EDITORIAL

"Just a Sign of the Times . . ."

It's a little curious, don't you agree, the different ways RV News and RV Business magazines dealt with the controversial story that RV Business' sister company Camping World was starting to sell rolling stock at its New Braunfels, TX, store?

RV News broke the story a month before it finally appeared in the RV Business -- a little surprising when both Camping World and RV Business are both part of the Affinity Group family. RV News felt it was important enough news to have a photo on the cover of the April 2000 issue and talked about it editorially.

RV Business ran a rather pablum-flavored version on page 5 in their May 2000 issue and you had to read the story carefully to discover that Affinity's Camping World stores were going into competition with RV dealers once again, but this time by selling RVs.

It's not surprising that RV Business would soft- peddle the issue and try to make the story as unthreatening to the industry as possible ­ you don't want to bite the hand that feeds you, right?

What's more alarming is the philosophy and attitude of some influential employees further down the totem pole at Affinity. That's what RV dealer Steve Franklin (American Dream Vacations) discovered when he sent an e-mail "letter to the publisher" of RV Business magazine Franklin wrote, "I'm sure you don't want to hear my opinion on one subject and that's the AGI entry into direct RV sales via Camping World.

"I just finished reading the May 2000 issue of RV Business and wasn't surprised that this major intrusion into the RV dealers pockets was passed off as nothing more than a "honing" of an AGI partnering program through CWI.

"As the owner of two RV dealerships in Texas and Oklahoma, (I was) flabbergasted by the nerve your parent company has.

"Your company has encroached on every segment of our business all the while asking for our support of your magazines, campground guidebooks, etc.

"I believe in our system of competition and applaud anyone who wishes to enter our industry and compete head to head. After all, this is where anyone can be anything so long as they're willing to work for it.

"However, I find it laughable that AGI would seek our support and that of our manufacturers while continuing to chip away at our income base.

"AGI has gotten into RV insurance, extended service contracts, parts accessories and now, RV sales.

"I for one am doing my part to make certain I don't support AGI in any way. Last week I stopped selling Motorhome and Trailer Life and will not carry the Woodall's guidebook in my stores. In addition, I made it very clear that the Good Sam's service contracts will not be sold through stores.

"These are small protests but nonetheless, they are my way of showing I will not support your company AND compete at the same time.

"I will be on my soapbox whenever I can find an audience and will do everything I can to see that this subject is covered this year at the RVDA convention.

"It's sad that it's come to this but how can you expect us as dealers to sit back and allow you to take away our very livelihood and support you at the same time."

RV Business' publisher Sherman Goldenberg responded, "Mr. Franklin:

"I guess I have these comments, after reading your e-mail letter: Don't shoot the messenger; I'm not the chief strategist here.

"Secondly, as for my own thoughts, I guess I see Affinity in certain respects as a Walmart factor, a natural result of a growing and consolidating market. If it wasn't Affinity, I'm thinking, it would someone else. So I, unlike Don Magary at RV News, who has gone way over the edge with this thing, don't see how you or anyone else can view Affinity as an evil empire, just a sign of the times.

"And while you don't have to like this wave of change -- I'm not sure how well I'm adapting to it all -- I trust that you and your peers in the RV industry won't follow the radical direction in which Magary and a few others are going."

The e-mail response was signed "Sincerely, Sherman Goldenberg"

Well, how do you like that! The publisher of RV Business magazine saying unkind things about me personally and speaking negatively about some of my ideas and doing so behind my back.

How did I get drawn into this discussion at all anyway. Steve Franklin's letter to RV Business certainly didn't mention me, my views, or RV News ­ it spoke only of his frustration with AGI's business direction and what he was doing as a personal protest within his own businesses.

Shame on you, Sherman.

I think you really should apologize. Now, if you remember, I didn't get upset when you sent me a personal e-mail suggesting I had an "emotional" problem, or when you said that "I needed counseling." I simply responded, "It's so nice to hear from you, Sherm." But if you are going to be saying nasty things about me to others in the industry then I must protest and if you must do it, I ask that at least show me the courtesy of a carbon copy (cc).

But getting back to the point, it's almost as if Goldenberg didn't even get Steve Franklin's point ­ or at least that's what Steve thought so he sent a follow-up message to reiterate his point.

He said, "Mr. Goldenberg, Thank you for your reply.

"As a final comment, I hope you're not missing my point. I am in no way against a 'consolidating market' or the 'wave of change,' I am against those that wish to consolidate and change at my expense.

"By expense I mean by asking me to purchase advertising in their publications, sell their publications, sell their extended warranties, etc. so that they can take those profits and pit them against me in the sales arena. I don't view that as competing on level ground.

"Again, thank you for taking the time to answer my email."

RV News thanks Steve Franklin for sharing this exchange with us ­ we couldn't have said it better. By making his point, Steve Franklin makes our point, a point we have been voicing for some years now.

And the next time an Affinity Group sales person calls, remember the courage of Steve Franklin, but also remember what Sherman Goldenberg says about Camping World selling RVs ­ it's "just a sign of the times."

RVN