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apple 1 · 02-17-2003, 10:02 AM

Jason,
Its been many years since there has been an A/S at the Detroit camper show in Novi. Weekleys RV in Owosso has been a dealer for a number of years but sells very few and hates to give out sales info. When I ordered my new trailer in 96 they were $10,000 over any other dealer. There is a new A/S dealer in Pontiac which started selling A/S last fall. When I requested a sales broucher from the A/S web site, A/S forwarded my address to the new dealer who called on the phone. I have not stopped out there yet to see his place and check his inventory.
I purchased my 96 from Woodland RV in Grand Rapids who have been an A/S dealer for many years. When I purchased my first A/S in 1980 a 65 22' Safari I needed some parts and was directed there by A/S. I buy all my A/S special parts from them and many others. They take my order over the phone and I usually recieve the parts with in two days. Even when they do not have the part in stock they will have it drop shipped from A/S or the manufacturer of the part. They have shipped parts to me in campgrounds and when staying at Holiday Park in Traverse City they hand delivered a needed part to me at the campground as the owner camps at the park all summer long.
There phone is 1-800-968-8688.
For sales info talk to Craig Carlson (son of the owner)

dmac · 02-17-2003, 10:26 AM

"Flyfisher" - I bought my trailer from Bates RV, and I know what you mean about the gold-chain guy. It was the schlokiest place of business I have ever seen...

- Their entry has a deck with mannequins dressed up as cowboys sitting playing cards, what does this have to do with RV's?
- Their office is a bunch of portable rental space units
- Their workshop bays are temporary looking shacks in the back
- "Oh, the low priced advertised trailer just sold in the last hour", with the "just sold" trailer nowhere to be found on their lot. Bait and switch?
- They used to hang an Airstream from a crane as their sign
- A long-term employee who does the deliveries said "You can't get one of them Airstreams for less than 40 grand", as he showed me my new $30K unit.
- The owner flys a Robinson R22 helicopter, and parks it right in the RV lot, as to say "Make big daddy rich!"
- Their web site mentions the Bates RV empire. Empire! You really have to see this dump to believe it.

They did have a good inventory of Airstreams though, and the purchase came together okay. Not a place to bring your wife and kids though - "trailer trash"!

John · 02-17-2003, 10:37 AM

Dan,

I just meet a couple here this morning who bought their used 1998 19' Bambi from Bates and hated the whole experience.

The only reason why the bought it from Bates was because the Bambi was only used a few times.

Paul knew about Airstreams prior to going Bates, so he was able to cut through the B.S.

It truly amazing

!!!!

John

Rod Pease · 02-17-2003, 12:24 PM

I just bought a new Bambi from the local dealer in Houston. A 2003 discounted slightly to make room for the 5 newer one that were comming in. The experience was very pleasant. One of the pieces of information that was distributed with the new trailer was a brochure from Thor that gave the company history, Thor was formed when the two principal founders of the company bought Airstream. Thor is an acronym made up of the first two intitials of the founder's last names. They claim that they returned AS to profitability the 1st year under their operation. From there they have grown and bought out at least 4 other RV manufacturers. I believe that AS is Thor's cash cow and that they will never sell it. I also believe that they are in the RV market at the right time because just like HD this is a market driven by demographics. The demographics are right for a revival of the RV industry in general, and yes, I believe that there will be a large market for any AS. I hope they can keep the quality up. I know my voice isn't very authoritative since I have only owned mine for under a month but I have used 3 of the last four weekends, in good weather and bad and I have been impressed by the overall quality of my AS.

JaceBeck · 02-17-2003, 01:39 PM

FYI-The MN show had only 2 Safaris, 2 Intls and 1or 2 Bambi's...no Classics. The company rep there said that the dealer doesn't want to stock Classics, but may have to if they are to remain as an A/S dealer.

JeffandSuzanne · 02-17-2003, 05:57 PM

After going to a couple of RV shows in Ft. Worth & Dallas and not seeing the one area Airstream dealer there, we have quit going to RV shows. After buying our Airstream, there is nothing that the SOB's/white box dealers can show us that (a) we don't already have; or (b) ours is so far above in quality we have to fight the urge to act like we are "on the other side of the tracks". . .a behavior that isn't our nature (we both have lived "on the other side of the tracks"). We'd rather spend the admission price at IHOP!!!