What happened to the oringinal RV.net from 10 years ago?

[OldRacer]

So i have to ask.

Originally joined RV.net back in 2003. Got out of RV'ing for quite some time, and just purchased another one recently. So come back here and see the URL is the same, but looks like Camping World/Good Sams Club must have purchased the domain and turned it into "this".

Not complaining, but A) when did this happen and B) Did many of the original RV.net members start another RV website? I'm just curious more than anything else.

Also seems like CW has issues with their server.

[OldRacer]

pulsar wrote:
Although Camping World was not part of the company, when you left, the ownership of the forum hasn't really changed between the time you left and your return. The management has. Stephen Adams was the owner then and, I believe he is now. Back in those days, Mike Schneider was the President and CEO. Marcus Lemonis is today's President and CEO.

There has also been a name change. Affinity Group, Inc has changed its name to Good Sam Enterprises.

Marcus Lemonis co-founded FreedomRoads, which merged with Camping World, around 2006, with Marcus Lemonis as President and CEO. In 2011, Camping World merged with Good Sam Enterprises and replaced Mike Schneider.

The forum software had its last major revision in early 2005, before you made your last post. You made not remember it, since there was no advertising in those days.

Essentially, it is the same forum as it was before, if you believe its the people and their contributions that make a forum.

Over the years, many have left, for one reason or another. There have been those that left and started new forums - Campfire Soapbox (no longer existing) and Unto the Breach (still exists, I believe) are two that come to mind.

I've rambled enough, particularly since Sarah is saying it is time to go train the dogs.

Tom

Thanks Tom! See, THATS the kind of answer i was looking for.

I'm not bashing anything on the new look (or members). I just know, from what i remember, it looks NOTHING like it did the last time i was here. And i'm referring to when i typed in "rv.net" into my browser. This "Woodalls" thing you guys are referring to, well i just figured out what that was today, and the looks of that is more along the lines of what i remembered.

As for the smart as$'d answer about "OMG the look of the forum has changed in the past 10 years!": seriously? I'll keep it clean from what i'd really like to say to that response and just reply by saying "no $hit" again. Ive been an admin of a website since 2000 and we've had quite a few changes in looks over the years, along with dickhead members coming and going there as well.

[westernrvparkow]

An internet site changing over the last 10 years Oh My! What's next? Dogs and Cats living together in sin?

[rv2go]

It must have been a slow gradual change. Other than me changing from the rv.net portal to the Woodalls portal, I don't remember any thing significant.

[brirene]

Welcome back!

[pulsar]

Although Camping World was not part of the company, when you left, the ownership of the forum hasn't really changed between the time you left and your return. The management has. Stephen Adams was the owner then and, I believe he is now. Back in those days, Mike Schneider was the President and CEO. Marcus Lemonis is today's President and CEO.

There has also been a name change. Affinity Group, Inc has changed its name to Good Sam Enterprises.

Marcus Lemonis co-founded FreedomRoads, which merged with Camping World, around 2006, with Marcus Lemonis as President and CEO. In 2011, Camping World merged with Good Sam Enterprises and replaced Mike Schneider.

The forum software had its last major revision in early 2005, before you made your last post. You made not remember it, since there was no advertising in those days.

Essentially, it is the same forum as it was before, if you believe its the people and their contributions that make a forum.

Over the years, many have left, for one reason or another. There have been those that left and started new forums - Campfire Soapbox (no longer existing) and Unto the Breach (still exists, I believe) are two that come to mind.

I've rambled enough, particularly since Sarah is saying it is time to go train the dogs.

Tom

[rockhillmanor]

Affinity aka AGI, owned and still owns this site.
They failed to make a payment of millions to bondholders.
Sooo, Affinity/AGI 'changed' their company name to Good Sam.

""On August 15, 2009, AGI failed to make a $6.2 million interest payment to bondholders, and Standard & Poors subsequently lowered AGI's credit rating to D. Standard & Poor reported that they had taken this view because bondholders will be receiving less than par value for the notes and because of the company's highly leveraged financial profile, weak operating outlook, and limited liquidity given the near-term maturity of its senior credit facility. In May 2011, AGI announced that it was changing the company's name to Good Sam Enterprises.""

[CampingN_C_]

X2
Been on here since 2003 and can't say I've seen a whole lot of changes over the years.
Hope it stays that way!

[Community Alumni]

They did not buy out anything, the parent company (Affinity group) always owned it along with all the various forum portals; they just rebranded everything.

[profdant139]

I've been active on this forum for ten years -- have not noticed any significant changes. Lots of great advice, a few grumpy people, overall pretty entertaining! Although CW and Sam's are sponsors, I do not see any censorship -- for example, people are free to post negative info about CW's prices or service.

To quote the Simpsons, "I, for one, welcome our corporate overlords." 😉

[Nutinelse2do]

Most of us old timers are still here. I think the buy out happened about 10 years ago.

[OldRacer]

Drbolasky wrote:
Some of us are still here.........

So when did the "buy out" take place?

[Drbolasky]

Some of us are still here.........

[ford_truck_guy]

This is all because CW/Good SAMs owns and operates this sire.