Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
Having purchased everything from cars to airplanes, we have learned that the dealers "final price" is not final. Once you take back your deposit and walk away then the salespeople "go back to their supervisors", again. Now, we are dealing. As Nancy Reagan said, "just say no". If they believe you are a serious buyer and willing to take your business elsewhere they are more likely to reconsider that final price.
Problem is, too many people who buy things are either timid or "stuck" on a particular product. Make your offer, stick to it and be willing to walk. Every seller knows that it is better to sell something at a lower price than to sell nothing at a higher price.
Sadly, dealers don't deal on service which labor is way overpriced. Something is wrong when a 40-hour trained mechanic charges more than an aircraft technician who spent three or four years in certification training. I tell them that, but it doesn't help. These inflated service prices help them make up for their compromises in sales.
So, research, research and research. Ask questions. And remember Nancy Reagan...
In defense of technicians ... they are a bit like doctors, except their "patients" can't tell them where it hurts. For this reason, a technician's job may be harder than that of doctors (I don't want to argue that point, just using it to illustrate a point), but the real reason labor rates are so high is that there is a huge shortage of technicians of all kinds. We have created a culture that requires a college degree to define success. Our children are directed away from the trades and into colleges that offer degrees in various disciplines that are not in demand and discourages them from becoming technicians, who are in very high demand. Many schools offer ZERO trades classes. Used to be able to take "shop" and "welding" and "home economics". Those classes have largely been eliminated from our public school system. This is in contrast to Europe ... Germany in particular ... has a robust trades education system. Following middle school an student enters on of two career paths. Either they enter the University path or they enter the Trades path. Both are equally revered, compensated and enjoy comparable social status. Very different than our pecking order in this country. I would remind everyone that every graduation of Law Scool, or Medical School, or Flight School ... each of those had graduates who "just" made it. The diploma doesn't say "graduated last in the class" but you know they are out there, practicing law, medicine and flying airliners. Venting a little here because I used to hire technicians and I had about 1,000 of them in my department. A good one was hard to find but golden in that they satisfied our customers and sold more equipment than any salesman. I have no problem with highly paid technicians! Each of us is entitled to our opinions.
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 12th of April 2017 07:31:12 PM
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Ron and Janice
2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system
2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114 LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW
Please don't misunderstand! I have worked as both technician and engineer for equipment manufacturers. When a multi-thousand-dollar per hour machine line is down the owners/operators had rather see the guy walk through their plant door who can fix it than anyone. And you are right, I sold more machines than anyone.
With Rv and automotive shops I was only saying that rates seem to be inflated, especially in relation to what the technician earns. But beyond that, it is a market question. Most people can't fix anything and are dependent on the guy who can - at any price
Another point in fact: good carpenters are very hard to find. The trades are being taken over by semi-skilled people who are simply willing to work. Virtually no one is training young people for these and other trades. The industries have to do their own training.
This would make for a good discussion around the campfire!
I agree ... with an adult beverage or two. Sounds like we are pretty much in agreement. I do wish that shops would pay their techs a higher percentage of the published labor rate. That is one way to attract more people. $50,000 a year Teaching (fill in the blank) or $100,000 a year fixing Diesel engines? It would make a more compelling argument. Good discussion.
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Ron and Janice
2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system
2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114 LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW
. Sounds like we are pretty much in agreement. I do wish that shops would pay their techs a higher percentage of the published labor rate. That is one way to attract more people. $50,000 a year Teaching (fill in the blank) or $100,000 a year fixing Diesel engines? It would make a more compelling argument. Good discussion.
