Will 2017 production be sold out on April 1st 2016?

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by freespirit

another random thought..
if the 2017 Escape price increase included rising costs associated with components sourced in USA & the current USA/CAD exchange rate being less than 1 to 1
...if the exchange rate creeps back to 1 to 1 will the Escape price decrease?

I can think of at least one time when Escape actually decreased the purchase price. That was several years ago when they were able to negotiate better prices for the products (appliances?) they were using to build the trailers. So it can happen. Whether it does or not

[gbaglo]

I'm sure Escape purchases a set number of units at a set price for a contract term.
I expect that they have been losing money having to sell trailers for less, with components that they paid for at par.
So, I wouldn't expect prices to be adjusted weekly as the dollar goes up or down.

[BCnomad]

Don't forget that the E21 is only 8" shorter than the largest Ollie.

The E17 is 1" longer than the smaller Ollie.

This is for cabin to cabin measurements as given by the factories, not overall lengths.

[Jim Bennett]

Thanks, Donna. You took the wind right out of my sails. I was going to mention that price decrease.

Only Escape can answer that question for certain anyway. Though our dollar may strengthen somewhat, based on everything I have heard, it will not likely be very much, not for some time yet.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by freespirit

I can't help but wonder what the impact if any of Rice Texas sales would be on Escape sales if the exchange rate was 1 to 1 and if they had any interest in offering a tandem axle trailer either 19 and /or a 21 with some improvements and even while lacking the Escapes custom ability.

I assume that this is a reference to Casita; since this is an Escape forum, some readers may not recognize Rice as the Casita company's location.

As far as I recall, Casita hasn't added a model or made a significant design change since the introduction of the 17-foot model... which I don't think was in this century (interior furnishing changes may be the exception). The most recent Scamp model change (the introduction of the 19') was some time before that. The relative value of Canadian and U.S. currently was close to at par for much of the time since those model additions.

Both of these competing companies (Casita and Evelands) seem to have settled on what they have been building for decades as the only models of interest to them... and if those models suit a buyer, then those companies are providing good products for that right buyer - they certainly should have worked out any kinks by now. Asking what the effect would be of Casita building a 19' to 21' tandem seems to me to be a bit like asking what the impact on the world would be if it started to spin the other direction: interesting, but irrelevant to reality.

Originally Posted by freespirit

... if the 2017 Escape price increase included rising costs associated with components sourced in USA & the current USA/CAD exchange rate being less than 1 to 1
...if the exchange rate creeps back to 1 to 1 will the Escape price decrease?

One might guess so. Since Escape kept paying increased costs for imported materials and components for a long time before raising prices, it seems reasonable to me to expect that a return to previous pricing might take a long time, too.

[thoer]

And some of us have stories about the wonderful customer service one of those other 2 firms offer[emoji849]

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

One might guess so. Since Escape kept paying increased costs for imported materials and components for a long time before raising prices, it seems reasonable to me to expect that a return to previous pricing might take a long time, too.

With the changes and upgrades to standard features that Escape is doing (though all details have yet to be revealed), a good percentage of that increase is irrespective of the exchange rates effect on pricing. For example, should the new windows cost Escape twice as much as the previous ones, that extra cost is included in the price increase. If these windows are sourced through a US company, and the Canadian dollar strengthens a bit, only a very small percentage of the price increase would be affected, not the entire upgrade amount.

[Ruthe]

Freespirit, that's what I've been wondering. Escape would have a backlog of items they've already purchased outside Canada so they couldn't drop the prices on that. It's really tricky for them.

[Rossue]

Just in time ordering is what created Wal-Mart. As a cellphone retailer starting in 2011 when smartphones began to take off I was ordering daily rather than weekly to better manage inventory because prices and handsets were constantly changing...and there was no price protection or returns beyond a paltry amount.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

With the changes and upgrades to standard features that Escape is doing (though all details have yet to be revealed), a good percentage of that increase is irrespective of the exchange rates effect on pricing.

Good point - price drops due to the cost of imported goods would only match the rises due to the same magnitude of cost increases. Of course, over the last few years that's a meaningful fraction of the cost of the trailer.

Originally Posted by Rossue

Just in time ordering is what created Wal-Mart. As a cellphone retailer starting in 2011 when smartphones began to take off I was ordering daily rather than weekly to better manage inventory because prices and handsets were constantly changing...and there was no price protection or returns beyond a paltry amount.

Just-in-time ordering offloads inventory management to the supplier, and requires transportation of variable small quantities of stock on demand. For huge companies such as Walmart (and auto manufacturers), they buy so much that they can force the supplier to absorb these costs, and the "small" daily quantities are still truckloads. For Escape, having each stovetop separately delivered doesn't seem reasonable or economically feasible. I'm guessing that they buy months of components and materials at a time.

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by freespirit

another random thought..
if the 2017 Escape price increase included rising costs associated with components sourced in USA & the current USA/CAD exchange rate being less than 1 to 1
...if the exchange rate creeps back to 1 to 1 will the Escape price decrease?

HA! That's like asking if the airlines are gonna do away with all their extra surcharges that they claimed they needed to charge to cover the high fuel costs. But now with lower costs, are we seeing those charges go away? Nope!

[Greg A]

It is a difficult thing for a company to back a products base pricing down, but if CA $ does strengthen, and it ultimately will, you can reduce option prices or include popular options for no charge. Most folks probably have almost 30% of their final price in options and reducing the hit on that figure can lower the pricing without having to touch the base price if need be in the future.

[PGDriver]

Originally Posted by freespirit

another random thought..
if the 2017 Escape price increase included rising costs associated with components sourced in USA & the current USA/CAD exchange rate being less than 1 to 1
...if the exchange rate creeps back to 1 to 1 will the Escape price decrease?

You do realize that ETI is a private company and can set their prices as they see fit regardless of what the exchange rate is or does.
As consumers we can choose if there is value for money in their product. Judging by the wait for their product we have determined there indeed is.

Cheers
Doug

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

For huge companies such as Walmart (and auto manufacturers), they buy so much that they can force the supplier to absorb these costs, and the "small" daily quantities are still truckloads.

The operative word here being force. Don't even get me started on the Walmarts of the world driving small (supplier) operations out of business or creating a world of cheap and throw-away goods; low prices and even lower expectations. End of rant. Thank goodness, ETI does not follow this business model.

[gocamp]

Escape did lower their prices one year. The materials cost lowered so they lowered the trailer prices. Its in the archives. Reace and Tammy got in here and told us. They are the most honest people you can meet. A rare treat, we are very lucky to have them.

[Bobbito]

Also, I was surprised how long it was before they raised their prices. The dollar differential was big and clearly not a fluctuation before they acted. You could see it had to happen. The changes to standard features will likely explain the portion of the increase exceeding the exchange rate. BTW the LED interior lighting was standardized since we got our trailer in May 2015. I can't wait for April 1st to come and see what other goodies are now included.
Bob K

[Steve Clark]

Originally Posted by KarenH

The operative word here being force. Don't even get me started on the Walmarts of the world driving small (supplier) operations out of business or creating a world of cheap and throw-away goods; low prices and even lower expectations. End of rant. Thank goodness, ETI does not follow this business model.

Yay Karen.

[azjack]

We bought two Escape trailers, one in 2010 and another in 2013. I believe the 2010 exchange rate was close to par and the 2013 was not too far away. I would have liked current exchange rates, but we thought the price was good then due to quality and service and if we had to buy another we would because it would still be the best unit available regardless of exchange rates.
Jack

[GregandTeresa]

Originally Posted by Loren & Cathy

I got my current issue of Trailer Life magazine yesterday and featured on the cover was a 23' Oliver fiberglass trailer made in Tennessee. Price as equipped was $57,000. Loren

Exactly why we did not even consider the Olivers. Even though they are a short 45 minute drive from us, and I drive by their factory about once a month.

[steve dunham]

After reading this thread through several times and taking the sentiments expressed to their logical conclusion ,we have decided to go for an Oliver or Airstream trailer. It will wipe out a large portion of our retirement savings but what the heck you only live once.