warm out, and that with my temperature rising from my previous encounter with Ms. Surly caused me to turn on the air conditioner. Nothing. Except the lights on the panel. I MARCHED into the surly receptionist and said, "I need someone to see what's wrong with the air conditioners." She sent this guy out to the coach. He said, "You need to turn on the generator" and reached over to the switch it on. I said, in my hautiest voice, "We NEVER run the generators for the air conditioners!". With that, he turned around and left the RV. I called out after him, "Where are you going?" And he said, "Back to work." So I marched BACK into the surly receptionist and said, "I need someone who knows something about RV's to look at these air conditioners. That guy said you have to have the generator going for them to work and I know for a FACT that we NEVER RUN OUR GENERATOR for the air to work." She said, "You DO have to have the generator on." And I said, "NOT on our RV, UNLESS YOU GUYS rewired it!" With that she left to talk to the mechanic. And I thought....and thought some more....and then took every bit of pride I had, went and found her, and said, "Oops, sorry, my mistake...." And "I" actually had to apologize to this woman! I know, I know. Gary told me not to mention this part as I might look like an idiot. But if the shoe fits...

Hi,

Talk about raising your blood pressure! Have you tried calling Good Sam? They have never failed me when I needed a referral.

Good luck!
Ricl

Susan, you'd be surprised how many times I've had egg on my face in similar circumstances. And I pretend to know what I'm talking about. I am sure, however, that I've met the lying service man's brother, & the surly receptionist's sister. More than once.

Susan, I always recommend to folks that they add their comments, whether good or bad, to the online database at http://rvservicereviews.com/ so they are available to anyone searching for service in an area of the country they are not familiar with.