Random Thoughts

[Jim & Susan]

Hey y'all, it's The King's birthday today. Wonder where he's celebrating this year?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzIMHk6Z2l8

Jim

[Panama Red]

Haven't seen him at CanOpener yet... But there's a few people I'm watching close.

-Red, believing...

[Jim & Susan]

Not surprised. It's a well known fact that he and Jimmy Hoffa are runnin' a pizza joint in the Marshall Islands. Ever wonder where the Pineapple and Italian Sausage special came from?

Jim

[Cannonball]

Yea, that is what I meant by a "couple of states". I mean, come on, I live in a state where it is 746 miles from Houston to El Paso on IH 10. You can drive all day and never leave the state.

It is sort of like saying "It's just down the road, not too fur place". We sort of like to keep exact distances pretty vague.

[m.hony]

What is the difference between:
A couple?
A few?
Several?
Some?
A bunch?
All more than one, but less than many or a lot or a whole lot or boocoodles or bunches and bunches-
A couple is 2-
The rest are 3 or more but not many-


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[Fly at Night]

Sorry to see that the "Elvis Rocks the Canyon" Cafe has closed. Would always stop because one American icon deserves another.

[switz]

If Airstream does not get the quality control issues resolved soon, they will end up like Elvis - dead. But from the lack of sales that killed off many of the other RVs over time. Bad press from current owners will discourage folks from buying the already bloated price Airstreams.

The value for the money spent perception means top line build quality to most folks, not 1"gaps in the doors or no name on the back of the trailer etc.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by switz

If Airstream does not get the quality control issues resolved soon, they will end up like Elvis - dead. But from the lack of sales that killed off many of the other RVs over time. Bad press from current owners will discourage folks from buying the already bloated price Airstreams.



The value for the money spent perception means top line build quality to most folks, not 1"gaps in the doors or no name on the back of the trailer etc.

You know what's weird - in theory you're 100% correct - but in practice - sales are through the roof (as is the water - ba DUM dum! &#128516.

Seriously - it makes me wonder - I don't know if I'm recalling this right - but I think when I did the tour a couple years ago, they said they were doing some 50 trailers a day (does that sound right to folks or was that the weekly count?). So over 250 days a year that's 12,500 trailers - and the new capacity was to get them to like 75 a day or almost 19,000/year.

Even if the 50 and 75 are WEEKLY production numbers, you're talking about upwards of 4000 trailers a year.

Let's use the lower number - if 1% of those have significant errors, that's 40/year. I don't know that we see 40 people in these files every year identifying significant problems with their trailers - and of course, the whole population isn't using the forum and some probably have issues resolved at the dealer without discussing in the forums. But it makes me wonder if a high percentage of finished product is actually decent - since it's more common to post complaints in a forum like this than it is to offer compliments.

Maybe for a larger % of new buyers, the experience from a quality and/or 2 year free fix perspective is good enough? They're selling like hot cakes! 😳

[BoldAdventure]

Originally Posted by switz

If Airstream does not get the quality control issues resolved soon, they will end up like Elvis - dead. But from the lack of sales that killed off many of the other RVs over time. Bad press from current owners will discourage folks from buying the already bloated price Airstreams.

The value for the money spent perception means top line build quality to most folks, not 1"gaps in the doors or no name on the back of the trailer etc.

My grandfather used to have a saying, seems to hold up today.

"The higher the gloss, the cheaper the wood"

The point being, lots of lacquer on cheap wood, quality wood doesn't need that to show it's beauty. And it seems to extend in theory to a lot of products.

Airstream does this, where they make things look fancy and high end, but the quality isn't there, but the gloss is.

[switz]

A political person said that even lipstick on a pig leaves it still a pig....

[Rocinante]

Yeah, but add a smart spider and it would be "some pig!"

[PKI]

Dealers fix a lot of known problems. Competition falls short and has similar QC issues.

Sad fact is that given the will to do better...there is opportunity. Honda and Toyota brought a stronger game and quality improved. Apple says they have to go to China for the skill. Will be interesting to see if China Buicks are better or just cheaper. In any case, an AS is not a bad starting point and they look great. Pat

[Jim & Susan]

Hey y'all, go have a look at Bob's new signature line in this post:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ml#post1738756

Jim

[Jim & Susan]

Back end was damaged, bumper missing. Roadside window up front broken out and covered in plastic. Interior partially gutted. Window treatments long gone. Needs tires, axles. Rust everywhere on the steel parts. That's all I could see from the traffic light as I waited for green.

If anybody wants to follow the lead on this jewel, let me know.

Jokes aside, this was actually seen, up front, on an RV dealership lot. I wonder if they seriously took this in on a trade?

Jim

[thehandyman]

Now that's a smoker 600lbs of brisket for the boy scouts.

[thehandyman]

Can't get the pictures to load will try tomorrow from home

[thehandyman]

OK went home and got the pictures to load.

[mpsgolf]

As I sit here late on a beautiful starry Seattle evening (exceedingly rare in winter!), having a conversation with my good friend Jackson Newton Daniels, I am thinking fondly of my father - now passed.

Talk about traveling, he spent 26 years serving our great country in the Navy - he served in three wars, and literally saw the world from the wings of an airplane. He taught me the love of flying when I was old enough, but more importantly he taught me how to be a good man that loves God, country and family.

Miss you Pops!

[paiceman]

This is why Tornado's are concerning.

https://www.facebook.com/955TheRock/...9342185221934/

[Jim & Susan]

Sit down for this one.

Ringo is 75 YEARS OLD.

Jim