stairs
Who else is over the steps that you have to lift in and out of RV what a joke cant get in untill to drop steps wth is thinking this is a good thing?
Forum Discussion
dougrainer wrote:
Sorry, but your cost of OEM versus retail is wrong. Granted, there is a LOWER cost at OEM but the fact remains, that Retail costs are higher for the door fold down. BUT, the OEM for both types will be lower, but the door type is still higher than the standard old style. MOST of the door fold outs have an adjustable bottom leg to meet different uneven patio pads. I have NEVER had a customer complain about the door step type system. Doug
Hi Doug,
Maybe I was misunderstood. I agree that the Solid step may cost more than a good set of older fold-out steps. The price we see at retail or dealer cost differs greatly from at OEM. And you appeared to agree with this.
My main point is labor at the OEM; there is a significant difference at the OEM on labor mounting a Solid step unit (very little labor) compared to an older well-mounted fold-out step. I'm sure you may agree with this.
At the OEM level, profit per unit can be higher selling a camper with a Solid step versus a well-mounted and made older style fold-out step. While the raw material of the step may be higher with the solid step, the offset of labor savings makes it well worth paying more for material than labor.
I'm good with OEM's selling campers to customers who want that style step, but to force it across all floor plans with no other options, and they make more profit by selling it that way, does not sit well. If it is worth more, sell the Solid step as an upgrade. I know that takes more time and inventory on the part of the OEM. Giving the customer options can cause them more loss.
I will also add for the general good of the post, in the last 8 to maybe 12 years; there has been a flood of, in my opinion, very weak fold-out style steps being made. These are not the older style rigid fold-out steps mounted rigidly to the camper. (This stronger set all costs more $$) The same thing invaded the scissors stabilizers with weak, thin metal. I was appalled to see fold-out steps and how the OEM mounted them so weak on new campers. They bend and bounce significantly just walking up them. They are trying to hit a price point on what a new camper buy will bear. Or the OEM is trying to increase profitably. Entry steps should not be one of the places to cut costs that deep.
