Legal advice regarding awnings
Good morning,
long story,
I purchased a new caravan (Elddis Avante 866) from a dealer (I will not name for now) and we required an awning.
We opted for an air awning, the had a Vango awning on display so we said that we liked that.
The salesman ordered the awning. I picked up the caravan and began to holiday. We soon discovered that the awning fel on half the bunk windows deemed unusable for kids sleeping in bunks, also very difficult to seal.
The 3 rd time we used the awning in torential rain it began to leak around seams. I contacted the dealer, a year down the line and I have only just managed to send the awning back to be repaired. I am still in despute that we were sold an awning not fit for purpose.
a) We bought the caravan and awning from the same dealer
b) We relied on their expertise to supply us with the correct awning
Up to now the person ( who will remain namless) after 12months of emails has been very unhelpfull.
What do I do now?
Comments
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Prepare to go further like court or accept what they’ve offered. You’ve left it a bit late to be honest, sorry😕. If you paid by Credit Card or Debit Card(under some circumstances) you may have support there. Good luck👍🏻
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Sell it on e Bay if you can. Put it down to experience. Start again.
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Hi, it would seem from your OP that the dealer supplied the awning you 'liked' and, quality issues aside, not sure what grounds you have to 'reject' it??
Whist no comfort to you its a lot better than the many posters, on various forums, complaining of being sold a van that's too heavy.
These awnings seem to be popular so euror's advice may be the way to go.
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When I bought my porch awning I did the checks to make sure it didn’t go over a window, however I’ve seen a few posts on forums where people are quite happy with an awning going over a window. As for fit for purpose, does it state in the caravan or awning manuals / instructions that it must not go over a window? If not its just personal preference and nothing to do with fit for purpose.
As for leaking around the seams, this can happen with new awnings. I have an Isabella full awning that leaked on a seam the first time it was used in the rain. I contacted Isabella and they explained that this could happen but once the stitching had been soaked it would swell slightly and self seal. It did and I have had no other problems in the 8 or so years I have had it.
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Many have awnings that restrict windows. I didn't as I chose suitable awnings. I do not blame the dealer.
It is not unusual for new awnings to admit water through stitched seems on first usage, common by the awning rail. After a good downpour they generally are fine after the stitching has swelled
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To be perfectly honest, JR, I think Euro gave you the best advice. Get rid of and move on. There may well be a fault causing leaks but the awning choice was yours. To assume a salesman will guide you is naive, especially in the LV industry.
Frankly, if a bad choice of leaky awning is all that is wrong with your outfit, you've done well compared to folk who have major issues with new caravans and motorhomes.
We've all made mistakes and in this case I think you need to let it go and save yourself further stress and hassle. Sorry if you think I’m being harsh, that’s not my intention.
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Did you specifically ask the salesman? that you wanted an awning to fit your specific caravan?
Many awnings will cover a window or windows when put up as there is not (apart from Bailey) an awning that is specific to a model of caravan,
I think as others have said just move on, and either sell, or as most do accept that the model you have bought will be a bit inconvenient when in position
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when we decided on getting the caravan, we looked at lots of different models and layouts.
we wanted an awning, but not a full one, as we prefer to look out from the lounge onto the locale than the inside of an awning
there were several options available, but not all in one place
we went to the NEC show. Ordered caravan from a dealer. When asking about an air awning the salesman didn't know about them.
we visited awning sellers/makers to enquire if their offering would fit the caravan we had ordered.
of all the awning people, only one offered us a tape measure to measure the display awning, take photos, borrow it to go back to the display caravan, measure it, take photos then return to go through everything before ordering the awning. Superb service.
we are in our 6th season with a Bradcot Aspire Air 390 awning.
pays to take your time and find a supplier who knows their product, not a salesman.
chalk your situation down to experience and move on.
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As my original post stated!
I did not pick the size of awning!!!! I did not understand all I wanted was an air awning to fit the new caravan.
I bought the caravan from 3a’s and on the same day asked for an air awning to fit.
The Vango looked a good sturdy one! Hells bells if I cant relly on a reputable dealer to sell me an awning on a new caravan bought on the same day that fits properly where should I go? Builders merchants?0 -
But it does fit. It just goes over a window, and as I and others have said, that is acceptable to many. It seems you did not specify a size that didn't cover a window.
There is no point in getting frustrated because you are not getting the answers you want. Put it down to experience and either live with it or part exchange it to the size you prefer. I got a great part ex. deal when I realised the steel poles of the first awning I bought were far too heavy and part exchanged it for my Isabella commodore with carbon poles.
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An interesting comment with very good advice but rather depressing to know the salesman was employed to sell caravans but knew nothing about awnings and that salesmen who are employed to sell awnings, very rarely bother to have a tape measure with them!
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When we wanted a Thule wind out awning for our Pegasus the person i spoke to at one of the Birmingham shows ,tok OH and I via the staff only route, complete with tape measure and step ladder, to the Bailey stand to ensure we had the max length that would fit on the roof line of our caravan
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It’s a lesson, JR. Do your own research and never ever rely on a salesman.
I'm afraid you need to bite the bullet on this one and accept that, yes, the awning fits but you failed to consider how it would sit on your van.
Now, I recommend a stiff drink and a distressing session as there’s nothing we here can do to change the situation.
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Afternoon
JR, how much for your used awning then?
JK
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The question I would ask is.......is it a full awning.....or a porch awning? There is a difference. What did you ask the salesman to provide?
If a full awning then it should not come across a window, it should fit the van end to end. Most handbooks will state what size awning the van needs.
if a porch awning then I would have checked that the size was such that it would not foul a window, there are many sizes available.
A porch awning will never, in my experience, be as weathertight as a full awning, since the ends are not held by the awning rail.
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