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01-13-2014, 08:33 AM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Redding
Posts: 1,421
M.O.C. #12339
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RV show a bust!
RV shows are few and far between in Northern California. That said, we traveled the 236 miles to Pleasanton California for the annual RV show this weekend. Expectations were very high, based on advertising and promotion we downloaded. The price after discount coupons was $26.00 a couple. Our son and his girl came with us for the day.
The show turned out to be a disappointment, to say the least. Empty vendor areas, few Manufacture reps, poorly dressed salespeople. Even CW's area had their salespeople, huddled together chatting and noshing?
I was not expecting hoards, but Saturday at 12:00 was dead. I do not believe this is an indictment of RV Industry, but more of poor marketing of the event, and lack of training of dealer sales staff. One major missing component was financing reps. I did not see a single bank, or RV financing entity! Now if they were in attendance, where were they working.
I have attended hundreds of publishing shows, as a vendor during my lifetime, and never seen this kind of poor marketing. I trained many sales professionals as well ! These guys need a good consultant! In one instance, the "Silver riveted trailers ", salesmen was down right obnoxious! Did not know hitch weights etc. At one point, after my son asked about tongue and trailer weight, the salesmen asked my son, "what he would tow with"? I interrupted and said, he asked you for "hitch weight"! I said if you don't know that, how would you possibly know if a 2014 Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi 4x4 would be a good fit? He said "that should work with this trailer" ! Oh my goodness! I just walked away. No wonder so many people get upset with salesmen! Lol
Show was not a great experience. I did spend time with 2 yes "2 Redwood's". I was not overly impressed. Also one had $122,000 msrp , "show priced $79,000.00". Same as the internet price?
Lots of lookers, but in my opinion, you would need to tackle a salesperson, write up your own order, if you wanted to buy an RV at that show ! Oh, and you would need to bring your own pen to sign!
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01-13-2014, 08:48 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,172
M.O.C. #6433
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The shows in Dallas and Ft Worth used to be pretty good, but I have not been in several years. What I don't understand is the lack of promotion and advertising. The Ft Worth show was last weekend and I never saw anything in the paper or on TV about it. I would not even have known about it if someone on another forum hadn't mentioned it. I think the Dallas show is coming up soon but have not seen anything on it either.
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Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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01-13-2014, 08:58 AM
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#3
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Denver
Posts: 409
M.O.C. #7616
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Artemus, the show in Denver was pretty good. Windish Rv brought 1 Redwood and no Alpines. RV America had a couple Mountaineers, couple of Montana's and everyone had lots of toyhaulers. TOO many people. People just sucking up valueable air with nothing to do, nothing in mind, just wandering aimlessly.
If you go to the Keystone website look at the Alpine model 3590. Bed moved to front with 3 slides in bedroom and bath. Pretty cool floorplan.
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01-13-2014, 09:15 AM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Denver
Posts: 409
M.O.C. #7616
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There were some models from a manufacture called Evergreen that looked nice in the $60k range. They were called Bay Hill http://www.goevergreenrv.com/page/74/Fifth-Wheels. Heartland had the Big Horn there and
they looked pretty good. Every salesman was letting you know they had Dexter axles on them if thats what they came with.
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01-13-2014, 09:21 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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Too bad the experience wasn't more positive. The KC show has gone down hill in the last few years. Hardly any RV accessory companies show up. That bums us as we would like to see all the different hitches in one place so we can make comparisons. The dealers do seem to have some RV sales staff that know what they are talking about but many don't. There is a reason we never see a bank or RV finance company. Here is what was explained to a friend of mine by the owner of the dealership we bought our 5'er from. Banks hate to loan money on RV's. The dealership has to agree with the bank, that in the event of a foreclosure, the dealership will take the RV back on their lot and try to sell it. Every unit they have to sell for the bank is one of their own they won't sell. Kind of gives them a little incentive to better qualify the buyer. We are going to the KC show this weekend. Good way to kill an afternoon but our expectations are not high. Jim
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2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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01-13-2014, 09:37 AM
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#6
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Denver
Posts: 409
M.O.C. #7616
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There is just too much expense to get them there , too many brands, types and models to see a good selection.
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01-13-2014, 09:39 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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If your vehicle has 4 tires and an engine some salesmen will tell you "That'll pull it just fine".
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01-13-2014, 10:02 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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If you have to write up your own deal, do you get the commission?
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Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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01-13-2014, 10:28 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Copperas Cove
Posts: 1,426
M.O.C. #12096
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Well I guess it's road trip time. They say the RV show in Hershey in Sept. is huge. I keep meaning to plan a trip up when it is happening but I seem to forget. Happens a lot now days lol lol.... But it does seem to be huge from what I seen on the internet......
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01-13-2014, 10:55 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Washington Coast
Posts: 2,688
M.O.C. #10696
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Up here in WA state we have the Seattle and Tacoma RV shows and they are always good and well attended lots of Mfg and vendors I would like to see more MFG's but I realize it costs BIG $$$$$ for dealers to bring them to the show, I would love to look at New Horizons,Excel's Mobile Suites etc.... but they are small volume Mfg's and don't bother with RV shows
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01-13-2014, 11:50 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by 8.1al
If your vehicle has 4 tires and an engine some salesmen will tell you "That'll pull it just fine".
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Someday, I'm going to ask a salesman if a S10 will pull one.
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01-13-2014, 02:44 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: YUMA
Posts: 861
M.O.C. #2625
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01-13-2014, 04:40 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 3,335
M.O.C. #10496
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Sorry to hear about your disappointment. Thats a LONG way to travel for a RV show.
Denver was good. We looked hard at a Heartland Bighorn 3160 but in the end we decided that we liked our current Montana too much to give it up. We were fortunate to meet up with other MOC members there and have lunch within EZ walking distance. It was a fun day.
__________________
2010 3150RL
LevelUp, Dual 6 volt batteries, Progressive Industries EMS HW50C, Honda EU2000i Generator, Bridgestone Duravis R250 tires, Torklift Glowstep Revolution Stairs, LED Tail lights
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie SRW LB CC Cummins 6.7L Aisin Trans B&W RVK3600
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01-14-2014, 01:01 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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We have always found the annual January RV Show in Tampa to be good. Heading there tomorrow.
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Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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01-14-2014, 03:18 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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Yes Tampa is a great show. Everyone is there and most all the vendors all the Keystone and Montana people are there. We haveen to the show for the last several years but there is nothing there for us this year.
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01-16-2014, 03:57 AM
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#16
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Bayswater
Posts: 317
M.O.C. #6781
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by richfaa
Yes Tampa is a great show. Everyone is there and most all the vendors all the Keystone and Montana people are there. We haveen to the show for the last several years but there is nothing there for us this year.
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Your friends are still there Rich.
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01-16-2014, 04:16 AM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hillsboro
Posts: 593
M.O.C. #8238
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The RV show in Portland, OR, is always very well attended and sponsored. From big motorhomes all the way down to itty bitty trailers that I couldn't even fit in. And aftermarket vendors galore. I guess places like Curtis trailers, Johnson RV, Funtime RV, with others really pony up the money for the show. Our Curtis salesman told us the show this year was really good for them, they sold 85 trailers during the show. There are actually two shows in Portland, a couple of months apart. The big one is in November, and is the best one by far. Don't know who puts on the earlier one, but it is not hearly as good. ![Frown](images/smilies/frown.gif) I only went once, that was enough.
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Terry and Patsy
Vietnam Veteran, US Navy
2017 3810
2015 GMC Sierra 4X4 3500 SRW
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01-16-2014, 11:27 AM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
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We went to a little "free" RV show in Ft. Myers today. The bigger one is next weekend in North Ft. Myers. Looked at a Lifestyle (by Evergreen). Had a slide on the left side that was really a super slide because it went almost the entire length of the unit! Trim was nice, leather was great, came with G-614 tires. Price wasn't bad either, but it was heavy. Talking to salesman and mentioned we were really stuck on a new Montana 3725 because as full timers it had a really nice floor plan. I spent the next 5 minutes hearing about how Keystone will not honor their warranty if they find out you live in your unit full time, but of course Evergreen will. Blaa....blaaa....blaaaa....I finally asked him what he thought Keystone had in mind when they offered the "Full Timers Package" as an option and he didn't know what to say. Anyway, I liked their product just not the way they represented it.
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Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
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01-16-2014, 01:59 PM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hillsboro
Posts: 593
M.O.C. #8238
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Yep, whatever it takes to sell and RV, which includes running down the competition, which also turns me off.
JandC, I took note that you too are thinking of the 37 and a quarter. We just got one, and I'm surprised at how many others are as well. At one time I thought the 3750 might be the leader, taking that spot from the 3400. Now I'm not so sure!!! We really like our 3725. Now, on to the next show.....
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Terry and Patsy
Vietnam Veteran, US Navy
2017 3810
2015 GMC Sierra 4X4 3500 SRW
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01-17-2014, 02:54 AM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by TAKPAK
Yep, whatever it takes to sell and RV, which includes running down the competition, which also turns me off.
JandC, I took note that you too are thinking of the 37 and a quarter. We just got one, and I'm surprised at how many others are as well. At one time I thought the 3750 might be the leader, taking that spot from the 3400. Now I'm not so sure!!! We really like our 3725. Now, on to the next show.....
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We haven't found a 3725 to look at yet (we are stuck down here in these darn 70-80 degree temps until April). Still looking but something is really going to have to blow us away before we decide on something else besides the 3725. I know PackerFan loves his.
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Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
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