I went to the New Mexcio RV Dealers Show this weekend at the state fair grounds in Albuquerque. The large California RV show is also going on in October as usual in Pomona but it is too far of a trip for me right now. The first thing I noticed was that the admission was free and the parking charge was waived for those attending the RV show as well. Business is hurting in the economy. Many RV manufacturers have gone bankrupt and there are only a few left that haven’t. So it makes sense that they want to eliminate any obstacle to coming out and at least looking at current models.
The overall size was kind of weak compared to many RV Shows in the past. When you consider the economy however, I thought it was nice. All kinds were well represented. From super sized Class A models that are more expensive than many houses to small bare bones pop up campers. I saw a couple of interesting new models that I hadn’t seen before in person.
One interesting thing that stood out after a little while was the behavior of the sales people. I was ignored the whole time. I don’t necessarily want to be bugged and followed around. Yet I do expect someone to approach me over the course of an hour or two of looking at RVs. There were a few times when I salesman caught my eye but then immediately approached an older couple that was nearby. They were targeting what they apparently believe to be the most likely buyers. Older couples. I was alone and I’m far from retiring.
In this economy, it was noteworthy that some sales people either went after a profile market or just stood alone waiting for what they thought looked like a customer. Big mistake because you never know who your customer might be. I wasn’t there with a specific plan to buy on the spot but someone could have tried showing me something. We expect it a little bit more don’t we?
And with some RVs, I wanted to look in compartments and see more of the details that are never shown on websites or in brochures. The difference is in the details to me. I can see the same counters, dinettes and couches over and over again anywhere. I want to see the guts, evaluate the quality and get into the bones of an RV. But most all were closed and locked. You had to find a sales person and hope they could find a key to open some little compartment. My biggest challenge was to find someone who could provide me with information about a couple truck campers that I was interested in hearing more about for some off road camping. I would like to find something for a Tacoma 4×4, which is small but ideal for my solo explorations. My shorter motor home doesn’t quite go everywhere I would like it to go. The one dealer that had truck campers at the show told me in answer to my question, “that’s such a narrow market. The sales aren’t there in numbers.” As they have Eagle products on the lot, I follow up with, “I thought I read that Eagle makes the product” that I wanted. He responds with “Go see that dealer over there. They have some info and another company that makes something like that.” So he sends a potential customer away to see another dealer that doesn’t have any truck campers on-site, has no information and salespeople that only go after the older couples. I followed one salesman up and down three rows trying to catch up with him but never could. He was busy walking for something. So I left and will have to continue my research on the internet.
Now is the time that innovation wins. Great customer service wins. Listening to customers wins. There are more niches and options that can be filled for customers out there if someone will listen. It easy to aim for the mass market and just blend in with everything else. What stood out at the show? The row of three Gulfstream trailers. Also the Winnebago Via. And I had to wait to look inside every one of those.
This show reinforced my previous experiences at recent shows. The RV business is still in trouble and needs to change it’s mindset. What do you think?
By Adam Longfellow
Having worked auto & RV shows, I am seeing this from a salespersons perspective–
hundreds of people passing by, most only there to look cause its easier and safer than going to a dealership (there you might actually have to talk to a salesperson) Most of the customers (as this writer claims he was) won’t make eye contact and if they will stop and talk usually the first thing they say is “I am just looking”
SOooo- I think if you really were/are there to buy, you– the customer –will have to stand out a bit and ask some serious questions of the sales people at the display of your brand of choice and any good saleperson will sell you what you want!
I agree that most do want to look anonymously. I do that many times. But when they are standing around doing nothing and someone tries to come up to them and they are ignored, that is not selling. In my case, I looked directly at a few sales people who looked back at me, even raised my hand a couple time to acknowledge, say hi and get their attention and then they turn away. One guy sat down and started drinking his soda, talking to another employee. It was just odd compared to recent years of buying experiences.
Im not in the RV business, just a long time rver. It sounds like this gentelmen needed something to write about for his website and this event fell victim.
Thanks for your opinion. I was just sharing my overall odd experience at this show compared to others in the past. I’ve never had someone respond to a specific question about the brand they sell with an answer to go to another dealer and look at a brand that doesn’t make the same type of camper at all. This was after three attempts by the way. The person was constantly talking to a coworker for over twenty minutes as I wandered the area. I waited politely to get a chance to ask something and then get quickly dismissed.
Business is not hurting in our economy; we are doing better this year than we were last year. We stopped charging for admission and parking at RVDA shows back in the early 90’s.
I’m glad to hear that. I think it’s easy for a parking mistake to happen if you just hand over the money. You have to go through the pay booth for the grounds where the sign says you have to pay. Then they say it’s free for the RV show. Great to hear that it is has been free before.
Adam,
You should be looking for a Truck Cap, As anything else is to big for you vehicle.
Jim, I have a normal Winnebago RV but even with some costly suspension modifications, it still won’t go everywhere of course. I can spend 20k and make my RV a 4×4 but that won’t help the length much. And I can’t do some of the other 4×4 rv options right now.
I didn’t intend this to be about my own quest but there are some truck campers for smaller trucks like Tacomas. I don’t really want to tie down my tent in the back of the truck again when I’m on nothing but rock somewhere. I would still have to modify the heck out of it like I usually do with things to make it more self sufficient. Here are just a few of many.
six-pac
Extreme Pop up campers
Four Wheel
I didn’t expect to find these at a show in Albuquerque but it’s always worth a shot. I thought that maybe someone in the business had some insight or had heard of something.
This just added to the frustration of recent shopping experiences where the RV salespeople couldn’t answer a question that they’d know if they read the brochure. I start with a simple inquiry to find out if I should waste my time or go to someone else. At this show, I new of the some options on one so I asked “is this model on propane, gas or diesel for the generator.” The reply was “it’s just the usual model.”
I get that from booth babes at conferences in Las Vegas. I don’t expect it from someone selling six figure rigs. Maybe I’m too old fashioned. I may just need to dumb down my expectations and ride the slide downward with everything else in America these days.
The business is ripe for a revolution in quality and service. If some RV company can get it together and provide training for all employees and dealers to know their own products, they will do very well.
Sorry for the long rant.
Adam please go to our web site http://www.shabbonacreekrv.com. We have 3 pre owned truck campers. One of these might fit your desire. I have found after 20 years of selling RVs that if you can find a great used RV that is close to what you want it is better and cheaper. Plus the FUN level remains the same.
Thanks
Tom Enyeart
Shabbona Creek RV
Atkinson, IL
800-323-6715
Hello Adam,
As the Northstar sales manager for the western states I can assure you that we sell quite a few of our pop up campers for the Tacoma and other smaller pickups.
I would be more than glad to send you a brochure, photos, spec sheets etc., just let me know.
Do you have the short 60″ bed or the 75″, V6 or 4 cylinder? You will need airbags or super springs installed on that particular truck.
On our website here please check out the MC600/600SS for either bed length and if you have the longer bed you could handle the TC700/700SS.
I lived in Albq. for 12 years in the late 80s, early 90s and do miss the 4 seasons, living in the Phx. area now.