Kudos to Grand Design
Maybe more MFG's will get on board with this. http://www.rvbusiness.com/2018/11/grand-design-ntp-stag-align-on-parts-support/
Forum Discussion
Such a policy will look great on the brochure and website. However when you call the dealer for warranty service, most if not all of whom also carry multiple other brands, do not have enough competent techs, and have a service backlog running out many weeks if not months, the end result will be the same no matter how fast they can get parts.
Perhaps the sooner you get your next 5er the better. Do some research on the 3 Gents who started Grand Design. They were instrumental in starting Keystone and used a lot of the same marketing strategy. Then they grew, and grew some more. Eventually they sold out to Thor and lined their pockets enough, after sticking around for a good number of years, to jump ship and start Grand Design from scratch. Then they grew, and grew some more. Eventually they sold out to Winnebago. They still have some pockets needing lining.
History repeats itself, especially when you're talking about 3 RV industry execs who are smart cookies, and know a thing or two about the gullibility of the Industry, the RV buying public, marketing, and money.
At some point they will reach a tipping point where the great after sale and support becomes unsustainable (Re: As in a money loser). When that happens just look back to the history of Keystone RV. That is if they get to that point before the next Industry / general economy downturn (hence the Winnebago marriage, Clark and the Fenech brothers are not dummies) which is right around the corner. The auto and other industries are circling the wagons right now for that downturn. The dealer and service network can only support so much and dealers will drop like flies as soon as the burp comes.
RV's are a by product of the main business which is making money, and you do all of it with other peoples money, not your own.
bucky wrote:
Winnebago owns Grand Design FYI. Since late 2016. Let's all hope they are allowed to continue as they were. They will be my next 5er.
Perhaps the sooner you get your next 5er the better. Do some research on the 3 Gents who started Grand Design. They were instrumental in starting Keystone and used a lot of the same marketing strategy. Then they grew, and grew some more. Eventually they sold out to Thor and lined their pockets enough, after sticking around for a good number of years, to jump ship and start Grand Design from scratch. Then they grew, and grew some more. Eventually they sold out to Winnebago. They still have some pockets needing lining.
History repeats itself, especially when you're talking about 3 RV industry execs who are smart cookies, and know a thing or two about the gullibility of the Industry, the RV buying public, marketing, and money.
At some point they will reach a tipping point where the great after sale and support becomes unsustainable (Re: As in a money loser). When that happens just look back to the history of Keystone RV. That is if they get to that point before the next Industry / general economy downturn (hence the Winnebago marriage, Clark and the Fenech brothers are not dummies) which is right around the corner. The auto and other industries are circling the wagons right now for that downturn. The dealer and service network can only support so much and dealers will drop like flies as soon as the burp comes.
RV's are a by product of the main business which is making money, and you do all of it with other peoples money, not your own.
