caravan services

[Rachel3]

hi im going up to the nec this month to hopefully buy our first caravan, i am just wondering if i buy my new van from a dealer in up in england would i have to go there to get it serviced each year or not? from what ive read up on this site it sounds as though i will which i dont fancy that as i live in wales.

 

[sparkes]

Its normal now for dealers to give the workshop time to customers who have purchased the van from them. This is not so much a problem with servicing, but warrenty work may well be a big issue.

Can I suggest that you go see your local dealer now, and ask them to match the show price for a van. you never know, they may help and this removes the distance problem.

I know my dealer would do this as they show at the NEC. Smaller dealers may have a problem with it.

Steve

 

[rayc]

Moggie, the answer is it all depends. I made enquiries last year at the NEC at the Avondale stand. I was told that if I bought a van there any warrenty work and servicing would be carried out by any of their appointed dealers. [I do not know if that only applies to vans bought at the show or if it also covers one bought throughout the year direct from a dealer].

They were also singing the praises of an authorised mobile servicing set up who would come to you but I don't know any details.

 

[sparkes]

The problem with this Ray is that the manufacturer pays the dealer a reduced hourly rate for warranty work. Dealers who have made a profit from the sale of the van don't worry to much about this. But if you where a mechanic and someone said to you that in order to sell a make of car you must provide all customer with warranty work at 50% discount, how would you feel? Now think of the answer again if you only sold 3 cars but had 500 customers turn up for warranty work.

A great business idea would be to set up a dealership for caravans on line and do shows only. you could make a fortune off the vans and never have to worry about warranty work as this would be sorted by the buyers local dealer.

Maybe PC should write an article about this. find out what problems purchasers at shows have with warranty claims etc. Name the bad boys and praise the good ones!

 

[Rachel3]

Its normal now for dealers to give the workshop time to customers who have purchased the van from them. This is not so much a problem with servicing, but warrenty work may well be a big issue.

Can I suggest that you go see your local dealer now, and ask them to match the show price for a van. you never know, they may help and this removes the distance problem.

I know my dealer would do this as they show at the NEC. Smaller dealers may have a problem with it.

Steve

hi steve thanks for that, i have just been reading all your get well wishes now and hope you have a speedy recovery.

 

[sparkes]

hi steve thanks for that, i have just been reading all your get well wishes now and hope you have a speedy recovery.

cheers

 

[RogerL]

Motor shows are used to demonstrate new and continuing models, they're not used to buy cars.

Why do some caravanners want to buy their caravan at a show some distance from home, presumably cheaper than their local dealer, and then expect the local dealer to service it and carry out warranty work?

The answer is to just use a show to look, compare and decide but then purchase from one of the local dealers in your area. Unless you live in the middle of nowhere just locate the 3-4 nearest dealers of your chosen model, go round each and negotiate, haggle, bargain.

We Brits are pathetic at bargaining but very experienced at complaining, it should be the other way round!

 

[rayc]

Motor shows are used to demonstrate new and continuing models, they're not used to buy cars.

Why do some caravanners want to buy their caravan at a show some distance from home, presumably cheaper than their local dealer, and then expect the local dealer to service it and carry out warranty work?

The answer is to just use a show to look, compare and decide but then purchase from one of the local dealers in your area. Unless you live in the middle of nowhere just locate the 3-4 nearest dealers of your chosen model, go round each and negotiate, haggle, bargain.

We Brits are pathetic at bargaining but very experienced at complaining, it should be the other way round!

John, I don't live miles from anywhere I live in Poole Dorset. I would be grateful if you could tell me how far I would have to travel to find my nearest four Bailey dealers and my nearest four from Explorer group.

 

[rayc]

John, I don't live miles from anywhere I live in Poole Dorset. I would be grateful if you could tell me how far I would have to travel to find my nearest four Bailey dealers and my nearest four from Explorer group.

Sorry meant that to be addressed to Roger

 

[Rachel3]

Motor shows are used to demonstrate new and continuing models, they're not used to buy cars.

Why do some caravanners want to buy their caravan at a show some distance from home, presumably cheaper than their local dealer, and then expect the local dealer to service it and carry out warranty work?

The answer is to just use a show to look, compare and decide but then purchase from one of the local dealers in your area. Unless you live in the middle of nowhere just locate the 3-4 nearest dealers of your chosen model, go round each and negotiate, haggle, bargain.

We Brits are pathetic at bargaining but very experienced at complaining, it should be the other way round!

we are only going to the show because that is what we have been advised by other experienced caravaners, we are new to this and it is going to be our very first caravan. we were also told this by one of our dealers in the area that we would expect to get a discount of around 8% which is quite a lot when you are spending 11 or 12 grand on a new van.

 

[rayc]

we are only going to the show because that is what we have been advised by other experienced caravaners, we are new to this and it is going to be our very first caravan. we were also told this by one of our dealers in the area that we would expect to get a discount of around 8% which is quite a lot when you are spending 11 or 12 grand on a new van.

Moggie, As has been said previously you have to take everything into account. If you are saving