By Greg Gerber on
3/28/2008 10:57 AM
When you stop and think that it costs taxpayers anywhere from $8,500 to $14,000 to educate one child in a public school for one year -- or $110,000 to $182,000 to get that child a high school diploma -- I guess I would expect that young Americans would have the skill, talent and ability to step into any entry level job as soon as they stepped off the stage with their diplomas.
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By Greg Gerber on
3/26/2008 9:28 AM
It was reported today that our federal government began testing 7,500 motorhomes and 11.800 travel trailers stockpiled on a Arkansas compound. Government officials said they will share formaldehyde test results with states and with consumers who will ultimately make the choice whether they are safe to live in them. Where have I heard that before? Oh, yeah, the tobacco issue.
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By Chuck Marzahn on
3/25/2008 4:22 PM
Want an economic stimulus package? Get the banks to cut the rates on good quality retail paper. We’ve seen several rate cuts in the Federal Discount Rate. When are those cuts going to show through?
We can be grateful ...
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By Greg Gerber on
3/24/2008 4:00 PM
It’s hard to argue with Keith Conard’s logic. The Pennsylvania RV dealer who was interviewed last week in our podcast defended Internet selling as the wave of the future. He argued that consumers already use the Internet to research RVs and RV dealerships. Selling RVs online would then be a natural extension of that capability. He is also right when he says that some people are very comfortable buying items online, myself included, although I don’t think I would ever buy an RV or anything else with wheels without wanting to put my hands on it first. But, if people are willing to take the risk, who are we to prevent them from buying online?
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By Greg Gerber on
3/20/2008 12:43 PM
Not only have attorneys representing 55 Katrina "victims" accused the RV industry of conspiring to poison their clients, the shysters have signaled they may seek a much larger class of people impacted by formaldehyde -- that being all people who own RVs. A puny $10 billion judgment will add $28,571 to the cost of every new RV sold. Fortunately, the RV industry has options, but do they have the backbone and clout to end this nonsense now?
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By Chuck Marzahn on
3/19/2008 11:43 AM
Maybe we've lost our way... Not just in our industry. In general. Does the customer drive your business? Lisa Ford's comments at RVDA's Super Session still ring in my ears. We have three kinds of service in our country. (Sounds like Tom Peters' message for those who have been around a while). The three kinds? 1. Poor 2. Indifferent and 3. Exceptional. Which one are you providing? Do you have a customer focus? Is the customer the reason for your business or does something else drive your business model?
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By Greg Gerber on
3/17/2008 10:47 AM
I was talking to a supplier the other day who asked when I thought the FEMA fiasco would be resolved. I explained that I thought the situation would be much uglier before it got better. That was certainly the case today with news that a total of 34 manufacturers would be sued Tuesday. I suspect that RV dealers and suppliers will soon be on the hook, too. One lawyer is already suggesting the formaldehyde settlement will be largest product liability payout since the suit against the tobacco industry.
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By Greg Gerber on
3/12/2008 2:26 PM
An article in the Rockford Register today suggested that FEMA is still trying to unload thousands of units to government agencies. Apparently, the homes are so toxic we have to pay to put occupants back in hotels. However, they aren't toxic enough to prevent government employees from spending their days working in them.
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By Greg Gerber on
3/6/2008 10:40 AM
In responding to a podcast about Internet selling, one dealer wrote "The old way of fleecing the customer with high prices are all wasted dollars and do nothing for the industry except put consumers further in debt for an RV that they should have been able to purchase at a lot lower price." It sounds like Internet selling is shaping into a battle between old school business owners and new age marketers.
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By Greg Gerber on
3/3/2008 10:14 AM
Members of the RV industry's key associations have to be wondering what their dues are being used for after announcements by the groups that they will begin providing news and product information to industry members.
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