*RANT ALERT*
I don't know what model trailer that is on the survey header, but it sure looks vintage to me. Its interesting that AS doesn't seem interested in what owners of the vintage units have to say, but they are fast enough to take advantage of the cool factor. Maybe they forget that the only reason vintage units are out there making AS look good because of the time, money, and effort of the vintage owners. If they were smart, they would be working harder to come up with restoration items or at the very least providing those of us polishing our units polishing supplies at cost. Every trip I have taken, people come up and ask me about the camper, and every time the topic of whether they still make them comes up. Maybe we should all start answering: "sorta, but not really".
*RANT OVER*
__________________
Rodney
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson
*RANT ALERT*
I don't know what model trailer that is on the survey header, but it sure looks vintage to me. Its interesting that AS doesn't seem interested in what owners of the vintage units have to say, but they are fast enough to take advantage of the cool factor. Maybe they forget that the only reason vintage units are out there making AS look good because of the time, money, and effort of the vintage owners. If they were smart, they would be working harder to come up with restoration items or at the very least providing those of us polishing our units polishing supplies at cost. Every trip I have taken, people come up and ask me about the camper, and every time the topic of whether they still make them comes up. Maybe we should all start answering: "sorta, but not really".
*RANT OVER*
I agree. My other obsession are old Mercedes cars. MB supports their vintage models impeccably, they even opened a classic center near me, much to the dismay of my bank account.
Their parts prices are reasonable, and they can get just about every little thing in a matter of days, if it is not in stock.
Now, I fully undersand that Aristream does not have the magnitute of financial resources that Mercedes Benz has, but on the other hand, they don't have near as many parts to worry about, either.
I thin that if Airstream did have a factory vintage center, with trained technicians, it would be a money maker, and huge image maker for them.
Instead, they ignore the vintage crowd and go on their way by riding on our efforts.
I agree. My other obsession are old Mercedes cars. MB supports their vintage models impeccably, they even opened a classic center near me, much to the dismay of my bank account.
Their parts prices are reasonable, and they can get just about every little thing in a matter of days, if it is not in stock.
Now, I fully undersand that Aristream does not have the magnitute of financial resources that Mercedes Benz has, but on the other hand, they don't have near as many parts to worry about, either.
I thin that if Airstream did have a factory vintage center, with trained technicians, it would be a money maker, and huge image maker for them.
Instead, they ignore the vintage crowd and go on their way by riding on our efforts.
I totally agree Uwe, and with you too, General. Airstream could garner more positive press and gain an untapped market if they offered more services and support to vintage owners. A local service tech trying to help me come up with a part made a call to Jackson Center only to be told "we don't support coaches that old". He was stunned.
Airstream would not have as desirable a market position today if not for the reputation built from coaches years past. I have to ask myself, why would I want to buy a new coach from a company that won't support its older units still in service. Is it a problem that the goods made by Airstream 50 +/- years ago were so durable that they are still on the road today? It wouldn't hurt for Aistream to examine Mercedes Benz's model for vintage service.
I think it is ironic that Airstream likes to brag about the percentage of all the trailers they have built being on the road today, but doing very little to support the trailers and the owners that make that number a reality.
Any sense from Mr. McVaney of what Airstream is really trying to accomplish with this survey? Just wondering if is to assess the feasibility of branding more foreign made trinkets with their name? To actually tackle quality control issues?
I doubt Mr. McVaney knows what Airstream will do with the data he collects - for that matter I doubt that Airstream really knows what they will do with the data.
We talked a bit about branding and I brought up the obvious example of Harley Davidson as their cross marketing ventures have been quite successful. But the first step of Harley's revival was quality control.
Not many people were willing to pay a little more to buy a crappy product. But it turned out that a lot of people were willing to pay a lot more for a motorcycle that had Honda quality and Harley Davidson feel, sound, and mystique.
I have no interest in Airstream trinkets and said so in my survey responses. But I would LOVE for Airstream to be a position five years from now similar to where Harley Davidson is today - to be able to leverage a reputation for quality, adventure, and Americana into selling everything from keychains to Fords. Because without a good reputation Airstream can't cross market.
I think it is ironic that Airstream likes to brag about the percentage of all the trailers they have built being on the road today, but doing very little to support the trailers and the owners that make that number a reality.
They also fail to realize that many of us with vintage trailers who are already proven Airstream fans may consider a new trailer at some point and a lot of good will is lost when they ignore the vintage tin. I must admit, though, it seems the JC Service Center does a fair bit of trade with the vintage group and in turn treat them very fairly, or am I making an assumption there.....
Barry
__________________ Barry & Donna Life is short - so's the door on an Flying Cloud (ouch) 1951 Flying Cloud 21' 1957 Pontiac Safari 2dr wagon TV
Yeah, they didnt seem real interested in me either. My comments included something they had overlooked completely. I had very recently purchased an owners manual, a shop manual, and some other Airstream products online from their website. There was not a single question about their website. Sort of a glaring oversight in todays market.
They also fail to realize that many of us with vintage trailers who are already proven Airstream fans may consider a new trailer at some point and a lot of good will is lost when they ignore the vintage tin. I must admit, though, it seems the JC Service Center does a fair bit of trade with the vintage group and in turn treat them very fairly, or am I making an assumption there.....
Barry
Exactly, Barry. But I don't know what Airstream does at Jackson Center, if anything, for the vintage group. This is something I addressed in the survey. Nothing on their website (old or new) indicates they service vintage trailers or provide any type of resources for vintage whatsoever. I may be pleasantly surprised if I called and talked to the service department, but would I be told anything different than the tech here that was trying to help me? If Airstream provides services or resources for vintage owners, they should advertise it. That's Marketing 101.
Maybe Airstream inc. is smarter than we are all giving them credit for. Maybe they spent a pile of money on Keith and his marketing study, but they are reading what is being said here for free. Maybe they are listening and we don't even realize it. Maybe us old guys with our old trailers are just wanting to be a part of this survey and feel disappointed in not having a more active roll in something we are all so passionate about. A whole bunch of maybes and none of us know for sure. I would be willing to bet a buck though, that the point of the survey is to figure out how to "Capitalize" on the Airstream name. They have a lot to work with, due to all the passion that Airstream owners have for their trailers. All that passion has translated into rolling advertisement for the company. Only one thing turns a head like an Airstream, and last time I checked, public nudity was not allowed in this country. The vintage community has been there to keep the brand alive and shining bright. Believe me, Airstream inc. is very aware of the vintage community. Maybe they have not promoted it at Jackson Center because the vintage community tends to do most of the work themselves. Maybe the vintage side has not been promoted because the vintage units do not need to be worked on as much as the newer ones. Maybe, maybe, maybe... Maybe Keith will post again and put all this to rest. Or maybe he won't so he can glean more info for free. Maybe I will see an Airstream T-shirt at a local Walmart real soon... that would be if I even stepped into that store. Be proud of your units folks and don't stress over some survey, stress over the fact that the rally season is close to the end for the year. I plan to stress over the fact that I am about to remove all the plumbing from Anna today.
Airstream has a Service Center that does restorations,frame repair,floor repair,metal repair,curtains and plumbing to name just a few.Airstream has approximately 90,000 part numbers in their`system. They have metal,segments and windows available back to the early 1970's. Airstream Customer Service responds to approximately 400 e-mails and calls a week relating to pre-2000 model year trailers. Airstream's goal is to support current models as well as earlier model years. Airstream does not take owners of vintage units as lightly as what seems to be portrayed.
Airstream has a Service Center that does restorations,frame repair,floor repair,metal repair,curtains and plumbing to name just a few.Airstream has approximately 90,000 part numbers in their`system. They have metal,segments and windows available back to the early 1970's. Airstream Customer Service responds to approximately 400 e-mails and calls a week relating to pre-2000 model year trailers. Airstream's goal is to support current models as well as earlier model years. Airstream does not take owners of vintage units as lightly as what seems to be portrayed.
You are correct. They do have a limited supply of replacement parts for vintage trailers. However, it is very limited, especially when it comes to specialty, but important items like door locks ( that break easily) cerain windows, glass etc. Most curved segments are no longer available, I was told.
1970 and newer segments are available -these are for the front and rear end shell panels.There are not any dies to make some of the 60's panels.Prior to that all panels were made out of flat metal and cut from patterns. The only door lock that is not available is the one the manufacturer went out of business and destroyed the dies. The availability of parts is a bigger issue now since more airstreamers are resurrecting the older models, at one point there was only a small demand for these parts. As everyone knows holding non-moving inventory has a cost penalty and a space penalty. Being a small company with a product that was manufactured a several sites over a 76 year period comes with some issues like each facility adding there own touches to the models being built. I agree it would be nice to have any part that someone needs but not with the part that Airstream pays no attention to vintage owners. Every Airstream trailer ever made is part of a 76 year tradition of fun,travel and adventure.
1970 and newer segments are available -these are for the front and rear end shell panels.There are not any dies to make some of the 60's panels.Prior to that all panels were made out of flat metal and cut from patterns. The only door lock that is not available is the one the manufacturer went out of business and destroyed the dies. The availability of parts is a bigger issue now since more airstreamers are resurrecting the older models, at one point there was only a small demand for these parts. As everyone knows holding non-moving inventory has a cost penalty and a space penalty. Being a small company with a product that was manufactured a several sites over a 76 year period comes with some issues like each facility adding there own touches to the models being built. I agree it would be nice to have any part that someone needs but not with the part that Airstream pays no attention to vintage owners. Every Airstream trailer ever made is part of a 76 year tradition of fun,travel and adventure.
Your post reads as though you're working for Airstream...true?
Airstream does not take owners of vintage units as lightly as what seems to be portrayed.
I recall a comment reported here (maybe directly quoted) about a year or so ago that was made by an AS executive. If my memory serves me correct, he said something to the effect that vintage owners weren't buying new units so who cares about them. If I get time and bored enough I will see if I can find the quote. I think this was about the same time AS was going after anyone using the term Airstream anywhere. Of course, my memory may be wrong or the statement misrepresented, but I don't think either is the case.
__________________
Rodney
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson
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