Discover Leisure....WSM and Newport Branches

[paul_374410560]

As far as my memory serves me, I've never been near a Discover Leisure branch.

Do customers complain for nothing? If complaining DL customers were one of the reasons it closed may be the company and the staff deserved to go.

i am absolutely disgusted and furious with your stupid and crass comments, no staff deserves to be made redundant or just sacked maybe. I say more but i would be censored

YOU havent even been to any branches

Last part of post deleted

Parksy (Moderator)

 

[Di3]

Hi All

Read with interest early postings! I am an ex customer of Discover, so can speak from experieince, sad to see them go especially WSM as my family used for over 20 years before became Discover bought van just as change over taking place although still branded as Mendip. Sad to say saw decline in service., so voted with my feet, just purchased (Feb this year) new van from alternative supplier.

I feel sad for the employee's, having been made redundant myself two months ago., but I hope all the staff find new jobs soon.

 

[JON2515]

Its been sad to see the decline in my local Discover branch at Coppull near Chorley - when it was Barrons, the place seemed to be buzzing all the time with a huge choice of vans, motorhomes, statics and accessories - the sales and service people were always friendly and knowledgeable but many have since left - now there are few of the old faces and even fewer caravans etc on display - no wonder their sales are way down - its a bit depressing going there now and having bought my caravan there, I hope that this branch will not close like many others have done - what a way to run a railway!

 

[RogerP]

I was at Cannock branch around 3:30 yesterday and to be honest I didn't see a single employee.

They've run that site so far down its rubbish now the used car lot 100yrds away has better stock.

Mind you in the latter stages of it being Brownhills its was going downhill. I had no end of trouble with getting some parts for my Hymer MH through their service department to the point I just gave up.

 

[ShadySadie]

Did anyone read Allyson's first post?

"Well all I can say is that most of the customers who complained haven't helped with the closure of these latest branches.

So who are they going to slag off now, and how far are they going to have to travel for their services, parts and awnings now.

Well done to you all who helped close these latest branches"

Nothing about bad management or poor quality products there, just a straight aim at customers!

Generally I'm sick of bad service and staff who still show little or no interest in customers needs or the problems they experience with goods and services.

"credit crunch" and I'm still finding poor service. No matter what the product is like or how bad the management are, afford customers the time and attention their

 

[Damian]

I sincerely hope that the last post by Shadie Sadie is not an attempt to start a similar kind of situation as earlier.

No matter what the reasons for the closure, I simply posted the information to allow customers who may have warranty or other interests in those branches to know what has happened.

It was never meant as a tool to engage in a war of words, and if ths does happen then I will remove the topic completely.

 

[sarah_374389590]

Did anyone read Allyson's first post?

"Well all I can say is that most of the customers who complained haven't helped with the closure of these latest branches.

So who are they going to slag off now, and how far are they going to have to travel for their services, parts and awnings now.

Well done to you all who helped close these latest branches"

Nothing about bad management or poor quality products there, just a straight aim at customers!

Generally I'm sick of bad service and staff who still show little or no interest in customers needs or the problems they experience with goods and services.

"credit crunch" and I'm still finding poor service. No matter what the product is like or how bad the management are, afford customers the time and attention their

 

[ShadySadie]

I sincerely hope that the last post by Shadie Sadie is not an attempt to start a similar kind of situation as earlier.

No matter what the reasons for the closure, I simply posted the information to allow customers who may have warranty or other interests in those branches to know what has happened.

It was never meant as a tool to engage in a war of words, and if ths does happen then I will remove the topic completely.

Sorry Damian!

I just couldn't see how Allyson could blame the customers!

I couldn't see anything else in her first post!

 

[ShadySadie]

Did anyone read Allyson's first post?

"Well all I can say is that most of the customers who complained haven't helped with the closure of these latest branches.

So who are they going to slag off now, and how far are they going to have to travel for their services, parts and awnings now.

Well done to you all who helped close these latest branches"

Nothing about bad management or poor quality products there, just a straight aim at customers!

Generally I'm sick of bad service and staff who still show little or no interest in customers needs or the problems they experience with goods and services.

"credit crunch" and I'm still finding poor service. No matter what the product is like or how bad the management are, afford customers the time and attention their

 

[Damian]

Thanks for that Sadie.

What is really upsetting is that before Discover bought out the particular sites, including th eones already shut, like Portsmouth and others, they were doing ok as they were, not brilliantly maybe, but surviving.

Discover were already at the end of their tether relating to debt but still went ahead and overstretched (probably aided and abetted by the banks) but when the "crunch" bit and the banks pulled the plug, it has caused all this mess and of course the loss of jobs.

Whilst I do not have sympathy with rubbish bosses, if that is what they were, I do have sympathy with honest and hard working staff who now face probable financial ruin.

I totally agree that especially in current times we all want good service at reasonable prices, and only those outlets who give this service, in any service sector, wil survive to hopefully build a better busines in the future.

 

[ShadySadie]

CC magazine arrived today and included Discover sales leaflet.

 

[sarah_374389590]

Potentially inflammatory post removed.

This is the ONLY time this will happen.

Delete is awaiting the topic if any more similar postings are made.

 

[sarah_374389590]

:-?

 

[ShadySadie]

Damian, please remove this if you like.

Discover are obviously still trying to do business with there sales leaflet. I would advise anyone placing an order or paying a deposit to them to use a credit card to protect themselves if the company is in trouble.

 

[caravanoracle]

Has Cannock closed as well ? My van was booked in for a service in June !!

yes cannock has gone as well.

 

[JohnKS]

When I bought my van from Discover in April 2009 I was offered a job as a despatcher of new caravans so that the salesmen could be freed up. The manager told me that none of the salesman new anything about caravans and they were picking it up as they went along. I didn't take the job. We have had a few problems with them but not with the staff who were under great pressure.

I don't think for one minute the adverse publicity has had anything to do with the demise. so sorry for the staff.

Post Edited,see forum etiquette rule 3

Parksy (Moderator)

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

evesham is closed aswell

 

[Allyson]

Hi Jo-Anne

Discover Evesham went about 3 weeks ago, sadly it was the first of the old Mendip sites to close! :{

 

[tycerdd]

I feel I have to comment on the closure of Discover Newport. Speaking from experienceI have found the staff to be attentive, knowledgeable and courteous. When I was looking for a new caravan earlier this year, I could not have wished for better treatment. I have only two gripes. Firstly I found their prices a little expensive and when I tried to order something I kept being fobbed off with an excuse. Now I know why, that is excusable. I feel very sorry for the staff, one or two I knew well and in the current economic downturn, it must be very hard for them. I wish them all well for the future.

 

[T666]

We bought a new Bailey caravan from Discover June 08, I would not reccomend the company, so we had the van serviced at another authorised Bailey dealer but they would not carry out any warranty work saying they have had problems doing this, I contacted Bailey but they said any authorised dealer could do it and it was up to me to find one willing. Great service I dont think

 

[Parksy]

Hi Terry

You were happy to buy your caravan from a branch of Discover Leisure so surely you checked that you would be happy for them to service and maintain your caravan before you went through with the sale?

The best thing to do if you prefer your caravan to be serviced and have warranty work carried out at a dealers other than where you bought it from is to look around on this and other caravan forums and find out the dealers who offer good service to Bailey owners.

Try ringing them to find out if they would be prepared to undertake warranty work along with servicing.

You can hardly blame Bailey for not finding a dealer which suits you, only you can make that decision.

 

[T666]

Hi Parksy

I was offered a very good deal on the new caravan, having said this, the attitude of the company following a complaint left a lot to be desired and ended up me taking the company to Small Claims court(sucessfully), after this I would not have any faith in this company, The main problem with finding another dealer is where I live, southwest Scotland, the nearest, who carried out the service is a 150 mile round trip. This dealer says that the problem with him doing the warranty work is Bailey. I have in the past bought new cars in Glasgow because I get a better deal and then have them serviced and warranty work carried out at my local dealer who has no problem with this, in fact he is gratefull for the business because he is reinbursed by the manufacturer. It is another case of caravan industry not giving the same level of care as the car industry. PS there is no need to be so agressive in your comments.

 

[T666]

Hi Parksy

I was happy to buy my caravan from Discover because I got a very good deal, but this should in no way give thenm leave to treat complaints in a cursory and dismissive way. I had to take the company to Smalls claims court were I was sucessful, following this I would have no confidence in any work carried out by them. My other problem is where I live, Southwest Scotland, the dealer who carried out the service is a 150 mile round trip, he will not carry our warranty work because of problems with Bailey, so who else will I blame. In the past I have bought cars outwith my area and have had no trouble getting local dealers to carry sevices and warranty work, they are happy for the business, and they are reimbursed by the car companies. Is this another example of caravan Industry falling behind the level of care that car companies provide.

 

[Dustydog]

Terry

Your problem comes up here more often than you think.

I have said many times make sure you buy from a good dealer with a solid reputation both at point of sale and aftersales servicing. It is the dealer who can your purchase a real pleasure3 or living hell. Original purchase price is only part of the whole picture.

Some dealers just don't want to service or repair other dealers caravans. Mostly because their books are full with their own customers. The caravan industry has a long way to go before it can mirror image the car industry on servicing.

Is there a Bailey approved mobile repairer who may be able to help you?

Personally I didn't think Parksy's comments were agressive . Maybe he just touched a raw nerve? I don't know. Anyway I can understand that having won in the Small Claims Court you hardly want to go back to the guilty dealer.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Parksy]

I wasn't being aggressive in my comments Terry.

From your post there were no details and I was curious to know why you bought your caravan from the dealers and then were unhappy.

I was attempting to find out more background to your first statement and if your dissatisfaction with the supplying dealer came after you bought your caravan from them and why.

There was no clue as to where you live in the first post that I replied to but for anybody to be able to offer you any advice or help more details were needed.