Airstream business practices--gotta wonder why

[Honkity Hank]

What is the reason, certainly not because they have the customer in mind?

We needed a new tag axle on our 345, something I would of thought would be easy to procure. First Airstream was zero help, no matter who you talked to they simply would not or could not help directing any and all questions to Henschen (oem mfr) or dismissing with a "do not have that information" remark.

Henschen for some reason will only sell through one dealer, one! No one else can order the axle, can't really figure that one out either. Kind of eliminates any competition, always good for someone besides the customer.

Need new shocks for the tag axle? no luck to be found down at the NAPA or local parts house. It is a gabrial shock but you can't order it from gabrial, no one can. Gabrial will tell your parts man that he can't sell it to him. Meaning you can only source it through an airstream dealer, some deal that I am sure you can trace back to the airstream mothership. Cheap shock worth maybe 10 bucks can be yours for three times that price plus shipping and handling thanks to that policy.

Airstream sure has a funny way of wanting to preserve the airstream legacy and harken back to the bad old days.

I still like the bus but the shine is off the airstream name for me.

[Jim & Susan]

Hey Hank, I moved your post to the axle forum. There's lots of info here on axle replacement. Try a search in this sub-fourm for "tag" axles. It's doable.

Jim

[05ModPod]

Don't loose the faith my friend - once you wade through the tarnish and the kiddy sandboxes - you will get the answers you are looking for and at 1/3rd the price.....

[Action]

Here is a link to the search I did for tag axles.

http://www.airforums.com/forum...earchid=612979

In the future, you might want to click the search button in the upper right of your screen. Tap in what you are looking for and start the reading.

As to your question above. I am not sure you are going to get an answer other than guesses. My guess! Supply and demand. Not much demand so very little supply. You don't state what year your unit is. And I am not familar with MOHO's or 345's. And if it's 20 or 25 years old it has really seen the end of it's designed life as far as any manufacture. Try getting a complete axle (at any price) for a 20 year old Ford or Chevy from a Ford or Chevy dealership. Cars are made in 10 or 15 times the volume of an RV and they don't carry many "new" factory parts. Remanufactured is possible. And the price is relevant to how many people want one.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Action