What will the Customer Advisory Board be? Have you applied?

[Mollysdad]

I think it's pretty clear Thor does not want an Customer Advisory Board full of customers giving advice.
Why have one? PR. Try to increase Airstream customers to be more diverse and younger.
I wonder if someone applied as a recent arrival from Brazil who was 25 yrs old, affluent, and had two kids if he'd be welcomed?

[Offack]

Rejected as well! Old and retired in Florida.....thought that would be a good choice.....there only a bazillion of us.
So, if we make up rejected "stickers" would we run afoul of patent laws? We need a mailing list....from Airstream?.....also when submitted...for your number!
Anyway I wish the best to those involved, please push for quality control!
Rick

[AirstreamInc]

We're sorry that we were unable to offer you a spot on the Airstream Customer Council this year. We are focused on creating a diverse group that is nimble to enable constructive conversations and outcomes.

It was very challenging to select only 12 applications out of more than 850. The ACC group we put together this year is comprised of owners from different regions, ages and backgrounds.

We believe this diversity of perspective will help guide us, and we sincerely thank you for your willingness to contribute. We do hope you’ll join Silver Circle and apply again next year to the ACC.

Thank you,

The Airstream Team

[Rocinante]

I refuse to be cynical about this, even though I wasn't selected. I choose to believe they are sincere, that they want to make changes, and that it has the potential to produce interesting and useful results. I may joke about stickers and t-shirts for those of us who didn't make the cut, but it really is just kidding around.

Despite the two years we spent during the warranty period getting our trailer the way it should have been the day it left the factory, we're optimists. We're not shopping for a new Airstream at present, mostly because we've whipped this one into shape and customized the heck out of it since then by making it the trailer we wish we could have bought, but if they really figure out how to ship a product that's as solid as it should be when it leaves the factory, we'd be happy to take a hard look at a new one.

To be clear, we're really not looking for new complicated features that are guaranteed to fail. We're looking for a higher-quality product that's elegant, simple, well built, and won't break down as often as many of the hyper-complicated RV's we see out there today. Don't get me started on the new Jayco trailer my brother bought a couple of months ago. Yikes!

Do want incredibly efficient and reliable heating and cooling. Do want elegantly simple controls for everything. Do want a fridge based on a Danfoss compressor. Do want an oven/stove that's not held together by spit and glue the way the standard Atwood stove is. (We hate that thing, btw.) Do want a quality wiring job that works well, looks neat, and is easy to service. Do want every fuse in the trailer in a well-documented and easy-to-reach location. Do want quality components throughout, each one properly installed. Do want the unlimited data solution they're already offering, once they get all the bugs out of it. Do want an option for a truly high-quality solar solution and LiFePO4 batteries.

This is all easy stuff to achieve once they really decide to care about it.

[SMLJeep]

Rejected.

[moosetags]

"Do want incredibly efficient and reliable heating and cooling. Do want elegantly simple controls for everything. Do want a fridge based on a Danfoss compressor. Do want an oven/stove that's not held together by spit and glue the way the standard Atwood stove is. (We hate that thing, btw.) Do want a quality wiring job that works well, looks neat, and is easy to service. Do want every fuse in the trailer in a well-documented and easy-to-reach location. Do want quality components throughout, each one properly installed. Do want the unlimited data solution they're already offering, once they get all the bugs out of it. Do want an option for a truly high-quality solar solution and LiFePO4 batteries."

You read my mind, Bill. These are exactly the things that I want. If Airstream could pull that off, they would corner the market. I hope that Airstream's new ACC has enough knowledge and experience to advise them wisely. The next year should tell the tale.

Brian

[bweybright]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

I think it's pretty clear Thor does not want an Customer Advisory Board full of customers giving advice.
Why have one? PR. Try to increase Airstream customers to be more diverse and younger.
I wonder if someone applied as a recent arrival from Brazil who was 25 yrs old, affluent, and had two kids if he'd be welcomed?

Can you please clarify what your last paragraph is meaning? I am totally missing your point?

[caz]

Rocinante,

Thanks for posting your words regarding your Airstream opinions & desires. As another member of the rejected, I am in total agreement. I too am not bitter about the rejection. I am not one for bells & whistles unless they are truly reliable. Simple & elegant are very important to me. Becoming a member of the Silver circle sounds like fun. Marketing Airstream products is got to be a huge task. What features do you offer that will attract new customers & separate you from the competition? And, will those new features be reliable in the long run? I feel Airstream has two unique attributes going forward: brand recognition & evolving product improvements over time.

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by caz

Rocinante,

Thanks for posting your words regarding your Airstream opinions & desires. As another member of the rejected, I am in total agreement. I too am not bitter about the rejection. I am not one for bells & whistles unless they are truly reliable. Simple & elegant are very important to me. Becoming a member of the Silver circle sounds like fun. Marketing Airstream products is got to be a huge task. What features do you offer that will attract new customers & separate you from the competition? And, will those new features be reliable in the long run? I feel Airstream has two unique attributes going forward: brand recognition & evolving product improvements over time.

I agree fully.

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

I refuse to be cynical about this, even though I wasn't selected. I choose to believe they are sincere, that they want to make changes, and that it has the potential to produce interesting and useful results. I may joke about stickers and t-shirts for those of us who didn't make the cut, but it really is just kidding around.

Despite the two years we spent during the warranty period getting our trailer the way it should have been the day it left the factory, we're optimists. We're not shopping for a new Airstream at present, mostly because we've whipped this one into shape and customized the heck out of it since then by making it the trailer we wish we could have bought, but if they really figure out how to ship a product that's as solid as it should be when it leaves the factory, we'd be happy to take a hard look at a new one.

To be clear, we're really not looking for new complicated features that are guaranteed to fail. We're looking for a higher-quality product that's elegant, simple, well built, and won't break down as often as many of the hyper-complicated RV's we see out there today. Don't get me started on the new Jayco trailer my brother bought a couple of months ago. Yikes!

Do want incredibly efficient and reliable heating and cooling. Do want elegantly simple controls for everything. Do want a fridge based on a Danfoss compressor. Do want an oven/stove that's not held together by spit and glue the way the standard Atwood stove is. (We hate that thing, btw.) Do want a quality wiring job that works well, looks neat, and is easy to service. Do want every fuse in the trailer in a well-documented and easy-to-reach location. Do want quality components throughout, each one properly installed. Do want the unlimited data solution they're already offering, once they get all the bugs out of it. Do want an option for a truly high-quality solar solution and LiFePO4 batteries.

This is all easy stuff to achieve once they really decide to care about it.

My kinda guy. I feel the same way.

[gypsydad]

Gee; I guess I am confused at all the disappointment on this thread now over not getting picked to be on the customer advisory board...first, many of you thought it was a great idea; no?? (some were/are pessimistic, of course)

Then, because everyone can't be on the committee this year, all this bashing of AS... And to add insult, now the negative comments on how AS "will likely not benefit" from this advisory committee's input...when it hasn't even met yet! Comments about Thor and big business...wow! I get it that we all want to see AS succeed....(well, most of us perhaps) but why not give this a chance and see what comes out of the committee?

My 2 cents...I do want this company to improve and succeed...I think the committee is a great addition and I am optimistic to see the progress reports.

[OTRA15]

Plenty of room for differing opinions in this wide wide world IMO.

No need to judge anyone's motives or point of view.

[turk123]

Well, it has been a while and I have not heard much news about the council. Did anyone here get the nod? I'm guessing with the broad experience in this forum, that someone here should have gotten on.

We kind of joke about the rejection letters, but most here still believe it is a good thing to happen (the council, not the rejections! )

I have not heard much from Airstream either. I thought they would talk about it more at Alumapoloza, but I did not hear very much. I'm not sure when the first meeting of the group is, but surely it has to be coming up.

Very silent out there.

[GMFL]

I agree it’s been quite. Airstream has probably been busy. I’m not sure if anyone here made the cut.
Nothing on the Council or the Super Secret Silver Circle Group.

[ROBERT CROSS]

...Why don't you all organize a board of your own?

Never mind we have one right here on the Forum...JC are you here?

Bob
🇺🇸

[vintageracer]

Without reading all 10 pages my question is this:

Has there every been any customer appointments and an actual meeting of this Thor/Airstream "New Advisory Board"?

[OTRA15]

No one seems to have posted about going to a meeting, or the results of a meeting.

The mandatory Non-Disclosure Agreement might prevent any such disclosures?

[OTRA15]

PS — Starting with the following post, there have been many discussions of the NDA for this board.

[Click on orange arrow to go directly to Post #71.]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

I suspect terms of enrollment include an NDA that prevents disclosing participation in the project.

This is now called the Airstream Customer Council FWIW:

https://www.airstream.com/blog/riveters-wanted/

Applications closed 3/21/19 almost 4 months ago.

https://www.airstream.com/owners/air...cil/thank-you/

More coming

[ods_twig]

@turk123 I was one of those folks who was interviewed a while back for the Customer Advisory Council. I was told I would hear something by end of June but nothing yet. No rejection letter but also not communication of acceptance. So I guess I wait (and check my spam folder every so often.)

[OTRA15]

PS — The RejDej started around 6/5/19 with Post #87 — click on orange arrow to go there:

Originally Posted by ods_twig

. . .
. . . I was told that I would hear back likely around mid to late June if I am selected.

“Rejection Dejection” — transposed your good term, Bob.