Letters

I am writing this letter in reply to your recent editorial, "Parts, Smarts - What's an RV Manufacturer to Do?". I appreciate very much your comments regarding RV manufacturers providing prompt parts availability to not only its authorized dealers and service centers, but also to non-authorized facilities.

Newmar Corporation, for many years, has carried a policy that it will sell parts to a non-Newmar authorized dealer or service center providing that facility is outside the city limits of a current Newmar dealer.

Some additional items worthy of notation follow. Newmar parts orders are processed within the hour, including creation of all purchase orders. Parts are pulled hourly from the production line as all parts on the production line are available to the Newmar parts department for immediate shipment. The Newmar production facility has a lead time of five days for parts manufactured on premises. Seventy-two percent of all parts orders are shipped within twenty-four hours. Fiberglass parts for older units are being stored with a part in the mold so that Newmar can provide molded parts shipments also within the twenty-four period. The longest lead time for any Newmar parts order is three to four weeks, and those are primarily furniture.

Newmar provides a parts catalog with a detailed parts break-down for each type, model and and floorplan on all 1999 to 2001 units, and a complete parts list in this catalog of units prior to 1999. This catalog is provided using the ARI EMPART catalog system and is in its second year of availability.

Newmar also provides a substantial mark-up on warranty parts. Newmar provides free shipping for all parts orders and a thirty percent mark-up on all warranty parts, which translates in excess of thirty-five percent parts mark-up.

Although Newmar believes that the above is not to be rested upon, it is a far cry from the scenarios you have listed in your editorial. Although your statement may be true for some RV manufacturers, I wanted to go on record that it is not true of Newmar Corporation. Newmar believes that service and parts availability will be lead issues for those who want to succeed, and is taking every available step to provide prompt parts service.

Matt Utley
Director of Consumer Affairs
Newmar Corporation
Nappanee, Indiana

Dear Dan:

I enjoyed reading your editorial regarding your past 25 years of publishing RV News. The times have certainly changed since you first begun.

Your vision for the industry as well as your magazine has brought so many changes and opportunities for growth over the years. Communication has improved immensely and continues to encourage the industry to work together rather than against each other. The RV industry has fast become a lifestyle for many, who a few years ago had no idea that their part-time corner lot could become a six figure business. Although your ideas have not always been eye to eye with key figures in the business, I applaud your willingness to look past them and print what you felt to be right.

The industry as well as your magazine have changed and developed over the years into a booming success. Congratulations on 25 years and to the next 25 years I wish you prosperity and satisfaction for a job well done.

Jay Hesse
President
Automatic Equipment Mfg. Co.
Pender, Nebraska.

Dear Editor:

It has recently come to my attention that fulltime RVers are unable to purchase Direct T.V. as Direct T.V. cannot or will not provide this service unless one has a permanent - stationary telephone. Cell phones do not count.

This situation came to the forefront when full timers endeavored to purchase the NFL Sunday program. This certainly is a problem that needs to be addressed and investigated by the RV media.

Roger C. Anderson
President
Camp Chautauqua, Inc.
Stow, New York