Recent Comments

Regulators adopt new attitudes toward financing
Excellent recap of what is happening to us! by Bernie

It's Tax Day -- Let's party like we work for GSA!
I consider myself a reasonably smart human being, but no matter how much I read about this government and how f'd up it is no one seams to have the answers. Can anyone tell me what else I can do, as a hard working American who is sick to his stomach, besides vote, because that isn't enough. I know the problem, tell me the answer. My thought is it will take someone with the biggest set of balls known to mankind to clean house. Looking for some answers, and I am all ears by Joseph Bullyan

It's Tax Day -- Let's party like we work for GSA!
And we wonder why our budget is out of control?!!? OMG!!!! We are to blame though - we keep electing the same members to the most exclusive country club in the world! They are exempt from most laws, get everything paid for by the taxpayer and are set for life - while we just keep struggling to pay them for that luxury!Worse, our two presidential candidates will raise over half a BILLION Dollars to convince us to vote for them! Actually worse - we'll contribute to them and elect them!Shame on us ... by Bernie

Australia, Europe, China . . . . pick two!
It would be interesting to know what the Board members that didn't vote yes on going into China thought and are they RV mfg. or suppliers? If any of them are suppliers they must have all their products made there already! by Tony

Australia, Europe, China . . . . pick two!
As a follow-up on this discussion, there was a very interesting article in the Washington Post last week and it was reprinted in the Boston Sunday Globe this past weekend. The article is titled: "China may buy only domestic cars for official use." You can read the article at: http://b.globe.com/GTIu6A Many of the comments at the Post and Globe indicate that there is nothing wrong with a country doing this - and I agree with them. We do the same thing here in America at the federal and state ... by Bob Zagami

Australia, Europe, China . . . . pick two!
As always, Bob has done his homework and presents a great editorial. I just can't see any benefit to having anything to do with The "China" Connection. I can't think of any Industry that has actually "benefited" it's American workers by joining with China.An American purchaser of an RV has multiple choices of types, options and price already! Why add an Asian Product to that mix - that will only hurt American made products - as it always has in the past. High tech products are mass produced and ... by Bernie

Australia, Europe, China . . . . pick two!
Bob, you’re right on!

The Chinese government cannot be trusted and they abuse their people terribly. If an RV manufacture decides to “dance” with a partner in China, it will be the fire dance, and it won’t be China that gets burned!
by Barry Hughes

The Chinese even knock off websites
I don't see a major problem with it.I just type the name then hit Ctrl & Enter and it goes to the dot com.Can not see why I would even type dot com then dot cn. by Wayne

The Chinese even knock off websites
This trick happens in all countries. Not limitied to China. It's cyber siting and tech it is illegal but that doesn't stop anyone from doing it.

If you are building a "brand" you often want to buy every version of your domain. Because even if you can get all of those domains back with the law from the people sitting on them it is just safer to own them all up front if you can.

by Aaron

Australia, Europe, China . . . . pick two!
Point of clarification from Jim this morning, the China Committee vote was unanimous but the Board of Directors vote was not.

Also, the sentence in the third pargraph from the bottom should have read, "We will continue to monitor China, not to prove somebody wrong, but to honestly report the information we get on the abuses we expect to see despite the best laid plans of RVIA." by Bob Zagami

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Sunday, May 31, 2009

What are YOU hearing?
By Chuck Marzahn @ 6:47 PM :: :: 1 Comments ::

“So – what are you hearing?” It’s the most common question I’m asked. I’m hearing snippets and pieces on a consistent basis that things are looking up. People ask the other question – “How are YOU doing, Chuck?” I have been saying, “Business is slow but life is good.” Even my business lately has been picking up. Maybe I’m a bit more focused on the relationships and the marketing that I was. I’m sure it’s true. It’s likely true for you.

Here’s what I’m hearing…

A dealer in the mid-west says he sold 19 towables (his only lines) in 3 days.

Another conversation speaks to having a “record May.” Please note that wasn’t a record for the past year or so. The dealer was saying he would have an all-time record May and he’s been in business for decades!

Another store says their on-lot promotion was generating a ton of traffic and more deals than expected.

Another said new staff in finance was asking for better terms and higher percentages finances and was getting the bank to buy.

Still another says he had to double his service staff because the business took off like a rocket.

I hear most dealers say they have cleaned up inventory. Some still have dated inventory. All are healthier than they were.

Towables are good.

Used is great. Auctions are bringing a little over book. Used is hard to find ins some areas.

Remarkably, I don’t hear many really singing the blues.

I’d be really interested if you’d post what YOU are hearing…. Or what’s going on in YOUR neck of the woods...

Due to unrelenting spam, RV Daily Report will only allow comments on stories from registered users. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Comments

# Art Bedard

Monday, November 16, 2009 6:51 PM

Re: What are YOU hearing? What are the real numbers? I am hearing a lot of industry leaders trying to will the industry back to health with a lot of unsubstantiated and vague comments. How many dealers will report a year that is up from 2008 or 2007? Healther? Please! Let's all start talking frankly about how bad things really are and how we can get to the other side stonger with better products and service. How may good employees have left the RV industry for good? How many dealers did we loose? How many manufacturer's our out of business? I can't believe everyone thinks this is a good thing. Help us solve the big problems - Floor Plan Financiing, Retail Financing, Warranty coverage, Dealer territory protection, and an industry model year change date. The remaining dealer base should use the leverage we have in a down year to fix these problems I contend all that has happened is that the industry has shrunk by about 50%. And the 50% of consumers we have lost - the never ever customerr who can't get financed or the baby boomer who can't retire because his 401K lost 50% of its value and will now have to work an extra 10 years to make up, are the future of the industry we were all counting on. Stop blowing smoke - Tell us it's bad and help the industry get stronger by fixing things we have control over. Once they are fixed, we can build the industry on a strong foundation. I we don't seize this opportunity to fix the industry, we are just going to be fighting the same battles for years to come. By Dennis Vicencio on 6/23/2009 10:37 AM Re: What are YOU hearing? I don't have my head in the sand. I'm earnestly listening. One rental dealer yesterday told me he's on a record track with bookings. Another says the competition is fierce because many dealers who aren't moving inventory are panicking and renting units far below established market prices. It's a shame we've lost some good folks, I really regret that. Some of them I count as friends. We've also lost some deadwood from dealer personnel and manufacturers alike. I quit smokin' years ago. Please don't shoot the messenger... By Chuck Marzahn on 6/3/2009 4:52 PM Re: What are YOU hearing? I am suprised not to see more comments here... Alot of good people are lost but I think quite a few of them are just waiting to enter the business again once it calms down. I even had to take drastic measures myself and join the enemy (cw) as our small dealership was in inventory/floorplan trouble amongst other problems that are being echoes all over the country. I feel bad for my move but at the end of the day the mortgage needs to be paid and the kids have to eat. We all have to do what we can right now. I had the choice to either leave the business I love or join a company that has strength (and some problems to). We all just have to work now. Go back to basics, look at your original business plan and see if it is still prevelent. Make a personal business plan if your "just" in sales. This is the best time to have your goals written down. As far as sales and service the basics need to come out. See a customer, tell him thank you, follow up, and treat him right. as far as what I am hearing... One big manufacture is on the edge of collapse and it is going to hurt some dealers. Lending is not any easier but Credit Unions are really stepping up and keeping the volume going. The used market in Texas is unreal. The supply is super low and the demand is super high. Well only for travel trailers. Where are all the ones we sold 5 years a

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