It has always been my understanding that if you are going to sell something like a caravan, you present it in its best light. Right or wrong?
So I was at a dealership today having a bit of a mooch about and I found quite a nice Elddis Typhoon Crusader 2004 vintage. Good price at £7995.00 However on closer inspection I found quite a lot of superficial damage ie laminate surfaces peeling off, scratches to doors and all the chrome fittings in the fridge badly pitted and in need of replacing. Strangely enough, there was barely a mark on the outside, but overall I got the impression the 'van had been well used.
The salesman said that all these things would be put right including a brand new set of removeable carpets, but why put it on the forecourt in this state? Surely all these bits and pieces should be done BEFOREHAND.
You think that's bad, one TA i looked at a few years ago in Rotherham had pubes in the shower tray and skid marks in the toilet. Then there was the lard smeared hob that completed the picture of a well cared for van.
We saw a few vans like that when we were looking. Only minor things but all indications that a van has been used more than it's been loved. And when you see things like that you kind of wonder whether anything more sinister may be lurking in the background too.
The van we bought (privately) was really well presented with all original docs/manuals & receipts for everything along the way - made us feel it had been cherished & looked after.
We looked at a caravan at a well known and respected dealer in Grantham which had some D.I.Y electrics which were appalling. We could not believe what we were seeing and that it was on the forecourt of that dealer in that state.
very true . seen some shocking 2 year old vans on forecourts. saw one a couple of weeks ago where the overhead locker doors on the front were missing , scratches on all the work surfaces , grease over the hob , filthy oven and several dents at awning pole height.
puts you off straight away and how can people treat their vans like this and are they trading up to another new one to treat the same way ??
I suppose if you can afford a brand new van every couple of years you don't need to worry about looking after it too much.
For those of us like me who can only afford a few thousand on a van that will be our pride and joy, we will treasure them completely, especially when you know no van = no family holiday!
It makes me so cross I can assure you.
I had a look at the used vans at White Arches in Rushden at the weekend, anything less than about £8k was very poorly presented in my opinion.
Quote: Originally posted by Tom85 on 30/8/2011
I suppose if you can afford a brand new van every couple of years you don't need to worry about looking after it too much.
For those of us like me who can only afford a few thousand on a van that will be our pride and joy, we will treasure them completely, especially when you know no van = no family holiday!
It makes me so cross I can assure you.
I had a look at the used vans at White Arches in Rushden at the weekend, anything less than about £8k was very poorly presented in my opinion.
Don't even get me started on smoking in vans!!!
Last time I was White Arches - only a few weeks ago - there wasn't anything under £8k. IIRC!
Hello all, here's a perspective from a dealers point of view!
We always make sure our vans are clean and presentable (the toilet story above made me laugh...) but never service a van before it goes on show. The reason we do this is because things get damaged/stolen etc if the van hangs around longer than it should. There is no point in spending hours getting a van straight only to have to do it again once it sells. Another factor to remember is if you are buying a 10 year old van, you get exactly that. It isn't going to be perfect (unless you're lucky!) and like new. You are not paying new prices and so the odd bit of wear and tear will of course be apparent. Dealers should of course put right any serious problems/damage that are beyond the realms of 'wear and tear' (we try our best!) but sometimes items customers want remedied just cannot be achieved on an older unit that has after all been in use for a number of years.
Mind you the stories above do sound pretty bad, it doesn't thake much to whip the hoover and a duster around!
I hear what your saying but the electrics are an H&S issue and I just don't understand them displaying the van like that with them being a respected dealer. As soon as we saw that we wondered what else was botched. I understand your point about the low life but when we look at a van and see problems it does make us wonder what else is wrong which we can't see but on the flip side it gives us a clue as to how its been looked after or not. I suppose your in a no win situation.
Quote: Originally posted by Jay Pee on 30/8/2011
Hello all, here's a perspective from a dealers point of view!
We always make sure our vans are clean and presentable (the toilet story above made me laugh...) but never service a van before it goes on show. The reason we do this is because things get damaged/stolen etc if the van hangs around longer than it should. There is no point in spending hours getting a van straight only to have to do it again once it sells. Another factor to remember is if you are buying a 10 year old van, you get exactly that. It isn't going to be perfect (unless you're lucky!) and like new. You are not paying new prices and so the odd bit of wear and tear will of course be apparent. Dealers should of course put right any serious problems/damage that are beyond the realms of 'wear and tear' (we try our best!) but sometimes items customers want remedied just cannot be achieved on an older unit that has after all been in use for a number of years.
Mind you the stories above do sound pretty bad, it doesn't thake much to whip the hoover and a duster around!
Cheers
oh how my heart bleeds , whilst i can appreciate your points ,some of us have had to work and save hard for that nearly new 'van and as such when we're paying 6k plus for a tin tent, i'm sorry but we don't expect to find faults with it dealers can't ,won't or don't want to put right, but on the other hand if the buyer is spending £1,500 or less for their new to them caravan then maybe your points are a tad more valid
------------- no tin tent outings booked as yet ,just another cruise in Sept' booked so far
White Arches had quite a few vans under £8k, but they were, in my opinion, poorly prepped. The vans at Finedon Caravan Centre looked very nicely prepped, even the £750 cheapy was presentable.
Its not hard to shampoo the carpets, wipe down the surfaces etc. Even a notice inside saying "awaiting preparation" or something would help.
We looked at a van at White arches,last year, they were asking top money, it had a cracked front window & was dirty. When i asked weather the window would be replaced, the salesman said Probably not as it was reflected in the price Who in their right mind would buy a van presented in this way ? The mind boggles
The dealers near me really don't help sell their vans, they are sometimes green!!! I would think a bit of a wash and spruce up would really help sales, and they are over priced anyway, and some of the vans have sat there for a year now!!! I know because I am nosy.I do understand some things as the dealer said they have been having a high number of thefts , they have even had a cooker stolen, as well as the usual door handles cooker knobs ect, but really a bucket of water would go a long way.
But on the plus side there is a sign in each van saying please do not use the toilet.
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Topic: Selling a caravan
, whilst i can appreciate your points ,some of us have had to work and save hard for that nearly new 'van and as such when we're paying 6k plus for a tin tent, i'm sorry but we don't expect to find faults with it dealers can't ,won't or don't want to put right, but on the other hand if the buyer is spending £1,500 or less for their new to them caravan then maybe your points are a tad more valid 
Who in their right mind would buy a van presented in this way ? The mind boggles 
