Bust to Boom

[wags999]

Interesting video on Elkhart. https://www.marketwatch.com/video/fr...7FF1936CA.html

[norty1]

One thing that stuck out was, "No foreign Competition".

[TCNashville]

Hmmm. Probably not plausible at this time but foreign intervention in the RV industry might just do it some good as with the auto industry.

[bankr63]

Originally Posted by TCNashville

Hmmm. Probably not plausible at this time but foreign intervention in the RV industry might just do it some good as with the auto industry.

I love the look of the Australian Conqueror trailers. But what is the market for a $60,000 popup? Trailers built to quality standards like automobiles exist, but they cost almost as much as a new car!

[wags999]

RV's are not a big industry in foreign countries. People don't travel like we do in the United States.. It's a very niche industry in most other countries. We are fortunate we have a huge land mass, with mostly great highways and are free to go where we wish. And a beautiful country to boot.

[Crabman]

I bought my Jayco in 2009, which was one of the bust years mentioned. One of the worse RV sales years in history, height of the financial crisis. It was well built......Things have turned around now to record sales. This too will change one day. It always does.

[loki805]

I like how they all like to use the words Amish built but when you see in side the factory in the vid it’s guys with red shorts and tattoos. I guess the fact that they are paying so well is great but I sure wish they had more of the craftsman they talk about doing quality work.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by loki805

I like how they all like to use the words Amish built but when you see in side the factory in the vid it’s guys with red shorts and tattoos. I guess the fact that they are paying so well is great but I sure wish they had more of the craftsman they talk about doing quality work.

I wonder what qualifies any manufacturer to use the term "Amish Built"? We have quite a few Amish families here in PA and I have become close friends with several gentlemen over the years. At least with those I know personally, they take extreme pride in what they do.

[Crabman]

It would seem from the labor shortage mentioned in the video they would hire any warm body that walks through the door wanting a job lol.

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by wags999

Interesting video on Elkhart. https://www.marketwatch.com/video/fr...7FF1936CA.html

Here is the full story published in the WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-fut...ana-1522942393 Considering they seem to take literally anyone to fill the assembly lines, I feel fortunate that our new Jayco doesn’t seem to have many flaws (knock on (cheap) wood.)

[NCMFFD]

Originally Posted by LuckyDuck

Here is the full story published in the WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-fut...ana-1522942393 Considering they seem to take literally anyone to fill the assembly lines, I feel fortunate that our new Jayco doesn’t seem to have many flaws (knock on (cheap) wood.)

x2

[wags999]

Originally Posted by Crabman

It would seem from the labor shortage mentioned in the video they would hire any warm body that walks through the door wanting a job lol.

Its the same with almost all business today.. difficult to find employees. The bar is so low if you show up your a super star. Just look at the retail employees you interact with...often I think to myself, why would they hire that person... Answer is, he was the only one that showed up.

Sad. Too many people have so little pride not only in their work, but in themselves.

If companies didn't have good process's it would be difficult to overcome mediocre employees.

[bigironcoder]

IMO both RV companies and buyers would get a lot more bang for the buck if more effort was put into the final factory inspection! It's as if that part is left to the dealer. I've only experienced 1 dealer (Colerain in Indy) that did a thorough live setup and inspection.

[CampNow]

Originally Posted by bigironcoder

IMO both RV companies and buyers would get a lot more bang for the buck if more effort was put into the final factory inspection! It's as if that part is left to the dealer. I've only experienced 1 dealer (Colerain in Indy) that did a thorough live setup and inspection.

Unfortunately, "that part" (the final factory QC/inspection that you speak of) is, many times, left to the dealer.

Many dealers routinely charge some manufacturers 2-4 hours of labor, as a matter of policy, to "condition" new trailers prior to sale.

[stevenl]

To compound the labor shortage in and around Elkhart is even when a warm body shows up for a job they can’t pass a drug test.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by stevenl

To compound the labor shortage in and around Elkhart is even when a warm body shows up for a job they can’t pass a drug test.

I was interviewing a perspective employee last fall. We offered him the job and handed him an envelope containing our employee handbook to read over and sign, instructions on how to obtain a criminal history report/child abuse clearance, and a drug testing script to take to our contracted testing center. He didn't even open the envelope........just slid it back across the table, shook our hands, and walked out the door.