Why Fleetwood dropped the Coleman name.?

[BC Stone]

I sold my Coleman Mesa last year and just loved it.  I am now in the market to buy another tent trailer.  I recently visited the rv center I originally had bought my Coleman from. Come to find out that Fleetwood had dropped the Coleman name.  I really didnt get a satisfactory answer from the salesman as to why the Coleman name was dropped from Fleetwood.  I've looked and looked for an answer but cannot find any explanation as to why.   Is there anyone with an answer

I also decided I'm going to look at the Starcrafts and Jayco's.  My concern with the Jaycos is their pulley system's which seem to be a problem among many owners in forums I have come across.

[TheViking]

I sold my Coleman Mesa last year and just loved it. I am now in the market to buy another tent trailer. I recently visited the rv center I originally had bought my Coleman from. Come to find out that Fleetwood had dropped the Coleman name. I really didnt get a satisfactory answer from the salesman as to why the Coleman name was dropped from Fleetwood. I've looked and looked for an answer but cannot find any explanation as to why. Is there anyone with an answer
 
I also decided I'm going to look at the Starcrafts and Jayco's. My concern with the Jaycos is their pulley system's which seem to be a problem among many owners in forums I have come across.

 
I would give Viking's a look as well.

[brainpause]

Check out these threads:

http://arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=53504&highlight=lawsuit

http://arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=52150&highlight=lawsuit

http://arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=50316&highlight=lawsuit

Fleetwood and Coleman basically got into it (over money, according to Fleetwood) (over quality, according to Coleman). Coachmen "bought" the Coleman name to put on a new line of trailers (that you now see as Coachmen Futura trailers). Fleetwood sued to keep the name off trailers and won, and now there is no such thing as a new Coleman camper.

That, of course, is the Reader's Digest version.

Larry

[AustinBoston]

Check out these threads:

http://arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=53504&highlight=lawsuit

http://arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=52150&highlight=lawsuit

http://arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=50316&highlight=lawsuit

Fleetwood and Coleman basically got into it (over money, according to Fleetwood) (over quality, according to Coleman). Coachmen "bought" the Coleman name to put on a new line of trailers (that you now see as Coachmen Futura trailers). Fleetwood sued to keep the name off trailers and won, and now there is no such thing as a new Coleman camper.

That, of course, is the Reader's Digest version.

Larry

That's it, in a nutshell.  Profit by litigation.

Austin

[hoppy]

IIRC, my understanding for the fall out between Coleman and Fleetwood was nothing honorable like a disagreement over quality issues..... it was more like  over money.

 Fleetwood introduced a hybrid line of campers (Caravan) and placed the Coleman trademark name on them feeling they did not need to pay the royalty, since they were not a "true" PU. Well Coleman believed that they should, and the fighting in court began.

 But If you are looking to replace a Coleman with a Coleman clone, you now have two choices. All the Fleetwood PU lines, and the Coachmen "Futura" line of PU's.

[TheViking]

Not to make it more confusing but, Coachmen, the company that bought the Coleman name is also in cahoots with Viking PU's.  So, technically, you could buy a Coleman Coachmen Viking pop-up.  You just have to decide if you want the Clipper/Legend/Futura, or the ever popular Futura/Legend/Clipper model.

Got it?

[Eaglecamper]

That's it, in a nutshell.  Profit by litigation.

Austin

I love this   , the American way. I sue, you sue, we all sue each other. The lawyers get rich, and the stock soars!! It's a thing of beauty.  :usflag:  :eyecrazy:  

[Tim5055]

Actually, in this case jsut about everyone lost.

• Fleetwood lost the ability to market using a well recognized name.  They may do OK in the end, but I'm sure they lost market share because of it.  Additionally FFT was fined around 15 million by the court for violating the original agreement if I am correct.  That's not chump change.
• Coleman lost the revenue stream FFT brought to the table.  When Fleetwood purchased the Coleman pop up line in the 80's they got all of thefloorplans, patents and the exclusive rights to use the name "Coleman" on all recreational vehicles in perpuitity (meaning forever).  The court upheld this clause of the contract when they told Coleman tha they couldn't sell the name to Coachmen/Viking
• Coachmen/Viking lost because they ended up looking a little stupid having designed a new line of campers to wear the Coleman badge and ended up not being able to use the name.  If that wasn't all the problems they needed, they had already begun putting together a new Coleman dealer network which they had to back down on creating; now selling the Futura through existing dealer networks.  I'm sure they lost a bundle of money with all the trouble.

As someone said, only the lawers make money :yikes:

[brainpause]

Well said, Tim.

Larry

[AustinBoston]

Actually, in this case jsut about everyone lost.

Fleetwood lost the ability to market using a well recognized name.  They may do OK in the end, but I'm sure they lost market share because of it.

I'm not.  They were already downplaying the "Coleman" name and playing up the "Fleetwood" name.

Additionally FFT was fined around 15 million by the court for violating the original agreement if I am correct.  That's not chump change.

Coleman lost the revenue stream FFT brought to the table.

It would have taken them a long time to make 15 million dollars on royalties.  I don't have the actual figures, but 15 million dollars wasn't just 2-3 years.

When Coachman got involved, I thought it was stupid.  But I also thought it was an opportunity for FFT to "sell back" the name to Coleman for 15 m illion dollars...i.e., if we don't have to pay the 15 million, you can avoid being sued by Coachman.  But they blew that chance.

FWIW, the top people at Coleman and Fleetwood were both recently replaced, and they might be able to reach a deal that ends the (still ongoing) litigation.  I don't know if they are trying.

Austin