RTT why so much $$$$

[Corey]

Originally Posted by JJonesee

All that said I picked up an older Mombasa tent, for $300. It was 5 min from my house.

Safety Alert
Ran across this one year old thread this morning.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/camping-gear...er-200lbs.html

Make sure you have the upgraded ladder.
The new one is more like the AutoHome ladders.
This guy's ladder broke on him and left his wife and three beagles stranded until he got a ladder out of his shop.

You will want to contact Mel at www.car-top-tent.com/

[Mike S]

I am in this business - the RTT business - so I'll pipe in with a few comments...

I would never discourage anyone from doing their own thing, even building something that is mounted on the roof of a vehicle and travels down the road at 70 MPH, holds and protects him and possibly his family, and that should last for years of use.

As a distributor, I buy tents which I pay for in advance by wire transfer in currency that fluctuates in cost, have the products transported in ocean containers from the manufacturer, pay insurance and for a customs bond, pay customs, and a bunch of 'charges' added by the freight forwarder, transport the tents to a warehouse and carefully unload and store them for sale. I pay prepare estimates and shipping documents and dispatch shipments. I maintain a website and print literature, mail out catalogs at $3 each for mailing costs, attend shows and occasionally donate a tent to a worthy cause. This is before the sale.

I answer a lot of questions - sitting at the phone eight hours a day - from people who may, or may not, buy a tent from us. Fair enough - I do not stint on distributing information to people who ask. I take credit cards and pay to have them processed, and pay for crating and shipping - which is passed on the the customer. I also absorb costs associated with shipping damage, or the occasional customer who just changes his mind. I pay bank charges and bookkeeping costs. I pay taxes.

After the sale, I believe in serving those customers who buy from me by offering a warranty, and carryinga stock of spare parts - whether they are ever needed is not important - I must have them available. They also cost money.

In all this we try to have fun and make a moderate profit so that we will be here next time the customer needs us. Of course you can build one cheaper than you can buy it. But you will not have the same product, service, warranty, spare parts, or assistance.

Just a thought.

[Corey]

Mike, I am glad for one you are in the business, and I am glad you take phone calls as I have often called you for information before I bought my AirLand and afterwards.

Your business and service is top notch.

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by Corey

Mike, I am glad for one you are in the business, and I am glad you take phone calls as I have often called you for information before I bought my AirLand and afterwards.

Your business and service is top notch.

I'll be the second one to vouch for Mike's superior customer support before, during and after the sale. Kudos Mike. Oh yeah...I'll be calling you about that spare part I need

[Mayne]

Originally Posted by Mike S

I am in this business - the RTT business - so I'll pipe in with a few comments...

I would never discourage anyone from doing their own thing, even building something that is mounted on the roof of a vehicle and travels down the road at 70 MPH, holds and protects him and possibly his family, and that should last for years of use.

As a distributor, I buy tents which I pay for in advance by wire transfer in currency that fluctuates in cost, have the products transported in ocean containers from the manufacturer, pay insurance and for a customs bond, pay customs, and a bunch of 'charges' added by the freight forwarder, transport the tents to a warehouse and carefully unload and store them for sale. I pay prepare estimates and shipping documents and dispatch shipments. I maintain a website and print literature, mail out catalogs at $3 each for mailing costs, attend shows and occasionally donate a tent to a worthy cause. This is before the sale.

I answer a lot of questions - sitting at the phone eight hours a day - from people who may, or may not, buy a tent from us. Fair enough - I do not stint on distributing information to people who ask. I take credit cards and pay to have them processed, and pay for crating and shipping - which is passed on the the customer. I also absorb costs associated with shipping damage, or the occasional customer who just changes his mind. I pay bank charges and bookkeeping costs. I pay taxes.

After the sale, I believe in serving those customers who buy from me by offering a warranty, and carryinga stock of spare parts - whether they are ever needed is not important - I must have them available. They also cost money.

In all this we try to have fun and make a moderate profit so that we will be here next time the customer needs us. Of course you can build one cheaper than you can buy it. But you will not have the same product, service, warranty, spare parts, or assistance.

Just a thought.

I, having exchange correspondance with you, thank you for your time and willingness pass on information about products and service that are no doubt top notch, and fairly priced. My issue is that the products that do exist don't fit my particular needs/wants.
I would love an out of the box solution for my problem, but none have appeared with in reason on this continent. Albiet, the old mid 60's Apache fold outs would work splendidly (modified to the hilt), yet taking the premium of driveway space afforded for only one trailer. I need a be all solution, and I'm aware that I'm asking for more than alot. I will probably upgrade my ground tent, as I keep running in to the same wall (define insanity), and wait until I can buy a second trailer, as time and space permit.

Mayne

[JIMBO]

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=19001

$300 BUCKS

JIMBO

[Martyn]

Originally Posted by Mike S

I am in this business - the RTT business - so I'll pipe in with a few comments...

I would never discourage anyone from doing their own thing, even building something that is mounted on the roof of a vehicle and travels down the road at 70 MPH, holds and protects him and possibly his family, and that should last for years of use.

As a distributor, I buy tents which I pay for in advance by wire transfer in currency that fluctuates in cost, have the products transported in ocean containers from the manufacturer, pay insurance and for a customs bond, pay customs, and a bunch of 'charges' added by the freight forwarder, transport the tents to a warehouse and carefully unload and store them for sale. I pay prepare estimates and shipping documents and dispatch shipments. I maintain a website and print literature, mail out catalogs at $3 each for mailing costs, attend shows and occasionally donate a tent to a worthy cause. This is before the sale.

I answer a lot of questions - sitting at the phone eight hours a day - from people who may, or may not, buy a tent from us. Fair enough - I do not stint on distributing information to people who ask. I take credit cards and pay to have them processed, and pay for crating and shipping - which is passed on the the customer. I also absorb costs associated with shipping damage, or the occasional customer who just changes his mind. I pay bank charges and bookkeeping costs. I pay taxes.

After the sale, I believe in serving those customers who buy from me by offering a warranty, and carryinga stock of spare parts - whether they are ever needed is not important - I must have them available. They also cost money.

In all this we try to have fun and make a moderate profit so that we will be here next time the customer needs us. Of course you can build one cheaper than you can buy it. But you will not have the same product, service, warranty, spare parts, or assistance.

Just a thought.

Sounds like we are in the same sort of business.

I don't know if the average consumers thinks about all these factors or even cares.

My best friend and I camp in a tent that belonged to his Dad, it's a tent made over 30 years ago and still gong strong. When we sell a trailer we expect the owner to use it for a lifetime and pass it on to their kids.

I tend to think that in the "Walmartization" of society we have forgotten about quality products, the real cost of producing goods, and durability.

If we purchase products with short life spans how many times will we need to repeat the purchase? It's not just the long term cost factor it's the waste of resources, and what happens to the discarded products after we are finished with them.

We think we need to make the least expensive purchase because financially we have to. What we need to do is make our purchase based on quality and durability, make the purchase for the long run, invest your money wisely.

If the product you want is outside your price range at the moment set money aside for it and save.

Sorry about "Soap-Boxing", these ideas are very old fashioned, but I think we have all been living with a false sense of security, in a false economy.

[DominicG]

I'm way late to this thread, but i love my RTT (ARB Simpson II). Extremely easy to use and way comfortable for camping. I have probably spent a total of 20-22 night's in it now.. from the hotter than hell desert to way up in the wet and cold mountains.



In the end, it was worth every single penny, and i will not be getting rid of it!


(no, i was not camping in my driveway, just airing everything out from sleeping in the tent for whole week.)

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by DominicG

I'm way late to this thread, but i love my RTT (ARB Simpson II). Extremely easy to use and way comfortable for camping. I have probably spent a total of 20-22 night's in it now.. from the hotter than hell desert to way up in the wet and cold mountains.



In the end, it was worth every single penny, and i will not be getting rid of it!


(no, i was not camping in my driveway, just airing everything out from sleeping in the tent for whole week.)

What awning do you have there?

[Martyn]

Originally Posted by spressomon

What awning do you have there?

Looks like a Camping Lab or ARB.