Dealers...dont trust them,,,my story bought a van from well known dealer central scotland,14,000,having previously bought 2 vans from him...1 year on offered me 8,500,,,,sorry to say the writings on the wall for our pastime,,,weather,fuel,rip off dealers,insurance,servicing,pitch fees.....to be honest far better and less hazzle to have a break in a lovely warm hotel,no toilet emptying,no hazzle...caravaning,,,yes I enjoyed it for 10 years ,but fraid to say I wont be back....too may folks out there wanting to rip you off
dont trust no caravan dealers
- Thread starter alan_5039782
- Start date
Alan
That's a great shame. For us it's the flexibility and with the two Springer Spaniels we try and getaway every month.
Great Britain has so much to offer. I'm still seeing things for the first time, even now.
I've done the world trips thing. Sory for me it's the caravan every time.
Cheers
Alan
That's a great shame. For us it's the flexibility and with the two Springer Spaniels we try and getaway every month.
Great Britain has so much to offer. I'm still seeing things for the first time, even now.
I've done the world trips thing. Sory for me it's the caravan every time.
Cheers
Alan
Hello Alan,
I sympathise with your feelings on the PX front, but I equally can understand what has happened.
As soon as you purchase a new item, it is no longer new, but instantly becomes second hand. In most cases ( there are a few but rare exceptions) there is a significant drop in the value of the item.
Look at most cars, it is not uncommon for a drop in value of 30% in12 months and some models even more.
Given the current financial climate which has been approaching for over a year, the market for high value goods has taken a tumble. For most people buying a house is the biggest purchase they make with cars, coming second and caravans in third place along side boats and holidays.
In case you have not read some of the other posts on the forum, it seem there are an increasing number of dealers going out of business, as well as the long established manufacturer Avondale. Times are hard, and luxury goods such as caravans will take a price battering.
Dealers are in business to make a profit, and to enable them to make a return when taking a caravan in PX, they have to offer lower amounts than they expect to be able to sell it on for. As the market is depressed, then it will adversely affect PX prices.
In these times a 40% drop in new value over 12months is not unexpected.
Clearly you have some options, You codl keep the caravan for another year. Whilst it will still depreciate,the second year will be substantially less than the first.
You could shop around at other dealers, They are desperate to make sales at the moment, so you might find a better deal.
The option of selling privately has been suggested. This avoids the dealers mark up , makes more money for you, and as a cash only without a PX you will be the dealers favourite.
I sympathise with your feelings on the PX front, but I equally can understand what has happened.
As soon as you purchase a new item, it is no longer new, but instantly becomes second hand. In most cases ( there are a few but rare exceptions) there is a significant drop in the value of the item.
Look at most cars, it is not uncommon for a drop in value of 30% in12 months and some models even more.
Given the current financial climate which has been approaching for over a year, the market for high value goods has taken a tumble. For most people buying a house is the biggest purchase they make with cars, coming second and caravans in third place along side boats and holidays.
In case you have not read some of the other posts on the forum, it seem there are an increasing number of dealers going out of business, as well as the long established manufacturer Avondale. Times are hard, and luxury goods such as caravans will take a price battering.
Dealers are in business to make a profit, and to enable them to make a return when taking a caravan in PX, they have to offer lower amounts than they expect to be able to sell it on for. As the market is depressed, then it will adversely affect PX prices.
In these times a 40% drop in new value over 12months is not unexpected.
Clearly you have some options, You codl keep the caravan for another year. Whilst it will still depreciate,the second year will be substantially less than the first.
You could shop around at other dealers, They are desperate to make sales at the moment, so you might find a better deal.
The option of selling privately has been suggested. This avoids the dealers mark up , makes more money for you, and as a cash only without a PX you will be the dealers favourite.
Alan,
Sorry, but your winge is less than convincing.
You buy a new caravan and seem surprised to find that you're seriously out of pocket when you want to trade it in after only a few months. I can't imagine anyone on this Forum is surprised at that. Why are you?
I don't know you have made such BAD financial move, but whatever the reason, there's no point throwing your toys out of the van and knocking the entire industry/past-time because of it.
Weather and general cost increases are hardly the misfortune of caravanners alone...but good luck in your nice warm hotel, no-one ever gets hassled or ripped off in hotels do they??
Sorry, but your winge is less than convincing.
You buy a new caravan and seem surprised to find that you're seriously out of pocket when you want to trade it in after only a few months. I can't imagine anyone on this Forum is surprised at that. Why are you?
I don't know you have made such BAD financial move, but whatever the reason, there's no point throwing your toys out of the van and knocking the entire industry/past-time because of it.
Weather and general cost increases are hardly the misfortune of caravanners alone...but good luck in your nice warm hotel, no-one ever gets hassled or ripped off in hotels do they??
Just wait until you're sitting in the airport next to the neighbours from hell, for 18 hours, waiting for a plane to get to your 'nice warm hotel' and when you arrive it's a half-built site, miles from anywhere, with lumpby beds, a balcony overlooking the sewage works, the pool is not yet open, and with food you might (literally) die for - and the neighbours from hell are creating a riot in the room next door! You'll go out instead, and enjoy a nice expensive drink in the overcrowded expensive bar, then eat a lovely meal at the over-priced overcrowded restaurant - then back to find your neighbours are still up and have their CD player on Hip Hop at the loudest decibels, and there's a disco in the hotel just below your room!
Give me caravanning every time. We have a nine year old van which owes us nothing, and we keep the costs and the enjoyment of our holidays within our spending limits and enjoy every minute. Fuel has now come down again, remember, and even if you're right and people are giving up caravanning, then the positive aspect is that there will be more pitches available for those of us who will continue caravanning.
Give me caravanning every time. We have a nine year old van which owes us nothing, and we keep the costs and the enjoyment of our holidays within our spending limits and enjoy every minute. Fuel has now come down again, remember, and even if you're right and people are giving up caravanning, then the positive aspect is that there will be more pitches available for those of us who will continue caravanning.
Parksy
Moderator
I feel sorry for anyone who will lose money through selling a relatively new caravan because they can no longer afford the payments. From what I see in the new members section of this and other forums there appears to be no shortage of those interested in starting caravanning for the first time or returning to it after a longish absence.
I'd say that caravanning is no longer the 'cheapo' option that it was years ago but it's all about the quality of the time that you spend away with the family.
Val A sums this up most eloquently and if I was unfortunate enough to be forced to sell our caravan (It'll never happen!)I'd replace it with another one that I could afford instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
I'd say that caravanning is no longer the 'cheapo' option that it was years ago but it's all about the quality of the time that you spend away with the family.
Val A sums this up most eloquently and if I was unfortunate enough to be forced to sell our caravan (It'll never happen!)I'd replace it with another one that I could afford instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Damian
Moderator
Having just changed my van I know that part exchange values are at an all time low, but Dealers want to move stock so some good deals can be done, and in my personal experience I did rather well out of the deal overall.
I got rid of an Abbey which although only 3 years old was showing signs of wear and tear and poor workmanship and got a German van with all the things I wanted in it, and more.
Selling just to get rid of something at the present time is going to be a disappointment in cash return, whatever you try and sell.
I got rid of an Abbey which although only 3 years old was showing signs of wear and tear and poor workmanship and got a German van with all the things I wanted in it, and more.
Selling just to get rid of something at the present time is going to be a disappointment in cash return, whatever you try and sell.
I've looked at alan's post again.
Was the dealer's 8500 a pure cash offer? I suspect it was. Why should the dealer splash out cash and pay to keep the 'van on his forercourt until buyer comes along?
If the number of units sold at the NEC are anything to go by then you'd think a private sale shouldn't be too hard.
UK weather in my view is a delight. For us the ever changing seasons all have their attraction. Many times we have pitched in the snow. Who wants dust and heat all time?
Fuel , we all have to pay no matter where you go.
Just at look at those poor holiday makers left stranded when the ailine went bust.
Like Val says I've done all the airports thing, give me the freedom of my caravan hols any day.
Cheers
Alan
Was the dealer's 8500 a pure cash offer? I suspect it was. Why should the dealer splash out cash and pay to keep the 'van on his forercourt until buyer comes along?
If the number of units sold at the NEC are anything to go by then you'd think a private sale shouldn't be too hard.
UK weather in my view is a delight. For us the ever changing seasons all have their attraction. Many times we have pitched in the snow. Who wants dust and heat all time?
Fuel , we all have to pay no matter where you go.
Just at look at those poor holiday makers left stranded when the ailine went bust.
Like Val says I've done all the airports thing, give me the freedom of my caravan hols any day.
Cheers
Alan
Morning All
Seems like our situation in reverse, we got fed up of being ripped off by tour operators, hotles, pubs etc.
3 years ago we bought our first van, new from a dealer, took it back after a year, traded in for another van, got a deal, okay lost money, but no where near what I was paying for only 2 weeks in the sun......
We can now take our two dogs everywhere with us, have as many weekends away as we want, no need to get someone else to look after the dogs.
Yes I agree going away in the van is not cheap, but what is? there are sites that only charge
Seems like our situation in reverse, we got fed up of being ripped off by tour operators, hotles, pubs etc.
3 years ago we bought our first van, new from a dealer, took it back after a year, traded in for another van, got a deal, okay lost money, but no where near what I was paying for only 2 weeks in the sun......
We can now take our two dogs everywhere with us, have as many weekends away as we want, no need to get someone else to look after the dogs.
Yes I agree going away in the van is not cheap, but what is? there are sites that only charge
Hi Alan
A number of points.
1. I hope your reason for giving up are not financial. Best of luck there anyway.
2. You quoted 14,000 1 year ago. Was that the list price? If so, you would (in my admittedly limited experience) have probably paid 12k. Now if the 'real' value of your van is about 9,500k then surely the dealer is only going to offer you 8,500 cash (try selling private). Therefore you may only have lost
A number of points.
1. I hope your reason for giving up are not financial. Best of luck there anyway.
2. You quoted 14,000 1 year ago. Was that the list price? If so, you would (in my admittedly limited experience) have probably paid 12k. Now if the 'real' value of your van is about 9,500k then surely the dealer is only going to offer you 8,500 cash (try selling private). Therefore you may only have lost
I am not a reader of the magazine unless something catches my eye, the same with Land Rover mags. But I feel that any publication, has the clout to to make greedy site owners change their ways, do we want to pay for an awning, a dog, sometimes a young child, next year I might try some sites as well as just doing shows, if they are as greedy as they have been in the past I will not bother again, we get ripped off by the goverment why put up with it off caravan park owners!!
Andrew
Andrew
There has been some references to cheap holidays. In my opinion if you are getting cheap holidays with a caravan you are not doing it right or your sums are out. We can all say that week away only cost x pounds but take into account, depreciation, service, insurance, possibly storage and running a bigger car and it aint cheap. However as many others have pointed out the advantages far out way the cost.
I have a friend who uses hotels for long stays out of season and his holidays cost no more than mine and he hasn't spent a small fortune on the outfit but would I swap? not on your life! I cant imagine how they get through the day with nothing to do for themselves and no room in the suitcase for their toys, we take as many books as the budget airlines allow for luggage then there is the bikes, laptop, satellite TV etc
We spend 4 months a year on the continent doing just as we like, not putting up with the types referred to as "neighbours from hell" eating and drinking what we want and when we want and I wouldn't swap it for anything.
Dave
I have a friend who uses hotels for long stays out of season and his holidays cost no more than mine and he hasn't spent a small fortune on the outfit but would I swap? not on your life! I cant imagine how they get through the day with nothing to do for themselves and no room in the suitcase for their toys, we take as many books as the budget airlines allow for luggage then there is the bikes, laptop, satellite TV etc
We spend 4 months a year on the continent doing just as we like, not putting up with the types referred to as "neighbours from hell" eating and drinking what we want and when we want and I wouldn't swap it for anything.
Dave
Two comments...
1. Would you take your one yr. old car to a dealer and expect top dollar from him?
No! So why expect better with a caravan?
2. Last package tour I did was a day flight to Portugal in a 5 star hotel.
Reality... we arrived at 4:00am after endless delays and if that's what they call five star then my van is seven. And it cost an arm and a leg.
If that's what you like and want then good for you but not for me thanks!
1. Would you take your one yr. old car to a dealer and expect top dollar from him?
No! So why expect better with a caravan?
2. Last package tour I did was a day flight to Portugal in a 5 star hotel.
Reality... we arrived at 4:00am after endless delays and if that's what they call five star then my van is seven. And it cost an arm and a leg.
If that's what you like and want then good for you but not for me thanks!
We just stayed in 4 star hotel in Milan for a short break - 3 nights. Hotel very comfortable, eating out a nice change, but noisy traffic at nights kept us awake, king-size bed not quite as comfortable as in the caravan. We walked around an excellent street market and both said: "Wouldn't it be good to come back with the caravan and then buy all this fresh food and sit and relax"!
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