Country Coach May be Closing

[Kevin Erion]

I agree with Bruce, should we be the ones to put in print that our bus has dropped 50% in the last 12 months. I don't believe that is the case with all units! Let the water seek it's own level and we should not force it in any direction.
If you need to sell fast, you will drop the price. If you take care of your bus and don't have to unload it in a big hurry, the informed buyer will appreciate the TLC and pay more for that.
If something must be done with the price guide, make it go away, you can always bring it back under more favorable times.

[ajhaig]

Ray,

I can't tell you how much I miss the bus. Every once and a while I see one on the road... it's killing me!

AJ

[Alek&Lucia]

The current POG valuations are way off the market, so the pricing guide should either be scrapped or updated.

I think we should go for "the leave the prices as they are, since they reflect the market, as within the parameters of original cost of construction and supply and demand. There will always be folks on the street, that are willing to take a great cut for their rig, due to personal financial current situation, but I do not believe that someones lack of fluid cash should be forced on all the rigs on the road.
Remember, you have to take into consideration, many factors, eg. original price, age, all the upgrades, gadgets, and current condition, We keep our rigs in tip top shape, some in better condition that when they left the original converter (mechanically), so why should I sacrifice the value of mine, because someone else is having a financial (bust year) or vise a versa.
If we continue the original thought, our rigs, will soon be worth same or less than plastic.
I have nothing against plastic, since I also started that way, but I used to live in a marginal neighborhood in Chicago a long time ago, compare that to you get what you pay for, why should I cheapen the best (I feel that there is no reason to do so.)
The prices will go up. This is from our 25 years experience in prices of recreational Real Estate Market.

Alek

[truk4u]

I don't quite understand all the hoopla over the pricing guide, no one pays any attention to it anyway. Do you really think the Converters, Banks, Insurance Companies and Buyers actually rely on the POG Guide to set values?

You can hug your bus everyday, but the bottom line, is the market will drive the prices and they are what they are. If you think it's bad now, just wait!

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

Glad your coming back in AJ.




On the price list;

I also think that if there is going to be a list, then it must be accurate, or it looses credibility.

In this market if there is going to be a list it needs to be authenticated more frequently than yearly. Perhaps every 30 days is more like it.

One of the best parts of the list is the + & - adders and detractors.
If there must be a list, it could be made more vague so that a prospective buyer could compare one converter against another in relative terms, rather than with specific dollar amounts, it would be more relative to the times.

Certainly anyone in POG that reads the posts, attends the Rallies, and is seriously interested in buying a bus, knows when he sees a bus for sale that is priced right, and when it is not.

Every bus is somewhat different than any other. When a buyer sees the bus he wants (must have) he will buy it (if he has the money) regardless of where it is on the price list.

Buses are like realestate. A buyer, or seller, needs to study the market, and to compare sales prices and listing prices. After all that is the way the price list will be compiled anyway.
Presently these prices are more volatile and change more frequently than in the past.

Unless the list is kept current and up to date I recommend no list!

JIM

[jonnie]

Look guys, I don't own a Prevost, I am just a wanabee. However, I do know that the "book" never bought anything as far as I'm concerned. There is an ass for every seat and it is only worth what someone is willing to pay and you are willing to accept. That is the "market". All this may change in this new world we live in, but until it does buyers and sellers make the market and the price. If you don't like the price don't sell or buy.

Roger, chime in here. Your business is the prime example of this.

[rfoster]

Amen Johnnie, your right on.

Personally I never could get behind the pricing guesstimate that was on POG, cause the guy that came up with it lacked in credibility as to actual buying and selling experience. We referred to such activity as a pen hooker at best.

Forget about it. Pricing guides such as Nada, Black book, Kelley, Edmonds, and who ever else you can think have been so far out of wack the last six to eight months, it has been disastarous to those dealers using books to "buy" by and then they can't sell for a decent profit to survive. Leave the Prevost to the market place. No price guide!!!

But as our new President has indicated, profits are not what he thinks we should be working for? And Pelosi wants you to eat a lot of Tuna. And Pittsburg paid the refs.

That should draw some fire.

[rbeecher]

Roger,

Why didn't you run for President? You are right on every count!

Richard
02 Marathon XL II 45
96 VOGUE XL 40 For Sale, too good to give away!

[garyde]

When I was looking for my Bus, I looked at a lot of RV websites at Prevosts, I went to RV Shows, I spoke to Dealers. There was no unbiased resource out there. Salesmen and people selling their coach is not a reliable guideline.
POG helped me confirm baseline pricing. That was very helpful.
POG had no dog in the race. It was helpful and one of the reasons I originally joined.
Whatever Price guidelines say, they are still very general and flexible. At some point, it needs to be updated.

[rickdesilva]

All your automotive pricing guides are based on historical transaction prices. NADA for example compiles both wholesale (auction) and Retail transaction prices (from dealers). The only consistant item with prevost evaluations is the shell and the variable becomes the converter. I don't know of anyone consistently compiling and analyzing high line bus transactions. The numbers are so limited and the difference between converters and installed assessories is so wide that anyone attempting to create a price guide especially in this business atmosphere is nothing more than a "gut" feeling. I think some owners are "firesaleing" coaches to raise cash, a sale like that doesn't really represent the true value of the coach. So until someone has access to accurate info its best to do nothing and let the marketplace dictate prices.