Price Match

wbwood wrote:
All of this and yet they continue to grow and grow each day.

The big question is how much business is lost due to confusion or frustration. I can't think of a single brick and mortar store that also has an online storefront (like Target) that has different prices for products that are stocked in the store and online.

If you happen to know about this forum, it's possible to get things worked out, but if you walk in off the street, CW can be confusing in terms of pricing and catalogs. I'm surprised fixing this isn't a priority with the company.

All of this and yet they continue to grow and grow each day.

I have joined the club 3-4 times. Seems I go about 3 times a year, the third visit is just after my card expired. :)

Certainly don't mean to bash CW just pointing out for me, they leave 4-500 a year on the table. It just doesn't seem to work out for me. My simple mind gets frustrated. :)

wbwood wrote:
...
Look at it this way. When you go to CW, there are 2 prices. The lower one is given to those people that are GS members. GS membership is not for the CW stores, it is entirely seperate. CW just recognizes (since they are one in the same technically) the GS membership and offer discounts.

Do you shop at membership clubs, like Sams Club. BJ's and Costco? Each has a membership fee in order to shop there and get their advertised rate. However, you can go into Sam's Club and get a one day pass to shop and you will pay a 10% additional service fee. BJ's charges a 15% fee. Never could find anything directly from Costco that says you can shop without a membership, except that I read you can get one of their "cash cards" and shop with it with out a membership. Not sure about that. Never been in a Costco or a member for that much. But if you want the cheaper pricing, then you gotta have a membership. And from what I have seen, a GS membership is cheaper than any of the others that I mentioned and gives RV'ers more value.

CW's retail pricing harkens back to the pre-online shopping days of price clubs where you had to be a member to get the club price and shop from their catalog. The catalogs had two-tiered pricing for members and nonmembers.

I actually prefer wholesale clubs' pricing model of a single price with a surcharge for nonmembers, because now the wholesale club is competing with its competition on price. The marketplace dictates price.

If CW did the same price structure for its retail goods as the wholesale clubs then it would have to more closely compete on price. Every item has one price on the shelf and each store entrance would have a prominent sign stating that non-members pay a surcharge of xx%. If customers decline to buy a GSC membership at checkout then they pay the surcharge.

I believe eliminating the two-tier pricing system would make product management simpler and easier. The trick would be in what to do with the GSC/presidents club members. After eliminating the two-tier pricing, what to do with the GSC/presidents club to make it value-added enough for customers to become members or renew their memberships.

wbwood wrote:

Look at it this way. When you go to CW, there are 2 prices. The lower one is given to those people that are GS members. GS membership is not for the CW stores, it is entirely seperate. CW just recognizes (since they are one in the same technically) the GS membership and offer discounts.

Except you are missing two things:

1) There is quite often a third price - the CW website pricing.

2) Due to the unwritten (in-store) price matching policy (detailed in previous posts) - as a in-store customer you can choose to pay any of the prices (including any competitor's price). If you have an issue - ask for a manager and quote Marcus' earlier post.

big buford wrote:
LOL, I would like to thank CW for their pricing structure. I shudder to think how much I'd spend in their store if there was one fair price for products.

I'm a 50yo blue collar mechanic that loves rv'ing and makes a fair living. I well understand that I wont get the same price as an online retailer and believe its fair to pay a few bucks more for a brick n mortar retailer where I can touch and inspect a product before I purchase it.

That said, I refuse to wrap my mind around the fact I have to pay a membership fee to pay a little more than online and don't want to fuss with price matching.

My trips to Cw consist of picking up an RV specific part usually in the 10-20 dollar range while working on my rig and I want to get the job done that day.

Love the store, love the products, just wont play the game.

On edit: I've never been to business school nor do I know anything about marketing. I guess to me, it comes down to one thing "trust"

I have mixed feelings about walmart and what it has done to other retailers, but I do "trust" I will pay a fair price for a product. I walk through their store and if I see something I like I throw it in the basket. Why others would not try to copy that business model I dont know? Seems to be working well ?

Look at it this way. When you go to CW, there are 2 prices. The lower one is given to those people that are GS members. GS membership is not for the CW stores, it is entirely seperate. CW just recognizes (since they are one in the same technically) the GS membership and offer discounts.

Do you shop at membership clubs, like Sams Club. BJ's and Costco? Each has a membership fee in order to shop there and get their advertised rate. However, you can go into Sam's Club and get a one day pass to shop and you will pay a 10% additional service fee. BJ's charges a 15% fee. Never could find anything directly from Costco that says you can shop without a membership, except that I read you can get one of their "cash cards" and shop with it with out a membership. Not sure about that. Never been in a Costco or a member for that much. But if you want the cheaper pricing, then you gotta have a membership. And from what I have seen, a GS membership is cheaper than any of the others that I mentioned and gives RV'ers more value.

LOL, I would like to thank CW for their pricing structure. I shudder to think how much I'd spend in their store if there was one fair price for products.

I'm a 50yo blue collar mechanic that loves rv'ing and makes a fair living. I well understand that I wont get the same price as an online retailer and believe its fair to pay a few bucks more for a brick n mortar retailer where I can touch and inspect a product before I purchase it.

That said, I refuse to wrap my mind around the fact I have to pay a membership fee to pay a little more than online and don't want to fuss with price matching.

My trips to Cw consist of picking up an RV specific part usually in the 10-20 dollar range while working on my rig and I want to get the job done that day.

Love the store, love the products, just wont play the game.

On edit: I've never been to business school nor do I know anything about marketing. I guess to me, it comes down to one thing "trust"

I have mixed feelings about walmart and what it has done to other retailers, but I do "trust" I will pay a fair price for a product. I walk through their store and if I see something I like I throw it in the basket. Why others would not try to copy that business model I dont know? Seems to be working well ?

BrokerDon,

Thank you for your time and post. I would be happy to help. Please send me a PM with your contact information. Thank you in advance.

Mark F
Marcus' Rapid Response Team
goodsamcs@goodsamfamily.com

mlemonis wrote:
i will match any price in the market and still honor the 39 dollars. Its that simple

That's great news!

How do I get this price match on the your Fan-Tastic Ceiling Fan/Vent with Remote Control
(CW Catalog Item # 37333) which you're selling for $325.00 + $9.00 shipping = $334... and American RV Company is selling for $237.3 + $17.56 shipping = $255.49?

http://www.americanrvcompany.com/product.asp?itemid=1612

I wanted to be sure to let everyone know that, true to his word, Marcus made sure the Tacoma store price matched the Trav'ler and reduced the install to $39. This is very impressive. The people at the store still misunderstand the $39 deal but gave it to me. If you deal with them, I suggest you refer them to the home office.

While it wouldn't have been terrible if Marcus and his team refused the price match. I could have still bought it on Amazon. I am much happier that my faith in Camping World wasn't challenged. It is very satisfying to know that I can count on Camping World and the excellent team in Tacoma to provide such excellent service. I am a customer for life.

Marcus, thanks so much for making this possible. Great store and great service!