Do you get a better price at the NEC

[Kim_374372145]

Hi

I hope some one can help a rank amateur in this field of caravan buying.

We are looking at getting our first caravan (probably a Bailey Ranger 540/6) and was wondering if it is worth going to the NEC Caravan show to order it. Do you get a better price? Added extras? If not should I just order it from a dealer and if so what kind of discount should I be pushing for?

Many thanks

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

kim, i dont think you get a better deal at the show. i printed off a list of dealers throughout the uk and phoned everyone to see what deal i could get on a new series 6 wyoming.

bear in mind my was a cash sale and i got the van for

 

[Kim_374372145]

Hi Jo-Anne

Thanks for your reply. As I said I am completely new at this so I hope you don't mind it I ask how you went about it on the phone. I have rang a couple of dealers and they have all given me the list price with only the delivery cost knocked off..

I assume that you need to pick up the caravan from the dealer you buy it from, as i am in the North-East and have never towed a caravan before I would feel a bit brave making my first journey a mammoth one? Though I like the idea of ringing all those dealers in the area

Many thanks

Kim

 

[JohnKS]

We bought a van a few years ago at a trade show and would not do it again. We did not get it at a lower price and ended up collecting it at a dealers 150 miles from where we lived. Could have got a better deal by going to our local dealers.

 

[vernon]

You will also have to take it back to the supplying dealer for any warranty work, and sometimes warranty work can mean two round trips, so if you do buy at the Show check how far the dealer is from your home.

 

[Lara_374353049]

Hi Kim,

I don't know whereabouts in the North East you are, but we're in Durham and have bought both vans we've had from Barrons (now know as Discover) in Darlington.

Both were Baileys, and as they are authorised dealers for Bailey, they have a large selection of all the ranges.

Carl, the salesman who dealt with us each time is a bit of a Bailey expert too, and has always given us a good deal.

If you are nearby, it's well worth calling in, even if it's just for a look.

Cheers, Lara.

 

[weejock]

I would advise against buying at a show for a number of reasons.

Firstly you are not getting a good look at your dealer and their premises. Remember any problems you have with the van it is them you will be dealing with.

Secondly most of these shows have caravans exhibited with a multitude of fluorescent lights mounted everywhere that may give you a false impression of that light and airy interior. The other thing is with all the other people traipsing in and out of the van you will not get a good chance to put up beds etc to gauge if they suit you or are easy to assemble.

You also want to check out the front locker for storage space and access and see how practical the cupboard space on offer is.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

kim, ring around the dealers anyway to get a good price be firm and tell them whats the best price. i kept saying is that the best price you can do. whether its cash or finance you can still haggle tell them dealer so and so can do it for x amount can you beat it because ive only got a certain amount of money and i need an awning and motormover and accesories.

get pen and paper and a list of phone number and you get ringing and haggling. even if they are miles away just get a price.

good luck.

jo-anne

 

[farmerdave21]

Sorry for this but i have to disagree with everything that has been said so far about buying from a show. Last year after going round various dealears & looking at different fixed bed layouts etc we eventually decided to buy a Buccaneer Caravel.

We were trading in a 2004 Bailey Senator. Our nearest dealer about 10 miles away gave us a price which wasnt to bad & we had another price. However we ordered the van at the NEC show in Oct 07, we didnt want the van until April this year & the dealer at the show gave us a trade in price that was

 

[Kim_374372145]

Many thanks to all of you for your advice.

I have actually gotten a really good price through ringing around and one of my local dealers has agreed (reluctantly) to match it, several others said that they could not. So it looks like I will be giving the show a miss this year, but I might go next year and take the van with me!

Again thanks for your help, I look forward to joining the caravaning fraternity later this year, as I have to say you are a friendly and helpful bunch!

Take care

Kim

 

[ChrisUK]

We bought new at last Octobers NEC and got what we thought was a good deal. The advantage is being able to see all the vans you are interested together and bargin for prices. In the end we did not buy at the very cheapest price, we paid about

 

[EmmanuelMuldoon]

We bought new at last Octobers NEC and got what we thought was a good deal. The advantage is being able to see all the vans you are interested together and bargin for prices. In the end we did not buy at the very cheapest price, we paid about

 

[EmmanuelMuldoon]

Kim, there is a new Bailey on www.ukcampsite.co.uk classifieds at Bradford, 11K. (not me selling BTW)

 

[Kim_374372145]

Many thanks Emmaunul but I got the 2009 for less that their asking I am very pleased (and not a little smug) to say. That a pretty poor price really, I was offered on by Ropers of Caterrick for

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

kim im so glad you took my advice to haggle and get them to match.

well done mate

good luck

jo-anne

 

[Mikey1]

I have bought my last 3 vans from the NEC,i dont mind travelling to pick it up and get an approved mobile engineer to carry out my serving and warranty work.

Why did i buy from the show? I get prices to change from local dealers ,it gives me a benchmark,my last van i saved 2 1/2k from what my local dealer offered and got a good deal on an awning too.

Nice to see all the vans in one place and if you look like you want to buy and are not browsing the competetion to get your hard earned cash is very competative.

With the credit crunch and people reluctant to part with their money this year you could get a very good deal indeed?

 

[ProfJohnL]

As ever, there is never a simple black and white answer to a question like this. There are pro's and con's and it is ultimately down to the purchaser to weigh up all the options and to choose what seems best to them.

For my own part, I have a number of concerns. Firstly is the attraction of a good price. It is not guaranteed that you will get the best possible price at a show, By making enquiries around the country you may find show prices matched or even bettered, BUT you have to factor in the cost of getting your caravan, if it is from a remote dealer.

On top of that, and despite the assurances given, that you can have it serviced at your local dealer, we sometimes hear stories that the local dealers give priority to caravans they have sold over caravan bought elsewhere. This can apply especially at busy times and lead to long waits for services.

On a similar note, the assurances that have been given that your local dealer will handle warranty issues, can also give rise to problems. If the problems are small and relatively easy to remedy, these are usually handled without problems. But the local dealer is not obliged to deal with warranty, and they can legitimately refuse to deal with it. This is simply because the legal warranty always rests with the seller. So if a problem appears to be complex or costlya, you might have to get the caravan returned to the seller.

Manufacturer's Guarantee work is different. If the local deal has signed up to the manufactures scheme then all should be well except that dealers may prioritise their own customers first.

 

[PeterinPenarth]

I also disagree with the Greek Chorus warning you off buying at the NEC. By all means you should factor in the capabilities and location of the dealer you end up placing an order with, but you simply can't beat the convenience of having several dealers all in one place competing for your business, especially if they can see you talking to the others. Admittedly this won't work so well when they've having no problem selling vans, but we got an excellent deal last February with three dealers competing. That's business - it works.

 

[BeemerMal]

Kim...most has been said about the merits of where you buy from. Although it is not always down to the lowest price in the current market it is even more important to get a good deal and to persuade? the dealer to throw in some extras. If you are new to caravanning there will be a lot of essential bits that don't come with the caravan so you need to factor these all in and with good negotiation you can get most of them thrown in. Firstly, before you contact the dealers make a list of all the extra items you need and get the prices for these so you can value the benefit.

Personally, if I was buying new and I knew the actual make and model I wanted then I would shop round as many dealers as I could. Local ones may not always be the cheapest but face to face discussions to include things like water carrier, waste carrier, gas bottle, battery, hitchlock, etc may get you a much better deal by being there than over the phone. Ask them to put their final offer in writing and tell them you are "shopping around".

Compare the deal with other dealers and if you are going to the NEC check them out as well. BUT, irrespective of what others might say, if you have any warrenty problems with a new van your supplying dealer is the one to sort these out.

Your contract to purchase was with them and they have a legal responsibility to you. If you buy from "distant" dealers you may not get the service you need if problems arise!