Stir, stir that Blue Bird pot

[p_a_lazar]

If you haven't done so, read page 7 of the new BB magazine. Under
"updates from the factory", the paragraph about Customer Service. The
first sentence ONCE AGAIN, says:"Wayne Joseph's goal is to provide the
best possible service for LATE MODEL COACH OWNERS." (the CAPS are mine
for clarity).

I still don't know what a late model coach is defined to be. I've
never owned a RV where the manufacturer abandons it older model
customers as BB appears to be doing.

Paul
97wb43

[Mike Hohnstein]

I haven't commented before on the bizarre expectation, of many on forum, that BB
should support every rig that ever left the factory. It seems to me that govt.
regs. require support for 7 years after production year ends. The Wanderlodge
vehicle was never a cash cow, it was an exercise in ego of the original
ownership.
I don't know how Winnebago would respond if someone showed up with a '75 unit
expecting to find a obscure widget that failed after years of service.
My message to those who feel betrayed is; Welcome to the real world, but don't
despair, Jeff Miller and Ralph Fullenwider are out there and McDonalds in
Columbus GA can take care of business too.
One more thing, those who have upwards of a million bucks to spend on a RV,
probably don't really want to rub shoulders with most of the "Vintage" crowd.
Get over it. Go to the RATS rally hang out with your peers. Sheessh.
MH
----- Original Message -----
From: p_a_lazar
To: wanderlodge@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2006 11:46 AM
Subject: [wanderlodge] Stir, stir that Blue Bird pot


If you haven't done so, read page 7 of the new BB magazine. Under
"updates from the factory", the paragraph about Customer Service. The
first sentence ONCE AGAIN, says:"Wayne Joseph's goal is to provide the
best possible service for LATE MODEL COACH OWNERS." (the CAPS are mine
for clarity).

I still don't know what a late model coach is defined to be. I've
never owned a RV where the manufacturer abandons it older model
customers as BB appears to be doing.

Paul
97wb43





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[p_a_lazar]

Mike,

IMHO, you miss the point. To some of us, it isn't about money and what
kind of rig we can afford, it's about the way the company views it's
customers.

I *DON'T* expect BB the have parts forever, not all service requires
parts or obscure parts.

What I do expect is not to be considered second class citizens because
I choose a classic or vintage style over something newer. I have owned
calssic cars, classic boats, and now a classic BB and never have I
felt as mistreated or unwanted by any company.

I have also owned RVs by Fleetwood, Holiday Rambler (before Monaco
buyout) and Monaco. If you go to their rallys or service center
*REGARDLESS* of the age of the RV, you will be treated the same and
every effort will be made to fix what needs being fixed.

As an added thought, I bought a BB because I *CAN* get it serviced
anywhere and don't need the factory for any support, all I need is
Benny

I could not with clear conscious recommend any of my friends to buy a
BB unless they had my background or were willing to live with no
factory support. For those like me, there is *NOTHING* like a BB so
buy the best you can afford or more importantly, buy the STYLE you
like best as I have done.

P.S. I *will* be at the RATS rally with my friends, soon to be friends
and other castouts and miscreants but not for support, just a good time.

Paul
97wb43

--- In wanderlodge@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein" <MHOHNSTEIN@...>
wrote:
>
> I haven't commented before on the bizarre expectation, of many on
forum, that BB should support every rig that ever left the factory.
It seems to me that govt. regs. require support for 7 years after
production year ends. The Wanderlodge vehicle was never a cash cow,
it was an exercise in ego of the original ownership.
> I don't know how Winnebago would respond if someone showed up with a
'75 unit expecting to find a obscure widget that failed after years of
service.
> My message to those who feel betrayed is; Welcome to the real world,
but don't despair, Jeff Miller and Ralph Fullenwider are out there and
McDonalds in Columbus GA can take care of business too.
> One more thing, those who have upwards of a million bucks to spend
on a RV, probably don't really want to rub shoulders with most of the
"Vintage" crowd. Get over it. Go to the RATS rally hang out with
your peers. Sheessh.
> MH

[Mike Hohnstein]

The point missed might be yours, the CUSTOMER buys new, not used. I would never
recommend a Wanderlodge or any high end RV to a consumer, they need to be in new
Class Cs. Those with some technical expertise and the ability to deal with lots
of stress with out snapping can handle the realities of ownership with out
support. Personally I use Jeff Miller to compensate for my short comings.
MH
MH
----- Original Message -----
From: p_a_lazar
To: wanderlodge@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2006 1:27 PM
Subject: [wanderlodge] Re: Stir, stir that Blue Bird pot


Mike,

IMHO, you miss the point. To some of us, it isn't about money and what
kind of rig we can afford, it's about the way the company views it's
customers.

I *DON'T* expect BB the have parts forever, not all service requires
parts or obscure parts.

What I do expect is not to be considered second class citizens because
I choose a classic or vintage style over something newer. I have owned
calssic cars, classic boats, and now a classic BB and never have I
felt as mistreated or unwanted by any company.

I have also owned RVs by Fleetwood, Holiday Rambler (before Monaco
buyout) and Monaco. If you go to their rallys or service center
*REGARDLESS* of the age of the RV, you will be treated the same and
every effort will be made to fix what needs being fixed.

As an added thought, I bought a BB because I *CAN* get it serviced
anywhere and don't need the factory for any support, all I need is
Benny

I could not with clear conscious recommend any of my friends to buy a
BB unless they had my background or were willing to live with no
factory support. For those like me, there is *NOTHING* like a BB so
buy the best you can afford or more importantly, buy the STYLE you
like best as I have done.

P.S. I *will* be at the RATS rally with my friends, soon to be friends
and other castouts and miscreants but not for support, just a good time.

Paul
97wb43

--- In wanderlodge@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein" <MHOHNSTEIN@...>
wrote:
>
> I haven't commented before on the bizarre expectation, of many on
forum, that BB should support every rig that ever left the factory.
It seems to me that govt. regs. require support for 7 years after
production year ends. The Wanderlodge vehicle was never a cash cow,
it was an exercise in ego of the original ownership.
> I don't know how Winnebago would respond if someone showed up with a
'75 unit expecting to find a obscure widget that failed after years of
service.
> My message to those who feel betrayed is; Welcome to the real world,
but don't despair, Jeff Miller and Ralph Fullenwider are out there and
McDonalds in Columbus GA can take care of business too.
> One more thing, those who have upwards of a million bucks to spend
on a RV, probably don't really want to rub shoulders with most of the
"Vintage" crowd. Get over it. Go to the RATS rally hang out with
your peers. Sheessh.
> MH





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Terry Neal]

Well spoken Mike!!!

Terry Neal
Bozeman, MT
82PT40
74FC34



Mike Hohnstein wrote:

> I haven't commented before on the bizarre expectation, of many on
> forum, that BB should support every rig that ever left the factory. It
> seems to me that govt. regs. require support for 7 years after
> production year ends. The Wanderlodge vehicle was never a cash cow, it
> was an exercise in ego of the original ownership.
> I don't know how Winnebago would respond if someone showed up with a
> '75 unit expecting to find a obscure widget that failed after years of
> service.
> My message to those who feel betrayed is; Welcome to the real world,
> but don't despair, Jeff Miller and Ralph Fullenwider are out there and
> McDonalds in Columbus GA can take care of business too.
> One more thing, those who have upwards of a million bucks to spend on
> a RV, probably don't really want to rub shoulders with most of the
> "Vintage" crowd. Get over it. Go to the RATS rally hang out with your
> peers. Sheessh.
> MH
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: p_a_lazar
> To: wanderlodge@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, October 06, 2006 11:46 AM
> Subject: [wanderlodge] Stir, stir that Blue Bird pot
>
> If you haven't done so, read page 7 of the new BB magazine. Under
> "updates from the factory", the paragraph about Customer Service. The
> first sentence ONCE AGAIN, says:"Wayne Joseph's goal is to provide the
> best possible service for LATE MODEL COACH OWNERS." (the CAPS are mine
> for clarity).
>
> I still don't know what a late model coach is defined to be. I've
> never owned a RV where the manufacturer abandons it older model
> customers as BB appears to be doing.
>
> Paul
> 97wb43
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[p_a_lazar]

Mike,

You are correct. I would extend the used comment to any brand, but I
know many people who could own a bird, I won't steer them towards a
new bird, but towards a used bird.

I also couldn't agree with you more about Jeff. He is a font of
knowledge and willingness to share with others and deserves the
support of BB and it's owners.

Perhaps I am so cavalier because of the people I have met from my BB
ownership, the great folks on the few BB forums and the RIVs, and I
have only had a few problems. My wife and I feel we can buy newer, we
just can't buy better so why trade?

I have absolutely no problem paying others to do work on my BB. I live
in the city and parallel park my bird on city streets in front of my
house. Where can I work on it? And that's exactly what I have been
saying, it would be nice to have BB support, but I, and others really
don't need it. There are a few excellent resources for BB work
throught the country, I have used their services when needed and I was
near one of them, and the reason I bought and will keep my BB.

We're really saying the same thing...You're just more eloquent than I

Paul


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein"
<MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote:
>
> The point missed might be yours, the CUSTOMER buys new, not used. I
would never recommend a Wanderlodge or any high end RV to a consumer,
they need to be in new Class Cs. Those with some technical expertise
and the ability to deal with lots of stress with out snapping can
handle the realities of ownership with out support. Personally I use
Jeff Miller to compensate for my short comings.
> MH

[Dan Weaver]

Your 97 is a vintage??????????????????

Yikes!~

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "p_a_lazar"
wrote:
>
> Mike,
>
> IMHO, you miss the point. To some of us, it isn't about money and
what
> kind of rig we can afford, it's about the way the company views
it's
> customers.
>
> I *DON'T* expect BB the have parts forever, not all service
requires
> parts or obscure parts.
>
> What I do expect is not to be considered second class citizens
because
> I choose a classic or vintage style over something newer. I have
owned
> calssic cars, classic boats, and now a classic BB and never have I
> felt as mistreated or unwanted by any company.
>
> I have also owned RVs by Fleetwood, Holiday Rambler (before Monaco
> buyout) and Monaco. If you go to their rallys or service center
> *REGARDLESS* of the age of the RV, you will be treated the same and
> every effort will be made to fix what needs being fixed.
>
> As an added thought, I bought a BB because I *CAN* get it serviced
> anywhere and don't need the factory for any support, all I need is
> Benny
>
> I could not with clear conscious recommend any of my friends to
buy a
> BB unless they had my background or were willing to live with no
> factory support. For those like me, there is *NOTHING* like a BB so
> buy the best you can afford or more importantly, buy the STYLE you
> like best as I have done.
>
> P.S. I *will* be at the RATS rally with my friends, soon to be
friends
> and other castouts and miscreants but not for support, just a good
time.
>
> Paul
> 97wb43
>
> --- In wanderlodge@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein" <MHOHNSTEIN@>
> wrote:
> >
> > I haven't commented before on the bizarre expectation, of many on
> forum, that BB should support every rig that ever left the factory.
> It seems to me that govt. regs. require support for 7 years after
> production year ends. The Wanderlodge vehicle was never a cash cow,
> it was an exercise in ego of the original ownership.
> > I don't know how Winnebago would respond if someone showed up
with a
> '75 unit expecting to find a obscure widget that failed after
years of
> service.
> > My message to those who feel betrayed is; Welcome to the real
world,
> but don't despair, Jeff Miller and Ralph Fullenwider are out there
and
> McDonalds in Columbus GA can take care of business too.
> > One more thing, those who have upwards of a million bucks to
spend
> on a RV, probably don't really want to rub shoulders with most of
the
> "Vintage" crowd. Get over it. Go to the RATS rally hang out with
> your peers. Sheessh.
> > MH
>

[TeamConfuzed@...]

<< It seems to me that govt. regs. require support for 7 years after
production year ends. The Wanderlodge vehicle was never a cash cow, it was an
exercise in ego of the original ownership.
I don't know how Winnebago would respond if someone showed up with a '75
unit expecting to find a obscure widget that failed after years of service.
My message to those who feel betrayed is; Welcome to the real world >>


I will say this about that (to quote Richard Nixon): Several upper end auto
and motorcycle manufacturers that I am involved with (and Porsche and BMW
bikes come immediately to mind) have found it not only in their best interests
but also apparently profitable to embrace their older vehicles. Which isn't
to say that BMW still has in inventory all of their parts for the 1990 very
limited production K1 bikes (been there, tried to get that part) but within
reason they will still support older vehicles, and in the case of some of the
really ancient BMW bikes they have encouraged enthusiast dealers to
manufacture small runs of older parts.

Also, as the man said, there is nothing on the Bluebird that isn't
standardized truck or bus or even household stuff for it's era. The more that
I get
into our PT-40 the more I recognize the source of the parts.

--PirateJohn--
Directeur Sportif, Team Confuzed
_www.PirateJohn.com_ (http://www.PirateJohn.com)

(a/k/a John Gilmer, Jacksonville, FL -- 1982 PT-40 a/k/a The Beast)




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]