Ron and Barb had been sold on the Bounder motorhome in January of last year when they attended an RV show in Tucson, Arizona, but they weren't  ready to buy at that time. They kept talking about “maybe” looking at  motorhomes when they finished their volunteer work at the LBJ ranch this next May.

The Hofmeisters were camped in Kissimmee, Florida, and struck up a conversation with a couple camped nearby. Fred and Doris Davis, full-timers from the west coast, had just picked up their new Bounder from LazyDays RV sales in Tampa, Florida. They had purchased it over the phone (from California) and drove cross country to make the trade. They said that no one could beat the deal from LazyDays. That impressed the Hofmeisters, and for a minute they talked about driving over to Tampa when they were camping in Lakeland  to “just look.” They dismissed that idea. It would be too much torture since they still weren't ready to buy.

A few days later, when they pulled into the CC Campground in Lakeland, they were told that the park was having an RV show and to be sure and browse through the models. Since they were right there, Barb convinced Ron that it was harmless to look. One of the models on display was a 34 foot Bounder and it seemed so big to Barb. Ron asked for a price after trade in, and it was better than he thought it would be. He started doing some figuring and later suggested they take the short drive to Tampa to see what kind of price LazyDays could come up with. 

LazyDays has to be the largest RV dealer in the world just from the size of their lots---one each for motorhomes, trailers, bus conversions and used RVs. Salesman, Pat Overby, was very helpful and he took plenty of time to show the couple Bounders and other similar motorhomes. They discussed used coaches, diesel vs. gas engines, hydraulic levelers, awnings, back up camera, and made a deal on a 1993, 34-foot Ford Chassis Bounder with all of the luxuries except a horn to play “On the Road Again.” The Bounder they wanted was not in stock, but Pat promised it would be there by December 1. 

Both Barb and Ron remarked that this was the most relaxed buying experience ever. “There was no pressure and everything was handled very professionally and speedily,” said Ron. Just as promised, the motorhome was indeed ready. In fact Ron and Barb received a call on Saturday, November 28, saying the coach was in. Early Monday morning they left West Palm Beach and drove to Tampa arriving at close to four p.m. 

Barb explained, “We figured we were too late to take delivery that day, but we hoped they would let us park in the lot anyway. You see, there was a Kinkos Copy Center just down the road and I wanted to get the December Newsletters printed and out before we started moving. We were told to check in at the main office and when we did, we were greeted by our salesman Pat, and the credit gal, Lori. In less than one-half hour, all the papers were signed and the house was ours. They told us they would park us next to the Bounder and we could move in at our convenience. They added that we could take as much time as we needed. It was a beautiful surprise.” 

By six p.m., the two motorhomes were parked side-by-side in the service lot, and the gates were locked for the night. The security couple came to say, “hello,” and mentioned that if there was anything they could do to help, just to holler. At first Barb and Ron just looked at their new home with awe. They would get the walk through in the morning, but in the meantime, they just opened cupboards and drawers and languished in all the room. Ron sat on the couch then one of the chairs and back on the couch. His eyes were looking up at the blank television screen. “This is gonna be great. I can lay here and watch football games.” Barb groaned, but turned on the television so he could have the full effect. 

Barb's thoughts were about how nice it was going to be to walk to the bedroom or bathroom and actually close a door; and she would be able to keep the computer set up and not affect dinner at the dinette. 

After a while, they put their comfort on hold and started moving. Barb wasn't sure where to begin. Since she hadn't been able to make a bed without sitting on it for the last three and one half years, she opted to make the bed first. “It's like a bed in a house,” she exclaimed, “I can walk around it.” Deciding where to put things was somewhat of a problem although Barb commented that she had been “moving mentally” all that month so she had a pretty good idea where everything could go. “Having so much cupboard and outside storage space is like heaven,” she added.

Ron moved goods into the outside compartments and carried baskets full of things into the Bounder while Barb put things away inside. At one time Ron was heard to holler, “Where did all this stuff come from?  We must have been overweight.” As Barb was putting it away she too wondered where it had all been stashed.

At 10 p.m., they took a break to deliver the Newsletters to Kinkos. Instead of waiting for it to be printed, they made arrangements to pick it up the next day. There was more moving to do. Finally at midnight, Ron and Barb pulled the shades and fell into bed exhausted. The first night in their new home. 

Their “move in coordinator,” Bill, spent about one and one half hour doing the walk through with the Hofmeisters the next morning. They learned about the two furnaces, two air conditioners, the hydraulic leveling jacks, awnings (one  patio & four window), two televisions, built in VCR, microwave, water filter system, back up camera, water and sewer hookups, 7000 Onan generator and all the storage compartments. 

The rest of the day was spent between moving, folding Newsletterss, and taking a tour of the facility. Barb wanted to know all about this efficient and very successful business. She was most fascinated by the 48 service bays some of which are very specialized. For example, two bays and a team of specialists are devoted to just making RVs handicap accessible. The couple saw some horribly mangled RVs which were being re-built and one whose repair was just completed. After hurricane Andrew and a local tornado, the service department had had some major repair jobs. 

Barb was especially impressed with the 40 by 20 training room where walls were plastered with 10 large customer service signs. Their motto covers a large outside wall: "To make sure that our customers feel so good about the product that they bought and their decision to buy from us that they become our customers for life.” 
 

After spending a week in Winter Haven, they went back to LazyDays to get some minor warranty work done and were again treated like someone special. Although it took three days to get the necessary part for the furnace (new model year parts weren't in stock), Ron and Barb were camped in comfort in a service bay right next to the customer lounge and lots of fresh coffee. They understood that normally there is a hostess there who makes and serves fresh sticky buns each morning. She has been in Miami since hurricane Andrew though. LazyDays set up an office there to help house the homeless. Ron and Barb weren't the only ones “camped” in the service lot either time. Others were moving from motorhome to motorhome and fifth-wheel to fifth- wheel and so on. After all, the company sells approximately 250 units a month and services about 30 units a day. 

Barb wondered how Ron would feel driving the monster, and he surprised her by taking to it like a duck to water. Barb detailed the driving experience. “The night we left Tampa (the first time) and headed to Winter Haven, it seemed to get dark fast and we were on a curvy, two-lane road with no shoulder. He drove it like it was nothing and all the while I was thinking that I couldn't have done that. He made me drive it on our way to Texas and I have to admit it isn't that much different from our Mallard Sprinter. Actually it is stranger being the passenger. If I walk all the way back to the bedroom, I can't see Ron. He can't see me either because of the side aisle design; and, it is so long.”

Ron commented, “It doesn't take long to get used to luxury.”