Good story on Thor in 11/17 WSJ

[Denis4x4]

Second section page 1. Someone smarter than I will post the link!

[CanoeStream]

Pictures free - Thor Industries' Keystone RV Sees a Resurgence - Photos - WSJ.com

Article requires paid subscription - Slump Hurt Some RV Makers, - WSJ.com

[vinstream]

I went to find a part at the only Airstream dealership in Denver yesterday and they had three Airstreams on the lot, all were 2009 spring production. A sales guy came up to me to ask if I needed help and I told him I was their for parts... When I came back to my car he was still there and so I had to ask how was Airstream sales... He said well, WE (dealership) dont have much to sell...! I asked why that was. He told me that Airstream was not extending credit like it once did and that they may drop the Airstream line... WOW! So that would leave only one Airstream dealership in the entire state of Colorado... a camping mecca ... SAD... If you ask me!!

[Gene]

The Denver dealer has a bad reputation anyway and my experience with it was not good, so it's not a major loss. Perhaps a more reputable dealer in Denver will take on the Airstream line.

Gene

[vinstream]

Not to slam the only Denver Dealership, but maybe it is time someone does it the way wally would do it!

[PeeWee]

Originally Posted by vinstream

I went to find a part at the only Airstream dealership in Denver yesterday and they had three Airstreams on the lot, all were 2009 spring production. A sales guy came up to me to ask if I needed help and I told him I was their for parts... When I came back to my car he was still there and so I had to ask how was Airstream sales... He said well, WE (dealership) dont have much to sell...! I asked why that was. He told me that Airstream was not extending credit like it once did and that they may drop the Airstream line... WOW! So that would leave only one Airstream dealership in the entire state of Colorado... a camping mecca ... SAD... If you ask me!!

With economic conditions and survial, money is tight.

[PeeWee]

Originally Posted by vinstream

Not to slam the only Denver Dealership, but maybe it is time someone does it the way wally would do it!

Wally had hard times. For years he didn't build stock, he took orders with a deposit. His raw materials were nil, and most items were purchased as in went into station or the next stage of production. Frugal, frugal, frugal.

Also he had the door shut three times by the government. Even on the first Caravan (1951), he left owing the government money. I have a letter from his Office Manger telling him that the last payment had been made to the government.

Airstream and Wally Byam had some really tough years. Credit extension, not that I know of.

[vinstream]

$$$ is very tight I feel it every time I do work on bring "Life & Road back to vintage custom trailers!" But I believe in what it is that I am doing! Even in very hard times! I don't think that is the case of this dealership with hundreds of SOB's on the lot! Sorry Pee Wee this dealership should back the Airstream Line or get out of it! Just my humble opinion!

Sorry I got this post off topic.... but to be fair it was not really about Airstream rather some other SOB that THOR owns... Once again sorry!

[Denis4x4]

FYI....GE Financial pulled the plug on wholesale financing of RV's, boats and motorcycles last summer. This, in spite of the fact that they got federal bailout money. I'm pretty sure that those advertised deals on bare bones Airstreams were financed by GE before they pulled the plug.