Why do people take their caravans to dealers for servicing as they do not see what is being done (or not)and pay top money. I had my van serviced last week by a local mobile agent who done a brilliant job I might add at a lot lower cost than my local dealer.
that's surprising as in my area there are a few workshop approved mobile engineers around. this guy was very through and took almost four hours to complete the service.
Really its about who you trust & who has a good reputation locally, not whether they are mobile or garage based. I would agree you can watch the mobile man at work, but seriously, did you pull up a chair & watch him like a hawk for 4 hours?
I always get the Mobile Engineer to check my units.
I would not trust any Dealer's workshop. You just don't know who (or what) is servicing your pride and joy. It could be a cleaner or an apprentice, who is going to know.
My Mobile Engineer has always done an excellent job and is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to any queries I may have.
Okay, my vans are secondhand and well out of any warranty, but I prefer to watch someone working through the check list that I get signed and stamped and know that it has all been done.
Some caravan owners have no room to keep their caravan outside their home though and have no choice but to keep it in a storage compound so mobile servicing then becomes more difficult and a dealer is the only option. If the compound terms and conditions doesn't allow unauthorised third party companies on site then mobile servicing becomes an total impossibility.
My caravan is kept in storage and although mobile servicing was once allowed on site (providing you stayed with the engineer) there was some petty theft as one caravan owner decided to do her shopping at Sainsbury's during the meantime so was absent during the servicing period. This of course was in breach of the agreement but because of this situation the owners decided to change the policy and banned any future mobile servicing on site. One persons ignorance spoiled it for everyone else then as where I could get a mobile service conducted for £120 I had to take it to a caravan service company and paid £250 for the privelege merely because they have to cover their overheads in comparison to a mobile engineer.
If you use a workshop approved engineer, they are approved by the manufactures and can do warranty work as well, ok no panel replacement but most small jobs.
Many people are under the illusion (usually being led by the dealer they buy from) that they have to have the caravan serviced where they bought it whilst it's under warranty, this is not so, it can be serviced by any caravan council approved workshop/engineer.
A mobile service engineer is fine as long as he/she is approved, they DON'T have to approved by the manufacturer and if there is warranty work needed they MAY get approval to do it. Our engineer is authorised by Alko to do warranty work if needed with the o.k from Alko of course.
And...RonPlatt they are usually more proffessional than to cover the drive in grease. I know that my caravan is better looked after than it was by the 'monkeys' at the dealers.
I am currently working towards my approved workshop and I am mobile. I am a listed truma trained service dealer though and can carry out warranty work. I recenctly spoke to someone who was taking her caravan 75 miles for a warranty service as the dealer had told her it must go back to them.
------------- LB Caravan Services
Mobile service and repairs
07902012609 / 01948662374
Yes Battie just what I said....so many people don't realise they don't have to take it back to where they bought it while under warranty.
When ours was under warranty we were the same at first but I emailed Bailey, they were reluctant to tell us at first but then they did send and email to say we could get any caravan council aproved engineer.
Quote: Originally posted by Janx on 23/6/2014
And...RonPlatt they are usually more proffessional than to cover the drive in grease. I know that my caravan is better looked after than it was by the 'monkeys' at the dealers.
This sounds like a rant against a specific dealer & an endorsement of a specific mobile service person, yes?
Mine is fully approved he worked for a large local caravan sales company for over 20 years and then decided to go on his own and now he has taken quite a lot of customers from his old company he is capable of doing any work as that is what he has been doing for the last 20 years and he does a good job much cheaper than the company he worked for and now he has set two more lads on from the old company I would recomend him anytime.Ian
------------- Sandy Gulls caravan site
Mundesley
North Norfolk
1st July to 22 July
Or to vary the theme a bit, mine worked for years at a large caravan main dealer & then went on his own, renting a barn on a farm for a workshop where he can work in the dry with full workshop facilities for the same price as a mobile serviceman.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: caravan service
