RV Weekly

RV Trade Digest is seeking the help from its readership. The staff of RVTD sent out its 2009 Reader Survey last week to help gauge what types of content readers enjoy, and what RVTD can do better to serve the RV industry.

The survey was sent to RV Trade Digest subscribers via e-mail. The survey consists of 16 questions and only takes a few minutes to complete.

If you would like to have your voice heard regarding our editorial content, please fill out the electronic survey.

The information collected will be used to help the staff of RVTD decide what topics should be covered in the near future.

If you are a subscriber and did not receive the 2009 Reader Survey, please contact Jean Simkins, Jackie Kimmel or Nikki Becker and request your survey.

We appreciate your time in taking our survey and hope to serve you better with the information collected.

In the last few weeks there have been numerous news stories about overnight RV parking in commercial lots.

There is a great debate about whether overnight parking should be allowed or banned.

Personally, I am against overnight parking in commercial parking lots. Campgrounds are built to house RVs properly. Most have restroom facilities, activities and the basic necessities that most RVers need such as: electrical outlets, dumping stations, water lines, etc.

Some RVers may choose to park at Walmart because it is less expensive than a campground, others probably park there because they know they can.

I want to open this up for a lively debate. Should RVers be allowed to park on commercial lots overnight? Why or why not? Does it hurt campground owners if people are opting to visit places like Walmart instead of their campground? Is it a safety risk to park overnight on a commercial lot? What are your thoughts?

For the last few months RV Trade Digest has been encouraging dealers to enter the 2009 Lifetime Value Awards.

The RVTD Lifetime Value Awards are given to dealers who focus on customer service and build excellence through employee training and education.

Dealers can enter anytime using our online application. To apply click here

All applicants are reviewed by a panel of RVTD and Stag-Parkway staffers. Several finalists are chosen and each finalist receives a cash reward and a dealer profile featured in RV Trade Digest. At the 2010 Stag-Parkway show, one finalist will be chosen as the Lifetime Value Award winner and will receive an additional cash prize.

Numerous dealers have already seized the chance to be considered. RVTD will be accepting applications until September 15, 2009. That leaves less than three months to apply.

If you have trouble applying for the Lifetime Value Awards or have questions, please feel free to e-mail the editorial staff at editor@rvtradedigest.com

There is no fee to apply and all dealers are welcome to apply.

Recently I had a reader suggest that we cover the four-square selling method as a blog topic.

I am unfamiliar with this particular selling method, but did a little research to try and understand it a little better.

From my research I learned that the four-square method is a selling technique that employs a worksheet some dealers use to negotiate the sale of an RV, boat or car. This worksheet is separated into four squares, hence the name.

The four squares represent the trade-in value, purchase price of the vehicle, down payment numbers and monthly payment numbers. Sales people crunch numbers into the different squares to attempt to view the overall profit of the dealership. Some even refer to this method as “working the numbers.”

This method could be considered controversial because buyers who are unfamiliar with how the method works could perceive a deal that isn’t really there.

In researching this topic I found more articles on how to avoid getting “trapped” by this four-square method.

I would like to get a discussion rolling on the four-square selling method. Do you, or any of your sales staff, currently use this method? Have you ever experienced this sales method while purchasing a new vehicle. If you do use this method, is it effective? Is this sales method controversial or cross ethical lines? I want to hear your thoughts.

We would like to thank the 200 + companies who have updated their company listing in RV Trade Digest’s Online Sourcebook.

The editorial staff will begin putting together RVTD’s June/July Sourcebook print issue the week of June 1, and we are giving one last opportunity for company updates.

If you have not updated your company listing, please contact Jean Simkins or Nikki Becker for more information.

In addition to updating current company contact information, company representatives may also submit products to feature in the Online Sourcebook.

There is no limit to the amount of products each company may feature. For more information on how to submit products, contact Jackie Kimmel by e-mailing Jackie@rvtradedigest.com

If you have trouble updating or inputting products please feel free to contact one of the RV Trade Digest staff members.