Camping World Settles Oregon Lawsuit for $3.5m

Ryan J. Farrick — December 20, 2024

“Our investigation found that Camping World would advertise a heavily discounted ‘Dare to Compete’ price,” Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a press release. “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.”

Camping World has agreed to pay the state of Oregon $3.5 million to settle claims that it double-charged consumers who thought they were getting a discount on the company’s recreational vehicles.

According to OregonLive.com, the lion’s share of the settlement—about $3 million—will be shared among Oregon consumers who paid more than the advertised price for RVs purchased between 2017 and 201.

“Our investigation found that Camping World would advertise a heavily discounted ‘Dare to Compete’ price,” Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a press release. “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.”

“This is not how Oregonians expect or deserve to be treated,” Rosenblum said.

Camping World, adds KDRV, is a national RV distributor with multiple locations in Oregon. These locations include lots in Phoenix, Medford, Coburg, Wood Village, Hillsboro, Wilsonville, and Bend.

A gavel. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. (CCA-BY-2.0).

The Oregon Department of Justice indicated that consumers who purchased a vehicle after December 31, 2018, may also be eligible for a refund under the terms of the Camping World agreement.

The terms of the settlement also dictate that Camping World can no longer charge, or attempt to charge, any consumer more than the advertised price of a vehicle, excluding increased amounts for optional accessories and standard fees.

Camping World must also offer the same price to all consumers—irrespective of whether they are paying cash or financing their purchase.

The settlement included several additional protections for future Camping World customers. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

Camping World can no longer double-charge consumers for any good or service that is already included in an RV’s MSRP. This includes fees or other surcharges for freight and preparation. Camping World must disclose these charges on a label attached to every vehicle.
Camping World must use clear abbreviations on purchase orders so that customers know what they are being asked to purchase. The Oregon Department of Justice’s investigation found that Camping World would often use the term “environ” on purchase orders to describe what amounted to a limited warranty against weather-related damage.
Camping World cannot make a “free offer” in conjunction with the purchase of a motor vehicle unless the deal is backed by a manufacturer or another party that is not Camping World or a Camping World affiliate.

“I thank the Civil Enforcement team at DOJ for their focus and persistence in this investigation, and in helping to make restitution to those affected by Camping World’s practices,” Rosenblum said in a statement.