Airstream Service Network

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by GMFL

I was thinking long term that regional service centers might be a profit center for Airstream. NO?

Our local Chevrolet dealer makes way more money from their service department than they ever have from car sales.

Hi

If indeed the local AS dealer makes all his money on service *and* the factory starts doing service from "their" service centers ... there goes the dealer's income. He's got to make it up *somehow*. The how is going to be by charging more for the trailers he sells. The other alternative is to drop the line.

If you take a look at the economics of "company stores" they rarely are as efficient as a local dealer. There are a long list of reasons, but the net is, that's how it works. Having run groups of factories spread out around the country ... indeed there *are* issues ....

So the bottom line is they both loose money and prices must go up as a result.

Bob

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

If indeed the local AS dealer makes all his money on service *and* the factory starts doing service from "their" service centers ... there goes the dealer's income. He's got to make it up *somehow*. The how is going to be by charging more for the trailers he sells. The other alternative is to drop the line.

If you take a look at the economics of "company stores" they rarely are as efficient as a local dealer. There are a long list of reasons, but the net is, that's how it works. Having run groups of factories spread out around the country ... indeed there *are* issues ....

So the bottom line is they both loose money and prices must go up as a result.

Bob

Bob,
Thanks for the insight. In not as smart as I look about somethings.

In talking with Justin Humphreys he also informed me that their dealer agreements and some state laws prevent them from doing so.

[PapaPepper]

It seems at we all agree some shops are better than others.

But which shops is this forum ready to endorse and promote?

Is it as simple as looking up five river dealers on the AS webpage?

Maybe this is a thread that already exists - anyone have a link?

I believe this forum should rally behind the dealers that have served us well and try to give them as much business as possible.

[n2916s]

Trouble with a list is twofold. One is that things change. As an example, J.D. Saunders in Alachua, FL was a family run business that had a great reputation for sales and, especially service. I spent lots of $$$$ there without complaint. But, the guys got older and wanted to retire so they sold out to a chain. The new management may be great but who knows?

Another is that some folks will trash a dealership and we never hear the other side of the story. In the past year, there have been posts highly critical of the service departments at Out of Doors Mart and Colonial — both dealerships with superb reputations. Were the posts legit or were the customer’s expectations unrealistic? Again, who knows?

[n2916s]

If you decide to try and start a list, be certain to include Airstream of New Mexico (aka Holiday Travel Trailers). My sister-in-law bought two new trailers from them and was treated very well, including on the trade in of her first on the second.

The service department is led by Andrew. There isn’t anything he doesn’t know about these trailers. He did a structural repair on the roof of my ‘86 that was perfect. New axles, new awnings, brakes, bearings, Sirius XM antenna and receiver. Just a lot of stuff over the years, all done on time and on budget.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by PapaPepper

. . .
Maybe this is a thread that already exists - anyone have a link?
. . .

When you are using a desktop/laptop computer here, on the desktop version of this site, the new search function in the blue box above works great. [Apparently the search function in the AF APP is said not to work as well FWIW.]

This search function is powered by Google to search only here at Airforums, and the results are fantastic if you use good search terms. Like Internet searching in general, if the search results for a particular set of search terms is not all that rewarding, you can change the search terms. You can also save the results of each search for later reference. For instance:

"Airstream 5 rivet dealers" -- https://www.google.com/search?q=Airs...=airforums.com
Add "better" to the search -- https://www.google.com/search?q=Airs...=airforums.com

Nothing earth-shattering IMO -- just a heads up about the search function

Cheers,

Peter

PS -- This new thread may be heading in a good direction, if Airstream can change its QC ways:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f48...il-208322.html

FYI
FWIW

[candrews768]

We have a 33 classic 2018. Had a bad experience with southern california AS. They own 4 dealerships. Work was poor etc etc. They were a five rivet place.

We drove it out to Jackson and had the work done. Made a trip out of it. The techs were great. Expensive but I just needed the work completed.

It would be really nice to have a service center on the west coast that new what they were doing.

How do you start a subject on this forum for service centers?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Given the cost of setting up a factory service center here or there .... highly unlikely they would do it. Their margins are nowhere near as healthy as many here seem to think. None of the RV companies do all that well margin wise.

Bob

[ROBERT CROSS]

Several years ago there was a new Airstream store that opened here in Western New York.
When I called to check if anything was in stock they said they did have three new trailers and more of the line-up will arrive when available.
I asked if they were doing any service and they said no our technicians have not had their 3 day course yet. Same went for the sales force.

PRIORITIES....? $$$$$$$

Praises for the service center go back a long way.

Back in 1993 with the "Frantic Banana" our first Airstream, 63 Safari, we had the fridge go out while on the road.

We called the Service Center they said bring it in, we can work it into the schedule, but we're very busy.

Very busy was an understatement, they had a lot full of Airstreams that were at the National Rally in Bismarck North Dakota.
They called them "bismarks", damage from a ND hail storm. Millions in damage.
A day and a half later we were back on the road with our new Fridge.

We all wish that level of Service was transferable.

Bob
🇺🇸

[kittmaster]

The thing that irritates me the most is the expectation that I have to go through an "authorized" dealer to get parts so I can do my own "service". I need bumpers for my cabinets and they expect me to go through Pete's RV (my dealer whom I'm very happy with) to acquire them.....why? ..so they can mark up the part costs and charge me more? Airstream won't sell directly to the customer, but I know that is 100% grade A BS because the 2 times I was there for repairs.....I bought stuff directly from them. Why do I need to pay a 25% markup fee just to fix something that shouldn't be broken...?? While yes, JC is where I want my repairs done, AS leaves a lot to be desired.....and it's by their own hand. Don't tell me they can't sort it out....they most certainly can.

[Fungus]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

I asked if they were doing any service and they said no our technicians have not had their 3 day course yet. Same went for the sales force.

Three-day course…Wow. How about a three-week course to learn only the basics.

Part of the problem is the dearth of qualified people to do the work or who want to work.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by kittmaster

The thing that irritates me the most is the expectation that I have to go through an "authorized" dealer to get parts so I can do my own "service". I need bumpers for my cabinets and they expect me to go through Pete's RV (my dealer whom I'm very happy with) to acquire them.....why? ..so they can mark up the part costs and charge me more? Airstream won't sell directly to the customer, but I know that is 100% grade A BS because the 2 times I was there for repairs.....I bought stuff directly from them. Why do I need to pay a 25% markup fee just to fix something that shouldn't be broken...?? While yes, JC is where I want my repairs done, AS leaves a lot to be desired.....and it's by their own hand. Don't tell me they can't sort it out....they most certainly can.

Hi

There is no requirement that you buy parts from Airstream. You can buy them anywhere you wish and put them on your trailer. If you can find this hinge or that latch on Amazon for less, buy it there. If you want dealer parts, give OODM a call. They are every bit as much an "authorized dealer" as anybody else out there. The prices they charge are not insane. They ship *very* quickly.

Bob

[kittmaster]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

There is no requirement that you buy parts from Airstream. You can buy them anywhere you wish and put them on your trailer. If you can find this hinge or that latch on Amazon for less, buy it there. If you want dealer parts, give OODM a call. They are every bit as much an "authorized dealer" as anybody else out there. The prices they charge are not insane. They ship *very* quickly.

Bob

Well for things like the drawer bumpers:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f7/...rs-225744.html

Can't find them anywhere but the mothership....called...asked.....was told to go to a dealer to get bent over....

I have bought parts from woodland and others...but there are somethings people just don't have but JC.

So that is "part" of the problem as I see it for an Airstream Network for both parts & service.

I'll check out what you mentioned above.

EDIT: OODM doesn't help via Google...link for that?

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by kittmaster

Well for things like the drawer bumpers:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f7/...rs-225744.html

Can't find them anywhere but the mothership....called...asked.....was told to go to a dealer to get bent over....

I have bought parts from woodland and others...but there are somethings people just don't have but JC.

So that is "part" of the problem as I see it for an Airstream Network for both parts & service.

I'll check out what you mentioned above.

EDIT: OODM doesn't help via Google...link for that?

Hi

OODM:

https://odmrv.com

They are the "go to" place for a lot of us for odd bits and pieces. One of the great things you can do is to call them and get a real person to talk to. They have some very knowledgeable folks answering the phone. That's a giant help when you are after an "unfindable" part.

On the rubber bumper gizmos, there are a few billion of them out there. I'm quite sure they can be found somewhere ... If you pay a markup through a dealer, it's for the convenience of not doing all that searching.

Bob

[Foiled Again]

And OODM just sold to RV One which is a slash and burn business. A few of their techs are working across the street at Camping World....