| Author | Message | ||
| Ian Giffin (Admin)
Rating: N/A |
Hi folks, Once a year, because we are an FMCA Commercial Member (7719), they send us a "Media Planner" which has advertising rates for the following year's magazine issues. Along with the new rates, they also send along a demographic of their membership. Here are some interesting statistics from that demographic as they relate to our little hobby of converting a bus into a motorhome: The average member has belonged to FMCA for 8 years. So has BNO! Hm!! There are just over 125,000 members of FMCA, so all the following stats are based on that number... 3% of FMCA members own bus conversions. That's about 3,750 members. 70%, or 2,625 of those own coaches that are 102" wide. Another 26%, or 975 own coaches that are 96" wide. Average mileage for members is about 9,000 miles or about 14,400 kms annually. 975 of you spend 30 to 60 days in your bus. 712 spend 61 to 90 days and 1,012 spend 91 to 180 days in your bus. Another 337 spend more than 180 days in your bus but don't live in them full-time. About 412 of you are full-timers. 2,775 of you tow a vehicle and 318 of you never tow a vehicle. Of those who tow a vehicle, 2,539 of you tow the vehicle 4 wheels down (tow bar) and 72 trailer the vehicle. 562 of you read National Geographic. How 'bout that! Leisure time activities are: 2,227 listen to music. 1,950 use the computer (thank you). 1,800 enjoy physical fitness (ahem, the other 1,950 of you should look at this seriously). 1,425 enjoy photography. 1,537 attend spectator sporting events. 1,312 find museums right up their alley. 3,412 of you are married. 337 of you are not. Niles can't even get a date. How did FMCA know that??? Men average 66 years old. Women average 62 years old. 2,775 of you are retired. That's why BNO is still built to work on old computers despite the newer technological advances in delivery processes. From the BNO numbers, I see that BNO viewers visited 764,491 times and registered 18,000,798 "hits" in the last 12 months. Nope, not a record!! We had the most visitors in September (77,245), but the most traffic in January (2,102,079 hits). Our weakest visitor month was December of last year (51,995) and traffic was lightest also in September (1,236,792 hits). The point of this message, of course, is that I like to report where BNO is in the general scheme of life and to, once again, thank each and every one of you for your continued support of this little web site. In FMCA statistics keeping which reports independently from those which BNO accumulates, we see that there are 3,750 bus conversion enthusiasts. In September, we averaged 3,225 visitors a day. That means that BNO is viewed by about 86% of the entire bus conversion enthusiast population daily, which, of course, includes those with and without computers. Wow! Again, thank you for 8 years of overwhelming support. You're the best, folks, really you are. I have said this many times and think about it every day - without you this web site wouldn't exist. How deeply indebted to every single viewer for not only making the success of this web site evident, but most importantly for the many, many friendships I have made over the years. Thank you one and all. Warmest best wishes. And safe driving to you all. Ian www.busnut.com | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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3412 of you apparently are jealous of Niles' single status - Niles (P.S.-have you got a single daughter?) | ||
| Cliff (Floridacracker)
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Ian, Very interestinggggggg(Sgt Schultz voice) I was amazed at how many bus conversions were out there. The number was higher than I would have guessed. And Ian, "Thank You" for being the Web Master of this Web site and sometimes Ring Master of the conversation. Cliff | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
FMCA only records the number of bus conversions by their members. I would expect that there are twice that many conversions but the owners are not FMCA members. | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
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Niles and I are both too busy working on our ever-demanding buses to bother with even more demanding DATES fer cryin out loud. Sheesh. Would I rather work on the bus another hour or stand in front of a sink trying to get the grease out from under my fingernails preparing for a DATE?! Would I rather buy a new ammeter or a bunch of dumb flowers that will be dead in a week?! DUUH! Thanks for the stats, Bossnut! | ||
| Dale L. Waller (Happycampersrus)
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Ian, I can see why BNO has a high number of hits. Before I found BNO I didn't have anyone to talk buses with. My friends and family thought I was nuts, guess they are right. At least here I am among fellow Busnuts. I USED to look at some of the inferior sites, but most of them are hard to navigate so I just check this one daily. I am not a fan of RE whatever & RE,RE whatever thats just to time consuming to dig through. Thanks Ian for the great site!!! Dale | ||
| C Fred
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Hi Ian why don't you start a BNO chapter. It would be great fun for all. And we could meet more than once a year. I am sure there would be interest. Fred | ||
| Jon W. Rating: N/A |
Unspoken in the numbers is a recognition of the folks that own a conventional MH, but want a bus. I'll bet there are a lot of folks waiting and dreaming of owning a bus. | ||
| DMDave Rating: N/A |
I always check out the BNO first when I get time on the puter.Where else can you get so much info and entertainment on what we love. I spend alot of time in the archives getting some good info. Thanks Ian and all the other members. Now if I could figure out how to get my bus picture on the profile! | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
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When I first started thinking about a bus I tried to join FMCA. They refused because I didn't own an RV so I subscribed to the magazine because it was the only one I knew of then. I had never owned an RV. When the subscription expires I am through with FMCA. | ||
| david anderson (Davidanderson)
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Thanks for the info, Ian. I agree the numbers of conversions are higher because I'm one of the non FMCA members but a bus owner. One thing surprises me is the number of 102" wide coaches. That implies lots of more recent model coaches or lots of transits. That statistic really surprised me. I also kind of lean to the idea that most of the coaches were bought converted and done by a professional for hire company and the demographics of most of the owners are of high financial means. Just an opinion. David 1985 Houston Metro Eagle 10 96" wide | ||
| Linda 4104 FL Rating: N/A |
Ian, we all (even those who may not get around to posting a response on this thread) owe a lot of thanks to YOU (and to Maisie too, who I bet is also much involved) for providing this site. Without BNO and the opportunity for communication and camaraderie in the bus conversion community, we would be lost! THANK YOU!! | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Ditto Linda a million times! I quit FMCA long ago. They promote the campgrounds that exclude a motorhome over ten years old. Your website pulls us all together, and is anti-discriminatory. You've accomplished what the commercial enterprises could not. You've got a faithful following! Run with it, Bro! | ||
| Larry & Lynne Dixon (Larry_d)
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Hi Ian, this is from a new owner of a conversion and a newbee to BNO. Already you and the people have helped me get thru some trying times with the 4905. My wife said when she was trying to put the for sale add for our BBWonderlodge 4 yrs ago you were so much help also, so from a newbee My Hat is off to you SIR Larry 4905 | ||
| Pat Bartlett (Muddog16)
Rating: N/A |
Thanks Ian, I am one of those types that when my eyes open its time to get up! My daily routine starts here every morning, to check the new posts. So many on this board are just plain funny! You know if i was paying a mental health professional for this theraphy (and it is just that, Great Theraphy!) I would probably be broke or institutionalized by now! The many tips, links, opinions on this board have made doing my conversion so much more enjoyable. I know I'm not alone out here in Mayberry when this computer is just a finger stroke away! Again thanks for having such a great site! One more thing you mean 102's are in?..........Geeze now you tell me!  Pat: http://prevostlemirage.blogspot.com/ | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
"you mean 102's are in?..........Geeze now you tell me!" No problamo, Pat! Just pop-rivet some sheet metal to the sides, paint it the same color, and away you go. Who's gonna' know? My "9" looks like a 102"....well.. depends on the light.... We just got through painting it: PIX | ||
| Pat Bartlett (Muddog16)
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Laughing, John that is one Hawt Bus! Now why didn't i think of that? Pat | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
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John, if you ever decide to sell her, let me know. She would fit in great here in the hills of West Virginnia. Richard | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
HAR... Not mine to sell, tho. It's parked on Micco Rd., south of Grant, Florida, about 1/2 hour from us. It's a real eye catcher. I should do our "9" like that, ehh? But I'd never get into the FMCA award winning KOA places...... (Hmm...Someone told me that KOA stands for Kill Old Adults. There have been some strange disappearances of the elderly at the KOAs, too...) | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Rating: N/A |
In Oct I stayed a 10 days at a casino RV park (three of those days I was getting the drive shaft replaced!!) at a very reasonable rate and it was a very nice park. Ours was the only bus the whole time. There were a bunch of older sticks and staples and about the same number of huge new ones with trailers and various others scattered about. It was kind of nice with all the variety and the management were not snobs at all. The amusing part was that two of the newest, largest monsters were towed from the park by heavy duty wreckers. I know it isn't polite, but I had to snicker a bit. Why do these newer monsters have such godawful paint jobs? It looks as if someone painted them with their eyes closed. It seems almost as if the idea is to camouflage the shape. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A |
Thanks Ian! Always nice to know where we fit in. Niles, can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em! You really don't want me to send Bre and her sister over to straighten you out, do you? happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
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Thanks, Ian. This is the first board I hit. The others are only if I have time for them. It's a tremendous help for us and for many others, I'm sure. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher Ketchikan, Alaska |