New Caravan Quality
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Pay part with a credit card and it becomes the finance company's problem anyway.
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ISO is not the 'holy grail' in producing high quality goods.
If a company producers rubbish as long as it is consitantly around the same level and with an adequate system behind it then it can use the ISO mark.
In some regard the caravan makers are having to produce vans that have more and more equipment in them but have to weight less and less because the car makers to reduce CO2 ommissions are making their cars lighter etc. It seems a viscious circle.
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Boff....Tongue and cheek come to mind!
It is not their function to represent the interests of the caravan buying public.
This from their website:
The NCC was established more than 75 years ago (1939) as the UK trade body representing the collective interests of four product sectors - tourer, motorhome and caravan holiday home (leisure products) and residential park homes. Whilst the roots of the industry lie in the early half of the nineteenth century it has developed significantly and now makes a more than £6 billion per year contribution to the UK economy, employs in excess of 100,000 people and serves over 1.7 million caravanners and motorhomers.
We are a not for profit trade association - a membership organisation with a clear vision and mission, unique in that we represent companies throughout the supply chain of each sector:-
Manufacturers of tourers, motorhomes, caravan holiday homes and residential park homes
Retail dealers of tourers and motorhomes
Distributors of caravan holiday homes
Holiday and residential park operators
Suppliers of components, appliances and accessories
Specialist service providers to the industry
We work with our members to ensure that the industry delivers high quality products and services and treats customers fairly.NCC is governed by a Board of Directors and is managed by the Directorate based in Aldershot.
We listen to our consumers through close contact with organisations such as The Caravan & Mototorhome Club, the Camping and Caravanning Club, National Association of Caravan Owners and park home residents’ associations, who represent the interests of owners - their comments are essential in developing our work programmes.
Really?????? It's like the blind leading the blind, or maybe there's a lack of communication or perhaps they don't listen as much as they suggest? As others have said, maybe another meaningless accreditation or trade body.
Something needs to be done because the current system of quality control is broken - if indeed it was ever in place.
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From all the post in this thread I now see the caravan industry it seems as though there is no body or group who carrý out audits of the manufacturer except for ISO9001 which is every 3yrs. In my experience within the aerospace industry and been in QA it seems to me as though the caravan industry is running a mock and just doesn't really care about the end user apart from our money.
In the aerospace industry if you supply to a OEM etc. Then they audit you and your procedures very stringently. But not just doing a paper trail but also doing a follow through from the PO to shipping.
Even the automotive industry has a strict QA in both procedures and audits, that's why most new cars are more or less fault free at the point of delivering to the customer.
How and what will ever bring the caravan industry to adopt 1st class QA audit and manufacturing proceedures would need something dramatic to initiate this and I can't see any change in the near future from what I've read.
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Hamgar, it’s been this way for decades with the only changes being for the worse. Don’t beat yourself up about it.
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NCC: Whilst the roots of the industry lie in the early half of the nineteenth century it has developed significantly.........
1801 to 1850 were very good years for motorhomers and caravaners!! Those were the days eh.
How can you trust an organisation that can't even get its business impact statement correct.
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Well spotted.
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I have posted this before I have a very good friend who worked for Rolls-Royce motors before during and after the take over by VW. He described the quality of the product before the take over as pretty rubbish ( he didn’t actually say rubbish ) He then couldn’t believe it when VW basically shut production down to train and get quality up.
Do you honestly believe that there is any UK caravan manufacturer, with the possible exception of Erwin Hymer UK, that could afford to do that? In my opinion all uk manufacturers are on a Hamster wheel pushing out products to keep the cash flow moving spending a fortune on warranty claims. At the moment the sun is shining but as soon as people decide to stop cashing in their pensions to buy their dream van. The wheels are going to come off very quickly.
With my tongue, absolutely not in my cheek,I have nothing but admiration for the NCC, it represents the short term interests of its paying members brilliantly, pity there isn’t such an organisation that represents the consumers.
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We'll there is some very good and valid comments in this thread. The main issue I'm looking at is the quality of the product but also the services behind the product.
I've come to the conclusion that I will never buy another new caravan, I will keep with what I've got until I no longer want to go caravaning.
The dealer I bought from has fixed / remidied faults as I reported them so I'm being well supported by them although it is irritating to keep on taking the caravan back and forth.
In my opinion the club's should be more distanced from the manufacturers and look to represent the interests of members. In the way of having a voice and be listened to actively participate in helping to improve the industry. But I'm sure that's another story.,
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We are on our seventh caravan and have had very little trouble other than a few minor issues until the last one which after three years developed damp at the offside front. The dealer looked at it accepted the problem and we had the caravan repaired reasonably promptly and more importantly when we did not need it. This year more damp appeared at the joint between the roof and front panel which might give the make away. Back to the dealer who said they were getting a lot of this and would deal with it as soon as the parts came through.
At that point we looked at their new models and have taken one after getting a good deal, more than I was expecting. So far reasonably good, we have found edging coming away on the kitchen extension flap and the toilet door and one blind has the hook on the end missing. The toilet door slides and in the closed position there was a visible gap between the door and the frame although you could not see in. I have moved the stop to clear this last point. A bit disappointing but it could be worse.
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Having just bought a two year old van I'm hoping and praying that I've got one that won't give me too many problems...and the ones I do get I can fix myself. The last few vehicles we've had (caravans and Motorhomes) have all been new and the hoops you have to jump through for any warranty work is a joke.
Like the rest of us I'd just like a dealership that cared and didn't rip you off and a manufacturer that could cobble together a product that lasted, at least for a few months. We recently almost stopped camping, one reason because of the shocking quality of products and service. However the addiction kicked in so we're now down the road of thinking spend much less, enjoy when we can and keep our fingers firmly crossed.
What a shocking state this industry is in! 😎
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When i complained to the MD at Swindon Caravans that our new Swift Vogue that we picked up in June 2018 was not PDI properly and that was why the sink waste pipe was not connected and the floor was flooded he told me that they do not check the waste pipes to see if they are connected properly and they only have a set time to do a PDI.and Swift confirmed that.So it seems that any faults that are in the caravan after the set time is up are your problems.My case with Swift and Swindon caravans is still on going as i am rejecting the caravan and Swindon are making it as difficult as possible to sort my problem out.
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That's not good, as I assume Swindon Caravans have your money as well. I would recommend contacting your local press to see if they can put extra pressure Swindon Caravans as well as talking to Swindon / Wiltshire trading standards. You need to get as many different people / agencies in your side so Swindon Caravans are put under pressure to sort out the issue.
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Sounds like the rejection process is underway, Hamgar. It’s not necessarily a good thing to rock the boat at that stage.
Ask yourself, too, if the local press will risk upsetting an advertiser.
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If you have any finance, including a credit card, you can use them to reject. Also there is a good chance that you will be get legal advice through something like house insurance of Union membership. You need to stay cool and not be intimidated. Also document everything. But I agree with TW I wouldn’t start threatening to write to the papers or get watch dog involve. Might make you feel better for a moment but not actually achieve anything.
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There are many ways to go through a complaint process but it's entirely up to the individual which action and what route to take. Lots of people can give suggestions and that's what forums are about, to give an opinion. Whether it's a worthwhile opinion is up to the individual.
Maybe if some of the learned members can colate a to do list then that may/may not assist an individual who becomes in dispute with a caravan supplier, dealer or manufacturer.
I'm sure some of the members who participate in the forums are or have been employed / worked in the caravan industry. That you may never know.
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There’s no need for a guide, Hamgar. It’s all out there for anyone to find and CAB will help as will the club's legal dept.
I’ve posted this link many a time. Others are available.
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Surely in the eyes of the law. The fact that it is a caravan is irrelevant. What it is, is faulty goods. As far as I known consumer law doesn’t say that in the unique case of a caravan you have to wait while the dealer who sold it to you checks with the manufacturer to see if it is covered by the warranty. Also that it is Ok to deprive you of the use of said item whilst they spend 12 months getting the parts.
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