RIV and Blue Bird "Brand"

[James ONeil]

Hank,
I am new to the rv¹s, although have done considerable research, etc. I was
considering the m380, because I liked the size and it was a BB. That being
said when looking at I had the feeling that it was a monaco with a higher
price tag.
Could you enlighten me on its engineering failures.
Thanks,
Jim O¹Neil


On 11/2/05 12:38 PM, "Henry Jay Hannigan" wrote:

> --- My 2 cents worth about Bluebird........I love my 90SP36..no tag
> etc. BB got it right when they made the M380..almost same as my
> 90SP36 (check the specs) I think they would have sold a TON of the
> M380"s IF the ENGINEERS would have got it right!!!
> Regretably the ENGINEERS for whatever reason..bad grades in
> engineering school, cost cutting measures, WHATEVER, DID NOT get it
> right.
> The M380 could have revolutionized BB, instead, the M380 hurt BB.
> I still love my 90SP36 and have encouraged the BB President ceo etc.
> to make a 2007 version of my beautiful 90SP36.....make it 38 feet
> long, NO tag, MID door...AND get some excellent ENGINEERS to design
> it and sell it for $595,000...TO me, this action would put BB back
> on top!!
> That's my 2 cents worth......What do others think??
> sincerely,
> Hank Hannigan
> Beautiful 90SP36
> Still in Hawaii(two more weeks)
>
>
>
>
>
> In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@y...>
> wrote:
>> >
>> > Tom,
>> >
>> > I believe that you raise some excellent points. My personal
> opinion
>> > is that with the rounds of ownership changes in the past years, BB
> has
>> > lost whatever semblance of lifestyle marketing that they had in the
>> > past. Corporate cost cutting has been the main focus of the new
>> > ownership groups. Additionally, the common ownership of Prevost
> and
>> > Bluebird probably generated some indirect pressure from that parent
>> > company over having two high end products addressing the same
>> > relatively small market space (in potential number of units, not
>> > dollar volume).
>> >
>> > As a result, for the past few years they have had little to no
>> > direction in lifestyle marketing, product and market segmentation,
> or
>> > overall corporate direction with regard to the Wanderlodge
> division.
>> > Cutting staff, cutting advertising in the FMCA magazine to zero
> for a
>> > while (when they used to command the marketing coveted inside front
>> > cover each month), and selling the marketing symbol of the donut
> wagon
>> > (stated reason too expensive) that used to hit many of the RV
>> > rally/shows (and always got additional free press exposure in rally
>> > coverage), are all symbolic of the loss of direction/dedication to
> the
>> > market.
>> >
>> > In the past eight years that I have owned a Bird, they have never
> had
>> > a strong and dedicated nationwide dealer network. Holland,
> Bleakley
>> > and Parliament are the exceptions to that and the three shining
> stars
>> > of their dealer network, carrying real inventory, but very
> regionally
>> > spaced. The other "dealers" are mostly what you see at Shorewood,
>> > IMO. Even when Buddy Gregg was a dealer, I never saw more than 4-
> 5 BB
>> > in total on his Dallas lot (new and used). Since Buddy quit, we
> have
>> > had three "dealers" in Texas come and go. The first two after
> Buddy
>> > never even had any inventory as far as I know, and the
> newest "dealer"
>> > is historically a consignment lot and has one new LXi listed on its
>> > website (unknown if it actually exists on-site or is on order) and
> one
>> > 1990 on consignment. I stopped at a then-listed "dealer" near
> Albany,
>> > NY (Alpine?) on a trip a few years back in time and they had no BB
>> > inventory, and no sales person that knew anything about them.
>> >
>> > The less than stellar dealer network was not important a few years
>> > back when BB actually had some marketing effort, was the brand to
> be
>> > aspired to, was selling everything they made and there was less
>> > competition in their market space. In the last few years while
> they
>> > have been floundering, the market for higher end coaches has grown
>> > tremendously due to baby boomers, and numerous other players have
>> > entered the market space. We have to hope that BB regains some
> sense
>> > of marketing and starts developing a real market segmentation and
>> > product plan. In the meantime we have these wonderful coaches they
>> > have produced that will outlive most of us on this forum. These
>> > forums can also serve to fill the gap in the lifestyle marketing by
>> > creating camaraderie, a knowledge and support base, and on-going
>> > demand for the products. All of this is helpful to the company as
>> > the management team tries to re-invigorate the brand. Maybe
> someone
>> > there will realize this someday.
>> >
>> > Mike Bulriss
>> > 83 PT40 "Stagecoach" - For Sale
>> > 91 PT40 "Texas Minivan"
>> > San Antonio, TX
>> >
>> > P.S. I would also be suspicious of a '91 PT 40 traded in on an
>> > Allegro Bus! But in the meantime, if someone offered me $139K
> for my
>> > '91, it would be gone.....
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Tom"
> wrote:
>>> > >
>>> > > One of the selling points of MH ownership is the
> lifestyle...kind of
>>> > > like when Harley sells motorcycles. The "brand" rallies are an
>>> > > important part of that and if BB is to remain a quality
> brand...the
>>> > > rally must be an anticipated event and well attended.
>>> > >
>>> > > You read frequently about the "brand" rallies for Country Coach,
>>> > > American Coach, Newell, Foretravel, Newmar, Tiffin, Winnebago
> and
>>> > > others. Many owners pride themselves on not missing any annual
>>> > > rallies. If the BB loyalists sit on the sidelines (or accross
> the
>>> > > street) it is likely that the rally will atrophy and die. I
> don't
>>> > > think that is good for any Blue Bird owner or enthusiast!
>>> > >
>>> > > I believe I read earlier that BB understands that the changes to
> RIV
>>> > > may have been too much...too soon? If this is true I would
> think it
>>> > > would make sense to be supportive in helping define an RIV that
> would
>>> > > again be exciting and well attended. If, on the other hand, BB
> is non-
>>> > > reflective and non-supportive regarding the rally format and
>>> > > costs...well...that probably tells you where they sit relative
> to the
>>> > > BB "brand" future plans.
>>> > >
>>> > > Just the musings from a wanbee...not meant to offend...Thank
> You...Tom
>>> > > Rootness in Northern Minnesota
>>> > >
>>> > > P.S. Just visited the Minnesota BB dealer in Anoka...shows
> another BB
>>> > > issue. They have two BBs...both '04 (?) demo models used by the
> two
>>> > > owners. I don't think they sold a BB in the last 18
> months...not
>>> > > really trying. Maybe they have the brand so the owners can have
> demos.
>>> > >
>>> > > Primarily a Tiffin and other brand dealer. BTW they did just
> take in
>>> > > a '91 PT 40 on trade on an Allegro Bus. The '91 is quite messy
> and my
>>> > > guess is they don't know how to sell it and will end up
> wholesaleing in
>>> > > 90 days. Asking $139K which IMHO is quite high for a bit
> dicey '91.
>>> > > If someone is interested you might want to call them. Shorewood
> RV in
>>> > > Anoka, MN. TMR
>>> > >
>> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
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