Broad Lane Group

[mistermac]

We bought our van from the Broad Lane group in the Midlands.

We went all over looking - Lowdham, White Arches - various other dealerships....

But when we went to Broad Lane - we got the magical mixture of the right van at the right price with the right deal....

Ben and Barry have to be commended (Leek Wooton branch).

Highly recommended.

 

[MowCopKen]

Hi Mark

I agree with you. We are close to the Daventry branch. No pushy salesmen which is a major plus for me. Always helpful and friendly, especially Dave Webb who sold us our last 2 vans.

Regards

Ken

 

[Soozeeg]

We are also customers of the Daventry branch, having bought our last 2 vans from them, plus vast amounts of equipment and accessories.

They are absolutely the best....we wouldn't go anywhere else. I don't really want to single anyone out, as all the guys (and girls!) there are brilliant, but Dave Brown and Dave Webb are our heroes!! (they know what that means and they'll cringe once again if they read this!).

If you want the best advice from friendly, cheerful, knowledgeable but non-pushy salesmen, go to Broad Lane!!

 

[Ian_374227774]

They are allways happy to sell vans they had mine for a repair under warranty i also asked them to service it while it was in.

it went there on 3rd jan i had to fetch it back from baily my self two days before easter so i could use it ,not only that it had not been seviced,this was not baileys fault my van sat in there yard for 3 months oh did i forget to tell you when they told me they did not even know where it was when i phoned up two weeks before easter.I will never buy a van from them again.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

They are allways happy to sell vans they had mine for a repair under warranty i also asked them to service it while it was in.

it went there on 3rd jan i had to fetch it back from baily my self two days before easter so i could use it ,not only that it had not been seviced,this was not baileys fault my van sat in there yard for 3 months oh did i forget to tell you when they told me they did not even know where it was when i phoned up two weeks before easter.I will never buy a van from them again.

which branch was this at will you tell?.

jo

 

[Dustydog]

My father in law bought a brand new series 6 Pageant Monarch end of April 2007 from B L Kenilworth. On the first trip to Scotland one of the Truma mover cogs fell off never to be seen again. In fairness Truma couriered a new cog and circlip to our site at Ullapool , next day delivery. Well done Truma.

Broad Lanes however have been very poor indeed.

During the Scottish trip in May one of the front windows filled with water. It is still half full.

The oven goes out after 5 minutes use.

The door retention clip broke.

The fridge door locking mechanism doesn't lock.

The sink plug doesn't hold the water in the sink.

Towell rail in bathroom fell off.

There is a definite gas leak smell within the caravan.

All reported to Broad Lanes from Ullapool Scotland early May 2007.

Guess what? After repeated phone calls we are no furtehr forward. What a disgrace. BL have been told if all not fixed within next 14 days a full refund will be required.

I have a Bailey Pageant series 5 Vendee and have to say the very few minor niggles were fixed immediately by my dealer , Chipping Sodbury Caravans.

Whilst I have no wish to be derisory about any organisation , nor breach the forum rules etc I do feel the other forum members are entitled to hear of their fellow caravanners problems with dealers. Hence I write this post about Broad Lanes Kenilworth with a clear conscience.

Cheers

Robbo

 

[Soozeeg]

Ian and Alan, I am sorry to hear you have had issues, and hope they are resolved soon to your satisfaction.

However, I must reiterate that we have only praise for Broad Lane Daventry. We have had problems with both of the Adria vans we bought from them, but Broad Lane did everything we asked of them, to our complete satisfaction. Actually, there is one thing still waiting to be done, 4 months after picking up the new van, but this is no fault of Broad Lane's, but a delay with Adria supplying the materials!

I think it has a lot to do with the kind of relationship you build with your dealer - ours is one of mutual understanding and respect (and a lot of leg-pulling!!!).

 

[Dustydog]

Just a thought. Father in law bought his from BL Leek Wootton but was told he could have all the work done at Alcester which is just down the road. Maybe as Alcester never sold the caravan, nor are they a Bailey outlet they are not interested???? even though they are part of the overall Broad Lanes Group?? He has spoken to both branches but perhaps they don't talk to each other.

We always buy fairly locally and when we trade in the Bailey next month the Swift will come from a dealer 4 miles away, one with whom we have known and dealt with for years. Maybe being a local does help?

Cheers

Robbo

 

[Soozeeg]

Alan (or Robbo, whichever you prefer!), I am pretty sure they do talk to each other as the Broad Lane group is owned and run by the same family - 2 brothers and their (grown-up!) sons.

You may be right about being a local........

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Soozeeg

Alan is ok for this forum. Robbo is my nickname.

Well I do hope the family members of Broad Lanes, whichever branch, read this forum and take note. Hopefully some positive action will be forthcoming? Worries me and father in law that Ian also had awful problems.

However I am very pleased your experiences have been excellent. Strange isn't it.

Chers

Alan

 

[Soozeeg]

Hi Alan

They do read it....so you never know..!

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

hi, the owners son is called steve brown and he runs the kenilworth one it might be worth giving him a call.

i dont think i will be getting my new van from them now.

jo-anne

 

[Dustydog]

Thanks Jo Anne

My father in law will be on the phone to Steve Brown first thing tomorrow. I'll let you all know how it goes.

For my part I am sticking to our local dealers, Chipping Sodbury caravans if it's a Bailey or Swindon Caravans if we go for the new Swift Conqueror.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Jo-anne

Well F in Law did as you said. Eventually the workshop manager at Alcester apologised for all the confusion and the Bailey Monarch is booked in for repairs next week.

The bad news is they need 5 working days, or say they say, to complete the works.

The worst of all is that the replacement window has been at their site for the last two weeks!!! Can you believe it??? In fairness there were plenty of apologies but really there must be something very wrong with their customer after care.

Cheers

ALAN

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

well god luck mate

jo-anne

 

[Dustydog]

Father in Law got his Bailey Monarch back today, all fixed.

It took three months so let's hope nothing else breaks!

Cheers

Alan

 

[Willy_5041515]

Can't say I've been too impressed with Broadlane, Leek Wooton! We went there last August to place an order for a new Swift Challenger. After an hour we still hadn't been able to find a salesperson to look after us. So we returned a week later and managed to pin one down, after a long wait. He really didn't seem at all interested in doing business with us and even told us he could not give us a price for a 2007 model as they had not been released. He promised to call us the following week - but didn't. Meanwhile we took ourselves off to White Arches where we were given an immediate quote and excellent trade-in deal. We collected the van in December and it's the first time we have ever had 100% satisfaction. Can't recommend White Arches enough.

 

[DeliDave]

although we live 4 miles from Broad Lane's Daventry branch we have ordered our second Indiana from Golden Castle as a number of friends have had bad experiences with Broad Lane or Go Camping as it used to be called.Had a better price from Golden Castle by

 

[mistermac]

I am shocked by what I'm reading about Broad Lane - especially the Leek Wooton (Kenilworth) branch.

We had a superb level of assistance/help and got a really good deal on our van. They must be doing something right because they've pretty much sold all their second hand stock and keep meeting their sales targets for new vans (so Ben tells me!).

I wouldn't think of going anywhere else.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

hi, i phoned the alcester branch of broad lane and got a better deal on my px by a

 

[Dustydog]

Just got back from a two week tour and father in law's oven still doesn't work! Back to Broad Lanes again for more "fixing".

In fairness their customer services manager , John Hartley rang f in l last week to see if he was happy with all the previous repairs.

SEVEN months on it is unacceptable the oven doesn't work!

Hopefully BL will do a proper job this time.

Cheers

Alan

 

[S-MaxJon]

I had warranty work done by Broad Lane for my Coachman Amara.Recall on spare wheel carrier to be replaced.

However - I bought my van through Glossop Caravans from NEC show in 2005.When I was looking for the first service I rang them up - first question was "Did you buy the van from us ?" I replied "no" - Reply " Looking at July/Aug time then " - this was in February.Broad Lane Alcester is a Coachman Agent !!!!

Just think if car main dealers did this - the uproar.

This attitude is not restricted to Broad Lane but others as well - it's as if they are doing you a favour by taking your money.

I have since found an Approved Coachman Agent who are not only very friendly but also accomodating.

 

[Alex_374296729]

This discussion is very interesting. Why is it on this forum people are allowed do discuss dealerships and yet there is no forum topic on dealerships, that is the moderator would remove them.

I live in Cornwall and a large choice of dealership is not available, thus will have to go outside the area. Local knowledge is therefore a good tool. Could we not have a message board for areas?

Comments?

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Alex

I believe this type of thread is fundamental to fellow forum members and gives us all a good idea what to expect once we have parted with our hard earned money. Looking back on the threads both good and bad have been stated about dealers.

I for one will welcome a thread dedicated to individual dealers performances post sale.

Afterall we all know the dealers read this forum so it can only help us poor customers!

Never be shy to compliment good service nor highlight bad service. Isn't that what "Which" magazine is all about?

Cheers

Alan

 

[skysky69]

Hi Alex

I believe this type of thread is fundamental to fellow forum members and gives us all a good idea what to expect once we have parted with our hard earned money. Looking back on the threads both good and bad have been stated about dealers.

I for one will welcome a thread dedicated to individual dealers performances post sale.

Afterall we all know the dealers read this forum so it can only help us poor customers!

Never be shy to compliment good service nor highlight bad service. Isn't that what "Which" magazine is all about?

Cheers

Alan

Well I have to say that I agree with the earlier posters that I have nothing but praise for Broad Lane Daventry. Complete novices walking in there and purchasing our first van they could not have been more helpful. The time that they spent with us, explaining everything and making sure we had everything we needed.

We picked our van up on Saturday and used it for the first time on Saturday night. Considering the van we purchased off them was probably one of the cheapest ones they had, they gave us their full undivided attention at all times.

Popped back in on Sunday as the hitchlock we had didn't fit and they sorted that out for us straight away.

Couldn't fault them!

If you read this - cheers guys!