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11-10-2017, 08:40 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Peoria IL
Posts: 2,085
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Entegra Image
I didn't wan to hijack another thread so I want to express some of my opinions here.
When I started my search for a new motor home I came across Entegra. part of the largest family owned RV manufacturer in the world. The brochures proudly displayed this and it was well received. The last RV I had was part of a very large conglomerate that didn't seem to care about the owners. We seriously considered another brand (Newmar) but thought that jayco was in a better financial position, assuring us better customer service in the long future of ownership.
Then last year Entegra became part of the large conglomerate that I was trying to get away from. Although we were told that nothing was going to change, things did change. First, questions started about warranty and the interaction with the dealerships, and then this lawsuit against a dealership that seems to be the best model for the RV owners.
I love the Entegra product and the staff behind it, but the company concerns me a great deal. I hope the brand doesn't deteriorate to the point where this is viewed as just another "Vega" in the RV industry.
In my opinion, the entire RV industry is about 5 years too late for a major shake up. Somebody, someday will figure out what the RV owner wants and needs. Reliability! Consistent reliability and service.
I'm in the marketing business and I can assure you, the recreational vehicle manufactures don't truly understand what business they're really in. They think they're in business to pump out RVs. But they are really in the fantasy business. People buy RVs because they have a fantasy of stress free living, without being tied down to a brick and stick home.
When a manufacture actually builds a RV that fulfills this desire to have stress free ownership, with parts available, and service waiting with open arms, they'll turn the industry upside down. Public litigation to shut down a dealership that's known for fixing other dealership blunders is a mistake. I realize there are sales boundaries for licensee agreements(I have them for my Licensees too) but the internet has changed sales and this change has been for the benefit of the end user. Each state in the United States, is facing much the same issue with sales taxes. The question is always, "where did the sale originate" and this hasn't yet been worked out by our great legal system. The free enterprise system that makes this country great need to shine here. The dealership that earns the sale, gets the sale and let the buyers vote with their dollars.
Entegra was close, but I fear they're slowly drifting, perhaps in part to the corporate "bean counters" not listening to the visionaries. Unfortunately, visionaries and bean counters don't see the same things, but they're each important to a business.
I still believe Entegra is the best value out there but I fear a cancer is growing and the visionaries are being silenced.
__________________
2023 Ram 3500 H.O.
2020 DRV
2015 Entegra Aspire RBQ SOLD
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11-10-2017, 08:47 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Interesting.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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11-10-2017, 09:02 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Central FL.
Posts: 111
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Well Said.
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Bob and Leigh, Moleigh (furry child)
2019 Anthem 42 DEQ
2022 Ford F-150 4x4
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11-10-2017, 09:13 AM
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#4
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D333RLT Tower
Texas Boomers Club Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,075
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Not to bash Entegra but, we've voted.
__________________
[COLOR=red]2022 KZ Durango D333RLT
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=red] Towed by2022 F-250 Lariat 7.3 Godzilla gas 10 speed , Texas Boomers RV Club
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11-10-2017, 09:45 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Gulf Cove, FL
Posts: 1,654
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I certainly understand your concern. Entegra has gone from a family owned, customer centric business to a publicly traded corporation. Regardless of the promises, there are now shareholders to be satisfied and profit expectations to hit. In that way Entegra has joined the ranks of many other manufacturers. The true test will be if they can continue to satisfy the vast majority of their customers. Change is hard. There will be bumps. We are all hoping that they will be able to successfully find that happy median that accommodates happy customers and happy shareholders. Many companies have done that. It's early yet in buyout terms - let's not start engraving tombstones until we're a little further down the road. All JMHO.
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Goldie & Rick
2019 Entegra Aspire 44B, 2014 G/C Summit
Dixie & Scruffy (furkids)
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11-10-2017, 09:50 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 1,562
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dlovitt
Not to bash Entegra but, we've voted.
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Not to bash Newmar, but so did we.
__________________
Bill & Lynne
Memphis, TN
2017 Entegra Anthem 44B - Victory Blue
2016 Ford Edge Titanium
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11-10-2017, 09:55 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SC
Posts: 37
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We voted also- just picked up a 18 Aspire. So far Entegra has been great to deal with. We have a few items that needed attention and it is being taken care of. Got a nice welcome call from Joyce. So far it has been a great experience with a great coach.
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11-10-2017, 10:12 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fulltime, USA
Posts: 16,706
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Entegra Image
Reminder: you DO get what you pay for....
There is no FREE lunch or FREE catered meals or FREE warranties. Such favors are great for customer moral, but never free. Such perks may make for positive brand differentiation, but it ALL goes to the total cost bottom line!
Also, "customer-provided labor" for replacing parts sent out by the builder are a boost to the profit, or at least lessens the warranty cost to the builder, especially for chronic issues.
Just remember that the price you paid added funds to the perk pool!
In my last J.O.B. all of the awards, bonuses, parties, service anniversary gifts, and "customer perks" were "in the corporate soup". I know because I counted the beans.
Just the facts, and my view from the saddle. No offense intended.
I voted: 9 year old Monaco
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11-10-2017, 12:10 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Green Valley, AZ
Posts: 1,735
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In keeping with the title of this thread, I think the image is further damaged by the introduction of the "Entegra" class C
__________________
Stew and Diane (and Marco)
2018 Entegra Cornerstone 45X
Formerly: 2015 Entegra Cornerstone 45B, 2013 Entegra Aspire DEQ IFS, 2004 DSDP; all sold
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11-10-2017, 01:04 PM
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#10
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D333RLT Tower
Texas Boomers Club Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,075
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Victory Blue
Not to bash Newmar, but so did we.
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Sure hope your experience is much, much better than our's.
__________________
[COLOR=red]2022 KZ Durango D333RLT
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=red] Towed by2022 F-250 Lariat 7.3 Godzilla gas 10 speed , Texas Boomers RV Club
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11-10-2017, 01:24 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 14,885
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CampDaven
Reminder: you DO get what you pay for....
There is no FREE lunch or FREE catered meals or FREE warranties. Such favors are great for customer moral, but never free. Such perks may make for positive brand differentiation, but it ALL goes to the total cost bottom line!
Also, "customer-provided labor" for replacing parts sent out by the builder are a boost to the profit, or at least lessens the warranty cost to the builder, especially for chronic issues.
Just remember that the price you paid added funds to the perk pool!
In my last J.O.B. all of the awards, bonuses, parties, service anniversary gifts, and "customer perks" were "in the corporate soup". I know because I counted the beans.
Just the facts, and my view from the saddle. No offense intended.
I voted: 9 year old Monaco
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Dave - you're my hero.
Input costs, margin and contingencies = the cost on the finished product.
If the sum of the first three continually exceed the cost the company will go out of business Makes not a whit of difference whether the company is family or corporately owned.
__________________
Gordon and Janet
Tour 42QD/InTech Stacker
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11-10-2017, 01:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Foretravel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Home is Where WE PARK IT...
Posts: 6,018
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No dawg in this bone fight.....just watching.....
And now even Foretravel is entering the foray of mfg a class "B"... wonder if a "C" will be next to further dilute the brand and it's quality builds..
__________________
Retired truckdriver,
'02 Foretravel... "This Shack will do"
being pushed by an '06 Scion xB
SKP's of Box Elder, South Dakota
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11-10-2017, 01:38 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DFW, Tex-US
Posts: 6,196
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Dave&Ginny,
well said and I was about to follow you from the Redwood to Entegra since we live close to NIRV and even got night time calls from Brett when he came across a block purchase with a few coaches that fit our wants... great price, but timing wasn't there and then we heard about the conglomeration and decided the Monaco we had served our purposes well for now.... will be interesting for sure.
__________________
'11 Monaco Diplomat 43DFT RR10R pushed by a '14 Jeep Wrangler JKU. History.. 5'ers: 13 Redwood 38gk(junk!), 11 MVP Destiny, Open Range TT, Winn LeSharo, C's, popups, vans, tents...
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11-10-2017, 02:23 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Peoria IL
Posts: 2,085
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnBoyToo
Dave&Ginny,
well said and I was about to follow you from the Redwood to Entegra since we live close to NIRV and even got night time calls from Brett when he came across a block purchase with a few coaches that fit our wants... great price, but timing wasn't there and then we heard about the conglomeration and decided the Monaco we had served our purposes well for now.... will be interesting for sure.
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Thanks JohnBoy,
as long as NIRV is helping the owners as they are, there's hope. But if this litigation turns out that they aren't there anymore, I'll have to turn my eyes to a new direction. No other dealer has the attitude of helping the owners as NIRV does.
I knew when I bought mine in Ohio that I was closer to the factory so I would always have the option of going there for service. But I'm fearful, the next step will be, less service at the factory. They already have changed to no parts being mailed to the owners.
__________________
2023 Ram 3500 H.O.
2020 DRV
2015 Entegra Aspire RBQ SOLD
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