Voice of the Customer

[RogerL]

I don't see any reason why a caravan manufacturer can't, in principle if the necessary processes are in place, build any caravan to order with whatever options the customer has specified in much more than 4 weeks from scheduling to shipment, just like any car manufacturer.

Because demand isn't even throughout the model year - so the lead time goes out when demand is high - that would apply to the caravan industry and certainly applies to the car industry.

The car industry imposes restrictions on options to maintain it's economy of scale - try getting any interior colour except black on many cars, even with a factory order.

 

[Lutz]

Because demand isn't even throughout the model year - so the lead time goes out when demand is high - that would apply to the caravan industry and certainly applies to the car industry.

The car industry imposes restrictions on options to maintain it's economy of scale - try getting any interior colour except black on many cars, even with a factory order.

As you say, the total lead time can be affected by demand volume, but I was referring to the time required to build a caravan once it has been scheduled for production. Before that, modern production methods such as the supply of components in line sequence allow a lot of freedom in the build specification, even at a very late stage.

If there are restrictions on options then these are stated either in the price list for the customer to see or they are communicated to the dealer when he places the order. I was even able to order a car once with an unlisted option that I wanted but which was normally offered only for export. This was then handled by the manufacturer's special vehicle order department and in the end I didn't even have to wait any longer to get it. Car manufacturers have to be flexible in order to be able to cater for specific market requirements. Perhaps caravan manufacturers are not in the same position because they don't export as much, but in theory, what goes for a car manufacturer could be equally applicable to a caravan manufacturer, too.

 

[otherclive]

Because demand isn't even throughout the model year - so the lead time goes out when demand is high - that would apply to the caravan industry and certainly applies to the car industry.

The car industry imposes restrictions on options to maintain it's economy of scale - try getting any interior colour except black on many cars, even with a factory order.

A quick look at a number of car makes brochures doesn’t support the view that all interiors are black. Even Tesla offers black, black and white, or cream.

 

[birdman101]

We have alway bought Dealer Specials,with extras, and when we ordered our present caravan the computer showed the batch being made the actual day we sat in the dealers, and I think they were being made in a batch of 5 or 6, it was delivered to dealer the following week

 

[Dustydog]

We have alway bought Dealer Specials,with extras, and when we ordered our present caravan the computer showed the batch being made the actual day we sat in the dealers, and I think they were being made in a batch of 5 or 6, it was delivered to dealer the following week

I bet your Dealer Special came fully loaded no extras required?

 

[birdman101]

I bet your Dealer Special came fully loaded no extras required?

Everything we wanted including Aircon and we had the weight upgrade extra at no charge as done before leaving Swift,

 

[Lutz]

The manufacturer has the ability to create delete options if a particular market doesn’t want a specific feature. In fact, that may even be easier for him to handle than an option to add something. Often, however, delete options don’t result in as big a saving to the customer as he would expect. Many car manufacturers, for example, list an option to delete exterior emblems, but at no saving to the customer.

 

[RogerL]

A quick look at a number of car makes brochures doesn’t support the view that all interiors are black. Even Tesla offers black, black and white, or cream.

That's why I used the term "many" and not "all" - but my subjective opinion is based on only those makes/models that I've looked at.

My own Touareg has cream interior with burr walnut fascias, both options at the time, but no longer options in the UK.

Tesla has bucked the trend in lots of ways.

 

[Beachball]

We have alway bought Dealer Specials,with extras, and when we ordered our present caravan the computer showed the batch being made the actual day we sat in the dealers, and I think they were being made in a batch of 5 or 6, it was delivered to dealer the following week

That probably why we went for our latest caravan they had two of the same make and model a Swift Challenger or Conqueror but one came out on top was the extras that was thrown in and the condition it was mint inside and out.

 

[Van Fisher]

When I was designing products for my business, admittedly on a much smaller scale that the caravan or car industry, I used to discuss design ideas with small groups of regular customers. My simple logic was tweaking my designs to make my products more desirable to customers will increase my sales and market share.
I dont think it is just the caravan industry that doesn't listen to customers, it is common to most industries.
When buying my current car, the salesman was enthusing about its choice of 7 rear light patterns that I could select, until I asked him, how does that benefits me?
How about food packaging with cooking instructions in yellow writing on a white back ground?
I think many companies employ bright young graduate designers who want to design cool stuff that customers would never think to ask for, without considering, how will it actually benefit them.