looks like either swift didnt do well at NEC or ******** have shafted swift again, whatever the reason swift have laid off another 250 workers this morning.
swift lay off more staff
- Thread starter caravanoracle
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Damian
Moderator
The director interviewed (Richard I think) said that Swift sadly had to lay off 250 workers this year but were confident that things would get better and that whilst the NEC sales were down this year they were satisfied with the
Whilst I feel immesely sorry for anyone who loses their job, business, house etc due to the current economic problems I hope some good may come out of the mess. Perhaps caravan manufactures will wake up to the fact they can no longer sit back and let customers come to them to buy sub-standard products. A reasonably priced well built product will sell, especially if after sales service is excellent, should it be needed. "Golden Brown" may have given the industry the kick up the backside it so desperatly needs to build quality caravans and get it right FIRST TIME.
What is worrying, the new range of caravans are being built using subcontractors end panels, In the present climate Im lucky that I am getting a replacment rear panel,due to my Caravam manufacturer having a 6 year warrant agreement ,but what if other caravan suppliers follow the same fate as Avondales, where the warranties cease in their present form, and you are left with a 2 year old cararavan that you cannot get replacement end panels.
I realize that the modern way of producing caravans has to be a cost effective as possible, possibly due to the amount of man hours required to assemble each caravan, But based upon the older type of vans I have had in the past never had any problems with the quality or build that I have today.
Royston
I realize that the modern way of producing caravans has to be a cost effective as possible, possibly due to the amount of man hours required to assemble each caravan, But based upon the older type of vans I have had in the past never had any problems with the quality or build that I have today.
Royston
Chrisbee seems to have had some tough problems with his Caravans but it can't be fair to try and blame a full industry.We all have our own experiences of purchasing items and it is of no help to state that" they all sit back and let customers come to them to buy sub-standard products" I for one, am delighted with my Caravan ( A Bessacarr from Swift Leisure)As it approaches its 3rd birthday any faults have been sorted quickly by a great dealer ( Catterick Caravans) and a great manafacturer ( Swift Leisure) working together to keep my business.My experience over 30 years of buying British Caravans is that people ( remember thats all a business is!)do want to help if you have a problem, but of course it depends how you ask!
Are we being complacent - manufacturers keep harping on about what a great final inspection procedure they have at the factory and supplying dealers supposedly then do a thorough PDI and yet in my experience, we still take delivery of new caravans with faults which should have been picked up beforehand and rectified - why should the customer end up doing the snagging and then spend time and expense having to take caravans back to dealers for repairs after spending upwards of
Jon,
As i have said many times in the past a good dealer is worth their weight in gold.
I have only ever dealt with one dealer Golden Castle caravans at Staverton Airport in 25 years. I have purchased 8 new caravans from them over the years. My present caravan a 2007 Swift Conqueror 655 was given a full P.D.I. as were all my previous caravans. All the caravans were fault free on delivery. Their handover process is excellent.When you arrive to collect your new caravan it is set up with mains and water as if on site. You are shown how everthing works. My Swift Conqueror was my first with an Alko wheel lock. I was shown how to fit and remove a wheel lock.
Their after sales service is excellent.
My dealer is 182 miles from home, but well worth the travelling.
I book my service months in advance and it is done either at the beginning of a holiday or at the end on the way home.
Good dealers may be hard to find but from my experience if you find one stick with them.
Hamer
As i have said many times in the past a good dealer is worth their weight in gold.
I have only ever dealt with one dealer Golden Castle caravans at Staverton Airport in 25 years. I have purchased 8 new caravans from them over the years. My present caravan a 2007 Swift Conqueror 655 was given a full P.D.I. as were all my previous caravans. All the caravans were fault free on delivery. Their handover process is excellent.When you arrive to collect your new caravan it is set up with mains and water as if on site. You are shown how everthing works. My Swift Conqueror was my first with an Alko wheel lock. I was shown how to fit and remove a wheel lock.
Their after sales service is excellent.
My dealer is 182 miles from home, but well worth the travelling.
I book my service months in advance and it is done either at the beginning of a holiday or at the end on the way home.
Good dealers may be hard to find but from my experience if you find one stick with them.
Hamer
Parksy
Moderator
We went to the caravan sales shindig at Golden Castle in Staverton a short while back and I have to say that we were impressed.
They'd hired a gigantic marquee to cover their yard in case of rain and wouldn't you know it was one of the sunniest weekends of the year, good old British weather strikes again.
Their display was impressive and we thought that their sales staff were knowledgeable and professional without being pushy.
As an added bonus we got a good deal that weekend on a 26 foot winter cover for our t/a caravan (
They'd hired a gigantic marquee to cover their yard in case of rain and wouldn't you know it was one of the sunniest weekends of the year, good old British weather strikes again.
Their display was impressive and we thought that their sales staff were knowledgeable and professional without being pushy.
As an added bonus we got a good deal that weekend on a 26 foot winter cover for our t/a caravan (
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