Wednesday, April 11, 2007
ONE,TWO,THREE-IT'S ALWAYS THE QUALITY
RV Business
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Good Sam Club’s RV Owners’ Advisory Council (RVOAC) recently completed a survey that identifies and ranks issues of importance to the club’s million-plus membership.
The RVOC was formed in December 2006 to evaluate and make recommendations to Good Sam management regarding RV-related issues of major concern to members.
The poll asked respondents to weigh in on nine specific topics. Results, ranked from first to ninth, include:
1. Quality of RV manufacturing (98%)
2. Availability of competent RV service (93%)
3. Existence of adequate lemon law protection (87%)
4. High fuel costs (86%)
5. Protection from local parking ordinances (79%)
6. Availability of suitable commercial RV parks (65%)
7. Federal access user fees (80% retained by federal facility) (63%)
8. Decreased availability/high cost of RV storage yards (52%)
9. Uniform state special RV drivers licensing (33%)
The RVOC survey also solicited write-in comments, which indicated fuel cost was the biggest concern to members. Good Sam reported that costs in general – fuel, campground fees, repairs – elicited the highest number of comments.
Other matters of concern based on the write-in responses include:
• RVers are increasingly concerned about local restrictions on where they can park their RVs.
• There are a number of issues relating to “big rigs”, including campgrounds that do not adequately provide for them, fuel stations that don’t have adequate room to maneuver (or have steep curbs), and a general desire for RV-friendly highway signage.
• Poll participants expressed an interest in “no frills” campground options, and in having federal state and local parks provide an adequate percentage of non-reservable sites.
“Most notably, the rather startling result is the 1-2-3 place finish of RV quality, RV service, and Lemon Laws,” said Tom Gonser, chairman of RVOAC. “As the council said in its report, it's as if RVers were saying ‘build it right’ and if you don't, get it fixed the first time. And if you fail on the first two, I want lemon law protection.”
Gonser added, "RVers would not be at all surprised at the high rankings of these three items. The real surprise is that RV owners now have a forum through the Good Sam Club to express their concerns, and potentially have them represented in meaningful discussions with industry leaders. RVOAC members intend to use the survey as a means to bring constructive focus on the issues pertaining to RV quality and service.”
Gonser, a retired attorney and former executive director of the American Bar Association who founded the popular website www.rversonline.org, chairs the council. Other members include: Jan McNeil, a retired realtor and full-time RVer; Leo Everitt, a former executive with engine builder Cummins Inc. and RV maker FMC; and Bill Estes, who recently retired after 38 years with Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Good Sam Club’s RV Owners’ Advisory Council (RVOAC) recently completed a survey that identifies and ranks issues of importance to the club’s million-plus membership.
The RVOC was formed in December 2006 to evaluate and make recommendations to Good Sam management regarding RV-related issues of major concern to members.
The poll asked respondents to weigh in on nine specific topics. Results, ranked from first to ninth, include:
1. Quality of RV manufacturing (98%)
2. Availability of competent RV service (93%)
3. Existence of adequate lemon law protection (87%)
4. High fuel costs (86%)
5. Protection from local parking ordinances (79%)
6. Availability of suitable commercial RV parks (65%)
7. Federal access user fees (80% retained by federal facility) (63%)
8. Decreased availability/high cost of RV storage yards (52%)
9. Uniform state special RV drivers licensing (33%)
The RVOC survey also solicited write-in comments, which indicated fuel cost was the biggest concern to members. Good Sam reported that costs in general – fuel, campground fees, repairs – elicited the highest number of comments.
Other matters of concern based on the write-in responses include:
• RVers are increasingly concerned about local restrictions on where they can park their RVs.
• There are a number of issues relating to “big rigs”, including campgrounds that do not adequately provide for them, fuel stations that don’t have adequate room to maneuver (or have steep curbs), and a general desire for RV-friendly highway signage.
• Poll participants expressed an interest in “no frills” campground options, and in having federal state and local parks provide an adequate percentage of non-reservable sites.
“Most notably, the rather startling result is the 1-2-3 place finish of RV quality, RV service, and Lemon Laws,” said Tom Gonser, chairman of RVOAC. “As the council said in its report, it's as if RVers were saying ‘build it right’ and if you don't, get it fixed the first time. And if you fail on the first two, I want lemon law protection.”
Gonser added, "RVers would not be at all surprised at the high rankings of these three items. The real surprise is that RV owners now have a forum through the Good Sam Club to express their concerns, and potentially have them represented in meaningful discussions with industry leaders. RVOAC members intend to use the survey as a means to bring constructive focus on the issues pertaining to RV quality and service.”
Gonser, a retired attorney and former executive director of the American Bar Association who founded the popular website www.rversonline.org, chairs the council. Other members include: Jan McNeil, a retired realtor and full-time RVer; Leo Everitt, a former executive with engine builder Cummins Inc. and RV maker FMC; and Bill Estes, who recently retired after 38 years with Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines.
