A Conversation With Airstream’s CEO Bob Wheeler

[Boxster1971]

This article from the April 2024 in Forbes magazine for Airstream fans:

A Conversation With Airstream’s CEO Bob Wheeler On Leveraging The Pandemic For Enterprise-Wide Unprecedented Transformation + Growth

https://www.forbes.com/sites/billeeh...h=4785723b39f2

[JeffKim]

Thanks! I don't feel like I learned anything, however.

[Genebuilder]

Corporate blah blah blah. Heard the same context with names and places changed many times at investor “dog and pony show” meetings. Yes, I was one of those guys.

[sfranklin]

OMG, what corp speak was that?!

Originally Posted by Bob Wheeler

We’re closer than ever to the customer, and we’re finding ways to create engagement from the moment they start thinking about traveling

Really Bob? You all listen to how that tankless water heater has been a problem for the past 5 years? What ever happened to that customer council? Die on the vine?

Originally Posted by Bob Wheeler

Airstream truly has a special culture. We don’t maintain a Board of Directors, and we prioritize doing the right thing over profit. It’s a culture of deep collaboration, akin to a meritocracy.

We prioritize doing the right thing over profit? Sorry, but that is comical as any Airsteam owner can attest to that has a trailer from say 2020 on. Examples- putting a 12v fridge in without having the proper power to support it. Putting in tankless heaters basically alienating some of the customer base. Not making lift kits standard equip on 28' and larger units that cost maybe a few hundred bucks, but retrofitting costs customers around $1700. I'm sure other can chime in here, but I agree, this was just corporate talk, but you knew he was gonna squeeze Wally into there somewhere.

[Hans627]

There is no company if there is no profit. Profit is of paramount importance. The only reason to prioritize "doing the right thing" is to make profit.

Now, what is doing the right thing? Failing to listen to your customers is not doing the right thing because you will ultimately lose customers which will cause a loss of profit.

I wish AS management would be quicker to listen to the customer. At one time they had a presence here on the forum. If they would have taken action on the complaints it would only enhance their profits.

FWIW!

[kb0zke]

Try to find a new pickup with manually-operated windows. There are some people who want them, but they aren't available. Why not? There are only a few people who want them. The majority want the electric ones, so the manufacturers have decided that it saves them quite a bit of money to not offer something that only a few people want. That's with a product that sells thousands of units each year. How many Airstreams are sold each year? I suspect that Airstream has done the market research that says people who buy new Classics want the Alde, power table, power awning, etc. A tankless hot water heater is a sign of keeping up with the times (perhaps) so that's what goes in. It may also be that their focus groups tell them that that's what people want. Of course, if they talked to those of us who actually live with them, they might get a different story.

[djb75]

I'd like a trailer whose front end didn't separate. But I'm probably in the minority - which is why it took them so long to even acknowledge there might be a problem.

[jfreeham]

We are in our fourth year of full time living in our 2021 Caravel 19cb. It's perfect for us. We love it. But maybe I'm missing something: Is there something about it that we should be complaining about? We can't seem to be able to find anything.

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by jfreeham

We are in our fourth year of full time living in our 2021 Caravel 19cb. It's perfect for us. We love it. But maybe I'm missing something: Is there something about it that we should be complaining about? We can't seem to be able to find anything.

No you are not missing anything. We have a 2018 27' GT. It has been great for us. We love it. But some of the upgrades we have made are so basic, and could have so easily been incorporated into the original build, it is difficult to understand why they have not. So in the spirit of continuous improvement many have made suggestions on how improvements could be made.

Enjoy your Caravel! We enjoy our GT very much!