Is this usual service - our tales of woe
Has anyone else out there experienced a hand over of a new caravan like the experience we have just had ?
We ordered a new caravan at the NEC show in February as, by doing so we would receive certain ‘freebies’ (?) including a motor mover and Alko ATC unit. Because we have to store the caravan with the battery
box up against a wall it was agreed at the time of the order that the master switch for the mover would be in the caravan.
When we got to the dealers on the arranged collection day, 100 miles from home, we had to wait three quarters of an hour before there was anyone free to see to the hand-over. Showing us around
the outside of the caravan the salesman doing the handover said to us “that is the battery box and in there is the master switch for the motor mover”. When I pointed out that the switch was supposed to be in the caravan he consulted his paperwork and agreed
that it was there in black and white. Whilst outside still I said that I couldn’t see the ATC unit’s LED which is usually on the drawbar. “Is there supposed to be an ATC?” asked the salesman, “oh yes, that’s on the paperwork as well” he said. When we got into
the caravan we were given a very rushed ‘tour’ as the salesman realised that he had to get the ‘van into the workshop to correct the issues. I asked where the radio was located. “In this locker” he said lifting the front only to show a big hole
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and no radio ! Yet another job to do before we could leave.
Whilst waiting for the caravan to be done I asked the salesman about the certificate for the weight upgrade which had been organised at the time of ordering. Guess what, It hadn’t been done, or at least
nobody knew whether it had or not as there was no new certificate or weight plate but all agreed that it should have been.
Finally, as far as the caravan is concerned, there was only one remote control for the alarm instead of the two that there should have been. “We’ll have to send you one in the post”.
We got home after a very long, frustrating and disappointing day only to find that the awning that we had purchased at the same time was also seriously faulty. But that is another story. Please see my
earlier post, ‘Awning Re-size’.
Is this abysmal service typical of major dealers these days or were we just very, very unlucky?