RIV and Blue Bird "Brand"

[Henry Jay Hannigan]

--- I did not know the 450's were gone.........sure hope the CEO
takes my advice and builds a nice 38ft mid door with no tag similar
to my 90SP.....and this time they hire an M.I.T. engineer to work
out the details..eg brakes, skin, loads etc.the m380 was the right
idea...BUT...............Does BLUBIRD read this????
.I'm not going to wait forever
regards,
Hank Hannigan & Naty
90SP36






In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, John Suter
wrote:
>
> How 'bout our just saying, "there are numerous
> reasons" you don't find any more M-380's being
> manufactured, and the M-450's vanished after they were
> announced with great 'fanfare and hoopla,' and
> suddenly LXi's returned to the production line (Even
> if at much higher list prices).
>
> John
>
>
>
>
> --- Henry Jay Hannigan wrote:
>
> > ---JAMES: RE: Engineering problems on m-380's
> > Probably the best people to answer ur questions
> > would be the BB
> > people at Ft. Valley..ask them about the 1.
> > BRAKES..2.
> > SKIN..3.Wieght ratios..to name a few.........the
> > defense for liable
> > and slander is...TRUTH..
> > Regards,
> > Hank Hannigan
> > 90SP36
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, James ONeil
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > 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
> > > >>> > >
> > > >> >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > SPONSORED LINKS
> > > >
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> > > >
> > > >
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