They could afford to buy them now if the American companies that go down there had to pay the same wages and benefits they are trying to escape from here. It’s not an easy solution and you present an interesting viewpoint.

However, instead of spending the money in Mexico or Canada, how about spending it at home or providing assistance here before we give anymore to anybody who isn’t right here where the problems are.

However, what Fleetwood has done, or rather HAD to do, is quite smart, in that it has gotten a jump on what is coming - the North American Union. Guess they realized that they could ‘participate now and save some money, or participate later and pay much more.’ Their actions are but another glimpse into what is coming from our government.

Yep, no doubt there is ‘initial knee jerk’ resentment from all quarters about what Fleetwood has done, but I say “give ‘em a break.” This is just business. Try to look at it this way - if you see a freight train (aka the faltering U.S. economy and all the inherent problems associated with it) bearing down on you, you can do one of two things: (1) stand there and get killed, or, (2) move in a direction that protects and benefits you. This is all that Fleetwood has done. It was either ‘get with the new paradigm’ or go out of business. (of course, too, the weather in Mexico is much better than in Canada, since those were their two choices.) And if quality in workmanship becomes too big of an issue for dealers and the customer, it’ll get worked out one way or the other.

Much change is coming, folks, so get used to seeing much more activity in this industry. And even if the Japanese, the Chinese or the Germans jump into a supposed void created by Fleetwood, it doesn’t matter. We’ll keep selling and servicing RV’s and the party will still go on. Besides, it ALWAYS comes down to PRICE AND SERVICE, doesn’t it?

Ya’ll honk as you go by! (in something other than a Fleetwood product? We’ll see….)

Fleetwood really should be ashamed.

Any further information needed, visit my personal page at http://www.geocities.com/gowieder for a reality check.

Steve hit the nail on the head, until we reverse our poor educational systems, instilling a work ethic on the manufacturing floor, get our skyrocketing healthcare costs under control, and eliminate the abuse in our local, state, and federal government systems .. this trend will continue for many years into the future.

This is not pessimism, it’s reality. We have done this to ourselves and there are precious few manufacturing companies doing anything about it. Fortunately, we do have some quality American-made RVs that we can be very proud of.

I personally don’t buy Japanese cars and don’t intend to by Mexican RVs.

Does this mean all the illegal aliens will now go home to Mexico and work in Mexicali if it is such a wonderful environment and role model for Mexican workers?

We’ve heard plenty of “The sky is falling.” It’s more productive to open up a constructive forum of discussion, which I think you’ve done here.

It’s certainly food for thought, at any rate. I’ve half a mind to go do some surfing about global economy concepts.

When Fleetwood made their initial announcement about this several months ago, one of the points they stressed was being able to lower costs. Will this get passed on to the consumer? I think not. No other manufacturer of any type of product has used the “move out the country to lower costs so I can compete excuse” to actually lower the end price to the consumer…it’s all ended-up in net profit as a corporate bonus or to the stock-holders.

The real question we should all be asking is, how long until Toyota or Nissan, or even a Chinese manufacturer, jumps into this industry with both feet.