What's in a name?

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

We all know that Fleetwood Folding Trailers lost their right to use the Coleman brand name in May 2003. But for the sake of this thread  let's pretend you didn't know about it and you're looking at 2 brand new campers on a dealer's lot. They're identical except one has the Coleman sticker on the side.

Which one would you buy and why?

[Civil_War_Buff]

I would probably opt for the "Coleman" marked unit.  The reason is because Coleman has always been associated with camping and quality, so I would expect that the Coleman trailer would be more trouble free than one marked something else.  When FFT was making Coleman, I had to separate the fact that it was Fleetwood making the trailer, because Fleetwood Industries has a marginal reputation in the RV world, so as long as I was buying a Coleman I wasn't buying a Fleetwood. Just my .02, and it is an interesting question.

[tlhdoc]

I try not to buy something because of the name/brand, but if they were identical in construction and the cost was the same I would buy the Coleman.  If the Coleman was more expensive I would buy the brand X camper.  I would not pay more for the Coleman name alone.

[Dee4j]

I would probably buy Coleman name. even if they're identical the name is so wide known and reconized the resale value would probably hold better or at least be easier to sell

[brainpause]

I agree with what has been said for the most part. I would buy the Coleman camper too. Grew up in a Coleman. Have a nearby reputable (former) Coleman dealer, and if I were ignorant to all that has gone on, the Coleman name would catch MY eye.

Larry

PS: From the replies that this thread has ALREADY gotten, I think Dave has built a case (intentionally or not) that SOMEBODY ought to spend the money to get the Coleman name on their campers.

[campincrew]

I'd probably go with a name I knew-Coleman.  However, since I own a coleman, I would be predisposed to purchasing a brand of which I had expereince and familiarity.  That being said, IS there a huge difference in price? Is everything else fairly equal?  Generics are just as good as the brand name-right?

[Old Goat]

My 01 Niagara is the third Coleman of the four popups that I have owned.. Coleman would definitely be my first choice if I ever buy another one......

[ForestCreature]

Side to side the same, same wattanty??  I'd opt for the one that was either priced the best or had the better warranty if that were the only difference, regardless of the name on the sidewall.  The name on the side dosen't necessarily mean quality.
 
 Heck, we bought an Aliner not knowing a thing about them other than that is what we liked. (there was almost no info out on the net then about Aliners) There are sure to be others out there that will do the same.

[Wild Wild Qwest]

I'm a contrarian, so I would probably buy the other trailer. I always thought that Coleman's were overhyped, overpriced, and overweight.

[wmkrahling]

All,



I would buy the Coleman.  I know that "names" are not important.  
 
THEY ARE.  :swear:
 
It is for the things you can't see, for the quality of construction, material and workmanship behind the name.  It is to ease my mind to trust the company I am spending sooo much money on to CAMP  and so I can trust that it will last for a while.  
 
If it said "UGO" would you buy it?  
 
Now the Fleetwood has killed Coleman Trailers for now, the Popup industry needs to get a front runner.  This stupid law suit is hurting the popup industry.  The industry needs someone to set the standards.  If it was not Coleman in the past, then who was it?  Even here, we had volumes of material on saggy roofs, plastic rooks, ABS roofs, and sway.  You either love them or not.  But when I look around the campgrounds, the majority I see is still Coleman.


They even had the best Website.  Fleetwood went a head and screwed that up too.



I did not buy a Fleetwood, I bought a Coleman.  The new one will either be a Coleman or anything else but Fleetwood.

[Wild Wild Qwest]

All,
I did not buy a Fleetwood, I bought a Coleman.  The new one will either be a Coleman or anything else but Fleetwood.

wmkrahling, Coleman didn't build them. In fact, the little red licensed sticker says/said Coleman by Fleetwood...

[tlhdoc]

Yes, Fleetwood has built the Coleman PU trailer since the late 1980s.  If you bought one after that it was built by Fleetwood.

[Tentcamp]

When we bought our pop-up we bought it based on what we felt was the best quality of the ones we looked at.  Then we went for the layout that worked for us. Price counted, but we didn't go for cheap if it didn't look like it would hold up.  I don't think the name really matters, if Coleman put their name on a poorly made product I wouldn't buy it even if it was named Coleman. :S

[mikewilley]

When we bought our Coleman/Fleetwood we did not buy it based on the manufacturers reputation or Coleman's either.  We bought based on the dealer's reputation (which by the way, is the same advice I would give any purchaser of a very expensive toy like a camper).

OTOH, The name Coleman will always atract more new buyers than any other name in the camping industry.  I must note that although Coleman products are often outstanding, they are often very proud of them too!  There is no doubt that we could have bought a camper for less than what we paid, but I also paid for my dealer (who is outstanding).

cheers,
mike

[brainpause]

OTOH, The name Coleman will always atract more new buyers than any other name in the camping industry.  I must note that although Coleman products are often outstanding, they are often very proud of them too!  There is no doubt that we could have bought a camper for less than what we paid, but I also paid for my dealer (who is outstanding).

cheers,
mike

Well said.

Larry