Caravan servicing at dealerships

clarinetman

I wondered what members opinions are on dealership refusing to carry out annual servicing on a caravan they have not sold to you.

A car you can take anywhere in the country for a service and warranty work wether you bought it from them or not.

my recent ( this week) experience of this I sent an email to the dealership saying how disappointed I was with their attitude to this issue they said at the time all dealerships operate like this I challenged them to change the mould and move into the 21st century and perhaps they may even sell more caravans etc from happy customers.

what do you think, oh by the way I didn't get a reply to my email.

 

JVB66

Poor customer relations on their part,where we bought our last two caravans ,they service others but seem to always give their customers priority 

Simon100

I believe that it is quite common. There are other threads on here from people who purchased their van at a show from a distant, to them, dealer and their local franchise won't do the servicing.

You could always ask a mobile service engineer to do the service. As long as they are properly registered your warranty would still be valid.

EasyT

I have a different take regarding poor service. Around me many dealerships have been running for far more than 20 years. The local one more than 30 years. They have a finite amount of space, a display area, a shop (in some cases with an additional floor) and a service area. Around me there were 5 dealerships within 35 miles - now only 3. Caravanning has become very much more popular over the last 20 years and the amount of workshop space has become a problem.

JVB66

We have only three c/van dealers in Hertfordshire,and where we store our c/van there are 500 places and the other cc site has 300+ spaces,and there are at least two more large storage in the area,and our dealer still does service  other than sold by them, not sure if they take on other dealers warranty work

clarinetman

Hi have organized a registered mobile service chap and if any warranty work needs doing I will take it back to Preston.

Still not had a reply to my email the whole industry needs a shake up perhaps we should do one of these parliament things were if enough sign it has to be discussed in parliament, keep that lot busy!

 

Pippah45

I have gone for mobile servicing too. The dealership was rubbish leaving gas pipe not properly connected and another gas mistake.  I think you have the right solution.  Mine isn't under warranty now but I would still do the same as you are doing if I get a new one.  Cheaper too and much more thorough.

Wildwood

The answer to me is that this is a fall out from the recession. Before that there were far more dealers but many have since gone out of business. What we have now is far less dealers selling far more caravans and very little added workshop space at the ones still there. What that means is that many have only enough workshop space to service those who bought from them and see no reason not to help those who helped the dealer rather than those who went miles to save money.

Basically if you as a dealer have a choice between your faithful customers and people you have never met which would you choose to work for.

Tigi

Most dealers are snowed under with Warranty and Service work, the dealer I buy from will not service caravans not purchased from them during the busy Spring period. 

black caviar

My caravan is quite old , so is not under warranty and we use a mobile service engineer , who does a great job and isnt expensive, ...... You get a much more personal service . Previous to owning a caravan we had a total of four motorhomes bought from and serviced by a very large dealership near the A1 in nottinghamshire ....... Nightmare!

JVB66

I wonder who they are

paul56

Hi Clarinetman - have you seen this site 

http://www.approvedworkshops.co.uk/approved-touring-caravan-motorhome-servicing