RV Weekly

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.

Recently the news wires have been flooded with articles about the upcoming camping season.

With Memorial Day around the corner travel experts, campground owners and dealers are all speculating about how well the 2009 camping season will turn out.

Several campgrounds this year are offering discounts, some RV dealers are offering passes to local national parks to entice customers to travel, and AAA announced today they believe the lower gas prices will cause more Americans to get out and travel for the upcoming holiday weekend.

Thankfully, I have been seeing more positive news about the RV industry and more specifically the 09 camping season; however, I am not sure all industry professionals would agree with me.

I wonder if the slight upturn in the industry is due strictly to trends from years past or if this camping season may spark a larger turnaround for the industry? What do you think?

Will this year’s camping season be better or worse than 2008? Do you think geographic location dictates how well the camping season will go? Do you use camping season as a sales tool at your dealership? Let’s hear your thoughts.

I was searching through some of the “tweets” RV Trade Digest gets on Twitter and saw a posting that intrigued me.

A few fellow Twitter members had posted “tweets” about how the swine flu pandemic was one way to help promote the RV lifestyle because RVing allows consumers to travel without the being near crowds.

I think the national media exhausted the swine flu story. I am not saying swine flu isn’t a valid concern, but my question is should people be promoting the RV lifestyle based on fear of contamination?

What most people don’t realize is that 13,000 people in the U.S. die from the regular flu each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Despite the swine flu being a more immediate health concern, why is it necessary to use it as a promotional tool for RVing? Aren’t there more creative ways to promote RVing such as the opportunity for consumers to build family relationships and the fact that RVing is the least expensive way to travel?

The swine flu news obsession seems to be the most recent flash-in-the-pan disease epidemic like SARS and the bird flu once were.

What are your thoughts?

Editor’s Note: If you are feeling the symptoms of swine flu stay home, wash your hands frequently and consult your physician.

The staff of RV Trade Digest would like to thank those who have explored our recently launched Sourcebook. We have had over 60 companies update listings and/or submit products in two days!

To help companies post products and have them appear quicker, below is an example of how to submit the information needed for the Sourcebook and potential publication in the magazine. RV Trade Digest uses a bullet-point product feature style.

Here is the template of how product releases should be submitted.

Company name, corporate office location, presents its product name.

*Bullet-point about product

*Bullet-point about product

*Bullet-point about product

*Bullet-point about product

Web site

Example:

RV Trade Digest, Fort Atkinson, Wis., presents its Online Sourcebook.

*Comprehensive online RV company and product listing Web site.

*Company listings used for the RVTD June/July directory.

*Features hundreds of companies and products serving the RV industry.

*Manage or update your listing all year long.

www.rvtradedigest.com

Companies may submit multiple products and use as many bullet-points as desired. Please include a high resolution photo with all product releases.

Please refrain from using “biased” language in the listing. All products submissions may be edited for style and grammar.

Products can be submitted through the Sourcebook or e-mailed to the editorial staff at rvproducts@rvtradedigest.com.