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Reply to Sid Dear Editor: I am responding to a letter written by Sid Tompkins that appeared in your February issue. My retort to Sid's letter concerning a "flap" with Coast Dis-tributing and the industry, is simply this: Sid, you sure re-member things differently than I. As I recall, over 25 years ago I made a fact finding visit to Coast Fabricating at the invitation of Tim McGuire for the companies I was involved with at the time -- Tekonsha and Girard Engineer-ing, along with Putnam Manu-facturing. The purpose of my visit was to see if Tim could fill a void created by the demise of A-1 Trailer Supply, and Ed Baier of Trailer Equipment telling me he was pulling out of Northern California. We didn't sell Tim on that trip, even though we did find signs of a distributorship forming, along with a very active fabrication business. Contrary to your writing, we did not consult with our "closed group of business friends" upon our return to the office. A short time later we did return to San Jose and offer our programs to Coast Fabrication. One could see they had made a commitment, were very well financed, were putting some of the right people in place, and the attitude carried by Tim made you want to do business with him. Now, every supplier had to make their own call here, based on what they saw, and we didn't get in the back room and talk it over as a "closed group of business friends" might do. Furthermore, never once did Tim McGuire indicate or say to me that he had any intention of being a pirate or "cherry picking" any of my programs, including Kenco Engineering in later years. Now Sid, you have really bummed me out with your comment about "A similar thing happened when Camping World came on the scene". Here are the facts: I was on the Board of Directors of the Warehouse Distributors Association when a new distributor from Bowling Green, Kentucky, by the name of National Supply approached us for a membership in our organization. It was decided by the board that board member Jim Kirshner, past executive director A. Ben Long, and I, visit Mr. David Garvin of National Supply. David did not hide the fact that he also owned a retail campground supply store that was on separate property from his small National Supply warehouse. We reported back to the board of WDA, and later a favorable decision was made in Mr. Garvin's request for membership. As news traveled of our approaching yea vote, many suppliers who were not already selling to David Garvin, began doing so even before the vote. They were ad-mitted as National Supply - to-day they are Camping World. Insinuating that Jack, Mike, Don and others created the monsters by themselves is nonsense, once you know the facts. Leo Morrissey Franklin - Roy & Associates Manufacturers Representatives Coldwater, Michigan The Fable Dear Editor: The article "A Fable" by Don Magary in the last (March) issue was a superb job. It made a good point in a very humorous way. I believe many will remember the story and its relevance. I thought you would like to know that the address given in the previous issue for Donna Stanton in Seattle caused a letter so addressed to be returned "Addressee Unknown". I hope you have a better address for Donna. Carl Edwards RV Industry Historian Ithaca, New York The address in the February issue is correct. We've sent several pieces of correspondence, all of which have been received by Donna. The problem is with the USPS. Dear Editor: I have just received and read the latest issue of RV News. As always, I enjoyed your editorial and I just LOVED your fable. Over the past few years I have done less and less business with Coast. Since the unholy alliance of Coast and Coleman/ Faulkner I am not giving Coast any business. Tim McGuire must think he can do anything he wants and all RV dealers will just bow down to him. I don't think so, Tim. I believe McGuire's ultimate goal is to become a retail business and be the next Camping World. I know the Lancaster, PA facility can be easily converted to a retail service operation. The upper side of the building has a bunch of garage doors at drive in level (they're not loading docks). I think he wants to have a network of his own retail stores selling and installing all of this knock off junk he's developed. Keep up the good work and keep hacking away at Coast. They deserve it. George A. Robinson Hopewell RV Center Downington, Pennsylvania RVN |
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