By Greg Gerber on
4/28/2008 7:01 AM
In response to a Seattle TV station's investigation into hundreds of fatal crashes involving Class A motorhomes, an RV Industry Association spokesman explained, "there simply haven't been enough deaths to warrant the cost of purchasing and testing these types of vehicles."
Just because a trade association operates in the shadow of Washington, D.C, doesn't mean it has to act like the compassionless federal government, does it?
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By Greg Gerber on
4/22/2008 11:50 AM
A dealer concerned about rising fuel surcharges contacted me a few days ago after choking on the $800 bill he received in fuel charges for shipping a unit from Elkhart.
He thought fuel surcharges were supposed to help cover costs above the amount for fuel already factored into a delivery charge. In other words, if transport companies charge $1,592 to deliver a unit and they expect it will cost the driver $600 to buy fuel, then when fuel jumps to $800, a surcharge of $200 would be justified.
If the dealership was 1,600 miles from Elkhart and the motorhome could get 6 miles to the gallon, that would require 267 gallons of fuel at $3.49 per gallon -- or $931 in total fuel costs. The $800 surcharge would cover 86 percent of the total fuel costs.
But, If gas prices jumped $1 per gallon in the last year, the dealer should expect to pay an additional $267 -- not $800 -- in fuel surcharges.
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By Greg Gerber on
4/18/2008 10:12 AM
What is it about equity companies in general and New England equity companies specifically? Can they really be that out of touch with reality?
News this week that Western RV was shutting its doors is another dagger to the heart of the RV industry. Any time a manufacturer shuts its doors, employees lives are shattered, dealers' businesses are impacted and consumers are greatly inconvenienced.
But Western RV's demise is particularly troubling since the company was acquired by an equity firm about 18 months ago.
Having worked for at least one equity company in my life, I have very good insight into how they work. Taking money from an equity firm is very much like engaging in any type of sin. At first, the offer looks delicious and appealing. But once the acquired company takes a bite out of the apple, their eyes are opened and they quickly discover they have just sold their souls to the devil.
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By Kevin Maxwell on
4/16/2008 9:34 AM
A folk singer with a hit from 1965 describes the current trend in the rv rental industry.
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By Greg Gerber on
4/15/2008 2:05 AM
The people of Tontitown, Ark., should be ashamed of the way they treated Jay and Connie Potter for wanting to make the community a great place to visit.
The couple planned to develop American RV Park -- what was supposed to be a nice, five-star facility that would provide the Potters with substantial retirement income, according to an article in the Northwest Arkansas Times last weekend.
The park would have included privacy fencing, landscaping, electronic security gates, wireless Internet, paved roads, a grocery store and a laundromat.
As communities throughout America seek to become known as "RV Friendly," Tontitown has opted to do all it can to deserve the title of "RV hostile." I have rarely seen a more flagrant example of government abuse of power than was witnessed in this case.
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By Greg Gerber on
4/9/2008 11:50 AM
Are RV manufacturers and other suppliers just catering to risk-adverse lawyers in seeking to prevent aftermarket products from being added to equipment? Are they afraid of competition? Or is there a legitimate reason why manufacturers would seek to void a warranty if something like a gooseneck extension is used?
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By Greg Gerber on
4/8/2008 8:37 AM
Last week, Jayco announced that it was ignoring conventional wisdom that the economy had stalled and we should all roll over and wait for it to improve before doing anything to advance the cause of commerce.
Jayco announced it would acquire some of the assets of Travel Supreme and hire Glenn Troyer, Travel Supreme's former president, to head an entirely new division at Jayco called Entegra Coach.
I applaud Jayco for making this bold, gutsy move in a down economy. It has often been said that the best time to gain market share is in a down market when competitors scale back marketing, advertising and product development in order to cocoon themselves until the sun shines again. I have a gut feeling that this risk will pay off big in the years ahead.
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