A lack of British fibre ;)
In the market for a sun canopy, we decided that we wanted one with glassfibre poles - we've had 'em with steel poles, and even though there were only 3 of them, they were surprisingly heavy.
So, fibre poles it was - which rather limited the choice to an Isabella 'Shadow.
I hit on the idea of phoning the one remaining UK maufacturer of awnings and canopies, and asking whether I could pay a bit more and have fibre poles instead of the stock steel ones.
Frankly, I would probably have had a more favourable response if I'd telephoned to ask them for a sadlle for a Rhinoceros, set with 3 types of gemstones, and brocaded in gold!
"We don't do that", said the lady on the other end of the phone, apparently shaken by my audacity.
"But you sell fibreglass poles for some of your awnings"
"Yes - but not for our sun canopies"
"Could you not just subsitute three upright poles?"
(pause)
"I'll ask - and let you know"
But she didn't - no return call, no emaiil, no response of any kind. Clearly, my sinful addiction to the exotic had left them all stupified...
So Isabella it will be.
Sadly typical, I'm afraid, of UK manufacturers - I wasn't asking for much, just three fibre poles, for which I was willing to pay extra.
I can remember this particular manufacturer in their heyday - with dealers galore, they were *the* leading supplier of low cost awnings that were still decent quality.
Now, they have no dealers (as far as I know) and have been relegated to the very back of the queue of awning suppliers (most caravanners, I suspect, would not even recognise their logo!)
Yet, apparently, they can still afford to be sniffy, and ignore a genuine (and very easily effected) request.
Even harder times are still to come in the leisure business - and, when they arrive, there will be a lot of companies being forced to take in metaphorical washing in order to survive! One can already see the signs, with companies like Pennine Leisure being
obliged to deal in old second-hand folding campers because new sales are at such a low level.
Whether this particular company will finally decide to meet customer demand, or go defiantly belly up, remains to be seen - but, whatever, I won't be purchasing anything from them in the future.