How stupid does Airstream consider us?

[Steven62]

Ok I get that Airstream owners have more disposable income than average but when Airstream opened a company store I was thinking parts direct not $115 buckets and $172 folding tables (I paid $15 for the aluminum version).

[UncleBad]

Agree..... Have a link the the aluminum one?

[CRH]

I have a wooden table similar to that one that I bought at Walmart for less than 10 bucks.

What is a "performance " bucket?

[djb75]

I think performance buckets fill faster.

[UncleBad]

Originally Posted by djb75

I think performance buckets fill faster.

Actually laughed out loud on that one....

[Steven62]

I have had it for years, believe it came from Walmart.

Here it is one on Amazon for $21.59

[Tim A.]

A little search with Google found that the table is a made-in-USA product and that Airstream is charging the manufacturers suggested retail price (https://www.blueridgechair.com/produ...ng-side-table/). Sure, there are similar products for less money. Most are probably not made in the US. And, if the price is too high (and it will be for most), nobody is forcing you to buy it.

You can find information on the bucket here: https://thehuckbucket.com/. Again, nobody must buy it, but it does appear to be a good product.

Tim

[rowiebowie]

I can get nearly the same bucket filled with 5 gallons of paint at Home Depot. Same price too.

[Shiny16]

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

I can get nearly the same bucket filled with 5 gallons of paint at Home Depot. Same price too.

Yes, but would it be Airstream compatible?

[Shiny16]

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

I can get nearly the same bucket filled with 5 gallons of paint at Home Depot. Same price too.

Yes, but would it be “locally sourced”?

[Shiny16]

Artisan made?

[Steven62]

A quick google search found 5 gallon buckets made in the USA for under $115.

[skyguyscott]

Obviously, for those willing to pay three figures for a plastic bucket, the performance is cheap at thrice the price when your black tank is full. Whether they get the delivery in time is questionable. This is why it's important to plan ahead.

But seriously, AS putting this on their web site is probably not good from a marketing standpoint. As any owner here can well testify, those outside the AS community, which is most other RV owners and wannabes, the AS brand is often perceived as overpriced, even if they acknowledge the superior material, etc.

It's one thing to charge high prices for a Rolls Royce, quite another for a Chevy. If the bucket in question was made of some high quality aluminum alloy or carbon fibre, came in a commemorative limited edition, numbered and signed custom leather and satin-lined satchel, that would be eccentric but at least somewhat understandable. But plastic? Well it does nothing to enhance the AS quality brand, but does feed into and support the narrative that AS is a scam charging high prices for a commodity item, itself now filled with commodity generic plastic RV industry parts.

Some one at AS should hire a curator with deep understanding of both the AS brand and the AS customer who would do more than pass along whatever makes the company a buck, and instead offer rare and/or essential products that actually solve problems AS customers have (like the SS upgrades, for instance) burnish the brand (like high-end camping accoutrements) but take a pass on items like this, unless a huge portion of the proceeds goes to some worthy charity connected to camping (maybe a make-a-wish or some conservancy foundation)

PS, those aluminum tables are great, I used them to replace the original, heavy and awkward side table slide-out monstrosity in my Caravel; elegant, simple, light-weight, versatile and so much easier!

[smithcreek]

Any of you guys own a Yeti cooler? That $172 table, made out of all flat slats screwed together is a joke, but if they can get people to pay it more power to them.

[Shiny16]

Originally Posted by Steven62

A quick google search found 5 gallon buckets made in the USA for under $115.

Those are all “SOB” buckets.

[Jaxon]

Originally Posted by Steven62

Ok I get that Airstream owners have more disposable income than average but when Airstream opened a company store I was thinking parts direct not $115 buckets and $172 folding tables (I paid $15 for the aluminum version).

The only thing missing from the table & bucket write up is "As-Seen-On-TV"...

There's a sucker born every minute.
.

[kscherzi]

Amazon has the buckets priced at $130 and only 2 left, so the Airstream buckets are a bargain!

[SilverWind]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

Amazon has the buckets priced at $130 and only 2 left, so the Airstream buckets are a bargain!

....and they will add your own name or graphics to the bucket.

[GMFL]

I think it’s great Airstream is trying to help support small businesses. A $100 bucket is not my thing but to some it might be. I like the table and the chairs they make for that matter. To each their own...

[bweybright]

As I have posted on the forum before, a fair number of of us have aged out of retail targets and are not the Airstream target market to stay alive down the road.... they need to attract the new young crowd. So we will continue to see stuff that drives us nuts.
Having worked in the consumer insights industry it takes a lot of understanding to realize that at some point in our life we don't matter any more.... so the weird stuff (to us) will continue to come from Airstream.
What I have also realized is that as I age and become non-important is that I work hard to find the niche businesses or people who you talk to at a company what will help when you call them, rather than bitch on this forum, unless that makes you feel better.
And from my experience anytime I have called Airstream they have been extremely helpful. So I really don't feel the need to complain about them as many do on this forum.
Oh, and quite honestly if they can find the people with more money than brains to buy this stuff and keep the company afloat to support my needs when might need them down the road then I wish them only the best of luck.