Camping World

Our local campers barn in kingston, ny was converted to a Camping World. We went into the campers barn once to get an item they should have had in stock (a common bulb) and we had to order it!!!???? So we never went back again. We frequent Camping World often for things we need; we know they will have stock.

We are really happy having camping world just 10 minutes away...and improvement for sure.

I don't blame CW for buying up the competition or the MP dealers for selling. As stated before its just business. What I do hate to see is what CW does to the business after the sale.

Bucky Badger wrote:
since we are not in the negotiations we don't know who to blame. Maybe Marcus comes in with an offer they can't refuse, maybe Marcus come in and says he will build a CW right across the street and put them out of business if they don't sell...We just don't know

And both are "just business", not personal

since we are not in the negotiations we don't know who to blame. Maybe Marcus comes in with an offer they can't refuse, maybe Marcus come in and says he will build a CW right across the street and put them out of business if they don't sell...We just don't know

I don't think it's fair to blame the M&P's either. Yes, they have the option to hold out or sell, but in the end, they are looking out for themselves as well (which they should). You don't know the circumstances surrounding the M&P business, and what motivates them to finally decide to sell. Could be the business was on the edge financially, could be they were getting older, and wanted to be out of the rat race and saw this as a good opportunity, or whatever. I don't blame the M&P any more than I blame CW for buying them. It's just life and it's not fair to blame the small owner for taking the money and retiring/running.

Mike

I've run out of people to blame. And, I gave up on "why can't things stay the same". I certainly don't blame Mr. Lemonis for anything. I envy him.
What I'm looking for is a small headset with a small boom mic, and small ear muffs that block out ambient noise. It has to plug into a smart phone, so that I can be working with my hands while talking on the phone. I wonder if Camping World has this? IMO running around with both hands on a smart phone,.....it's nuts!

No business is required to sell out to CW. They chose to do that. Those of you who lament the passing of the M&P RV dealer you had misguided loyalties to need to wake up. M&P (or the kids) hit the big time when CW offered them a deal they couldn't refuse and any mythical loyalty to their customers vanished in the haze. CW on the other hand understands what sells and uses it to their advantage as any good business operator does. The great thing is if you don't want to spend money with them you don't have to. What a country! My local CW has been quite enjoyable to have nearby but they do not get all of my business. I buy what works for me. Aint capitalism grand?

In a way, you CANNOT blame Camping World for buying up the Mom and Pop's stores. You CAN blame the MOM AND POP for selling out! I'm sure camping world makes MOM AND POP an offer that's pretty good. They think, ... Hey, let's take the money and run. We can retire, and don't have to put up with the daily struggle any more." so they do!

No, it's not Camping World anyone should complain about, it's the MOM AND POP who sell out and leave their customers hanging!

I've seen this "sell out" happening all around me where I live. 50 years ago, there was pristine farm land all around (especially the Northern side of Indianapolis / Noblesville / Carmel / Westfield / Zionsville ... But when those old farmers die off and the kids get the property, or the old farmers are presented an offer for their prestine farm land, where they can sit back and retire and live comfortable the rest of their lives, they sell out .... and then the concrete jungle ... shopping malls, apartment complexes, and parking lots, 4 and 5 lane roads replace the once country back road, the deer disappear, the foxes, the coyotees! Whey? All because the old farmer sold out! If they would have said, "NO!" that would have stopped lot of this. It's so sad to drive from my home place to Indianapolis and see the fields gone! And now apartment complexes and shopping malls and auto dealerships line the road. So sad.

So ... quit blaming Camping World ... they are what they are! No one says you have to shop there! No one says, you don't either!

CW bought out one of my local dealers last year. ... many of the employees were gathered around discussing how their 401Ks would be affected, they seemed quite worried. A few months later the dealership was converted to the CW standard decor and the accessories dept. became a display of high dollar/high volume dealer installed items. The staff seemed to be replaced with slick corporate sales men and women more interested in in getting you signed up to the CW club. Gone was the friendly MA & Pa DIY atmosphere.

X2
It's a big push to buy up mom and pop RV dealerships and turn them into Camping Worlds.

GS/CW CEO apparently more concerned about how the RV's are lined up and where a desk is located then customer service. :R

"He loves pulling up to Camping World's newest store in Saukville, Wisconsin, in his big black SUV, charging in unannounced just like on TV--"Hi, I'm Marcus!"--while salespeople spill from their cubbies and customers gawk.

"You really opened a week early, didn't you?" Lemonis tells the store manager,locking eyes. He's not happy with the way vehicles are arranged on the lot. He wants better signage fronting the highway.

And he wants the greeting desk to be across from the entrance instead of off to one side. But the wiring is already in place, the manager points out. "They can move it," Lemonis says.

CW buying up local RV Dealerships

CW bought out one of my local dealers last year. I don't know about the former operators RV sales and service but they did have a nice parts and accessories dept. which is where I shopped. Just after they where bought out I was there buying some lighting parts and many of the employees were gathered around discussing how their 401Ks would be affected, they seemed quite worried. A few months later the dealership was converted to the CW standard decor and the accessories dept. became a display of high dollar/high volume dealer installed items. The staff seemed to be replaced with slick corporate sales men and women more interested in in getting you signed up to the CW club. Gone was the friendly MA & Pa DIY atmosphere.