Does anybody know how many dealers or groups have closed down in 2024 ? I am relatively new to caravans but it looks like quite a few are struggling to stay afloat or is this a cycle the industry goes through? Teesside Caravan shut down rapidly a few moths ago and I noticed a mention on here that Ebor in York had shut shop although on the parent companies web site Leisure world , they have put out a statement that they are closing York and Tyneside to bring it to one Yorkshire super site, it’s may have an impact on used values but who knows
Dealers closing
- Thread starter Boxerman
- Start date
With Ebor and Tyneside having gone it means that Catterick Caravans is now the only large dealer left - with Ropers a few hundred yards down the road being probably the biggest Bailey dealer now left as well.
I think it's part of the post COVID decline. Pricing has not really adjusted to this. Add in general economic uncertainty and some will go to the wall. We traded in our motorhome 20 months ago for a new caravan. The dealer still hasn't sold the motorhome. A large dealer in Norfolk closed recently as when the 2 owners retired no one wanted to buy the business.
Some major Dealers have gone, many of whom had previously won Dealer of the Year Awards.
Sadly it is a sign of the times and there will be more. The continuing supply to Dealers of sub standard poorly constructed units has added to the death knell.
When the likes of Broad Lanes, Robinsons, Golden Castle White Arches and Lady Bailey to name a few fail some loaded questions have to be asked🤬
Sadly it is a sign of the times and there will be more. The continuing supply to Dealers of sub standard poorly constructed units has added to the death knell.
When the likes of Broad Lanes, Robinsons, Golden Castle White Arches and Lady Bailey to name a few fail some loaded questions have to be asked🤬
I cannot disagree with you comment on sub standard build quality whilst I appreciate a new unit is covered by warranty even that isn’t acceptable when like mine it had 5 easy to spot faults , they should never get past quality control, or dealer PDI , so I can understand disillusionment , perhaps in the end only exceptional dealers will be left?
Exceptional dealers also need exceptional manufacturers
Possibly the "exceptional dealers" are those that make decent caravans out of what their manufacturer deliver to them?
That opens a new conversation I have worked in the motor industry for over 40 years and it’s fair to say the 2 Caravan manufacturers I have experienced, come pretty close to how it used to be with the old Skoda and Fiat jokes of the 70-80s, yet Skoda and Fiat learned and evolved to make some very good cars , Alas some Caravan manufacturers have a foot firmly fixed in the past, both from a quality standpoint and their warranty processes, I find it odd that owners seem to find it normal but if it was their car they wouldn’t
It depends on the manufacturer I had a defect appeared in a tyre wall on a brand new caravan first trip out, so spoke to the dealer they contacted Bailey who passed on the details of their tyre supplier to the dealer , who rang me to ask for Photos, to send to the tyre supplier who decided from a picture that the area that was distorted was because it had been made too strong hence only in that part of the tyre where the distortion was , bearing in mind the tyres used by Bailey security are Chinese, I didn’t even bother calling back it would have been a total waste of time with it being safety related, they might be willing to take the risk , I wasn’t and had both tyres changed for decent quality pair lessons learned
" If the manufacturers improve the quality ", that with respect is IMO even more "wishful thinking".
Sadly, IMO they have had decades to take that route, and IME not opted to, so IMO its is endemic in the culture, therefore unlikely to change.
It will be "new" providers that break the culture of substandard products, as seen in so much else we once made.
It’s up to people to not purchase the product that may potentially make or break the situation as manufacturers feel the effect .
I personally will never buy another Bailey product ever due to poor build quality and a total lack of effectiveness of the dealer possibly due to Baileys warranty process! I am going to look at Adria as they are supposed to be better fingers crossed
I personally will never buy another Bailey product ever due to poor build quality and a total lack of effectiveness of the dealer possibly due to Baileys warranty process! I am going to look at Adria as they are supposed to be better fingers crossed
Did "Skoda" learn, was it not they were purchased by an owner with a totally different quality take along with an extensive and good parts bin?
Fiat, underwent much the same but in more than one step.
It could happen that bits of our caravan industry gets purchased by a buyer or buyers with a way more product quality focused culture. I suspect it is more likely somebody will simply take the market, supplying product we want from elsewhere, typically that is what happens in the UK.
Fiat, underwent much the same but in more than one step.
It could happen that bits of our caravan industry gets purchased by a buyer or buyers with a way more product quality focused culture. I suspect it is more likely somebody will simply take the market, supplying product we want from elsewhere, typically that is what happens in the UK.
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That's just a theory - people have been repeat buying poor quality caravans for many decades - public demand isn't going to change the situation.
I agree, "we" [used collectively] for some reason outside my understanding, in respect to caravans, repeat buying poor quality and the industry build on "our" purchasing "model".
I basically agree with Boxerman, and have made all those and more points previously.
The culture in the UK Caravan industry is still very much as it was in the UK car industry some 50 odd years ago, and perhaps now more than ever previously are an endangered species.
There are lessons to be learned from the Elddis's recent past. Taken over by German company in 2017 that has a better reputation than most UK producers left us all with hope that at last some better products might be forthcoming.
Where are they? and
Why aren't they here yet?
I have a strong suspicion that EU regulations concerning the take over of employers of large workforces, may have stalled any changes to working practices that Hymer may have had in mind. Further about a year later of Hymer buying out Elddis, Hymer was taken over by Thor Industries based in America. in early 2019
We know that you cant trust most internet customer surveys , but its difficult to find any positive stories about Thor's product reliability. It makes you wonder why Hymer decided to sell to Thor. I find it hard to think it has been to the benefit of Elddis's customers.
The culture in the UK Caravan industry is still very much as it was in the UK car industry some 50 odd years ago, and perhaps now more than ever previously are an endangered species.
There are lessons to be learned from the Elddis's recent past. Taken over by German company in 2017 that has a better reputation than most UK producers left us all with hope that at last some better products might be forthcoming.
Where are they? and
Why aren't they here yet?
I have a strong suspicion that EU regulations concerning the take over of employers of large workforces, may have stalled any changes to working practices that Hymer may have had in mind. Further about a year later of Hymer buying out Elddis, Hymer was taken over by Thor Industries based in America. in early 2019
We know that you cant trust most internet customer surveys , but its difficult to find any positive stories about Thor's product reliability. It makes you wonder why Hymer decided to sell to Thor. I find it hard to think it has been to the benefit of Elddis's customers.
Lady Bailey haven't "failed" as a dealership, one of the owners has (clearly serious) health "issues" The company has been for sale for 2 years but no buyer has been forthcoming, so the decision was made to stop trading.
Same as Greentrees in Dereham Norfolk. Retired, tried to sell, no buyers. Must be a reason people don't want to take them on if they are profitable.
I have no wish to be pedantic and understand the “fail” point.
Dress it up however we like the fact is , and it is very sad, no one person or Company came forward to continue the business.
Why?
Maybe it is the U.K. caravan Retail Industry that that is viewed as a long term problem?
May simply be not profitable enough - anyone investing in a business looks long and hard at the expected % return on their investment.
And with that, I would expect most must conclude the future looks even grimmer than today.
The big ticket caravans are doomed by the environmental pressures governments are forcing in, plus a general acceptance "we" have to look after the planet. The smaller, lower margin vans that could survive longer, need to be shifted in greater numbers. I am not seeing things going that way, van retailing becoming more niche than now and I expect by importing products.
There needs to be some viable solution for mass interest camping looming for investors to be interested in anything but that small scale niche business model.
It is not just caravan dealers, I know of at least 3 businesses that have been on the market since before Covid, all three are continuing to trade profitably, but the prospective buyers have either offered far less than the owners are prepared to accept, or they have found finance dificult to obtain.
I imagine things will get worse in April with increased NI and minimum wage requirements
Several business owners I have spoken to are planning to reduce trading hours, not replace staff who leave, reduce the number of lines they stock, and genearally control costs.
Doen't seem as though there will be much business confidence going forward.
I imagine things will get worse in April with increased NI and minimum wage requirements
Several business owners I have spoken to are planning to reduce trading hours, not replace staff who leave, reduce the number of lines they stock, and genearally control costs.
Doen't seem as though there will be much business confidence going forward.
It’s notable the number of pubs and eateries that are staying closed a couple of days, or just aren’t serving food for some days. Also the menus seem to be being downgraded to cheaper produce like burgers, fish cakes, pies, pasta etc but with prices for starters and mains increased significantly. Clearly they are working hard to stay viable in the hope of better times in summer. It’s been noticeable now for at least 12-18 months and the budget hasn’t helped.
Before Covid burger and chips were average under £10, now the average is about £15. Probably along with many others, we stopped having lunch out on Saturdays. We now only go for a lunch out about once or twice a year.
Plenty of pub chains have low-priced meal deals, or just low prices - we use Greene King, Table Table, Brewer's Fayre and Wetherspoons - in some parts of the country their deal is under £12 for two.
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