Hi everyone, new here but have to rant.
We love caravanning having upgraded from a tent, however our experience of caravan dealers and manufacturers has been poor everytime we have had anything go wrong. My experience shows that this is a "cottage industry" - an industry that is firmly stuck int he 60's and hasn't made any leaps forward in service or quality control. In fact if this were any other industry, it would have failed years ago.
What strikes me is the poor after care service. I speak from sour experience dealing with Bailey who were just downright rude and arrogant, and now more recently Lunar. To be fair, Lunar have been an improvement on Bailey, but not by much. We recently bought our new van investing some £23k from a large Welsh dealer, and everything to the point of sale was brilliant. As soon as we drove through the gates, that was it as far as they were concerned. After sales is non-existent to the point of it being a bunch of lies.
Why is it? Why does this industry think it can get away with terrible service? Why when you spend so much money in buying new, when things go wrong, no-one gives a hoot?
Any why is it you never see a negative caravan review? Every review I have seen from this magazine in particular is the same. Never a bad one. If I had been reviewing the Lexon 580 for example, it would have been honest showing all the faults and design flaws I have identified since buying it. Note to editor: Living with a van is a whole new ball game to sitting in a new one and admiring the colour of the decor. From ill fitting cupboards, to faulty taps, to sharp edges in bathroom, exposed wiring, poor workmanship, bits missing, bodges, and fitter sheer laziness.
The sad part is we felt we were taking a step up to Lunar from Bailey - but it seems it doesn't matter which manufacturer you choose. They all appear to be very much in cahoots within one another and Practical Caravan tow the line, not wanting to upset anyone.
An it isn't just me. I hear from others when on holiday the service they get is just plain poor from dealers and manufacturers - some more than others.
So why is it? If you drove a car off a forecourt and the door fell off, or the boot lid wouldn't shut, would you just say "oh well, that's part of owning a car".
I think this industry needs a kick up the proverbial and it needs dragging into the 21st Century.
We love caravanning having upgraded from a tent, however our experience of caravan dealers and manufacturers has been poor everytime we have had anything go wrong. My experience shows that this is a "cottage industry" - an industry that is firmly stuck int he 60's and hasn't made any leaps forward in service or quality control. In fact if this were any other industry, it would have failed years ago.
What strikes me is the poor after care service. I speak from sour experience dealing with Bailey who were just downright rude and arrogant, and now more recently Lunar. To be fair, Lunar have been an improvement on Bailey, but not by much. We recently bought our new van investing some £23k from a large Welsh dealer, and everything to the point of sale was brilliant. As soon as we drove through the gates, that was it as far as they were concerned. After sales is non-existent to the point of it being a bunch of lies.
Why is it? Why does this industry think it can get away with terrible service? Why when you spend so much money in buying new, when things go wrong, no-one gives a hoot?
Any why is it you never see a negative caravan review? Every review I have seen from this magazine in particular is the same. Never a bad one. If I had been reviewing the Lexon 580 for example, it would have been honest showing all the faults and design flaws I have identified since buying it. Note to editor: Living with a van is a whole new ball game to sitting in a new one and admiring the colour of the decor. From ill fitting cupboards, to faulty taps, to sharp edges in bathroom, exposed wiring, poor workmanship, bits missing, bodges, and fitter sheer laziness.
The sad part is we felt we were taking a step up to Lunar from Bailey - but it seems it doesn't matter which manufacturer you choose. They all appear to be very much in cahoots within one another and Practical Caravan tow the line, not wanting to upset anyone.
An it isn't just me. I hear from others when on holiday the service they get is just plain poor from dealers and manufacturers - some more than others.
So why is it? If you drove a car off a forecourt and the door fell off, or the boot lid wouldn't shut, would you just say "oh well, that's part of owning a car".
I think this industry needs a kick up the proverbial and it needs dragging into the 21st Century.