Thor buys Tiffin

[JonDNC]

Let’s see Thor started with Airstream about 40 years ago, just purchased Tiffin which has an equally committed set of followers in the big bus category.

Discuss

[kittmaster]

We looked into Tiffin after we saw one at our campsite.....I must say, driving a $650K house would make me nervous.....but it was on our radar if we sold our house....now that Thor owns it.......it will be a hard pass based on what history shows us.

Shame really.

[tjdonahoe]

An excellent choice

[Gene]

The RV industry is maturing and consolidating. We will see the big boys buy up the little guys. It is either to get more market share, eliminate a dangerous competitor, and/or get new technology.

That usually means higher prices, lower quality. Thor is doing exactly what has happened in other industries and monopoly is on the way. It took a long time for this industry to do this, but it is no surprise. Once BigRV takes over, some company far away will see an opportunity and start selling improved, reasonably priced RV’s here and eventually the bad actors will die. This will take decades probably, so many of us will not see it. Thor wants to become the GM of RV’s, but forgets GM went bankrupt not too long ago and had been flailing for years and years.

[preedtx]

Originally Posted by JonDNC

Let’s see Thor started with Airstream about 40 years ago, just purchased Tiffin which has an equally committed set of followers in the big bus category.

Discuss

I have had the privilege of owning several new Airstreams (trailer and motorhomes) and Tiffin motorhomes. I bought both based on the design, unique features, and reputation. I have not been to Jackson Center (yet) but have been to the Tiffin factory service center in beautiful downtown Red Bay, Alabama. The people and the service were great. I have encountered a difference between AS and Tiffin on warranty service. I contacted AS Customer Service for a replacement part soon after buying my 2020 IS 19. I was told that I needed to travel to an authorized dealer for service. After a long trip on rough US interstates (redundant), the large rear closet mirrored door frame on my one year old Tiffin Class A developed a small crack. Within a week of contacting Tiffin, a large truck delivered a wooden crate containing my new door with no need to return the cracked one. I hope both companies can learn from each other.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by preedtx

I hope both companies can learn from each other.

I am sure Tiffin will learn a lot. if history means much, Tiffin owners will continue to buy new ones and others will too. The will complain about cheap, junk components and poor workmanship, but they will still buy them. In the 1950's GM made the best production cars in the world. In the following decades the quality and improvements went downhill and yet people still bought the GM cars and trucks. The large tax cuts corporations received a few years ago have meant companies buy up their own stock (thereby increasing the value of stock warrants for CEO's) or they buy other companies (little went to jobs, worker salaries and expansion).

The bosses at Thor will get giant pay and bonuses and other perks. By the time they retire and cash in all their stock, maybe the company will falter, maybe later, maybe sooner, but almost always.

The companies we grew up with are disappearing and being replaced by others. AT&T is just a name owned by Southern Bell, GM and Chrysler went bankrupt and were reconstituted, RCA used to make the best TV's, but now makes low end stuff, GE was a massive company now stripped down (their former small appliance division in Ky. makes poor quality products and is Chinese-owned), and the list goes on. I will never buy an American made appliance again—they break in a few years or maybe last a little longer. A fridge is said by salesmen to last only ten years now, but that is optimistic. Look at the compressors–much smaller than they used to be, so they break down sooner. This is not good and reflects a decline nation.

I understand Newmar makes the best MH. They redo older ones and last time I looked you could get a really nice one for $300K or so—probably sold for $1 M+ or more originally, though all those prices are probably higher now since I looked years ago.

[Hittenstiehl]

And Winnebago owns Newmar. Likely each will grow that brands strong points and hopefully improve their weaknesses. Maybe Airstream will benefit from Tiffens advancements.

When they say the big three Thor, Winnebago and Forest River that really almost covers everything these days.

[Gene]

My neighbor bought a Forest River brand (one of about 60) a couple of years ago, but he had trouble finding any RV dealer here who would fix warranty items on any Forest River brand. It seems they had to wait months and months to get paid. Warren Buffet owns FR.

Not paying people for months is a standard way to improve cash flow, use the money to earn interest and avoid bankruptcy. It is morally weak as you are forcing those you work with to carry your expenses.