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| TO GMC OR NOT TO GMC [message #61324] |
Fri, 23 October 2009 14:45  |
Michael Bozardt
Messages: 367
Registered: January 2007
Location: College Station, Texas
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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To the question of promoting the GMC motorhome-
The GMC community is divided. Some don't like Cinnabar, we never see their rep at a convention. The service/parts companies, Jim Bounds, Jim Kanomata, Golby, Alex Sirum, Cinnabar, Leigh Harrison,et al do not have a common connection and are "competing" for the GMC dollar-though not really a competition since they are distributed throughout the country except for those in Florida. I would like to see them work together for mutual benefit to produce more new parts. I would also like to see the parts suppliers show up at GMCMI conventions. These opportunities are more of a meet and greet event than making money on parts(ask me how I know that). But part availability is essential to reviving the GMC M/H perception of one of the best RVs ever made-which it is(I have had 5 SOBs incl. two turbo diesels). Potential buyers need to know that.
Club Membership: Most of my customers do not belong to FMCA or GMCMI-a fact which surprised me. Of supposedly 7000 GMCs operational, less than 1500 owners belong to the GMCMI. Some younger folks say there is nothing to do for kids. There are a couple of under 10 Pinebox derby racers that would dispute that.
While I love the seminars at the conventions, there are probably others who could care less-they want to DO something, go sightseeing in the area maybe via bus tours, do something that involves driving the GMC-how about a caravan through the local area of the conventions for exposure. How about inviting local inhabitants to come visit us on one or two days at the convention-exposure. Many people like to go motor home lookin' even though they may not be able to buy but if we are in Pueblo, Colorado, why not invite the public to come see us, ask questions, tour the coaches-exposure. We will be in Montgomery, Texas in the Spring of 2010. People from Conroe and even Houston would come out if invited.
(There was a lot of interest at PPL Motorhomes recently when they had a GMC M/H for sale. The coach had its good and bad points and sold for less than the owner wanted, but lots of folks looked at it, many, I am sure because they had never seen one-exposure.)
On the web, we read how one GMC club had publically displayed some of their nicer GMCs with great success and interest. Some of the malls in Houston have large, now mostly vacant parking lots. Sometimes the new RV dealers will display their coaches there. We could do that as well-exposure.
Where can I test drive or buy one? Like the GMC net or forum, there could be a web site where any owner could advertise their GMC M/H for sale-nothing else-just a "craigslist" for GMCs, no parts, accessories, etc. The site must have a manager, like Patrick is to the net, with ads deleted after 30-45 days automatically-and the site is free depending on donations to survive. Some of the guys who "live" on the net could do this.
The Market: The industry is hurting now-badly, many manufacturers having gone out of business. Many motorhomes are dirt cheap compared to their original selling prices. Look at PPL Motorhomes, one of the largest sellers of used RVs. They work via consignment-not owning the inventory and charge 10% of the selling price. At times, recently, their 15 acre site has been virtually overrun with RVs for sale. So it is not a good time to sell a GMC, especially with so much competition from dealers and individuals who need to unload their RV. Promoting anything right now looks dubious.
The GMC Motorhome: Many have spoken up as to how great the GMC M/H really is, and I agree. When I drive this coach, I just marvel at the smooth ride, the view-best in the industry-and the great engineering that went into it. In 1969 we landed on the moon and in 1973 we had the GMC M/H-just as the gas crisis hit. But the engineering is super. It is more akin to the antique aircraft industry than the RV folks. Maybe that is why we are thought of as a "cult". With so much coming from China these days, the GMC is a good "made in America" product.
It is so old: Not a valid argument. Drive by any RV dealer or repair shop and look at what is there. Most are modern RVs. They have the same type of issues we GMCers do except they have slides that don't work.
More later, as I have already taken up too much space and your time. Thx for reading this....Michael at GEMRECS
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