Lazy Daze Owners' Group

SOB: Forest River threatens industry media reporting on product recalls

December 13, 2016, 11:09:14 pm

Forest River RV, owned by none other than Warren Buffett, is sending legal threats to RV Daily Report for publishing RV safety recalls, and pointing out that the disproportionate number of recalls may indicate overall quality problems with Forest River products.

Despite the fact that Forest River has already been fined $5 MILLION dollars [PDF] for safety violations, their legal thugs are resorting to bully tactics instead of building better products.
 
It bothers me that the average person buying an RV is going to be stuck with up to 10 years of payments on a brand new rig they can't use when they want to, because of "punch lists", warranty work, and endless hassles with dealers and repair shops. And then they have to worry that complaining about the cheap quality (even in high-end, expensive rigs) will result in legal threats and intimidation.

Just had to get this off my chest.

Re: SOB: Forest River threatens industry media reporting on product recalls

Reply #2 – December 14, 2016, 10:16:19 am

I agree with one 100%.   I used to work in a company the sold a full software and hardware database solution to small and large hospitals.    The solution contained all sort of other manufacturers products.    We (my company) knew that the end user would blame us for any problem they had no matter who made the other products.  We accepted the responsibility.    
 Sooooo what I'm saying Forest River or for that matter LD can not blame the manufacturer of the products they put in the RV.   They are responsible.   We, the buyers, buy a full solution trusting the manufacturer to do right by us.  

Re: SOB: Forest River threatens industry media reporting on product recalls

Reply #4 – December 14, 2016, 11:55:28 am

FU, thx for sharing...disappointing that Warren Buffet is connected to this, as he's always seemed one of the more ethical of the oligarchs (I was probably taken in by his jovial, grandfatherly demeanor when I've seen him interviewed).  Thx for an interesting link, Joan.  When I looked at LD recalls, all were secondary to defects of the Dometic refrigerators--none had to do with electrical issues/construction defects/mechanicals--under the hood or elsewhere/etc.  I spell "relief" like Ed/Traxless.  

Lynne

Re: SOB: Forest River threatens industry media reporting on product recalls

Reply #6 – December 17, 2016, 04:50:19 pm

Greg Gerber, editor of RV Daily Report, has written an outstanding series of articles dealing with the RV and camping industries. The article in the link is just the first of  8 articles. In a more recent article just a couple of weeks ago he wrote about a recent RV industry conference at which the manufacturers discussed their studies over the years about quality and satisfaction. Greg wrote:

"I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest a practical way to invest 180 hours in getting an up close and personal education on what’s wrong with the “RV experience.”

Rather than meeting in some swanky hotel at some resort somewhere, everyone in the group agrees to rent an RV for 10 days. If there are 20 people in the group, then there would be 20 rentals. No fair sharing. You want the full experience.

Plot a route where each person either drives or tows an RV for five hours a day. At the end of that day, they have to set up the RV. They should livestream their experience or at least blog about it on a common website, assuming they can get an internet connection at the campgrounds they visit.

Then, the next day they tear down the RVs and continue their journey.

As members fall out of the caravan because their RVs break and they have to find a repair center, the others can continue on the journey. At the end of 10 days, the remaining members will have a college-level education on what’s wrong with the RV experience."

Amen!

Re: SOB: Forest River threatens industry media reporting on product recalls

Reply #8 – December 19, 2016, 03:17:40 pm

"Eating your own dog food" is a detestable phrase for a very practical concept -- to understand your product and your customers, you need to actually USE the product. Focus groups and marketing flacks are not enough.

The founders of Thor Industries, for example, had no interest in camping, they just saw a way to make money.

When "making money" is their primary work product, and not the manufactured product itself, keep another detestable phrase in mind: "No matter how much you polish a turd, it's still a turd."

fu
2015TK