Avondale Caravans NO LONGER!

[RogerP]

I have agree with Rioja

I've looked at Avondales a few times and they just dont appeal to me. They seem to be very dated compared to the competition

and more expensive.

That said I hope they pull through whatever challenges they're facing , so that there's genuine choice in the market place.

(still can get my head around the Swift / Explorer duplication across brands just for brand loyalty)

 

[mistermac]

Hi

The company's gone into receivership.

Bad news, eh?

Mac

 

[AnnM1]

This all sounds like very bad news for some friends. Whilst travelling north on holiday they managed to lose the large Ekie roof light! When they took their caravan to a dealership en route they were told that "..... it would be 3 weeks before they received a replacement. ....". They were given no idea why --- now I know! The next thing is: do I tell them or leave them in blissful ignorance?

Ann

 

[PaulHull]

It seems the caravan industry is really being hit hard at the moment. My brother in law works for a caravan company in Hull (one of the big ones) that builds statics and they are laying people off left right and centre. Apparently the workforce will be down to a third of its normal size by christmas.

At the other end of the scale though apparently Swift are undergoing huge expansion - I was reading something about their site expansion being so big that it will require an update to the nearby A1079 to allow for the extra traffic so maybe its not all doom and gloom after all!

Then again, if you want a caravan in Hull at the moment you only have to go to somebody's back garden - about 20% of Hull's population have been living in an insurance supplied caravan since the flooding and are selling them to people for next to nothing who are now adding

 

[PaulHull]

I've just read that back - i'm talking about 2 different borther in laws, just to avoid confusion!

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Paul

Did he get the warranty transferred as well?

I know there were manufacturers and dealers who refused to become involved in the post flood caravan demand.

Cheers

Alan

 

[PaulHull]

I don't know - he's not really much of a caravan enthusiast, he's only kept it cos the missus made him (it spoils the look of his new beemer when there's a van on the back) - lol

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

This all sounds like very bad news for some friends. Whilst travelling north on holiday they managed to lose the large Ekie roof light! When they took their caravan to a dealership en route they were told that "..... it would be 3 weeks before they received a replacement. ....". They were given no idea why --- now I know! The next thing is: do I tell them or leave them in blissful ignorance?

Ann

ann, tell them we have just had to tell two people it affects.

jo

 

[Dustydog]

Ann

Tell your friends what you know now. More importantly get them to tell their own dealer now and demand their dealer gets a new Heki replacement asap. Their contract for purchase / sale was of course with their dealer , not Avondale. In any case Heki themselves should be able to supply the dealer with a new one.

One word of warning. I assume your friends had correctly secured the Heki before driving off?

Cheers

Alan

 

[AnnM1]

I bit the bullet and knocked on our friends door this morning. Told them everything I knew. I advised them to contact both their selling agent and dealership where it is currently waiting for the Heki replacement. They are going to pass on this information to one of their daughters who also owns a caravan by Avondale.

Don't know the answer, Alan, as to whether it was shut properly. However, they have managed to get it stored and fitted under their insurance cover so who knows.

Ann

 

[Stephen_374341239]

Hi there

From what I here today there,s others that are going the same way as Avondale. Banks calling in there overdraft and loans.

 

[podge1]

Hi all

Avondale are not yet in administration, they are looking for a buyer. All staff have been laid off from 12th August. More news should follow next Thursday (28th). This is when the staff are due to get their next snippet of information as to what is going on, via a letter to their home address. There are currently a few staff working, directors trying to flog the place and those in customer care.

Most components are being sent back to suppliers so it doesn't look good. How do I know all this. I work (ed) there!!!

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

Podge, omg poor you. i do hope you still have job. i think its the credit crunch and all the banks asking for the monies back.

it will be a shame i do hope they find a buyer.

jo-anne

 

[PaulHull]

I fear this may be the tip of the iceberg. I work in print and normally this time of year is super-mega-oh-my-god-we-are-so-busy due to the caravan show at the lawns in cottingham. But this year there is very little caravan work kicking about which genuinely concerns me not only because of the obvious belt-tightening in the caravan industry but because of the general lack of work altogether.

Two years ago I was doing 20 hours a week overtime. This year I've done about 20 hours in total! Its not just me - everyone I know is either working reduced hours or threatened with redundancy.

There be dark time ahead me thinks!!

 

[Guest]

Today's reading is from the book of Geist, chapter 3, verses 1 - 18:

'And, lo,in the springtime there came among them the prophet Geist, sent to warn of the judgment soon to come.

And Geist, opening his mouth on the forum of Practical Caravan, began to speak of ruin, and of loss, and of a catastrophe that must soon fall upon all those who build and sell the shining palaces upon wheels.

Boldly, the prophet gave warning that the days of the shining palaces were drawing to an end, proclaiming that at least one maker of the princely habitations would fall into ruin before the year drew to a close.

But those who worship the shining palaces were moved to great wrath, and railed upon the good prophet for the words that he spake unto them - crying out in great anger, 'begone thou false prophet! - take thy words elsewhere, for we will not hearken unto anyone who does not worship and cherish the shining palaces as we do!"

And with oaths and with stones drove they the prophet from their midst - mocking him, and saying 'not fire, nor flood, nor failing banks, nor oil that ceaseth to flow shall ever part us from our shining palaces, which we love more than our own life"

So departed from them the prophet Geist into the wilderness, where he waited with certainty of heart for all that he had foretold to come to pass.

And, lo, as the year drew on and the darkness of the winter began to descend, there came the first news of that which the prophet had spoken of, and the people of the palaces clutched each other in great fear, crying "Woe is unto us - for that which was foretold is coming to pass, and who shall save us when our shining palaces fall into ruin"

 

[Dave Football]

I work in teh industry and I've heard a whsiper that they've found a foreign buyer. Podge have you heard anything yet?.

db

 

[nrdonnelly]

Dear All,

Obviously, it's very sad news about Avondale and Practical Caravan's thoughts are for all those who work there. We hope something gets sorted out.

We've got no more information than anyone else I'm afraid. We've heard a few whispers, but nothing concrete. We've been told that a buyer needs to be found by the end of next week to secure the company's future, so we're hoping that something can be resolved by then.

We've been told the customer service teams are still on duty on 01827 715231 but I haven't been able to confirm it.

As soon as there is any news, we'll report it here. Until then, we're pretty much in the dark.

Regards

Nigel Donnelly

Editor

Practical Caravan

 

[podge1]

Hi Dougie D

There have been so many rumours over the past 2 weeks its hard to know whats true and whats not. We did hear that there were buyers interested but whether that makes jobs safe or not is a different matter. All I know is Im sick of not being able to sleep at night, due to the fact that we have just gone on short time yet again and are only working 3 days. This has been on goig for the past 4 years at least and I think its just a sign of the times. Obviously with the 'credit crunch' people can not afford to sped thousands on leisure. I know I cant.

We will know more next Thursday as they are due to write to us at our home addresses, so until then, we don't know if we will have a job or if there is a buyer when we will be going back. Meanwhile, we have no money coming in at all. I think it will be a very trying time for all and the new owners if there are some may find they have no staff left at the end of it all.

 

[Guest]

Podge,

We're all entering (imo) uncharted waters at the moment - an economic breakdown of a scale and intensity that not one of us have ever experienced before. My own belief, for what it's worth, is that there will be a total banking collapse with all the attendant misery that will entail.

When presented with such an ocean of turmoil it's easy to lose sight of individuals struggling in the water - and, although I'm no better placed than you, I'd like to wish you and your family well.

I'd like to say that I think Avondale will survive - but I really don't think it can. Soon, there will be other UK caravan manufacturers in the same plight (and not just caravan manufacturers) as irresistible forces combine to radically change the way in which we've all been living for many years.

I hope you find a decent job elsewhere, and that you don't suffer too much financial anxiety.

Good luck, mate.

 

[Rita1]

Podge hope for good news for you and family on thursday

And i agree with all Selwyn wrote above

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Podge,

I do understand the stress you must be under.Due to circumstances beyond my control, we all lost most of our pensions, two years ago. It's tough but we just had to accept it and move on. Don't let it get inside your head!

I hate to say it and have no wish to be insensitive but it has to be asked why are Avondale in this current situation?

Was it poor management? Poor product? Poor customer service etc?

What returns could a new buyer expect?

In fact what exactly is it that's up for sale and how much?

Is there any realistic chance for the work force to buy it??

Good luck to all the task force.

Cheers

Alan

 

[podge1]

Alan

To b honest Alan I cant really answer any of your question because I dont know. We are being kept in the dark totally. The management has never been that good t Avondale, or not for some years at least. I understand from other colleagues that it is just the caravan side of it up for sale, I have no idea for how much and I dont think the work force would want it. We can all see that it will take a small miracle for things to get better. The product itself is really nice and the quality is second to none now (I know it hasn't always been) but I think its don to the fact that we are a very smallfish in a fairly big pond with other bigger fish swimming besides us. I know that Swift have been on short time for a long time, having to take extra holidays and I think Baileys have been in the same boat too.

I just want Thursday to get here so we can find out whats happening and move on with our lives cos at the minute we are all in limbo.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

podge, so sorry for you at the moment and thinking you and all of the other families at the moment in the same boat as you.

i suppose its the not knowing is the worst part.

please keep us posted

jo-anne

 

[craigmurray]

hi podge im very sorry whats going on for u, i know what u r going through, i worked at a prototype car factory in birmungham and the factory closed on the 19 december owing us 7 weeks wages....didnt know what id do but we got through it just, its tough but if u got a strong relationship u will both get through it. make sure u find out as much as u can from insurance companies etc regarding mortgage cover etc even ask if they will do u a holiday period on yr mortgage? keep your spirits up and try not to let it get u down...

craig murray

 

[ThePlotter]

Finges crossed Podge that Thursday brings some positive news,living as I do about 4 mile fom Avondale I used to know a few employees butI think they have mayb moved on as I have not seen them for a while