mockturtle
Northwest
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Joined: 05/31/2005
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Those who adapt.
Husband: Derek
Dog: Bucky
RV: 2000 Aerolite 19RB TT
TV: 1996 Chevrolet Blazer 6 cyl. 4WD
This car used to be our toad, now is our TV!
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sirdrakejr
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Joined: 11/18/2001
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The dealer here, Sahara RV; is getting in 4 Palomino TCs and just got in a bunch of Starcraft trailers. I have been told three people are already speaking up for a TC.
Frank
* This post was
edited 08/31/08 02:39pm by sirdrakejr *
RV.net blog
For those of you looking for expert advice, here ya go!
Frank
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lindsay90
Fresno, Commiefornia
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Joined: 06/09/2008
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Mooney wrote:lindsay90 wrote:Mooney wrote:The local RV dealers in my area are screaming the blues. Dan Gamel, the largest Fleetwood dealer in the nation has called it quites. Any thoughts on how the camper guys are doing?
Will they all survive? Will the economy wean out the small guys? Aren't most of the camper people small anyway?
So far I haven't heard of any of them raising the white flag, however I am curious if the bow is about to break.
The one in Fresno (Dan Gamel) is closing it's big store and moving back to a smaller location at least that is what they told me. So I do not know if they are closing the doors for good??
He's done: Forbes
Wow! I wonder why they are moving there parts dept to the smaller store if they are closing? To bad I liked having the camp store (parts) close to my house oh well so goes life.
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iwon415
Northern California
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Joined: 01/27/2007
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First we lost the big Don Gamel lot in Santa Rosa. Then the local Lance dealer that had been there forever went belly up. I would not want to be in the RV industry about now...
TimH
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rouleau
Taylorsville(Salt Lake City area), UT, USA
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Joined: 10/23/2003
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Mooney,
We went by Camping World last Saturday.
Next door is a very large RV dealer.
They have a huge lot full of fifth wheels, travel trailers and motor homes. A large investment in inventory.
I really don't see how they can survive in this economy.
Bill
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silversand
Montreal
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Joined: 09/12/2004
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....he's done for? Um, not exactly yet:
"Once all inventory is liquidated, the company will evaluate whether it's feasible to keep one or two stores open." (site: Forbes article)
You have to realize that bad economic times do not necessarily mean Armageddon for everyone. Many, many will adapt, down-size, and continue doing business.
Additionally, we were told be virtually every RV dealer we visited in Quebec that there is absolutely no money to be made selling TCs and tent trailers. There's just not enough profit volume in this genre for any dealer to survive on! The dealerships make their money from larger RV class sales.
In light of the above, I'd be willing to bet that more and more TC manufacturers will be setting up direct-from-factory style sales in the coming new economy.
Cheers,
Silver-
Silver
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4x4 6.0L Ext/LB Tow Package 4L80E Michelin AT2s| Outfitter Caribou
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Steve_in_29
29 Palms (SEMPER FI), CA 92277
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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While they didn't build TCs, another RV maker went belly up as of Apr 30th. Alfa Leisure is no more.
2007 F350,SC,LB,4x4,6.0/Auto,35" tires,16.5 Warn,Buckstop bumpers
2007 Outfitter Apex9.5,270W solar,SolarBoost2000e,2 H2K's,2KW inverter,2 20lb LP on slide out tray,4 Lifeline AGM bats,Tundra fridge
95 Bounder 28' ClassA sold
91 Jamboree 21' ClassC sold
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Photomike
Southern Alberta
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Joined: 04/26/2008
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First I do have sympathy for the people that are having troubles, I just lost an account that paid $30,000.00 a year (we are a mom and pop operation and this was a HUGE loss)and I know what it is like to not know what is on the horizon.
I have more sympathy for the staff then the owners, as most of the owners will bounce back and get into something else. The staff on the other hand are going to take most of the pain and suffering as they are not going to have nest eggs to tap and the business savvy to fall back on.
I do see the economy REALLY changing and things never being the same again. A case in point, I needed some toner for my printer - local stores wanted from $95.00 to $140.00 per toner, and stock was very low. Went on line and bought toner for $65.00 with free shipping from HP directly. Two days later it was delivered to my house. I saved the costs of driving around, time, etc. Unfortunately I also took sales away from the local stores.
Bought a new computer, tried shopping local but the costs were WAY too high. $1500.00 for it locally, and I would have to fight to get what I wanted. Ordered from Dell got the computer that I wanted (with a few small problems that I had to work out) for $700.00. Dealt with people in India to order and for customer service. Felt bad that I could not deal locally but for the $800.00 savings it will buy a lot of groceries.
Now I am looking at replacing the power center in my TC. Was in at the RV dealer the other day and saw what they had. Went online (here mainly) and found one that I like better and will save me at least $400.00.
I do feel bad for taking the sales away from the local shops. As an owner I know what it is to see sales go some other place. But that is the way things are going. You can change, like some of the dealers have, or be left behind.
We will never see things like they have been. Local dealers are going to fall, many will change for the times, others will disappear. Would I like things to stay the same, you bet. They are not going to. RV sales will continue, more options will appear. The middle class and the working class may not be buying the new units, but they will still be buying. The upperclass will be buying the new units and the latest units from select dealers or manufactures. Life will go on. Things may be harder for some, but life will go on.
Mike
2002 GMC 2500HD 4x4 4 Door
1992 Northern Lite 9'- 6" Camper
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silversand
Montreal
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Joined: 09/12/2004
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On the "Globalization" front:
"The rising cost of shipping everything from industrial-pump parts to lawn-mower batteries to living-room sofas is forcing some manufacturers to bring production back to North America and freeze plans to send even more work overseas." (Site: Yale Global (from Wallstreet Journal), 2008)
This is extremely interesting. You can read the article here-->
The new Global strategy for goods production is to regionalize manufacturing, to the greatest extent possible, into the territory where the goods are to be consumed!
On a regional scale, we buy roughly 60% of every foodstuff we consume from local artisanal food producers; often the local multi-national grocery chain buys local produce (actually, on consignment). We buy the vegetables, fruit, confections, meat, fish supplied by said almost exclusively. Why buy meat shipped in 3000-miles from Colorado, or carrots shipped here from 4000 miles away from California? There's plenty of 365-day a year hothouses (and traditional summer-time farming) growing virtually everything within 75 miles of us! Could you imagine (now) buying TCs made in China (this is where the industry was headed not too long ago!), and shipped 10069 kms to LA, to then be shipped another 3000 kms to clients throughout the US and Canada? I think not.
Cheers,
Silver-
* This post was
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KMLsquared
Rohnert Park, CA
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Joined: 02/27/2006
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iwon415 wrote:First we lost the big Don Gamel lot in Santa Rosa. Then the local Lance dealer that had been there forever went belly up. I would not want to be in the RV industry about now...
TimH
Tha lance line has been picked up by Reeds Trailer. There is probably 10-12 sitting on their lot.
2002 HO 6spd LB QC 4x4. Edge Juice w/Att 4" str8 pipe AFE int Skyjacker D25 springs w/10" Fox Shox 2.0 Thuren track bar PSC Steering box w/DSS. Fox Steering Damper w/custom mount.
1993 Fleetwood Caribou 10HX
2001 Warrior
2002 Banshee
1969 Baja
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