Our new caravan !!
So off we went excitedly to the dealership to pick up our 3rd caravan but our 1st brand new caravan this afternoon. We were shown around how things work etc and told “it’s been inspected and washed for you” when I spotted this pretty large crack in the window/skylight !! Hence we came home empty handed and very disappointed and also very angry .
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Not only is it disappointing, it’s a terrible indictment of the dealer.
Better luck next time, JnS.
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No other side of Bristol about half hour down the M5.
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We’ll never know but the sceptic in me thinks possibly so. The annoying thing is it probably happened on transit but it’s been sat in their dealership for 4 weeks awaiting to be made ready for us to pick up.
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I would suggest an extra thorough inspection before you accept the new van when it is finally ready for you. Best of luck.
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A choice of two there. One, in particular, is a huge dealership.
Are you accepting a repaired van which may have water ingress via that roof window, or demanding a new van?
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It’s going to be repaired, we waited approximately 3 months for the van in the first place if we insist on another new one the summer will be over, I hear what you’re saying about the rain getting in but couldn’t see any evidence of that yet and they said they’d tape it up whilst awaiting replacement window.
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Prudent to get their money back and go elsewhere.
The key to this caravanning lark with common poor quality parts thrown together at circuses is a dealer who will support you through your ownership period.
This particular example doesn't bode well.
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It’s obviously your choice but that option wouldn’t be mine.
I do hope you didn’t fall for the old trick of letting them have your previous van in advance of collecting the new one leaving you without any van at all.
PS. You deserve some form of compensation for wasted journeys, unacceptable delays etc. Push them as hard as you can.👍🏻
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Over the many years we have had Most types of LV that is the real lesson we have learnt it is get a dealer that is more customer orientated against saving a few pounds on a deal?
One of the problems now it seems ,because of the upsurge in ownership manufacturers it seems cannot kelp up with demand and are letting standards slip even more, coupled with a lot of equipment is bought in mostly from other countries (as the windows/roof vents)
A trip to a big dealership in Kent highlighted what seems a country wide problem at this time, nil stock of new vans a no delivery date for some models
They say covid in most countries has had a big impact on delivery of fittings for most manufacturers
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We sold our old van back last winter so haven’t had one since then. The trouble is if we insist on them getting us a replacement we go to the back of the queue again and possibly wait another 3 months like when we first put our order in back in March and that’ll take us up to mid September !!
We will go over it with a fine tooth comb when we pick bit up but it’s looking like the first trip we had planned in it in 2 weeks time is off !!
By the way the dealership is very close to the WSM junction.
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Why would you go to the back of the queue? The dealer should be jumping through hoops to get you sorted quickly in order to stop you nipping down the road to Highbridge and buying there instead.
I think you might benefit from doing a bit of table thumping for an early resolution or they'll keep you waiting as long for a replacement window as for a new caravan. Compensation, too, would be high on my agenda.
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TW I can only assume we’d go to the back of the queue as it wouldn’t be fair on other customers who are waiting or whom have been promised a delivery date for theirs, I shall reserve more judgment until tomorrow when I’ll shall be making more enquiries.
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I wish you luck.
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I would think, looking at the picture the damage is possibly j must the outer skin of the skylight and if the dealer has been OK so far their repair should work , untill a replacement has been sourced, just have them check surfaces around the damage with you in attendance. for any damp ingress , most caravans made these days have little or no wood for water to soak into
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Its worrying when you find something like that. The person handing over the caravan must have seen it if they looked at the caravan at all before offering it to you. We actually pay for these PDI's. Someone should be hauled over the coles for it but they won't because the industry doesn't have those standards. I would consider carrying out a full and detailed inspection before accepting it next time, as they have shown they cannot be trusted. The excuse will be that it must have just happened.
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Why not name and shame. To attempt a handover of a caravan with such a fault is unacceptable. Fellow punters could then take there business elsewhere.
Colin
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It’s very easy to work out. I nearly named them but decided the OP has his reasons and will name them if he sees fit.
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Update, they’ve phoned this morning to say replacement unit won’t be ready before we are going away in 10 days time so it’s all sealed up with tape and we are ok to use it and drop it back into them on the way back up the M5.
It’s the outer skin that’s cracked but they replace the whole unit so apparently if any water did get in it would be contained within the unit itself. For those who haven’t worked the dealership out use your zoom button 😉
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Good to hear you're happy with the outcome, JnS👍
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I can understand your anger, but in fairness to the dealer who’s name we shall not speak, historically I’ve had dealings with them for a number of years without drama. I’d say they have a good reputation locally and would expect them to resolve matters to your satisfaction. It’s too easy to tarnish reputations on social media without knowing the full circumstances end-to-end.
I wonder if the sheer volume of units they’re shifting this year has caused them to cut corners and overlook faults?
Anyway, good luck.
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An update for you, Davan are not budging and they’ve offered us the chance of a new caravan but that means getting on the waiting list again which was 3 months last time so thats not practical or we’ve been offered fuel money for the extra couple of journeys to and from WSM which realistically amounts to no more than about £20. Also water did get into the van before they taped up the crack as the carpet under the sunroof was damp.
So am I being unreasonable or not ?0 -
Get your money back, walk away and start again. You are a long time living with a faulty van, and it’s likely to need more warranty work. Three months waiting, or years of trailing back and forth having work done and still not getting away.
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I think I made my feelings clear earlier in the thread. Personally, I’d want a refund and compo and not just £20 either as it’s fuel, wear and tear on your car, stress, inconvenience and disruption of holidays.
I'd then go looking elsewhere and, even with the shortage of LVs this year, I'm sure there will be a dealer out there with something suitable. I'd not get hung up on brand new either.
PS. If you're a Facebook user, tell all on Davan's page and anywhere else appropriate.
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Hope you paid some of the deposit at least with a credit card as I would put it in the hands of the Credit Card supplier and get them to recoup your money under Section 75 and walk away from the dealers.
As has been said upthread you could end up with having to deal with these dealers over further warranty problems. Will either of you be happy dealing with each other?
BTW - Section 75 doesn't just recover the amount you paid on the credit card but the whole amount owed to you.
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surely there would be many other Swifts on the forecourt with an identical skylight....they could have swapped one over in ten mins and then let the other van wait for the replacement...
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I would definitely demand a total refund.
Any other new item, if damaged, who would accept a repair?
A coat ordered from Next.... if the zip was broken when delivered , would a repair be acceptable? Doubt it.
Hope it all gets sorted for you, fingers crossed. 🤞🙂
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