Delivery experience during COVID in Florida

[dlfphoto]

We just picked up our new 2021 GT30 this past weekend. We live in South Florida, which has seen exponentially skyrocketing case numbers. In our part of the state, masks are required everywhere. People coming to our house wear masks. Picking up food in restaurants or going to the grocery store, everyone wears masks. In our own business, everyone is now wearing a mask at all times.

So it was a bit of a shock that driving across the state to take delivery of our AS, barely anyone at the dealership was wearing a mask. We had our masks on. Three other couples taking delivery the same day were wearing masks. And somehow, the staff at the dealership didn't pick up on what would make their customers feel safe and comfortable. It's one thing to walk around the outside of the trailer in 90 deg heat while maintaining some distance. But heading inside to get a walk-through for an hour in the confined quarters of an AS with no mask made us feel very uncomfortable. In fact, there was never any acknowledgement of our mask preference nor any offer to put one on.

All the techs that were working on the hitch setup and fixing punch list items on the inside of the trailer - no masks. The service advisors inside the office - no masks. The customer cafe staff - no masks. The receptionist sat behind a plexi barrier and did don a mask to give us paperwork. And the business manager offered to put one on after he greeted us in the lobby and walked us to his office to sign the final papers. But our sales rep and delivery specialist did not. And these are the ones who we spent the better part of four hours with, mostly inside the trailer.

Honestly, I don't know if I should have said something. We're very easy-going and laid back. But, we were also considerate enough to wear masks the whole time. Of course that doesn't protect us. That's to protect others. I'm just hopeful that we don't get sick on our maiden 10-day trip next week.

Really, we shouldn't have had to say anything. The fact that every customer coming in was wearing a mask should have gotten the message across to the staff. They are in the customer service business. Whether they personally 'believe' in masks is irrelevant. It's what makes their customers feel safe and comfortable. Airstreams are not a small investment and the customers expect a high-end experience. I'm disappointed that ours was diminished by the stress of our health and safety being disregarded by the staff.

[ROBERT CROSS]

No excuse for ignorance...If they don't have respect for their customers they don't deserve to have any.

We have relatives in So. Florida, they are scared excrementless.

Bob
🇺🇸

[OTRA15]

Nice new adjective/adverb there, Bob, following up on the mindless actions of the dealer.

[brick1]

So there is a large outbreak in south Florida where you live and everyone wears masks, and minimal cases where the dealer is located and few wearing masks. Maybe you found the solution?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Is not across still south?...moot point.

Rationalize 'til it fits.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Silvr_Bullet]

Wearing of masks is an IQ Test.

[n2916s]

Cases are still growing all across Florida. Obviously the urban areas are hardest hit but no one should be conducting business without a mask. I’m 66 and have one co-morbidity (high blood pressure). I live in Miami, which is just one big cloud of virus.

I stay home mostly but when I am out, I am masked and I simply walk out of anywhere that people choose not to be (rare).

Why? I would like to be 67, 68, 69...

[kallbabs]

Wearing of masks is an IQ Test. I like that, unfortunately so true. Just curious, which dealer was it?

[Mikebrady62]

I am not afraid of the virus! I do however wear a mask in public places to put others at ease.
DFLPHOTO you should have absolutely been greeted by employees wearing a mask and not the other way around. That is pour customer gratitude IMO.
There are about 20 things more deadly in the US right now than COVID 19. Everyone needs to take responsibility for their own health Covid or otherwise. If someone you are paying money to isn't wearing a mask and you think they should, speak up. It's your money.

[GadgetGuru]

Originally Posted by dlfphoto

So it was a bit of a shock that driving across the state to take delivery of our AS, barely anyone at the dealership was wearing a mask.

In this day and age, this would have given me a major cause for concern.

For the walkthrough, I am one who wouldn't go inside the vehicle with an unrelated person not wearing a mask.

I hope you place your concerns in the Airstream survey.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Taking delivery of an AS in South Florida, where no one at the Dealership was following covid protocol...Make sure you clean it thoroughly.

Good point above about the orientation...that would be the best opportunity to voice your concern.

If you get a Customer Satisfaction Survey make sure the AS Factory is made aware of your concerns.

Bob
🇺🇸

[coasttocoast]

Suggested reading: The Great Influenza, by John M. Barry

[Foiled Again]

EXPECT - yes you should expect consideration, and some intelligence

LAID BACK - or just possessed of good manners with plenty of tolerance for other people's beliefs and rights? Repeat this mantra until it becomes a part of you. "If I am not for myself, who will be? If I am only for myself, what am I?

You really should have spoken up, courteously, mildly, and without compromise. "I KNOW masks may be only 30% effective, and I know we are protecting you all as much or more than you would be protecting us, and we want this Airstream... so we will wait in our car until you all mask up and wash your hands... or if that is too much trouble, just refund our deposit and drop the check in the trunk of our vehicle and we will LEAVE quietly."

Stupid is forever, cluelessness and ignorance is not.

---------
I was upset seeing a clip of a very elderly woman pepper spraying a non-masked youth who got too close. Then I wrote an imagined back-story for her. She is 84 and her husband died several years ago. She has three children, two born when she was in her 20's and the third when she was 44. The third one was born with Downs Syndrome, and those who have it age about twice as fast as normal people. The old woman has multiple risk factors, is in constant pain, and she lives in fear that her now feeble third child will out live her and have to go into some kind of mediocre group home, or worse. Perhaps she could get "lucky" and both she and her third child would catch it and die, but who will hold the child's hand?

Any chance the healthy young man will ever get it?

[rmkrum]

Long ago, a friend of mine gifted me a “clue bat” that started life as a three foot length of 4x4 pine. He lathe turned it into a nice hefty tool with a grip area that fits my two-handed grip perfectly.

Swung at high velocity in a flat trajectory it’s highly useful for adjusting the attitude of some ‘clueless git’ that needs a wake up call or some ‘percussive tuning’.

I kept in on my desk during my on site IT days.

I’m beginning to think I should keep it closer at hand nowadays. Too bad, I might run afoul of the assault laws, huh?

And yes, I bet the back story is perilously close to the truth...

[SouthForkAS]

Originally Posted by n2916s

-- I’m 66 and have one co-morbidity (high blood pressure). I live in Miami, which is just one big cloud of virus.

I stay home mostly but when I am out, I am masked and I simply walk out of anywhere that people choose not to be (rare).

Why? I would like to be 67, 68, 69...

I'm born and raised Miami. I'm also right behind you, just turned 65 with HBP (comes with the territory?). Go Eagles! (and 'Canes!)
BUT - I left Miami May '80 and went straight to Malibu (the real one, not Miller Road) and now reside on a mountain top at 7k' elev Green Valley Lake which, up until lately, was a remote rural resort community with few permanent residents.
Now, with the 'Rona, all the flatlanders have moved up here... they aren't masked up either and we finally got our first case when the rest of the state is exploding (like FL if not worse)
you can run...

p.s. the only thing I miss about FL is the warm water, and Coconut Grove on the bay.
Speaking of, I have many friends and family still in SoFla, but FL is such a miserable existence, the only way to survive it is at or on the water.
So I almost cant blame folks, but then...

Be safe.

[369goose]

Originally Posted by brick1

So there is a large outbreak in south Florida where you live and everyone wears masks, and minimal cases where the dealer is located and few wearing masks. Maybe you found the solution?

You are on to something here!

[369goose]

Originally Posted by kallbabs

Wearing of masks is an IQ Test. I like that, unfortunately so true. Just curious, which dealer was it?

Second that!

[n2916s]

Originally Posted by SouthForkAS

I'm born and raised Miami. I'm also right behind you, just turned 65 with HBP (comes with the territory?). Go Eagles! (and 'Canes!)
BUT - I left Miami May '80 and went straight to Malibu (the real one, not Miller Road) and now reside on a mountain top at 7k' elev Green Valley Lake which, up until lately, was a remote rural resort community with few permanent residents.
Now, with the 'Rona, all the flatlanders have moved up here... they aren't masked up either and we finally got our first case when the rest of the state is exploding (like FL if not worse)
you can run...

p.s. the only thing I miss about FL is the warm water, and Coconut Grove on the bay.
Speaking of, I have many friends and family still in SoFla, but FL is such a miserable existence, the only way to survive it is at or on the water.
So I almost cant blame folks, but then...

Be safe.

I am glad you escaped! You chose wisely, the old place isn’t what it was . Way too many people, the traffic is ridiculous, the summers even worse than you remember.

You wouldn’t recognized the Grove — upscale restaurants and boutiques, nary a hippie in sight. High-rise condos in all quadrants.

Live long and prosper!

[rstull12]

What's so hard to understand about 150000 Americans dead so far. I would love to go to Florida. There is no way we would go anywhere in the south or southwest. So sorry for your experience. Stay safe.

[Foiled Again]

Difphoto - live long and prosper. Travelers Rest IS open with ONE big moho on golf view section.

Call to register, and be willing to self isolate for 14 days. The pool and golf course are open.