Swift Elegance 650 Window Fault
hi everyone,
We have just took delivery of our band new Swift Elegance 650. Bearing in mind that this should have been put through inspections in the factory and then it should have been PDI,d at the dealership.
But as soon as we saw the van we noticed that the front main window looked like it was slightly open on one side. The whole outer tinted window is wrapped, badly. We can get fingers underneath it, so we’re not talking mm’s here.
We are now having to wait on Swift for an answer on what they are going to do about it. After paying £32,000 for this caravan we are absolutely disgusted about the build quality of it.
So please, if you are buying a Swift caravan, please check it over before accepting.
Comments
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If the build quality is that bad, reject the caravan.
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Reject it, dealers will bend over backwards so they don’t lose a sale, and if you have finance on it get the finance company involved it’s in there interest as well
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As said above, contact the dealers and reject the van under the sale of goods act, Your contract is with them.
If they are being awkward sit in your car on a public road outside their premises with placards in the car window saying that the dealer is being awkward etc. They can't touch you there
I bet you are dealt with quickly to avoid publicity
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Why did you hand over your money if it was like that when you went to collect it?
The abysmal quality of caravans is well publicised. From the annual Practical Caravan survey there is a 1 in 4 chance of having a badly thrown together caravan of common poor quality parts.
The well trotted out advice on internet forums is to take the rose tinted glasses off and don't hand over your money until you are happy with it.
By paying up and taking possession you have inadvertently sanctioned the caravan industry to not bother improving things. Don't feel bad, loads of caravan buyers have been doing that for decades and often repeat purchase the next lemon. Those awfully nice dealers give good deals to let us buy them just in time for that long booked holiday
Reject it forthwith. If on finance or any amount above £100 on a credit card, deposit for example, get them involved and reject it.
If the dealer was bona fide in all respects they wouldn't have let it leave their premises.
On the plus side you have learned very early on what to expect from this industry. Whereas we have had over 40 faults manifesting themselves later on.
You will eventually smile and enjoy some great holidays, just a bad start.
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Yes, get the card company involved if you paid over £100 any part on the card eg deposit. And always remember your claim/complaint is with the dealer not the manufacturer. Look at rejection of the caravan immediately. There is plenty of advice on the Citizens Advice website and Consumer Protection sites. A trip to the dealer this busy bank holiday weekend and complaining in the showroom, politely of course, will focus their attention.
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I thought that the credit card cover only applied to items under £30k?
I feel for you. But as others have said, your complaint is solely with the dealer. Swift have nothing to do with with this in a legal sense. Dealers often use we will have to check with the manufacturer type excuse. It's just that an excuse don't let them get away for it
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The Sale of Goods Act 1979 has been superceded by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. A little research on Google will give you all you need to know and a sample rejection letter which you may wish to present to the dealer should he not cooperate. Good luck, the law is on your side.
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Whilst a faulty window should have been noticed at both pre delivery inspections I would argue that a faulty window has nothing to do with build quality but more to do with faulty staff as the fitter and the dealership failed to notice the fault in an item manufactured by a third party!!!!The dealership must be given the chance to replace the faulty item before you can reject but you should have pointed out the defect at handover in my opinion!It is people like yourself who are minded to leave a bad revue on an item when others will say there was a problem but otherwise we are quite happy.I have to say that your post is well over the top. (in my opinion and without prejudice)
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Whilst a faulty window should have been noticed at both pre delivery inspections I would argue that a faulty window has nothing to do with build quality
If we are to believe the OP in that he can get his fingers under the window then your argument will fall on many deaf ears ...... including mine.
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"The dealership must be given the chance to replace the faulty item before you can reject"
That's not entirely correct. Within 30 days of purchase an item can be rejected outright. After 30 days, the supplier must be given ONE chance to correct the fault(s) and, if still not satisfactory, then the item can be rejected.
Whatever the cause of the window problem, it is still faulty and that is the crux of the matter. It matters not if it is classed as poor workmanship, a duff third party component or dealer incompetence as the end result is the same - faulty goods.
https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-reject-a-faulty-product-and-get-your-money-back
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The "fault" was noticed at handover so should have had words at that time!!!!!What is the point of the aggressive comment about build quality on a forum such as this,why not talk "nicely" to the dealership and leave it at that!!!!!
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I can’t explain the OP's actions, I’m afraid. My crystal ball's clouded over😋
Don't get yourself het up about it👍🏻
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it is an age thing (cloudy balls)
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😳 😳 😳
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Nothing 'aggressive' in the comment about build quality on the part of the OP.
The dealership were clearly not 'nice' in selling the caravan to the OP, they responded in a manner befitting their treatment imho.
A PDI is paid for in the sale of a new caravan, the dealer did not undertake their responsibility and were caught out.
If buyers of poor quality common parts thrown together at the circus in Cottingham don't post their experiences on forums such as this, how will the abysmal quality of caravans be improved. We call our flagship caravan, a Sterling Continental 570. a heap of crap in our dealings with Swift and the selling dealership. The dealer has done a sterling job in rectifying the 40+ faults, mostly of poor quality common parts thrown together by Swift. Despite written assurances from Swifts MD and Deputy to improve quality and workmanship, some 4 years on we still hear reports of basic don't care less activities by them in despatching faulty caravans to dealers, of which some appear even less interested in the end customer.
Fortunately we have learned to laugh in the face of the crap Swift produce. This years service will see a repair to a cracked rear panel that is a common fault on Swifts legendary flagship quality caravans.
The delivery of the caravan is always made with the opener ' our heap of crap in for more remedial works, and a service'.
As discussed at Easter with owners of a broad range of caravans up to and including a VanMaster, the 10 year warranty is to give the manufacturers 10 years to fix all the faults they built and allow you to have a working caravan
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Not good at the price you have paid , I have a 6 year old Barcelona we have had it from new its had its issues all of which have been sorted under warranty but like you do we have been looking at a Coachman 675 Laser at around 31500 pounds the layout and larger shower looks appealing but when i cleaned it ready for our weekend in the lakes i ask myself do i really want to spend an awful lot of money when ours still looks mint, then I read stories like yours and start to doubt whether to change. I hope you get it sorted and i am sure you will start to love your new van.
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The people who get all upset about problems such as this need to take a chill pill and give up the mobile holiday home idea.All the moaning in the world will not change the facts of life.....the world and the people in it are far from perfect.....every single one of them!!!!!in my opinion
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PDI inspection!
I have only bought three new caravans form two dealerships. On none of the occasions had the dealer said to me that there are things that they have discovered prior to my inspection that need to be addressed. PDI is a total joke and if a manufacturer was worth his salt would not be needed. If I, as a non constructor, can walk around a caravan and find faults then this means that the manufacturer does not carry out a final inspection of his work or that the dealer is not on the ball or both.
First new caravan .... edging coming off sink worktop. New worktop fitted before collection.
Second new 'van .... badly warped wardrobe door and sliding washroom door rubbing. Sliding door realigned and new wardrobe door ordered prior to collection.
Third new 'van .... (and I don't blame the dealer initially). Stress marks in a black plastic strip under front windows - not easy to spot. A repair the size of a 50p piece in a panel near the door and at the top of the panel. Very neatly filled with a white filler but not painted over. Again I can't blame the dealer as it was third time of washing and polishing before I noticed. Small chip in the wash basin and again do not blame dealer as I only noticed after 2 weeks usage whilst sat on the loo. Cover plate over one of front locker key holes that move as key inserted not apparent. Was it always like that or did I miss it during 100 nights on site before I noticed? No idea but ordered at first service and ready fo when van goes in next.
So on this third occasion no initial complaints against dealer other than the ignition was not working on the grill and presumably was not checked. I was annoyed later though. I reported the chip in the sink a month after having the caravan along with piccies but, because a member of staff left it was not put in as a warranty claim. I reminded dealership a few months later. When I spoke to dealership warranty man when the van was 9 months and after I had found the unfinished repair old he told me that the caravan manufacturer would not allow the claim. After a pointless conversation I simply said that I would speak to service manager at first service. He started to give me the same crap until I stopped him. I told him that I had reported the sink but a claim not put in. The repair he said that staff would not have missed. I told him that I had missed it when washing and polishing before it had discoloured and that if he did not get the cosmetic repair to sink and the small touch up done. Did he really think that I had put a minor dent in the caravan, filled or had it filled and not paint over? I told him that ai would not take any legal action as it was so insignificant and would cost me under £100 to fix ..... but I would be well peed off and our relationship, thus far good, would be soured.
When I picked it up all work was done. Still a sour taste!
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That’s a bit harsh! Why should the OP give up vanning?
Of course the world isn't perfect but a little empathy and constructive advice would seem to be in order rather than having a go at an innocent buyer.
Give the man a break, Sweetyman.
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Now having a van we are happy with, only 11 years old, we are hanging on to it, at least we know it's history and foibles!
It looked fine when we took delivery, but we did initially have problems with the TV aerial, obviously not properly checked, and later with the water tank sensor.
Later we had the then known front window problem, and some faulty blinds.
All problems were promptly dealt with, with both Swift and dealer involved.
Since then we have had a bit of warranty work done due to damp in a locker door, not noticed by us, and furniture parting company with the walls, which was apparently a known problem.
Just hoping we now, after 11 years, have everything sorted!!
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I to have a 2019 elegance 650, bought in march. We had a few niggles after a short stay local to test van out. Bathroom door when carpets down would not close/open as not enough clearance. (new door approved by swift as decorative strip down middle is bubbling and I didn't notice this. LED downlighter above wardrobe door would not turn of unless powered down, the wiring to this was wrong and swapped over with the internal light of said wardrobe and all well. just back from second trip to Coniston coppice and about 100 miles covered and the dreaded brake squeal has reared it's ugly head so axle label photographed and a claim sent to swift for new shoes but could be September before parts arrive as dealer says no stock in the UK as it's a problem with all Alko brakes. seat cushions being sent back as 7 nights total in van and covers are loose and crinkled. Other problems the dealer is sorting out.
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,the same as they did to sell it to you
