Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > Sitting around the Campfire
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-08-2008, 11:52 AM   #1
Wayne and Carolyn Mathews
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Dillon KOA
Posts: 1,291
M.O.C. #7445
UPDATE: It's not just the RV industry . . .

UPDATE: The Dillon newspaper, a once-a-week publication, just arrived with more information on the Ford dealerships. The general manager of what used to be the Dillon Ford dealership has announced that he's hoping to find investors that will purchase the store and keep the Ford/Dodge/Crysler dealership alive in town. There's a 30-day clock ticking, and unless investors are found, that's the end of any hopes for resurrecting the business. The update also says that the Salmon dealership is still open and has received the remaining inventory of the cars from the Dillon store. The Salmon dealership and other dealership are still in business at this time. However, "money is an issue."

Dillon, Montana, no longer has a Ford dealership. One of the owners, who also was a partner in dealerships in Salmon, Idaho, and one other place (can't remember where), took his own life Labor Day weekend. We have another auto dealership in town, but the nearest Ford dealer is now 90 miles away in Butte, Montana.

People who know the family said business debt and the steady drop in auto and truck sales probably just got the best of the owner, who no doubt saw no way out in the near future. Our sympathy goes out to his extended family, some of whom worked in those dealerships.

Carolyn
 
Wayne and Carolyn Mathews is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2008, 12:20 PM   #2
Mrs. CountryGuy
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: _
Posts: 5,238
M.O.C. #6337
That is so sad there are not words.
Mrs. CountryGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2008, 01:17 PM   #3
richfaa
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
We had our Truck serviced today at our Local Ford Dealerships. One of the largest in the State. I was shocked when We drove in the rear lot toward the service bays. This huge rear lot should be lined with new cars and trucks..hundreds of them.It was completly empty..I felt sick as this was a visual real time indication of how bad our economy is. It was a rainy day to day so I called and asked if I could come in for service..Come on in they said..unheard of.We drove into the service department and the truck was on the rack in 15 Mins. There were few vehicles in the service bays. I fear they will not survive. The Pizza chain Donato's closed its doors in this area..

Global economic disaster..Made in the USA..It is hard to hold the head up these days. The bailout will ease the credit crunch..The banks will be in good shape..they can lend money to folks already in huge debt...and so it goes...
richfaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2008, 02:15 PM   #4
Wayne and Carolyn Mathews
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Dillon KOA
Posts: 1,291
M.O.C. #7445
I have no idea what exactly led to the Dillon situation, but the domino effect is sure to be felt in a town of 3000. The Ford dealer here was in the middle of building a huge new showroom and display lot between I-15 and our local hospital. For months, asphalt work, concrete curbing, power line installation, and other construction-associated work has been in progress. That part of the construction is finished, and construction cones were put at the entrances and exits, probably to keep people from driving in and around on the new surface to see what had been done. The plans for the site included not only the new home for Big Sky Motors, but also for a cappucino shop, a drive-through bank facility, and another small shop or two. It was sad this afternoon to drive by that area and realize that the cones blocking access to what would have been a nice new business area will probably be there for a long, long time. It will also be a daily reminder for a lot of us to be thankful for what we have and to remember to say a prayer for anyone feeling that there isn't an answer for failed hopes and dreams.

Carolyn

Wayne and Carolyn Mathews is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2008, 03:23 PM   #5
lwcdg
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Crown Point
Posts: 382
M.O.C. #4726
It will only be failed hopes and dreams as long we keep crying about it. As soon as the public turns off the TV, newspaper etc and gets back to working as usual things will pick up, slowly but it will resume. We must be cautious but not go running to either extreme. Things will get better.
Just my thoughts
Chuck
lwcdg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2008, 03:33 PM   #6
sailer
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bonita Springs
Posts: 1,943
M.O.C. #6977
The news media is the worst thing that has happened, they tell us itts bad all over so its bad or its cold or a hurrican is coming , turn off the tv and go shop the independent retailer as they only have maybe 1 to 20 people but they also are loyal to them ,, we can not live on big business only , they will leave as soon as its a bad day but the little guy lives there so its home , its not home to the chain , they don't care sailer
sailer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2008, 04:10 PM   #7
richfaa
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
Don't know how to say this but the newspaper and tv news reports are real.The bank failures all over the world are real. Folks losing their homes and jobs are real. Businesses closing is real. Our retirement funds losing millions and our retirement income decreasing is real. Turning off the TV or not reading the newspaper will not make it go away ..denial will not make it go away. We don't know if it will be Ok because a global financial disaster of this magnitude has never happened before. I hope there are folks around the world who can get us out of this mess and I hope there is a lesson learned.If you do read the newspaper and listen to the news you will know that the general agreement among those who MAY know..is the worst is yet to come..we a'ient seen nothin yet..
richfaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2008, 11:27 AM   #8
Mrs. CountryGuy
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: _
Posts: 5,238
M.O.C. #6337
Will not comment about what happened today on the stock market, cept that our Ford stock is almost without value.

BUT:

After a morning of emotional ups and downs, and needing to run some errands, Al and I took of for Brooklyn, which is in Jackson County. Jackson County is one pretty place, rolling hills, wonderful back roads, especially pretty at this time of the year, but also one of the poorest counties in lower Michigan.

We stopped at the Big Boy for lunch, where we were again amazed at the prices these days, $6.98 for a Big Boy hamburger sandwich, with the fries and cole slaw. Ouchie. It was 12:30, usually the crowded lunch hour. The place was not busy, about ½ of the tables had no one seated there. I have in past years, seen that many people in there in the middle of the afternoon for coffee and desert.

I looked over at the Burger King drive thru service and there was NO one waiting to pay or pick up an order. NOT ONE CAR. I was quite surprised, again, this was right at the major lunch hour when in the past you would be sitting there for 10 minutes to get your order.

We found gas, regular at $2.98, did not see a “D” price.
Mrs. CountryGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2008, 01:25 PM   #9
Waynem
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Texas City
Posts: 5,736
M.O.C. #7673
Has anyone said "depression?" McCain said the "depression" word this evening on an ABC interview.

The economy is hurting.
Foreclosures are rampant.
Lending is a an all time minimum. You have to have a very high credit score to get money, and then you still may not get it.
Home heating oill is expected to be up 25% this winter
The stock market analysts are not making things any brighter

The only good side is that oil prices have dropped and the smallest price in Texas for regular gas is $2.88 a gallon.

If my fixed retirement income takes a hit - well - that is going to hurt big time.


Edited: Oh! And the news said that the gas producers are going to cut back on production to kep the price of gas from spiraling down. Go figure!!!!
Waynem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2008, 05:27 PM   #10
CasaDelSol
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Sun City Center
Posts: 626
M.O.C. #8563
Richfaa....there was another "global financial disaster like this". It was called "the Great Depression" and was also created in the USA. Hopefully some of the checks and balances they put into place after that might help us now. Doesn't look hopeful for a quick recovery, but I am praying that it won't last 10 years or longer like the great depression. BTW, they still are not calling this a recession...go figure.
CasaDelSol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2008, 01:38 AM   #11
richfaa
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
Many financial experts are saying that this disaster is worse than the "great depression" but as you say Dave many of the checks and balances implemented as a result are easing the disaster in the area of protecting depositors money in the banks. For those of you that think reading the newspapers and listening to the radio and Tv is the cause of the problem I would advise you lock yourself in a dark room Today and play some nice elevator music because you don't want to hear todays news. Oil is down 4.17 on the world markets this morning at 82.47. Note that OPEC is silent. These are the guys that said oil was overvalued due to our greed and should be at @ 60 to 80 a bbl...and these are the bad guys???.....The bad guys are us..the good old USA.
richfaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2008, 02:28 AM   #12
Mrs. CountryGuy
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: _
Posts: 5,238
M.O.C. #6337
One word, describes the speculators and all those financial institution types that raped the mortgage markets

GREED

It brought down the Roman Empire.

I might be happier if I was one of those types that put my head in the sand and denied there is any financial trouble in the waters these days. SIGH
Mrs. CountryGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2008, 05:55 AM   #13
lwcdg
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Crown Point
Posts: 382
M.O.C. #4726
What I was getting at is live your life as you have before. Don't get fixed on this one subject. Go to work, school or whatever, stay active. Live with in your means. This will turn around. It will take some time but in the depression era and prior to it how many people were living on retirements? Many still had home gardens and fixed "family" dinners. Today there are people retiring at an unbelieveable (sp) ages. Bartering is returning. People will get by. Enjoy life as best as you can. Gotta cut this short as I now have to go pay my property taxes. They should have been delivered in May, but NO they just came today. Just a small token to the county. The next installment is to be here in Nov. but they have no idea when for sure. My luck probably Dec.
Chuck
lwcdg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2008, 07:09 AM   #14
richfaa
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
On a brighter note as Chuck suggest. We are getting ready to leave for a FCRV(family Campers and RV'ers) Halloween Rally in Southern Ohio.This is always a nice and fun campout.Our JT struts are on and this will be a good test. Our hydraulic line has been replaced so we will not be leaking oil all over the front compartment. We are also in high gear in preparation to leave for Florida for the winter..Departure time early morning Oct 20th. The fuel and camground money for the trip down is in hand and diesel fuel is coming down.Hopefully there will be work at Disney. We WILL winter in warm Florida...By George..even if Helen has to work 40 hours a week. Why I might even even wo.woo.worr .. you know that word.... She is talking about planting a garden in pots. Maybe we can raise a goat and a couple of Chickens. I know what you meant Chuck and I agree 100%..We are carrying on as best we can..but I feel for those who are hurting.
richfaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2008, 06:19 PM   #15
rving2us
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Powell
Posts: 250
M.O.C. #7880
Hey Richfaa, please do not bash the USA, I live here. Thanks
rving2us is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2008, 03:09 AM   #16
richfaa
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
One must give credit were credit is due. The worst thing that one can do when a wrong is done is to deny you did it.Our financial system and its lack of control and regulation has ruined lives all over the globe and caused a global economic disaster. Our Government admits it and is developing a plan to attempt recovery. They recognized the problem, Admitted the cause and are attempting a soluition. That I understand the problem and its causes and the people responsible is not bashing the USA.To ignore the issues and the reasons for the issues would be a disaster.

http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks/wei.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subprime_mortgage_crisis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Schurz


We are not a country forumlated on doing wrong.. We are a country that does right and learns from our errors.
richfaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2008, 04:26 AM   #17
Delaine and Lindy
Montana Master
 
Delaine and Lindy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lobelville
Posts: 2,128
M.O.C. #6650
We have become to passive as Americans. Our Government knows the cause and knows the problem, everyone blames the President. We need to go after Congress that is were the greed is. Our Country is turning to Socialism, that will never work. GBY.....
Delaine and Lindy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2008, 05:05 AM   #18
richfaa
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
I am encouraged that there may be a lesson learned here. Countries around the world are working together in a attempt to rectify a common problem. This terrible incident has shown without a doubt that the USA is the big kid on the block.What happens to our or in our economy affects the entire globe. We certainly need to be more responsible and I think our Government has learned that as well as Governments around the world.There will be more pain and more suffering but we will survive and perhaps be better for the experience. Each American has the responsibility to understand what is happening then act accordingly at the ballot box. Our system does work,,if we understand it and work within it. Old cliché's, denial and a head in the sand attitude will destroy us.
richfaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2008, 08:26 AM   #19
ols1932
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids
Posts: 4,876
M.O.C. #1944
One of the worst things we can do is to panic. Our president has been ridiculed because of what he said after 9/11. He said (my paraphrase), "Continue to do what you've always done." That's what need to continue to do. Don't quit, don't give up. Things will turn around. I've lived long enough to have seen these things occur from time to time and we've always made it through. This time may be a little more dire, but it's happening world-wide. Hang in there, keep your chin up and hold your head up high. We will make it!
ols1932 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2008, 12:06 PM   #20
Waynem
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Texas City
Posts: 5,736
M.O.C. #7673
Well, everyone gets to blame one leader, instead of a bunch of congressmen. I mean, how could you even begin to say it was/is congress' fault!!!!
Waynem is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
RV Industry News mail2us Sitting around the Campfire 4 10-20-2011 04:09 AM
Interesting article about the RV Industry Pete Hanson Sitting around the Campfire 8 08-18-2009 05:35 AM
R V industry looking better richfaa Sitting around the Campfire 4 06-18-2009 11:50 AM
Another RV Industry article Dave e Victoria Sitting around the Campfire 2 08-13-2008 02:19 PM
RV Industry slump Dave e Victoria Sitting around the Campfire 5 06-13-2008 07:49 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:42 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.