Monopoly on Hymer

[David_374226761]

I am on my second Hymer caravan and both have been excellent quality and towed like a dream. But why oh why do Hymer insist on giving a monopoly to one dealership in the U.K.? In my opinion and experience this has shown to be to the detrement of the customer who has nowhere else to turn when faced with poor after sales service.

 

[Guest]

I don't think it is a question of Hymer giving a monopoly. Hymer are testing the UK market and as such will start small and grow if the sales are there. Most European suppliers see the UK market as important, but in terms of sales it is small to what they can sell on the mainland. Plus the desirability to make vans more attractive to the UK buyer, eg door on nearside , oven etc does influence production lines and costs. You can buy your Hymer in Europe and get full after sales service, but of course the electrics won't be the UK type (not a big issue) and the door will be on the offside.. You would probably also have to return to the European dealer for any warranty work.

Being an island nation has advantages, and disadvantages, and this is one of the latter. Keep buying Hymers and more dealers will appear.

 

[David_374226761]

No major changes are made in production of Hymer caravans for the UK market. ie. door is kept to o/s. Most are made by the importer/dealership and this is reflected in the price here. Buying abroad and importing is an option but, as you quite rightly say would mean difficulty with warranty work and would probably make re-sale difficult. Also, it would still mean dealing with the only dealership in the UK, to obtain spares etc. I think it is more down to the Germans wanting to keep control over their product which is far easier when they have one company to deal with.

Like I say, this is to the customers disadvantage as that company has no competition.

As a matter of interest, 2 years ago, I had my van serviced during a holiday in Germany. It was half the price and with 10 times the quality of service.

 

[Lutz]

It's the same with any product that is exported. It is normal to have only one concessionaire for each market. The concessionaire will then determine whether it makes sense to have further franchised dealers but in the case of caravans, the quantities sold are often too small to make it worthwhile. It would unnecessarily increase costs for additional logistics, e.g. spare parts, which would have to be made available at more than one location.

 

[MONKEY1]

What Hymer have achieved is a controlled distribution channel - the pro's are that they can maintain residual values and have all their parts and after-sales centralised. The Con's are there is no dealer rivalry for you custom - fall out with Hymer UK and you're stuck - equally there is little competition to achieve a good residual value for your van.

Interestingly I have heard that Hymer UK are less than enthusiastic about working on Imported Motorhomes - essentially allowing only a certain amount of space in their workshop over to them - they site rightly or wrongly than they want to give their own customers a premium service.

Interestingly I have found this to be applicable to cars as well

Monkeys Husband

 

[MJC]

I have had 2 Hymer caravans - both new, from

Lowdhams. In my experience I have suffered no detrimental effects of having to have them serviced etc at Lowdhams. After Sales have been brilliant - although Hymers never need anything fixing. On the other hand if Hymers were sold from eg Glossop Caravans - where I have bought a brand new Eldiss in the past - there would be no after sales service ( I Know) and Barrons would be a joke - where you sit in a room and are asked how much you will pay for the van. Then they go off to "ask" if the price can be reduced etc. I think Hymer have chosen the most professional, non rip off, customer friendly crew they could. You can always go to eg Glossop caravans and get your van back in a worse condition than when you sent it in - I did. Thats poor after sales.

 

[coljac]

I have had 2 Hymer caravans - both new, from

Lowdhams. In my experience I have suffered no detrimental effects of having to have them serviced etc at Lowdhams. After Sales have been brilliant - although Hymers never need anything fixing. On the other hand if Hymers were sold from eg Glossop Caravans - where I have bought a brand new Eldiss in the past - there would be no after sales service ( I Know) and Barrons would be a joke - where you sit in a room and are asked how much you will pay for the van. Then they go off to "ask" if the price can be reduced etc. I think Hymer have chosen the most professional, non rip off, customer friendly crew they could. You can always go to eg Glossop caravans and get your van back in a worse condition than when you sent it in - I did. Thats poor after sales.

Mandy , You have restored my faith in this site .At last some one has named and shamed 2 of the worst Coljac

 

[JTQ]

David,

I personally would classify the reduction in the width of some models by 100mm to make then legal for UK roads as "major".

Also I am quite sure they don't do that in Nottingham after importing them! A nightmare of a job on the body, unrealistic a task internally, and just think they have to take a bit off each side to keep the chassis in the middle.

Doors for certain models are also moved for the UK market, another fiddly tasks for the boys in Nottingham if what you say was true.

They are most definitely made specifically for the UK market, some getting more changes than others.