Extortion

[FrintonMike]

I have a 2010 Luna Ultima (Lexon) TL and need a new wash basin. Luna told the dealer that they had just one in stock so I paid the £85.00 requested. When it arrived it was the wrong version.
Lunar now say that they do not have the item in stock but can make a mould and supply the item but he cost was between £400 and £500 pound. I was so shocked that I did not make a note of the exact extortonate price.
The Caravan Panel Shop in Preston said that if they already had the mould the cost would be about £85, the same as Luna but as they do not have the mould so will have to make one from my broken basin at a cost of £149.00, a massive saving over what Luna want.
Before I commit to £149 I will try a breaker just in case they have one but Luna have lost my trust

 

[Lynnybobs]

Thats rubbish - cannot understand why they don't have the mould - would have thought they would have kept them for a while at least !

 

[Damian]

Thats rubbish - cannot understand why they don't have the mould - would have thought they would have kept them for a while at least !

The answer is that Lunar do not make the sink but buy them in from an outside supplier, the same as every other item apart from the actual body of the van.

 

[chrisbee1]

Thats rubbish - cannot understand why they don't have the mould - would have thought they would have kept them for a while at least !

The answer is that Lunar do not make the sink but buy them in from an outside supplier, the same as every other item apart from the actual body of the van.

Even so you would expect them to have some sort of mould reference number that they could use to obtain a new basin. Alternately they could supply the OP with the reference number and name of the basin manufacturer. It's called "customer service", a term that seems somewhat alien to the caravan industry in general, although there are one or two notable exceptions.

 

[Raywood]

This is typical of caravan parts supply. Not sure how Lunar would have a mould and it sounds as though the manufacturer of the basin decided that the number of basins that might be ordered after the design change did not warrant the cost of keeping it. It is a problem that can happen with anything you by these days though.

 

[chrisn7]

Don't know what the basin style is, but there are plenty around, so why not buy a more recent basin that is available and change the work top instead?

 

[ProfJohnL]

In the days when British Gas were the sole seller of domestic gas and appliances, it was a stipulation of their contracts with appliance manufacturer's they must ensure they had the means to immediately supply any spare part for a period of ten years after the product ceased production. This requirement took some manufacturers to the wall, as the warehouses were massively over stocked. When BG was broken up, the stocking requirement was refunded, now it is usually sufficient to offer the means to supply parts for shorter period, and importantly this can sometimes be met be having the means to manufacture parts to order.

I tell you this to show there can be a massive cost to keeping spare parts for increasingly obsolete designs. Warehousing is expensive especially when the demand for a particular component cannot be accurately predicted. It's even more costly for bulky items; we have had a similar thread concerning whole front panels,

With some products, there may be multiple colour options, and especially with plastics, there is a long term issue with material and colour degradation.

As Damian has pointed out most caravan manufacturers do not make the best plastic parts they use, preceding to subcontract that work out. It is often the case the mould is owned by the caravan company, and when the production run is finished the mould will be returned to the owner.

It may just be worth asking Lunar for the name of the sub contractor (but I won't hold my breath) as they may just have the mould.

This is the type of issue that makes me think the NCC should push manufacturers to have the means to supply spares for the minimum of the period of 6 years to cover the consumer rights period.

 

[Raywood]

Not sure if the basin on ours will be the same as yours but the label is still on it. When I am out at it I will try to remember to check who made it to see if yours was from the same firm as may be worth contacting them.

 

[gyp]

The basin and complete shower cabin tray etc on our 2015 Quasar was made by Bridgewood UKof Hull, a plastics thermoforming co.
Contact www.bridgewooduk.com / tel 01482 646 464
May be worth a try

 

[FrintonMike]

Thanks, gyp, I will give them a try but if no lock will splash out £150 to get one made

 

[Raywood]

Checked mine and that is also Bridgewood but a 2014 model so should be worth trying them. If it helps ours looks like a small Belfast sink.