Has anyone got any experiences of buying a caravan at the NEC? We are interested in getting a Bailey Olympus 540-5. Of course we hope to get a good deal and thought that if we buy from the show may get a good deal on the price or some extras thrown in. What should we be looking for to part with our cash rather than going to our local dealer? We do not have a part exchange and will only buy within a certain radius of home as we wouldn't want to go the other end of the country to get warranty work done.
Thanks.
Suggest you get prices off other dealers to see what price you could get it at and then use that with to haggle down your preferred dealer. Also take the opportunity to look at other brands to see what deal could be done with them and use those figures in your negotiations.
We have bought at the NEC - on each occasion we have bettered the best local deal by around £2k. We did however only consider dealers within a certain time/distance from home as you are doing. We first visited locals then went armed with that info - the show deals were all better so then the haggling came into play - depends what you want to haggle for - but we have found accessories probably best as the dealer can only pays trade costs but you would have to pay a retail price - so you ought to get more. Having said that if you have a van and equipment already go for cash.
we were looking at the new Olympus 540-5 a few weeks ago. We went round the local dealers and the best deal offered was £15300 to include brand new motor mover, external gas point and external power socket.
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Bought our Pegasus at the NEC show 2 years ago, didnt get delivery until the following January. It turned out the dealer was 200 miles away, but fortunately Bailey have a transient warranty scheme whereby you can transfer the warranty to another dealer more local to you, which is what we did. If you can get a good deal locally I would always consider that to be better. We found at the show there was no real advantage if you have made your mind up about a specific make and model, good opportunity though to see and consider others.
We bought our Bailey Peg there. The same deal was on the forecourt 6 months later, and the dealer (working the Bailey stand) was 50 miles from home. Turned out to be something of an obstacle given Baileys current p*ss poor build quality.
Suggest you try picking some bits of trim off the van at the exhibiton before you buy. End capping to panels seems to be the most vulnerable. Kitchen worktop also somewhat vulnerable: very soft.
Alutec body shell is ace tho. Do ask about climbing on the roof to clean it. I always wonder if its a no-no. And definately don't kneel on the roof as you clean, it leaves knee-marks all the way...
If you do decide to buy then ask the manufacturer selling the van just how they can guarantee that you can get servicing and warranty work done at your local dealership. Do not simly rely on their word that it can be done under, say, the Bailey warranty. Its a two way street and the local dealer has to agree. The manufacturing seller at the show simply cannot tell him to do it.
Belt and braces, get the seller to get your local dealer to agree in writing to do servicing and warranty work. No point in finding out months after the deal that you may have to travel a few hundred miles for servcing.
Phil
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There have been good "show specific" deals in the past; we have twice taken advantage of them.
We would advise taking your mobile and the phone numbers of your favored local dealers; then when you know what you want and its price talk to your local dealers from the show to see if they can come acceptably close.
Its not wise to walk away from show offers then hope to better or match it after the event; the makers sometimes are giving a contribution to achieve the show discount dealers can offer and that usually ends on show closing.
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Topic: Buying at NEC
