Caravan show - CIA Cardiff

[Melanie_374363360]

To sum it up in two words - DONT BOTHER.

There were only a couple of dealers at the show, Blazers and Sunnyhaven of Swansea, 3A's of Cross Hands. There were more motorhomes than caravans. There was one stall in the foyer with accessories, there were 3 food stalls. A total complete and utter waste of time, you see more in your local caravan dealer.

Do yourself a favour and save £6 per person and dont go.

 

[emmerson2]

That's pretty much what I expected, Melanie, and why we didn't go this time. We've been to every one, until now,and they have deteriorated steadily from No 1. Last year in the Millenium stadium was probably the worst caravan show in the world, ever!

Time to let it die, I think.

 

[Anthony_374242616]

I agree "DON`T BOTHER" very poor unless you want a motorhome, blazers, 3As, stowford were all that was there, not one caravan park disgusting,where were the welsh caravan dealers shame on Cardiff and Barry caravans, i thought it was awful that Discover were not there as the largest dealer in Britain ARE THE WELSH PUBLIC NOT WORTHY? anyway dont waste

 

[jo_374385568]

by the looks of it discovery leisure wasn't there as it looks like there in trouble the've got an awful lot of sales going on even had an auction of nearly new stuff last weekend in coppul anyone know what the glasgow show is like thinking of going next month

 

[Damian]

I do not think any of the shows will be much this year with the economic situation as it is.

We have already lost Avondale, Fleetwood, Vanmaster, and Apache awnings, with other reductions in models by Swift Group and reduced build by all the manufacturers.

Some of the big dealers are having a bad time with some on the verge of liquidation and the cost of attending such shows just cannot be justified.

Small businesses supplying parts and accessories are just no financially capable of show outlay, so looks like they may just forget it this year and hopefully next will be better , or will it?

 

[scott_374395592]

May I take some time and add some perspective to this topic.

Barry Caravans were not present due to the owner retiring and closing the business down. Two of thier highly experienced staff were taken on at Discover. Cardiff Caravans also under the Discover banner was relocated back last year to the larger Newport premises. Discover do appreciate the Welsh public, and took the decision not to show again this year on the basis of how 'poor' the show has been during prev years (opinions from customers). The decision was made so we could offer our customers a higher level of service, choice, and proffessionalism from our dealer branch.

 

[Mark_374395599]

Has anybody seen the Litte Caravan that discover Newport have been towing around this weekend ?

It will be on display at the Newport branch from now on. It's a 1/5 scale model of a 1984 Compass Commodore and only 10 were built. This little caravan is 25 years old this year.

Go and have a look its brilliant.

 

[Anthony_374242616]

May I take some time and add some perspective to this topic.

Barry Caravans were not present due to the owner retiring and closing the business down. Two of thier highly experienced staff were taken on at Discover. Cardiff Caravans also under the Discover banner was relocated back last year to the larger Newport premises. Discover do appreciate the Welsh public, and took the decision not to show again this year on the basis of how 'poor' the show has been during prev years (opinions from customers). The decision was made so we could offer our customers a higher level of service, choice, and proffessionalism from our dealer branch.

My apologies Scott from Discover, (salesman) i did not know that Barry caravans had closed and i was unaware that cardiff is now owned by discover, it only goes to cement my case that with Discover being the largest dealer in wales do you not want to show your vans off in such a way as the caravan show thus enveloping a larger audience, if Discover cannot be bothered to show in a welsh caravan show why should we bother to purchase from you. It would have been a good showcase for discover to show the public who and what they are.

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

"Has anybody seen the Litte Caravan that discover Newport have been towing around this weekend ?

It will be on display at the Newport branch from now on. It's a 1/5 scale model of a 1984 Compass Commodore and only 10 were built. This little caravan is 25 years old this year.

Go and have a look its brilliant."

Nothing new with this litttle marvel. It was on show at cardiff Caravans for some years until the takeover by Discover.

"Cardiff Caravans also under the Discover banner was relocated back last year to the larger Newport premises. "

This is another name for the practice of taking over companies and just closing them down to inprove your situation in the area.

Mendip Caravans had been trading on the same Newport site for a few years before you "tranferred to this new site"

 

[scott_374395592]

"Has anybody seen the Litte Caravan that discover Newport have been towing around this weekend ?

It will be on display at the Newport branch from now on. It's a 1/5 scale model of a 1984 Compass Commodore and only 10 were built. This little caravan is 25 years old this year.

Go and have a look its brilliant."

Nothing new with this litttle marvel. It was on show at cardiff Caravans for some years until the takeover by Discover.

"Cardiff Caravans also under the Discover banner was relocated back last year to the larger Newport premises. "

This is another name for the practice of taking over companies and just closing them down to inprove your situation in the area.

Mendip Caravans had been trading on the same Newport site for a few years before you "tranferred to this new site"

Clive,

Just to clear up any mis-conceptions that you seem to have:- Indeed the business was transferred from our Cardiff base to larger premises at Newport (the old mendip Caravan site)for a number of business and logistical reasons.

The site at Newport benefits from far better facilities, including large workshop facilities with a 10 bay workshop, larger accessory shop, greater parking facilities for customers and more helpful/knowledgeable staff with a raft of Caravanning and motorhome experience. I would also like to point out that Discover employed two members of staff from Barry Caravans that would otherwise have been 'lost to the industry' and claiming thier dole allowance each week.

 

[scott_374395592]

My apologies Scott from Discover, (salesman) i did not know that Barry caravans had closed and i was unaware that cardiff is now owned by discover, it only goes to cement my case that with Discover being the largest dealer in wales do you not want to show your vans off in such a way as the caravan show thus enveloping a larger audience, if Discover cannot be bothered to show in a welsh caravan show why should we bother to purchase from you. It would have been a good showcase for discover to show the public who and what they are.

Anthony. From past experience from attending the CIA with Mendip etc, the cost to attend is astronomical for a show that generates 'little consumer interest' and footfall. The numbers of general public attending were very low this year and this has been dwindling year in year out. We would rather spend the 15k-17k it would cost to have a fair size stand into our dealer based facilities, and put a proportion of the cost to attend the show into deals to help people change thier caravans/motorhomes. This was highlighted over the past weekend by the amount of general public who visited us on Fri/Sat/Sun afternoon who purchased caravans, commenting on how much of a waste of time the show was. Some even asked for refunds on thier entrance ticket. I do appreciate we need to be out in the market place/attending shows to increase our market exposure and support the industry. However the CIA show has been a lame dog for many years, and the only persons benefiting from the shows existence are the show organisers themselves. Please feel free to visit our Newport branch anytime where the welcome is always warm.

PS) We did offer to attend the show in a small capacity with our little 25yr old promotional caravan, however our offer was declined by the organisers.

 

[Anthony_374242616]

Anthony. From past experience from attending the CIA with Mendip etc, the cost to attend is astronomical for a show that generates 'little consumer interest' and footfall. The numbers of general public attending were very low this year and this has been dwindling year in year out. We would rather spend the 15k-17k it would cost to have a fair size stand into our dealer based facilities, and put a proportion of the cost to attend the show into deals to help people change thier caravans/motorhomes. This was highlighted over the past weekend by the amount of general public who visited us on Fri/Sat/Sun afternoon who purchased caravans, commenting on how much of a waste of time the show was. Some even asked for refunds on thier entrance ticket. I do appreciate we need to be out in the market place/attending shows to increase our market exposure and support the industry. However the CIA show has been a lame dog for many years, and the only persons benefiting from the shows existence are the show organisers themselves. Please feel free to visit our Newport branch anytime where the welcome is always warm.

PS) We did offer to attend the show in a small capacity with our little 25yr old promotional caravan, however our offer was declined by the organisers.

See you soon as i am in the market for a new Coachman or Swift 6 berth

 

[Allyson]

"Has anybody seen the Litte Caravan that discover Newport have been towing around this weekend ?

It will be on display at the Newport branch from now on. It's a 1/5 scale model of a 1984 Compass Commodore and only 10 were built. This little caravan is 25 years old this year.

Go and have a look its brilliant."

Nothing new with this litttle marvel. It was on show at cardiff Caravans for some years until the takeover by Discover.

"Cardiff Caravans also under the Discover banner was relocated back last year to the larger Newport premises. "

This is another name for the practice of taking over companies and just closing them down to inprove your situation in the area.

Mendip Caravans had been trading on the same Newport site for a few years before you "tranferred to this new site"

Clive

Discover formerly Mendip Caravans are not on a new site, I am not sure if this was a figure of speech or you thought they had new premises.

However they do have a new larger workshop just to the side of the sales yard, which I think's been there for at least 3/4 years.

 

[Barrie_374395555]

I agree "DON`T BOTHER" very poor unless you want a motorhome, blazers, 3As, stowford were all that was there, not one caravan park disgusting,where were the welsh caravan dealers shame on Cardiff and Barry caravans, i thought it was awful that Discover were not there as the largest dealer in Britain ARE THE WELSH PUBLIC NOT WORTHY? anyway dont waste