Here's what I sent. I got the same standard reply.

Dear Mr. Lemonis-

I recently learned of your public outrage at the images of Donald Trump's sons from their recent safari in Zimbabwe.

To be honest, given the way that conservation in Africa has been portrayed incorrectly by what many would think are very reputable sources, I understand your indignation. However, I would suggest that you do a little research on your own.

What you'll find is that regulated sport hunting, which is what the boys were engaging in, is the only thing that keeps African wildlife from being slaughtered in a wholesale fashion across most of the continent. This is very different than illegal poaching. The countries with well-managed and well-regulated sport hunting, such as Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, and Taznania have seen their wildlife flourish over the past 30 years. Those that don't, such as Kenya, have seen their wildlife get decimated during the same time. The reason? Sport hunting is what pays for conservation, and more importantly enforcement in these countries. Many have actually implemented programs, such as the CAMPFIRE program in Zimbabwe, which funnel the fee paid by sport hunters into the local economy. These funds give actual value to the wildlife that would normally be considered a nuisance, or danger, and not tolerated. I encourage you to look at their website,http://www.campfirezimbabwe.org/

The truth of the matter is that while many people don't like seeing animals like leopards and elephants killed, these animals must be managed just like any other. These animals are not endangered where they were hunted, and the hunt these boys were on was completely legal and ethical. The money they spent on this hunt was vital to conservation in Zimbabwe, and I can guarantee that every scrap of the meat from all of their animals was used. Protein is in very short supply, and nothing goes to waste there.

quote:

IMHO, the problem is not with the folks in their stores but the upper management thast has lost sight (if they ever knew) of who their customers are.

Do we keep supporting them just because they have good folks working for them, or do we send them a message that they need to be a little more informed before commenting about something?

their third response is really funny.

It read "this is not fair..."

Anybody else gotten that one.

I responded that they had set the tone and timbre with their cancellation of sponsorship; and that I was simply taking the same marketing approach they had instituted. Can't wait for the response to that one.

Sent directly to Mr. Lemonis

Mr. Lemonis, I just wanted to inform you personally I will no longer be a customer of your company. I am an avid outdoorsman and conservationist who supports the use of renewable resources worldwide. My hunting dollars provide habitat for both game and non-game species. The dollars I have personally spent in Africa provided for a cash poor local economy that now values it's local game as both food (donated from the hunt) and as income. Consequently, that value means the continuation of the wildlife. Without that value the wildlife will be poached out in short order. You need only look to countries like Kenya where, outside of parks, wildlife have been replaced by cattle since hunting was halted. I own an RV. I am in two local RV clubs. I am a member in three national outdoorsman associations. I will do my best to see that your unilateral and ill conceived decision to criticize the financial and LEGAL contribution the Trump brothers have made to the impoverished local community in which they hunted LEGALLY in Zimbabwe provides your company with exactly the opposite effect you were wishing for. I first read of your decision on a worldwide sportsman's forum called Accurate Reloading. Perhaps you would like to become a member and join us in dialogue in order that we better understand what at this point appears to be a foolish decision on your part. http://forums.accuratereloadin...043/m/8131000371/p/1

Cheers Jim & Joyce Wojciehowski

I bet Mr. Lemonis has gotten himself up a couple of rungs on the PETA ladder!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I bet Mr. Lemonis has gotten himself up a couple of rungs on the PETA ladder!

Probably thinks he needs to do such things at the age of 37.

Mr. Marcus A. Lemonis, age 37, has been Chief Executive Officer and President of Camping World, Inc. a subsidiary of Affinity Group Holding Inc. and Affinity Group, Inc. since September 13, 2006 and of FreedomRoads Holding Company, LLC and its subsidiaries since 2003. Mr. Lemonis serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of FreedomRoads/Camping World. Mr. Lemonis Co-founded FreedomRoads, LLC., in 2003 and serves as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lemonis served as Chief Executive Officer of Holiday RV Superstores Inc. from June 2001 to February 4, 2003 and President from March 2001 to October 2001. Prior to that, he served as Director of Megastore Operations for the Northeast region and Florida and Director of Regional Operations for the North, Midwest and Northeast regions of AutoNation USA and also served in various positions since May 1997. Prior to that, from June 1995 to 1999, Mr. Lemonis served as an Assistant General Manager of Anthony Abraham Chevrolet. He serves as Chairman of FreedomRoads, LLC and FreedomRoads/Camping World. Mr. Lemonis served as the Chairman of the Board of Holiday RV Superstores Inc., from October 2001 to February 4, 2003. He has been a Director of Camping World, Inc., since February 21, 2006. Mr. Lemonis served as a Director of Holiday RV Superstores Inc. until February 4, 2003.

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Originally posted by DLS:

quote:

Originally posted by CCMDoc:
My repeated email to Mr. Lemonis:

quote:

Dear Mr. Lemonis,
While I too believe in freedom of speech and you are certainly entitled to share your perspective, I would suggest you have your facts correct before making a disparaging comment about another’s activities. Though you may not hunt nor believe that hunting is a right, you are incorrect on the status of the game the Trumps hunted in Zimbabwe.

The facts are that the Trumps did not hunt or take any endangered species in Zimbabwe. None. Not one.

If you were told otherwise, I’ll offer a piece of advice I give to every physician I train:

“Do not believe anything anybody ever tells you. Not ever. Do your own research and make certain of the facts before you speak or do. Lives are at hand and you are not to let another’s error, no matter how innocent, become your own.”

His response to me (after the standard fodder to which I repeated my email):

I respectfully disagree
I have pictures you do not

Marcus


What else can be said?

Can someone here find the names and addresses of their Board of Directors members? We should bombard them all with letters explaining the truth, as well as demanding a public apology and retraction from Mr. Lemonis. Also, I've sent out an email to every sportsman and RV owner in my email address book, telling them about this and encouraging them to never do business with Camping World again, unless they change their stance. If enough of us do this, it'll have an impact, I believe. I, for one, am totally sick and tired of this crap and have decided to fight back more than I ever have in the past.

Well done Doug.

SLICED UP MY CAMPING WORLD MEMBERSHIP CARD AND SENT IT BACK TO THE BASTARDS WITH A SHORT EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I WOULD NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH THEM AGAIN AND WOULD ENCOURAGE MY RV'ER FRIENDS TO DO LIKEWISE!

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:
Think about this.......... just as we few hunters bombard them with mail voicing our displeasure at their comments on hunting, they probably receive an equal amount of mail from anti hunters threatening boycott of their stores because they were advertizing on the Trump TV show. I think we are the minority on this matter.

BM, so your solution is to give up and resign yourself to second class status in this battle? If so, I'm disappointed in you.

No, my point is that they are probably between a rock and a hard place as they are receiving threats of boycott from both sides. If they were to receive 1000 mails from each group, who should they listen to?

Since I do not own an RV me boycotting does not have an impact. But my parents own a RV and all their friends in their RV club own RVs. They have agreed to boycott, that's 425 RV owners taking their business elsewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:
Think about this.......... just as we few hunters bombard them with mail voicing our displeasure at their comments on hunting, they probably receive an equal amount of mail from anti hunters threatening boycott of their stores because they were advertizing on the Trump TV show. I think we are the minority on this matter.

BM, so your solution is to give up and resign yourself to second class status in this battle? If so, I'm disappointed in you.

No, my point is that they are probably between a rock and a hard place as they are receiving threats of boycott from both sides. If they were to receive 1000 mails from each group, who should they listen to?

Bwana - Point taken! However, I think you would find that alot more hunters/sportsman are likely to be potential customers of CAMPING WORLD than the anti-hunting/greenies, who can't stand to leave the city!

Lately I have been working with a big-wig at NASCAR on some group elk hunts they want for this fall. Many of them are hunters, Richard Childress and I talked last year at SCI for over an hour about a Tanzania Safari, and just yesterday I sent the NASCAR guys a copy of CAMPING WORLD'S position, and my response. NASCAR is a monstrous organization, with millions of fans here in the U.S., the vast majority of which are much more likely to be sportsman, than not. I am hoping they will take a stance?

My whole point is, I hear your point, but regardless - I will not go quietly into the night! Evil prevails when good men do NOTHING!

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:
Think about this.......... just as we few hunters bombard them with mail voicing our displeasure at their comments on hunting, they probably receive an equal amount of mail from anti hunters threatening boycott of their stores because they were advertizing on the Trump TV show. I think we are the minority on this matter.

Not true. In Australia hunters and shooters have shown they can easily outnumber greenies, antis and other extreme nutjobs in the poll, email sending, letter wrting campaigns. Usually 9:1 ratio.

No reason America is any different and in fact I imagine if hunters and shooters organise the ratio in the USA would be higher than Australia's.

All it needs is some good people organising it and using the power of the shooting forums and similar to do it.

quote:

All it needs is some good people organising it and using the power of the shooting forums and similar to do it

That is an excellent statement. However, we as a group do not have to wait for anyone to organise us. Each of us that love hunting, know other hunters that may not be aware of this issue, not, EVERYONE participates on forums.

We also have aquaintences that may not hunt but have nothing against hunting, but do camp and enjoy the outdoors.

Lastly, we really need people to stop and think where their actual loyalties lie and what hunting really means to them.

Not picking on any one, but just because a species is listed by CITIES, does not mean they are that critically endangered or even threatened, Over Their WHOLE Range, and can be and are legally hunted.

Instead of siding with the detractors, do a little research before commenting.

Email sent. I wonder if they really care. They are pandering to the ignorant left. I wonder what endangered species the boys took while there. Maybe they hunted an intelligent politician, oh my what a contradiction in terms.

Brain 1
That's a good one!

Brian1 and yet so true.

I wonder how many of these e-mails are being read by Mr Lemonis. Or is it a customer service rep who truly doesn't know what is happening and therefore becomes the "voice" of the entire company?

Has anyone here sent a simple "thank you" email to the Trumps? I am sure the other side is saturating their inboxes with hate.

Sure would be nice if Cabela's or Midway would pick up the open advertising slot left by Camping World.

Ken
A letter of support would be nice, but I don't have a clue how to reach them.

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
[Bwana - Point taken! However, I think you would find that alot more hunters/sportsman are likely to be potential customers of CAMPING WORLD than the anti-hunting/greenies, who can't stand to leave the city!

Excellent point. They're not going to get out of cell/wi-fi signal for very long.

I've bought one small item from Camping World and now get plenty of junk snail mail and email from them. Will unsubscribe from e-mail with a comment and mail them back they're junk mail next time.

There are some interesting ideas being presented here which merit follow up. First, sending the Trumps, any of them, emails in support would be a good thing to do. Perhaps someone can find a way to reach them? Second, encouraging groups like NASCAR to take a stance against Camping World, as Aaron has done, are excellent ways to leverage our position. Imagine the impact of having a boycott by NASCAR fans of Camping World! THAT would be a huge impact. Third, encouraging some other outdoors oriented retailer to buy ad time on 'The Apprentice' would be excellent. That would show other retailers where we stand, as well as the Trumps.

In some ways, this issue reminds me of politics in America. The liberal left are so vocal and are perceived as being stronger than they should be. The silent majority needs a lot to happen to provoke them into responding. Perhaps 2012 is the year when we'll begin to prevail and assert ourselves in both arenas.

Rec'd the same corportate e-mail "To clarify our position................... blah! Blah!

Diappointing but expected.

Mark

DLS

The Trumps can be contacted through Facebook.

Mark

I just sent Mr. Trump a word of encouragement.

SQUEEZE THE LEMONis!

Maybe the Trumps can create a new TV show

"The Apprentice PH"

Twelve would be hopefuls compete to become an African Professional Hunter.

Which one will be eaten by a maneating lion?

Which one will be gored by a buffalo?

Which one will be stomped into mincemeat by a ele?

Which one will be shot by mistake by a panic'd client?

Which one will be shot by a client for seducing his daughter or wife or mistress?

The Apprentices which get fired will be the lucky ones!

The successful Apprentice PH which screws the clients out of the most tips at the end will be the WINNER!

Actually, if taken back to a more basic level, I would watch that show.

I got a reply from MR. Lemonis....his reply was

"Then do not come back! We do not need you as a customer. You simply do not understand our stance on Trophy Hunting and it is fine to lose customers over that."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! Wow is all I can say!

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:

Not true. In Australia hunters and shooters have shown they can easily outnumber greenies, antis and other extreme nutjobs in the poll, email sending, letter wrting campaigns. Usually 9:1 ratio.

If this is true, please explain your gun bans and confiscations. Sounds as though you may be outnumbered there. Not trying to start an argument, just curious.

quote:

Originally posted by FishLake-ElkHunter:
I got a reply from MR. Lemonis....his reply was

"Then do not come back! We do not need you as a customer. You simply do not understand our stance on Trophy Hunting and it is fine to lose customers over that."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! Wow is all I can say!

quote:

Originally posted by FishLake-ElkHunter:
I got a reply from MR. Lemonis....his reply was

"Then do not come back! We do not need you as a customer. You simply do not understand our stance on Trophy Hunting and it is fine to lose customers over that."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! Wow is all I can say!

You should post his entire response including his email address so all can see it. If you do so, I intend to forward it to my email list with his contact info included.

Is this on 24 hr camp fire?

We in New Zealand cannot do much about this except pass the info to a few American friends who do not post here.

Everybody has a boss, including Lemonis! Affinity Group must own other companies, lets find out what and boycott them and E-mail them with the reasons! Ill thought-out, knee-jerk reactions like this one could have far-ranging effects on a corporation, this looks like a good one to find out on!

Update! www.affinitygroup.com Stephan Adams-C.E.O.
Their competitors are : Outdoor Resorts, R.E.I. and Thousand Trails. Time to get Mr. Adams attention and tell them why you are switching to their competitors!

Keep e-mailing him, the first reply I got was the same form message. Then this weekend, I got a reply signed by Marcus (or his assistant, PR rep or whoever) saying:

"I am and always have been about freedom of choice This problem is about more than that

Respect of people and life is all that I ask
People have hunted since the dawn of man and will continue to
It is a sport and ones choice

It's that simple for me

Marcus"

It seems to me this guy has made the standard emotional reaction and assumes he is right and continues to attempt to defend the ignorant decision. Of course one never knows who is actually making these type of decisions although it would not seem to be helping his business! I like Aaron's angle of making sure Childress and NASCAR take notice of how the sponsor of the NASCAR truck series is pissing off many of their long-time fans.

quote:

Affinity Group

Here is what I found on Google search

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Sam_Enterprises
http://www.goodsamclub.com/

Stephen Adams is 97% shareholder of Camping World. It is interesting that he is a major contributor to the GOP! I wonder if his views on trophy hunting are different.

I just sent my third email re-afirming that I have "fired" them -

Being an avid RV'r have spent a ton there over the years --- well that just came to a big time Whoa!

[QUOTE]
However, I think you would find that alot more hunters/sportsman are likely to be potential customers of CAMPING WORLD than the anti-hunting/greenies, who can't stand to leave the city!

QUOTE]


Plus it's hard to pull much of a rig behind a Subaru.

quote:

Originally posted by Lhook7:

quote:

Originally posted by FishLake-ElkHunter:
I got a reply from MR. Lemonis....his reply was

"Then do not come back! We do not need you as a customer. You simply do not understand our stance on Trophy Hunting and it is fine to lose customers over that."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! Wow is all I can say!

You should post his entire response including his email address so all can see it. If you do so, I intend to forward it to my email list with his contact info included.

+1

Post it!!