Warning RV scam

We got a call yesterday asking what we thought about a GREAT deal on a Jayco trailer. Only $2,500 for a big 2006 unit on eBay with free shipping. The book value appeared to be over $12,000! What a deal! Just one problem, it was a phishing scam. If you had paid $2,500 you would have never heard from them again. The web site was an eBay look alike, not really eBay. Upon investigation, I found the same bargain on Craigslist throughout the country. Many of the sites had alreay flagged the information as a phishing scheme.

Many bluegrass'ers are campers and often looking for great deals. If it is almost too good to be true ...

RV Industry recovering?

The Oct. 15, 2010 Wall Street Journal had an article regarding Winnebago and their improved earnings. The first paragraphs said:

Profit at recreational-vehicle maker Winnebago Industries Inc. has revved up in recent months, though the industry is still operating at half-speed, following a sales slide during the economic recession.

The Forest City, Iowa, company on Thursday posted a profit of $4.9 million, or 17 cents a share, for its fiscal fourth quarter that ended Aug. 28, compared with a year-earlier loss of $50.2 million, or $1.73 a share, which included a $1.41-a-share write-down of deferred tax assets. Revenue more than doubled to $123.1 million from a year earlier.

For the year, Winnebago said motor-home shipments more than doubled and dealer inventory for its vehicles jumped 21%.

Read the complete story at the Journal

This bodes well for the Bluegrass Industry which relies heavily on campers at outdoor festivals.

Jayco beefing up production

On March 3, 2010, Jayco announced that it will be hiring back workers and reopening one of its plants. Back in November, Jayco rehired 130 workers at its Middlebury plant. On Wednesday we learned that Starcraft RV -- a division of Jayco -- will resume production in Topeka in May.

That plant has been closed since January of last year, but now 50 jobs will be created as production of one Starcraft model moves to Topeka. Over time, it is expected that all Starcraft production will be back in LaGrange County.

(Bluegrass festivals generally have a lot of campers so improvement in the RV industry is important. In Northern Indiana, the RV industry hiring means more folks working and lower unemployment, good news for our Kendallville, IN festivals. J.W.)

RV production looking better

On Nov. 17, 2009, the Wall Street Journal published an article about the recovering RV industry, especially Thor. This could be very positive news for our festivals and the bluegrass industry in general. What do you think?