08-11-2026, 03:07 PM
This has been a very confusing thread for me. When I started it, I thought it was a relatively straightforward question and in hindsight that was apparently not the case.
I'm new here, and as a result have been pondering and thinking of the "right" way to respond to everyone's comments. I've come to realize there is no "right" way, or better stated if there is a right way, I'm too dumb to understand it. With that in mind, I'm just going to be honest.
After the first several replies, I did not feel welcome here at all. It was a very strange place where I felt like I was "gossiping" or worse "tattling" on someone who was just stating an opinion. At the end of this thread, I felt and thought 180 degrees different, and that is this is a good group of guys with a lot of knowledge to share, and that the 1 year plus of reading, studying and research I did led me to right brand. When I started this, I was 90% certain that Foretravel was in my future, now? I'm 90% certain that it is Newell in my future.
Tom, thank you for maintaining and starting this forum. Thank you also for reaching out to Grant, and to Grant for taking the time to post. I don't think there can be any doubt as to Newell's commitment to the brand and to the owners when its CEO is that straightforward in what he says. I am convinced that they (Newell) will do everything they can do to get me back on the road. You cannot ask more than that from anyone, and the stated fact that they'll help, is all I really needed. And much more than most RV (or car/truck/van/boat/plane) owners get.
There was also a nugget of wisdom in his post that kind of clarified the comments I received on the other forum. Gave them a sense of legitimacy too in a strange way. He used two phrases - "best as they can" and "vast majority of their needs". To me, this is expected, after all wisdom and knowledge is not only written down but it is carried around in employees heads. Those employees leave, retire, and eventually pass away. So, there is and always will be knowledge drain. That can, and I'm sure does put context around the comments I received elsewhere. Undoubtedly, some folks get turned away and get frustrated. But the stated willingness to 'try and help" was enough for me.
This is my first coach purchase. It is a big step, but I'll be 60 this year. I know what I want and what meets my needs, and to the best of my ability will eventually find what I want.
To those of you who helped me - THANK YOU. Sincerely.
Finally, there was a comment made by one, and echoed by others about "not getting involved in forum wars". I'm not sure those goals were attained here. Here's what I'll say - perhaps all the criticisms levied at that other forum are 100% true. It's certainly not what I have experienced "over there", but I'm not the authority on anything. Those folks genuinely answered my questions, made me feel welcome, and shared their experience both good and bad. I focused on the bad because it did not match anything I'd read anywhere. I brought it here not to spread gossip, but rather, I figured most of you had first hand experience to put the color behind it. Some of you did, and again, Thank you. It clarified things for me.
I'll still be around mostly reading in the background. When I buy a coach, I'm sure I will have many questions. Hopefully some of you will help me when that time comes. Maybe someday, I'll even be able to pay it forward.
I'm new here, and as a result have been pondering and thinking of the "right" way to respond to everyone's comments. I've come to realize there is no "right" way, or better stated if there is a right way, I'm too dumb to understand it. With that in mind, I'm just going to be honest.
After the first several replies, I did not feel welcome here at all. It was a very strange place where I felt like I was "gossiping" or worse "tattling" on someone who was just stating an opinion. At the end of this thread, I felt and thought 180 degrees different, and that is this is a good group of guys with a lot of knowledge to share, and that the 1 year plus of reading, studying and research I did led me to right brand. When I started this, I was 90% certain that Foretravel was in my future, now? I'm 90% certain that it is Newell in my future.
Tom, thank you for maintaining and starting this forum. Thank you also for reaching out to Grant, and to Grant for taking the time to post. I don't think there can be any doubt as to Newell's commitment to the brand and to the owners when its CEO is that straightforward in what he says. I am convinced that they (Newell) will do everything they can do to get me back on the road. You cannot ask more than that from anyone, and the stated fact that they'll help, is all I really needed. And much more than most RV (or car/truck/van/boat/plane) owners get.
There was also a nugget of wisdom in his post that kind of clarified the comments I received on the other forum. Gave them a sense of legitimacy too in a strange way. He used two phrases - "best as they can" and "vast majority of their needs". To me, this is expected, after all wisdom and knowledge is not only written down but it is carried around in employees heads. Those employees leave, retire, and eventually pass away. So, there is and always will be knowledge drain. That can, and I'm sure does put context around the comments I received elsewhere. Undoubtedly, some folks get turned away and get frustrated. But the stated willingness to 'try and help" was enough for me.
This is my first coach purchase. It is a big step, but I'll be 60 this year. I know what I want and what meets my needs, and to the best of my ability will eventually find what I want.
To those of you who helped me - THANK YOU. Sincerely.
Finally, there was a comment made by one, and echoed by others about "not getting involved in forum wars". I'm not sure those goals were attained here. Here's what I'll say - perhaps all the criticisms levied at that other forum are 100% true. It's certainly not what I have experienced "over there", but I'm not the authority on anything. Those folks genuinely answered my questions, made me feel welcome, and shared their experience both good and bad. I focused on the bad because it did not match anything I'd read anywhere. I brought it here not to spread gossip, but rather, I figured most of you had first hand experience to put the color behind it. Some of you did, and again, Thank you. It clarified things for me.
I'll still be around mostly reading in the background. When I buy a coach, I'm sure I will have many questions. Hopefully some of you will help me when that time comes. Maybe someday, I'll even be able to pay it forward.