Looking at buying my first brand new caravan. Can I expect to do a deal in the current climate or is it a case of that's the price take it of leave it? I've been researching several local ish dealers, been looking round them all, checked out the reviews on the Internet and I think found one I would do business with. I've nothing to trade in and can pay cash, but is it a good idea to pay some on finance in case of any warranty issues? Any other hints gratefully accepted!
We have just been through the process of buying a new caravan.....due to the very high demand and shortage of new vans, discounts are unlikely. Importantly we spent ages refining the particular wants and needs for our new van eventually coming up with the make and model. We then contacted all the dealers of that model from the Midlands to southern England for a price and availability. All stuck to list price. Only movement on price was for motormovers. Also for consideration may be waiting for the next large caravan Expo as often manufacturers do discount for orders placed at the show.
We have just ordered a new van and the only movement was on the trade in price, I know you have nothing to trade in.
We tried three dealers and by far the best trade in was where we actually bought the van we are trading in. I really could not believe what they offered us for our two and a half year old van. The worst trade in value was from a dealer who only took the franchise on less than a year ago, he would not budge on value.
I think without a trade in there will be very little wiggle room.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
I definitely agree with what birdman101 has said above.
We bought our last brand new caravan at one of the caravan shows at the NEC. At the time, the dealer who was giving the best price was quite a distance from where we live but we were told that we could get it serviced and any warranty work done at any main dealer so we went ahead and purchased.
After collecting the caravan several months later and taking it the long distance back home, we started to discover small but annoying warranty issues so we contacted our local dealer to get them fixed. He basically laughed at us and told us to take it back to where we bought it. I explained that where we bought it was quite some distance away and told him what we had been told about any dealer being able to deal with warranty issues. He just shrugged and said that while from the manufacturers perspective, they allow any dealer to do the work, as a dealer, they are only obliged to do work on caravans they have sold. If they didn’t sell it they can do the work if they want to but they are so busy with their own customers that they just won’t take on any from other dealers. I contacted the manufacturer directly who said they would contact our local dealer on our behalf to see what could be arranged but got back to us a few days later to say that the local dealer would not do the work. They gave us the contact details of several other dealers within about 100 miles of home and we systematically phoned around them all but they all refused to take on the warranty work and we ended up, over the next 6 months, having to do several expensive and long trips back to the supplying dealer for different warranty repairs.
It taught us a valuable lesson and if we ever decide on a new caravan again, it will be from somewhere much closer to home (but not from the really local guy who was so rude to us).
The caravan industry has always operated differently to the car industry.
When car dealerships are appointed it is a condition of the agreement that they undertake warranty work for cars even if they did not supply them.
The caravan dealerships do not have this obligation placed upon them.
This has lead to the anti competitive market place we all face.
It is about time that this arrangement is legally challenged and then we can have some true competition between the dealerships.
Neither of the two clubs seems willing to "bite the hand that hand that feeds them", even though they purport to represent our interests, and so we as consumers are left in a very poor position when buying new Caravans.
Others may no doubt disagree, and think everything is fine.
Quote: Originally posted by kate w on 10/10/2021
Looking at buying my first brand new caravan. Can I expect to do a deal in the current climate or is it a case of that's the price take it of leave it? I've been researching several local ish dealers, been looking round them all, checked out the reviews on the Internet and I think found one I would do business with. I've nothing to trade in and can pay cash, but is it a good idea to pay some on finance in case of any warranty issues? Any other hints gratefully accepted!
Read up on reviews about dealer as closest may not be best. We do a 180 round trip every year for warranty repairs or servicing as the dealer is good.
Although you have Consumer legislation on your side i.e. Consumer Rights Act 2015, do not pay cash for the caravan. Pay a large deposit and spread the balance of low payments over 3 - 5 years. You then have the finance house to fight your corner if anything goes wrong.
I would say your best bet is to try and get extras from the dealer rather than a price discount - see what they will give you eg. discount off a motor mover, Supaguard cover, awning discount, any accessories you may need (aqua roll, waste hog, hitch / wheel locks). Don’t be shy about asking what they’ll offer you - it’s worth a try! If you order at the time of one of the shows, there may be added incentives from the manufacturers - we got 5% cash back from Coachman but that was in Feb. 2020.
Took my trade in to the dealers on Saturday and got to see our new van, it's a cracker.
But I was a little bemused with some of the dealers antics.
When I pulled in i was asked if there was any juice in the battery, I said yes 'oh good just unhitch and move it into that space' no problem I thought and proceeded to do so.
'Right I'll go and get a spanner and take the battery out', as our old van was now next to our new one I thought he was going to put it in, wrong.
'Where abouts in your car do you want it?' I asked was he just not going to put it in the new van, 'no sorry you need to take it away with you' no explanation it just needs to go.
Next was the gas pigtail, he removes it and rather than attaching it or sitting in the front locker hands it to me, are you not going to fit that I ask, 'not in my remit, I might do it wrong' well leave it in the locker, 'no sorry you need to take it'.
Lastly he appears with the number plate, 'you need to take this as well' can you not put in the locker and fit at the PDI? 'no it might get lost, so better you take it and fit it yourself when you come back'.
Three quite trivial things, but after having been up at 5 and driving through rain of biblical proportions I was not the most enamoured customer.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
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Topic: Buying New caravan tips
via mobile 10/10/2021 at 1:50pm
