Looks like OTM closed up shop

Topic: Looks like OTM closed up shop (Read 3900 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #25 – January 04, 2018, 10:45:58 pm

Quote from: Michelle – January 04, 2018, 10:25:20 pm

Discussing legal issues is outside the bounds of the forum. Let's not go there or the topic will be locked.

Ok I will avoid responding to that in the future, it's to bad they closed. As a older coach owner, the forum is invaluable.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #26 – January 04, 2018, 11:31:11 pm

Some of this dialogue seems to come back to the problems of any business, whether it be or may be or been OTM, Encore and FOT back in early 2000 era

I argued before, low prices are not good for the business nor the customer that applauds them when it creates an unsustainable business model.

The Best employees will typically migrate to the employer that is fair to employees and can also provide benefits and better salaries and a sustainable team. That business over time survives if it provides the quality the customer accepts.

The exceptions to such I believe are an employee owned business where the present compensation can be low versus the competition because the owners build for their later perceived much greater reward. The other is where a large organization can cut prices by having other business that can carry the new operation even as it loses money, that they provide total employee compensation it could not otherwise afford, temporarily.

One other aspect. There is a critical mass of talent needed to be viable. That mass is defined by the scope of services offered. I think Encore was a one person senior tech shop? It is hard for even two or three to know all really required for saying you can do everything on all models, oh and cheaper than all others, unless you are the owner doing the work.

As shops form, we all hope they have success. But where they do not, then we can hope for them that the employees are well trained and get picked up by those other shops.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #27 – January 04, 2018, 11:38:05 pm

Last time I called they turned me away. Went to Infinity. Great choice.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #28 – January 05, 2018, 12:10:20 am

Dan, Mark has done and had a great niche shop. Not trying to do everything, keeping small and taking the business he could do on time and support the larger shops like MOT and FOT and RV Station.

You probably knew him back on Appleby Sand Rd where he had no "bay", so the new area is a help. He really had the upholstery market here. Then FOT and MOT expanded into that area as part of major remodels, I think on a larger scale than what Infinity does? I recall a large, expensive Newell bought at MOT where before it left the lot the new owner had MOT do many many coach bucks of remodel, upholstery was just a part.

I know with Isaac at Infinity they do some mechanical work but as far as I last knew are not trying to do sales and take on large inventories of work beyond what Isaac can handle alone. Perhaps Isaac has added an assistant, I am not aware and hope to get out there to check. Bill C. had them replace his refrigerator year or so ago, did good.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #29 – January 05, 2018, 12:40:11 am

Quote from: Michael & Jackie – January 04, 2018, 11:31:11 pm

Some of this dialogue seems to come back to the problems of any business, whether it be or may be or been OTM, Encore and FOT back in early 2000 era

I argued before, low prices are not good for the business nor the customer that applauds them when it creates an unsustainable business model.

The Best employees will typically migrate to the employer that is fair to employees and can also provide benefits and better salaries and a sustainable team. That business over time survives if it provides the quality the customer accepts.

The exceptions to such I believe are an employee owned business where the present compensation can be low versus the competition because the owners build for their later perceived much greater reward. The other is where a large organization can cut prices by having other business that can carry the new operation even as it loses money, that they provide total employee compensation it could not otherwise afford, temporarily.

One other aspect. There is a critical mass of talent needed to be viable. That mass is defined by the scope of services offered. I think Encore was a one person senior tech shop? It is hard for even two or three to know all really required for saying you can do everything on all models, oh and cheaper than all others, unless you are the owner doing the work.

As shops form, we all hope they have success. But where they do not, then we can hope for them that the employees are well trained and get picked up by those other shops.

Well said for any start up business, due to all costs of doing business, unfortunately it may take 2-3 years to turn a profit, especially if the start-up owner"s spouses do not have family health care insurance that is a $1200 or more a month drain plus co-pays and prescriptions. Heck I work for a large construction company and although we track costs carefully it may be 2 years before we know if we actually made a profit when the job is completed. We can only get competive bid projects if we are in the 5-7% profit range.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #30 – January 05, 2018, 05:21:28 pm

We are here in the OTM parking lot. The office area looks like someone has cleaned up and then left. Doors locked. We talked to Beau today and he will be here this afternoon to find out exactly what we need. He said we can stay here until he is done working.

There are three Foretravels here that I assume are for sale. One is a much older coach, one looks like a 320 with tag, and the third is a Phenix.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #31 – January 05, 2018, 08:20:28 pm

Beau came in about 5:45. He is taking over the lease of the building, at least temporarily. He already had our air bags ordered, and will start on us on Monday - just as originally scheduled. He is working 10-12 hours/day seven days a week all over the area. No wonder he's so skinny.

While Beau and I were taking a Jeep pulled in and a gentleman got out. We had met him earlier in Branson, saw we were here, and came by to say hello. Beau had worked on his coach earlier. Tomorrow we'll meet up with some other Foretravelers, so should be a fun weekend.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #32 – January 06, 2018, 12:40:14 am

We know where Issac is and where Adam is working. I want to know where Wayne is. This man knows a LOT about Foretravels. If anyone finds out, please let us know. Thanks

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #33 – January 06, 2018, 12:51:00 am

Britney, the office assistant, responded to an email I sent her yesterday. She had very little information and had not worked there since late November. She had not been "let go" and was waiting for a call from Lance that never came. She has not been in contact with Adam or Wayne.
Glad Beau is able to take care of your air bags, Glenn.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #34 – January 15, 2018, 01:48:05 am

This post sheds a lot of light on my recent experience. I hate to see any small business in distress and have to close up shop. My experience with OTM started a few months ago when I called them to take advantage of their airbag replacement special. I spoke with Britney. She was very knowledgeable. I didn't make an appointment that day because I needed to find available time to take it in for the repair.

I pinpointed a date where I could get the coach over there and called back to leave a deposit and make an appointment. I am guessing this is when they were having the phone issues. I was not able to get anyone, so in early December, I drove over to their shop (not far; I live in Lufkin) to meet with them in person. I spoke with a lady in the front office (not sure if it was Britney or someone else?) who acknowledged their phone issues. I was somewhat surprised there was no activity in the service bays that I could see at the time, but they were open for business.

I told her I wanted to make an appointment and went down a list of services I was hoping to have done while it was there. I was hoping to get on the schedule before I walked out the door; that was the whole reason for my personal visit. She took notes on a Post-It and told me that someone would call me back to confirm my service reservation and send me an email with instructions for the airbag deposit. I left a phone number and my email address. This was early December. The call back and email never came.

The airbags still need to be replaced. Rudy recommend Beau to me about a year ago and I have ready a lot about him on the forum. When I contacted Beau, he was not doing repairs at the time. Although I have never done business with him, I am glad to hear Beau is back in the saddle at what I hear he is very skilled at doing and it sounds like he is still in high demand.

I have an appointment with FOT in early March. I wouldn't mind supporting an independent repair shop/person and would really like to have the service done sooner if possible seeing all my five year old wants for his March birthday is for our family to take a "motorhome trip." He chose that over a traditional birthday party and I couldn't be more delighted! These years are precious ones and I would hate for the coach to still be down during my little guy's spring break... it'll be here before we know it!

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #35 – January 15, 2018, 11:06:45 am

Somebody approach Beau and mention having one bay availible for rent to the do it yourselfer.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #36 – January 15, 2018, 02:53:22 pm

Quote from: John44 – January 15, 2018, 11:06:45 am

Somebody approach Beau and mention having one bay availible for rent to the do it yourselfer.

The use of the bay would be great, but would not be much use to me without all my tools. I can never predict what tools I would need for a project.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #37 – January 15, 2018, 03:09:56 pm

Quote from: John44 – January 15, 2018, 11:06:45 am

Somebody approach Beau and mention having one bay availible for rent to the do it yourselfer.

In most shops, the insurance companies don't like you even IN the shop, much less work on the coach!

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #38 – January 15, 2018, 03:56:49 pm

That leaves FT or MOT as viable options to us.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #39 – January 16, 2018, 01:45:00 am

Quote from: John/Pat – January 15, 2018, 03:56:49 pm

That leaves FT or MOT as viable options to us.

Remember there are FT approved shops around the country. We have three in the southern California area.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #40 – January 16, 2018, 06:44:13 am

While that is true not many of them have the knowledge these two shops do. I used Cummins for all the engine needs and some chassis but we spent a day chasing down why my M11 would stall when I turned on the AC at the dash. In the 99 and 2000 model year the EMC shared the same breaker as the condesor cooling fan which is behind the tire. I got the word where to check from a forum member but FT knew of the issue and it would have been a 30 min fix. I had to send for the fan and wait on overnight shipping and get two new breakers. Now we had schematics and were following wires but the diagnoses time was as much as it would have costed me in fuel then to drive to FT. I really liked it when they had factory stores in CA WA TN and FL. It meant service was a days drive and done by people who know the coach. I think that FT should go back to that model and sell on service not how pretty the coach is.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #41 – January 16, 2018, 07:08:48 am

I thought FOT's main selling points were quality planning, craftsmanship, and the use of quality materials.
When coaches are built to a customer's specific orders compared to most RV builders mass production then labor & material costs cannot be spread over a large number or units. They are most likely unit-specific.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #42 – January 16, 2018, 09:23:04 pm

Beau told me yesterday that the owner of the property is selling it, so Beau will not be able to lease it.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #43 – January 17, 2018, 03:35:33 pm

Issac Anderson is a Factory Trained Foretravel Technician at Infinity.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #44 – January 18, 2018, 10:31:56 am

Quote from: jimmy_walther – January 16, 2018, 09:23:04 pm

Beau told me yesterday that the owner of the property is selling it, so Beau will not be able to lease it.

While at MOT this week I was told that David is interested in buying the property where OTM was located. Eventually the entire MOT operation will be on the west side of the highway where they now own about 21 acres of land.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #45 – January 18, 2018, 07:30:11 pm

OTM is a natural add to the adjacent MOT property for their RV park.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #46 – January 18, 2018, 08:38:26 pm

While we were there a prospective buyer was looking at the property. Don't know who it was.

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #47 – January 18, 2018, 08:57:35 pm

Quote from: jimmy_walther – January 16, 2018, 09:23:04 pm

Beau told me yesterday that the owner of the property is selling it, so Beau will not be able to lease it.

Quote from: SteveB – January 18, 2018, 10:31:56 am

While at MOT this week I was told that David is interested in buying the property where OTM was located. Eventually the entire MOT operation will be on the west side of the highway where they now own about 21 acres of land.

Quote from: kb0zke – January 18, 2018, 08:38:26 pm

While we were there a prospective buyer was looking at the property. Don't know who it was.

Quote from: Michael & Jackie – January 18, 2018, 07:30:11 pm

OTM is a natural add to the adjacent MOT property for their RV park.

And the plot thickens...

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #48 – January 18, 2018, 11:56:37 pm

Guess I wont need to stop and talk to them tomorrow when I got to Foretravel to pick up my coach, I might just have to go to Butcher Boys for a early lunch "LOL"

Re: Looks like OTM closed up shop

Reply #49 – January 19, 2018, 12:09:40 pm

I didn't see the property listed in the commercial RE listings.

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