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I see no down side to this, other than we are getting to be a larger group and people are acknowledging the fact. Here 's the thing, although I do not own a new Coach and many POG members do not, this does not preclude an individual who buys a new Prevost in joing POG. We are a welcoming bunch. So, who's to say POG will not be the dominant organization in the future. Prevost Corp. is not synonomous with Prevost Prouds.
Finally, I'm sure there are many fine people who belong to PP.
Good point here.
Over the years, we have had many conversations with Prevost Car about support of non-new conversions. It has been my contention that they ought to promote the brand while still pushing new shells.
Here's why: There have been many folks who have bought new and after a few years want to buy another new coach. When they find out the difference between the value of their current coach and a new one (considering the increases in shell costs + conversion), they find that they are having to pay out (shell out?) $700-900K for a new coach.
OUCH!
My thinking is that if Prevost could find a way to learn how to market the brand while pushing the existing new shell market, it would enhance the value of very useful preowned coaches and make it easier for existing coach owners to either trade up or not take the depreciation hits that so many take.
So you are exactly right, but Prevost doesn't seem to see the broader picture. Or, if they do, they can't seem to get it quite right from an American marketing point of view.
I might add that Prevost is a smaller company than many of us realize. It's a 1600 employee firm. Most of the manufacturing people are related to the people who used to work there in the past and is deeply embedded in the French-Canadian culture, so it is hard for the headquarters people to understand the American marketplace. The Quebec rally is an example. In all the posts here, we've talked about 'our bus' and no one seems to care much about the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Quebec. They think that's the big deal and we care about our coaches.
Can you see the differences in thinking?
Sorry for the long wandering dissertation Mike, but, well, y'know....
Regarding Prevost: Two years ago we attended a FMCA rally in Redmond OR. The rally had numerous converters there displaying their wares. Prevost was there with a new shell. When the Prevost crew found out we were there in our old prevost we were invited to a dinner they were sponsoring off site and we were given nice lanyards for our rally passes that said Prevost in large letters on them. We did not attend because we were with friends at the rally. Besides we did not bring a tux and evening gown to compete with the PP's at the dinner. Point is the Prevost people were genuinly happy to see us there and we received an invitation via mail this year from Prevost to attend their dinner at this years FMCA rally in Redmond. They are OK people.
JPJ, what exactly do you mean when you say you must reply to Prevost soon?
What are they looking for? A mailing list of all the POG members?:eek:
Some sort of commitment from the POG organization?
If they want a mailing list to send engraved invitations, well I guess you have the answer to that. NOT. There are over two hundred members and only 18 have chosen to have their contact information posted on this confidential site. If you give Prevo that information there is no end to who might get it or how it might be used.
I don't see what would be wrong with accepting an invitation on behalf of POG and posting it for any and all to decide to accept or not.
Of all the members very few have anything to say about anything period, let alone to try to decide on going as a group for a rally in a foreign country a year in advance and right around our own July,4 holiday.
What little comment you have received on this topic says something in itself.
I hate to tell you Jim, but Prevost has my information. I have an account in their system and they list me as the owner (unfortunately) of two of coaches, so telling them that I am a POG member is okay with me. They can mail me an engraved invitation that smells like MangoMike at Latino Night and I will be happy to respond.
And I think we are looking at this the wrong way. I don't think anyone who has read more than one of my posts on this board doesn't think I am below having fun at the expense of others. And that being the case, let me think about this; French Canadians, PPs and other affiliated organizations are going to be in attendance?
IT'S THE FREAKING SUPER BOWL OF OPPORTUNIES TO JACK WITH THE UNANOINTED. Wake the hell up and see this for what it is; more fun that the law allows. Crap I might just retire after this one.
It's an opportunity made in heaven and I for one am ALL IN. Let the practical jokes begin. And I'm taking the masters with me, so Canada in 08 eh? MangoMike, the PlastiKrakster and JDUB are on it like stink on Lew.
Looks like we may need a seminar at Branson to weed out the bedwetters and handwringers......
You're just trying to find someone to present the Viagra award to. You'll get some poor unsuspecting soul who doesn't know this is a group of people that put air in their own tires thinking you are completely serious.
I'm just concerned because if we end up going to war with Canada over your antics, half of Florida will have to close down this winter, and it will all be your fault. Eh?
Count the plastic truckster in, Jdub trying to order taco's or ribs in French, priceless. I just stuck the big POG sticker on the front of the plasticmobile, so I'm ready.
Hopefully Jeep won't see any of this, the yellow thingy he drags around just won't cut it in Canada. Eh!
Jim, are you going to buy a bus or what? I need to get some of this heat off me, so if you don't buy something soon, you could be next in the barrel!:D
What's the hurry. It took Mango 9 months to find his baby.;)
Jim,
With a join date of March your only a few months away from Nirvana, so don't be offering Mango as an excuse past December.
Eh,
Mapquest says its 746 from DC to Prevost Central so it might be a deal. I've already started collecting the necessary 2 litre Diet Coke bottles with the plan of ringing the entire PP contingent (I can slither in and infiltrate since I'm a member) with the Mentos bombs timed for Happy Hour.
I'm pretty sure we can throw a Prevost wrapper around the truckster so he'll fit right in. And if that doesn't work will put one around his Plastic Fantastic SOB.
We're also tossing around some ideas that include low flying banner planes and massive amounts of magnetic LED's.
JDUB's right, this maybe the superbowl.
... and a good chance anyone from POG never gets invited back to the Motherland.
mm
We might be surprised! Once the PP folks meet Mango, get their hat's, t-shirts and free jerk chicken invitations, I predict there will be some defectors coming on board POG.
Here's another suggestion: As the supreme POG/Stuff commanders, Lobster Boy and the Woodwacker should jump in the car and run up there to check out this rally thingy. Hey, it's only about 300 miles boys and what else do you have to do in Maine in the winter..:p