Date: Mon, 9 May 2016 12:27:28 -0400
Reply-To: Tom Buese <tantonbz@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Buese <tantonbz@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon rentals are catching on
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2016050912003255@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Here's another 1 in Maine. I met the owner @ Transporter Fest last year,
but have no other experience w/ the Rental Co.
www.mainecampers.com
I just had an old Type 2 List member friend want to rent my 84 Westy while
touring Maine this week. I never got back to him while I was trying to
break in the newly rebuilt 2.1 I had built/installed in the van, & still
only have a couple of hundred miles on it, since the install, so was
hesitant to make some $$ on it, even though I trust the Volk.
YMMV,
Mr. BZ
On Mon, May 9, 2016 at 12:00 PM, Scott Quinnett <dragonflyvans@gmail.com>
wrote:
> This thread was just brought to my attention. I have been doing this
> business for almost 10 yrs now. When I started there were two places in
> California and one in Hawaii(Maybe two) that, in my humble opinion, were
> basically making average VW campers available. Nothing more with one
> exception. VSWagons. I have been contacted by many attempted "start
> ups" over the past few years and a particular spike in attention in the
> last two years. They are looking for insurance, feedback, experience,
> revenue, etc. etc. Admittedly I haven't been very open or friendly,
> I've got a lot to do daily and I'm a Mechanic/Technician first, and
> social butterfly with a cool business concept in a far far second. In
> order for renting to make sense and be profitable you have to ask big
> money. That concept doesn't translate until your customers have
> actually used the van and returning with that "ah ha" moment of
> understanding the value. Also, I probably turn away as many people as
> I rent to. I litterally research everyone who I intend to rent to. If
> your familiar with the TV show Seinfeld, my friends call me the "van
> nazi". "NO VAN FOR YOU!" as I am very stick about who and how my
> campers are being used. I am a self made person and I've built everyone
> of these vans with my own hands and they are mine, my daughters if you
> will. They are not for everybody. blah blah blah......but I'm 9 years
> into with only one failure that needed roadside attention.(chest
> pounding) In any case, I'd love anyone to chime in with opinions about
> this. More I'd love to hear the horror stories of others having done
> the same thing. In fact, that might be the whole purpose of my
> participating. It may be a "misery love company" thing. No one can
> empathize with this kind of thing, but can sympathize with the concept
> of morons f'n up your vans. errrrr..... Looking forward to hearing
> from folks. One day I intend on producing a coffee table book regarding
> the horror stories. I believe on VW Van owners will appreciate it.
> Peace.
>
--
Tom Buese
|