Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) will honor seven RV manufacturers with its Quality Circle Award during the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, KY, in December. The award is presented to the top performers in the association's annual Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) survey. The DSI report will be available at the RVDA Booth at the Louisville Show on Dec. 2 and included in the December issue of RV Executive Today.

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Manufacturers will receive individual performance reports in December. Manufacturers receiving 2003 awards are (in alphabetical order): Ameri-Camp; K-Z, Inc.; Newmar; Sunline; Monaco Coach Corp.; Teton Homes; and Winnebago Industries. Country Coach; Hi-Lo; Northstar (R.C. Willett Co.); and Potomac qualified for Special Recognition for a high score with fewer than 15 evaluations.

RV dealers use the DSI survey to

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confidentially rate their manufacturers' performance in four major categories: sales support; product competitiveness; service and warranty support; and management. Manufacturers with overall ratings of 80 percent or higher that receive 15 or more dealer evaluations qualify for the Quality Circle Award. The results of the 2003 survey reflect 1,887 individual manufacturer evaluations from 537 dealers * a record rate of participation in the 10-year history of the DSI survey.

"The DSI report will show that many dealers feel their business relationships with their manufacturers are improving," said RVDA President Mike Molino. "The Quality Circle Award enables dealers to recognize companies that build good products and offer the level of support that helps retailers take care of the customer after the sale." RVDA of America is the national association representing RV retailers. The association's members include RV dealers, RV rental operators, and RV Aftermarket sales and service locations.

Thetford/Norcold Acquires Wilcox Crittenden

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Thetford/Norcold, the leading supplier of sanitation and refrigeration equipment to the RV and marine market worldwide, announced it had acquired Wilcox Crittenden of Middletown, RI.

Founded in 1847, Wilcox Crittenden manufactures and distributes a complete line of well-known electric and manual marine sanitation systems, along with specialized marine and industrial hardware including Aravon marine plumbing fixtures and Metalstyle lighting products.

‘We’re very excited to add Wilcox to our family,” said Mike Harris, Thetford/Nor-cold’s President and CEO. “The two companies have a long history of supplying high-quality solutions to their markets.”

Combining the two, Harris added, “provides many synergies, including a complete marine product offering, an expanded RV sanitation offering and extensive distribution channels.”

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