MNC is at 2.38 this morning. It is holding it own
with a downward trend that reflects the entire industry.

Camping World Service is not the solution. Our local Monaco dealer, Foley RV, has gone to all CW service. The results are awful for anything more complex than routine service. CW is high volume, low overhead. That's fine if all you need is high profit service such as lube/oil change. Need professional body work, electrical troubleshooting, chassis repairs, etc, you'd better go somewhere with a professional service department.

I just heard that Monaco is closing production and service in Indiana and will move all DP production to the west coast.

dreamer.

Copied from RV business news::

BREAKING NEWS
Monaco Cutting Ind. Operations, Laying Off 1,400
RV Business
Thursday, July 17, 2008

Monaco Coach Corp. is consolidating its Indiana service and production operations, including the closure of all facilities in Wakarusa, Elkhart and Nappanee.

According to the company, the shutdown is scheduled for around Sept. 17. Production of the majority of motorized units currently manufactured at these locations will be relocated to Monaco's headquarters in Coburg, Ore. Production of two of the models will be relocated to the company's Warsaw, Ind., manufacturing location.

Towable production will also be integrated into Monaco's Warsaw location, formerly the site of R-Vision Inc., which Monaco acquired in November 2005.

"We have implemented several successful initiatives over the past 18 months in an effort to size our business to match declining market demand,” said Kay Toolson, Monaco chairman and CEO. “However, market conditions have continued to deteriorate, and we do not see significant improvements occurring in the near future. Therefore, the company finds it necessary to take further action by implementing a significant capacity reduction.

"We deeply regret the impact that shutting down these operations will have on our employees and their families as well as the communities in which they live and work."

Approximately 1,400 hourly and salaried employees will be impacted by the move, or 33% of the company's total work force. Monaco Coach will still maintain a presence in the Northern Indiana area with approximately 700 employees at its Warsaw, Milford and Goshen operations.

quote:

Monaco Cutting Ind. Operations, Laying Off 1,400
RV Business

Something not even covered yet is the potential prospect that the RV banking/loan indrustry might also be headed for an upward gain on bad RV consumer loan activity called "Jingle Mail". With the economy/pricing the way it is, some RV'ers might start soon defaulting on overpriced RV loans and just walking away, leaving the RV indrustry/banks holding bad loans/paper and overstocked with A/B and C Class RV invertory. Guess it's getting bad all over. P.S. Jingle mail is when an RV Owner mails in the RV/5th wheel keys back to the bank with nothing else in the letter.... thus "Jingle mail".

quote:

BREAKING NEWS
Monaco Cutting Ind. Operations, Laying Off 1,400
RV Business
Thursday, July 17, 2008
I hate to hear that especially for the employees affected and of course for my own convienence to the Indiana service facilities.
Although I am about as far on the other end of the state from the Indiana service plants that you can be and still be in Indiana its still a lot better then driving to Florida or Oregon.
I tell you things are getting bad and I wonder if Monaco can survive at all.
Don't want to get to personal here but I think this is just the beginning of things if you know what I mean.
Keith

I think they are taking wise steps to help survive. Here is the whole press release.

Monaco breaking news

quote:

Don't want to get to personal here but I think this is just the beginning of things if you know what I mean.
Keith

Exactly, unless they cut producting/exspences/resorts/costs to the bone (including the very top management wages), it is what it is!.) I still say, that if Monaco offers the really die hard product owners a current model upgrade/share in the challenge/problem, they just may see better days ahead. Guess this means factory repairs will become really rare. Boy Oh boy.

Maybe this will be a wake-up for Monaco, & other mfg.to concentrate on quality in place of quantity -- Bill Willard

Bad news for sure but they need to trim there cost to stay alive. I just noticed they are giving rebates on RVs in stock.