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Family Tree RV forms dealer franchises
How is the franchise going? Seems like nothing has changed? by Limit

Hall of Fame kicks off fundraiser
Around 300 people have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Ask each of them to donate $1,000 and the fundraising project is done. These folks can now return the favor by supporting the place that honored them. by Sam Q

RVer accuses Western Horizon of breach of contract for sale of resorts
I apologize for your negative experience you had at the Camp Verde Resort. I have forwarded your comments on to our CEO and to the sales person's manager. This is not how we want to represent our resort and we will make sure the proper action is taken.

Lynne Berry - WHR by Lynne

Viking RV files Chapter 7 bankruptcy
According to their website: http://www.coachmenrv.com/products/viking.aspx, Coachmen is a division of Forest River. by Cindy Spencer

RVer accuses Western Horizon of breach of contract for sale of resorts
I suffered thru the sales pitch at Camp Verde. What a dump. They call this a "resort"? I got 4 free days thru the dealer that I bought my RV from. Never once did the dealer or WHR mention that I had to sit thru a sales pitch. This salesman would make any used car salesman look like an amateur. After nearly 2 hours I questioned him about particular resorts on the list. He never once mentioned that many on the list had been sold. When he was done he said he would would leave the room and that we had 15 minutes to make a decision. The price was good only for 15 minutes. I told him that I did not need 15 minutes. I don't make snap decisions on anything, especially when it comes to spending $8K. At that point he got agitated and insinuated that I was an idiot for even questioning either his or WHR's reputation. He asked me to sign a paper with nothing checked as to whether I would buy or not buy. I told him that I wasn't signing anything that wasn't properly filled out. His agitation escalated at that point. I told him that I wanted a couple of days to research the company, and would he call me before I left the park? He said "why would I call you, if you decide to do it, just let them know at the office. They'll contact me." With that he huffed out of the room.

I'm 60 years old and have vast experience in sales and management. I currently own a company that does business consulting. This is the worst sales experience that I have ever had. I can't believe that anyone would buy this on the spot without first checking out the company. Once I checked them out, I left the park as fast as I could.

Good luck to everyone who is a member. Based on my experience, I think things will only get worse. This is a company who obviously has no communication skills and no ethics.

by lexton

Newmar provides motorhome for Vets Roll tour
Thank you Bob.

I did not know your military background; thank YOU for your service.

Matt Miller and the folks at Newmar truly 'get it' and we are thrilled to partner with them this year!

Our greatest hope is for RV manufacturers and dealers in other parts of the Eastern 1/3 of the country to consider starting a similar program.

These are the men and women who not only saved the face of freedom, but they are also the men and women who have allowed our industry to grow and prosper through the last 40+ years.

The emotional high we have experienced cannot be over stated. We owe this gratitude and celebration to this generation!!

Feel free to contact me at any time if you have an interest in our incredibly successful model. We will update this third trip on Facebook at VetsRoll.org.

Sincerely Mark Finnegan Mark@VetsRoll.org by Mark Finnegan

Newmar provides motorhome for Vets Roll tour
As a disabled veteran myself, I want to publicly thank Newmar for this kind gesture toward these veterans and this project. We are fighting different wars now and it is difficult for many people to truly understand the dangerous environment we send our brave men and women into for the war on terrorism. The death and injuries to our veterans brings incredible hardship and pain families and loved ones. Anything we can do to help lessen that pain and make the sacrifices understandable is welcome and Newmar should be commended for helping out with this effort. Thank you Newmar! by Bob Zagami

UVS Junction warns dealers about Craigslist postings
I can see ICANN getting involved (since they are the international governing body that issues domain names) if someone used Craigslist in their domain name (e.g., craigslist-info.com or some such), but that is not the same as auto-posting. Otherwise, a court would have to get involved, or the federal government. Craigslist by themselves cannot seize anybody's domain name. by Rex Gambill

UVS Junction warns dealers about Craigslist postings
Angie,

It is a "tool" and not true automation. But tools like that have to be authorized or they are against the terms of service.

eBay has serveral tools that are allowed(those companies pay ebay to allow them). Craigslist does not because it is not how they want to run their company. eBay is for businesses to sell(more now than in the past) while craiglists has tried to remain a consumer to consumer website. They have minimal staff and the site is moderated by the community.

Craigslist likely spends most of their man hours trying to block the next "tool". eBay hates this because eBay owns s significant percentage of craigslist they bought from a former employee. But lawsuit after lawsuit has found in craigslist favor. They can continue to use whatever business model they wish even if it minimizes profit. by Aaron

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Monday, January 02, 2012

Do RV renters become buyers?
By Greg Gerber @ 9:54 AM :: :: 4 Comments ::

:: RV Industry, Headline

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Half of the households planning to become first-time RV buyers recently told researchers from the University of Michigan that they’ll rent an RV first. So should RV dealers focus more on rentals in order to expand the number of RV owners? Opinions are divided, the RV Dealers Association reported today.

Although no more than 5 to 10 percent of the renters at United RV Center in Fort Worth, TX, become buyers, dealer Kevin White believes that percentage will grow.

United RV rents both towables and motorhomes and has a program allowing customers to apply their rental fees toward an eventual RV purchase. The dealership only rents what it sells and competes with rentals-only operations in the Dallas- Fort Worth market by “not nickel and diming rental customers with a generator fee” and other add-ons, says Bill White, who also works at the dealership.

But John Myers of Myers RV Center Inc., Albuquerque, NM, believes converting rental customers will always be a challenge.

“We were in the rental business for about 20 years, and although a lot of people said they were interested in renting first before buying, we saw very few examples of that happening," said Myers.

“It sounds good in theory, but when customers find they can’t necessarily rent the same configuration of RV that they want to buy, they change their mind,” he added. “For the most part, rental customers are rental customers, and buyers are buyers.”

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Comments

# Steve Franklin

Monday, January 02, 2012 11:02 AM

I agree that it takes a lot of work to convert renters into buyers but have learned the value of patience over the last 15 plus years. At my Boerne, Texas location, I currently have 97 rental RV's in my fleet. 91 of these were purchased from me. Of the 91, 72 were renters that turned into buyers.

The difference may be the fact that we only rent rental management vehicles and, as you can tell from the numbers, we only rent those units we have sold with very few exceptions.

The percentages may be small but the gross profit dollars are huge.

Steve Franklin
American Dream Vacations
Boerne, Texas

# Steve

Monday, January 02, 2012 12:28 PM

We rented before we bought. It took us a few vacations/years before we decided what we wanted. We are now looking to move up to a fifth wheel for full timing.

# Kevin

Tuesday, January 03, 2012 1:04 PM

I think buyers and renters our two different customers. I have affleunt customers who would never consider purchasing a RV for $50,000 to $100,000 but will spend $2000-$5000 on a RV vacation. On the other hand when more budget minded customer discover the cost of renting and use that money for a down payment and make a purchase.

# Gordon

Thursday, January 26, 2012 11:41 AM

I have owned many a motorhome over the years and have never rented. what i have done several times is bought a motorhome, used it for my trip and then sold the unit when we got back home. I have had A,B and Class units, and liked them all, each for there own reasons

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