Is it better to buy from a Dealer close to you.

[Deleted member 919]

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Dicksons of Perth buying Experience * Motorhome Craic

 

[oppy]

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Dicksons of Perth buying Experience * Motorhome Craic

As long as it's not Glossop Caravans:scared::scared::scared::scared:, although are 'Dicksons' another branch ?

 

[trevskoda]

Thank heavens im in a self build after seeing that heap of sh one t.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

I was looking at buying one of those models, looking at the wooden frame I am really glad I didn't. It looks as thought the bed support went into the covering and not the frame. Total Shoote, and as for the dealer it would have been back there with and acrow holding the bed up. I went onto Craic to find out more but my membership has lapsed. I t looks to me that the factory itseld missed all the supporting woodwork and the screws were into nothing other than the inner paneling. Wood frames are a disaster if they do get wet let alone mis-fitted structures that are load bearing.

 

[clf86ha]

When I first started out it was with an old caravan.
Once I decided I liked it, I bought a brand new one (dealer special) from a show in the excel London.
I hummed and arred about the purchase as the dealer was nearly 3 hours from me. They assured me that I could take the van to a local dealer in any case of a problem.
Well said problem arises and local dealers refused to have anything to do with the caravan, as they hadn't sold it to me.
Many phone calls later and eventually a localish dealer (45mins away) accepted it for repairs (this dealer I could not fault).
Many lessons learnt from my experience.

 

[Deleted member 9849]

I would recommend buying from a local dealer if possible.The problem is they may not have the correct model in stock if buying s/hand.

If buying new I can't see the logic of using a dealer hundreds of miles away just because they are a bit cheaper.That saving can soon be eaten away in fuel costs travelling to the dealers and back,it can also be inconvenient and time consuming.

 

[QFour]

Sitting by the beach in Denia and Pilote MH turns up. UK plates looks really nice. He had driven a couple of miles in limp mode but it then corrected itself.

Anyway it's a 16 plate and still has Pilote 3 year guarantee. Bought from Southampton Dealer originally but then bought privately. He has been phoning round to get warrantee work done but no one will touch it because he did not buy it from them. They will do the hab checks but don't want to know about repairs.

Seems like a trend ..

 

[Val54]

When I was a Franchised outboard engine and Jet Ski dealer we carried out lots of warranty claims for machines we had sold and also sold by other dealers. It was a condition of the Franchise! We usually lost money as the manufactures would only reimburse what they estimate the time would be to carry out the repair under their own perfect workshop conditions. No allowance for removing the boat from the water and no allowance for diagnostics.
But we did it to keep customers happy, and hopefully, get repeat business.
Last year in France we met a Guy who had a brand new Rapido, with over cab sky lite leak. He was a three time Rapido owner and had just started his holiday to Portugal. He went to the Rapido factory, and even though his van was letting in water, they told him to go back to the UK for his warranty work. He said he wouldn't be buying another Rapido.
By contrast, we had a couple of issues with our grey imported Hymer, and we called into Hymer in Germany, just to have a moan and not expecting them to carry out repairs. Straight away, they said, it is our responsibility and we will repair!
So very different from what we often hear about UK manufactures and dealers!

Just for balance for our French friends, we had a Chausson a few years ago and the UK dealer had fixed some issues immediately before we left for a 6 week trip. He warned us that a couple of items were temporary fixes as they hadn't got the exact part. Anyway true to form, temporary proved to be exactly that. As we weren't far from the Chausson factory we decided to try our luck. Took us straight in and fixed the issues, great service.
Dave

 

[Obanboy666]

The 3 occasions I needed warranty work on my Swift I had to wait weeks for an appointment at my supplying dealer that was 30 miles away and each time they had to contact Swift for the go ahead to carry out repairs even for a tap replacement ! The above scenario is a reason I’m very reluctant to buy a motorhome from one of the large manufacturers, it must be worse if a foreign brand. God knows what happens if parts are required from abroad what with lead times etc.
In contrast -
My present pvc was bought from Devon Conversions that is 20 minutes down the road. In a year of ownership the only problem I have had was a noisy water pump. I happened to be passing their factory on my way to visit my brother, decided to call in and mention the pump which they changed on the spot.
I also broke the waste tank drain tap off, again called in and they replaced the tap foc.

 

[phillybarbour]

If the events re Dicksons are correct (I've no reason to doubt) I would not use that dealer I would rather travel further. This is Dicksons issue as they paid for repairs, how long was the warranty when the van was purchased, and is it still within the period. If it is it's straight forward it's Dicksons problem.

Sadly in the motorhome game some dealers are shocking once they got your money.

 

[Channa]

Dicksons argument that the subsequent dealer is liable is nonsense in my opinion. Customer firstly has a contract with Dicksons for the purchase of the van, Subsequent repair was authorised and paid for by Dicksons that makes the second dealer an appointed repairer liability still stops with Dicksons. In effect used a sub contractor

I would always advise people to but local where they can. not only supporting the local economy but far easier to resolve any outstanding issues. Sometimes this is not possible.

Cars and Vans are covered under the manufacturers warranty eg FIAT part of the franchise agreement is to repair product, caravan bodies not as straightforward down to the supplying dealer ( ultimately that is who the contract is with ) They will seek authorisation from the builder eg Swift....Same is true of cars often a claim is not straight forward but that is the dealer problem not the customers.

That said why get involved with other dealers warranty claims , outlay, to the bone workshop times , max part discounts. And if incidental damage is caused repairing studs breaking ,guess who it is down too ? then it takes an eon to get paid. (used vehicles)

If you buy a can of baked beans from Sainsburys , you don't take it back Asda to give a very simplistic analogy.

In some ways , if you can it is important to consider the overall purchasing experience not just price, in other words proximity of any repairs, courtesy vehicles etc the overall package.

In this case liability firmly rests with Dicksons and it may pay the owner if litigation looks necessary to get an independent engineers report, Trading standards can do this also.

Channa

 

[Channa]

Just been talking to a Hymer owner who bought a top end van somewhere near 130k
His words to describe the supplying dealer are not printable !
If a dealer is prepared to treat his best customers the way this guy has been treated what chance has someone buying a second hand van from the same dealer ?
We took an older Mercedes in to a car dealership the service was first rate , we also used an Iveco truck dealership the diagnosis was done during the night and problem fixed the following day after we authorised the repairs which actually came out cheaper than the estimate, if vehicle dealers can do it I don't understand why motorhome dealers can't !

Retail dealers have a lot to learn from the Truck boys, I worked for Volvo Truck and Bus for a while different world to your typical local Ford dealer that seemed to think they were doing you a favour

Channa

 

[Channa]

Yes Karen was on her own near Sheffield when she had problems at 9 at night , when I told her that the garage were expecting her now she thought I was having a laugh !

Just a thought , possibly a good reason to buy an Iveco, Canter type base, vehicle access to servicing 24 hours per day gives more flexibility than local Merc dealership etc.

Channa

 

[maingate]

I bought my secondhand van from a local Dealer and used them for additional work, repair and servicing plus Hab checks.

They made a complete and utter mess of fitting a solar panel and recently told me I needed a new fridge/freezer (at a cost of £2350) which I fixed myself at no cost. It works fine but I need to fit a new PCB board for the AES over the Winter.

I have no faith at all in them now and will never use them for Hab checks and servicing. I also noticed that each time I have been to them, I have dealt with someone different. I don't know who owns the company (it is not part of a Group) but they seem to have a large turnover of Staff for a small company. I certainly have dealt with 3 Service Managers in 3 years.

 

[trevskoda]

I alway try to buy at the right price with no warranty so if it goes wrong im able to fix on the cheep.
So yesterday i spotted this we baby with 27 th mile 4 years old 2013 one old man owner.
A dealer had it on f/cort but being a od ball i knocked him well back also telling him i was in the trade and knew all the blub,so i cut him back £550 paying him £1900 walk away no come back,proton savy 1.2 ,seats other than drivers never sat in smells as new,what you think.

 

[alcam]

I alway try to buy at the right price with no warranty so if it goes wrong im able to fix on the cheep.
So yesterday i spotted this we baby with 27 th mile 4 years old 2013 one old man owner.
A dealer had it on f/cort but being a od ball i knocked him well back also telling him i was in the trade and knew all the blub,so i cut him back £550 paying him £1900 walk away no come back,proton savy 1.2 ,seats other than drivers never sat in smells as new,what you think.

Wheres the lavvy ?

 

[The laird]

Tidy looking wee motor trev ,just the job imho.

 

[RichardHelen262]

Just a thought , possibly a good reason to buy an Iveco, Canter type base, vehicle access to servicing 24 hours per day gives more flexibility than local Merc dealership etc.

Channa

I have been using merc vans for courier work for 21 years mainly because of the reliability and they come with 3 years unlimited mileage warranty, and as I used to clock up around 500,000 miles in the three years covering most of Europe it was invaluable to me, and the odd times I have had breakdowns once in Denmark and once in Germany and the odd couple of times in the uk,the service I have always had has been outstanding and most of their workshops are open 24/7 including both Leeds and Bradford as I have often dropped them off for work doing on an evening after work and collected the morning after before work.
And no matter how many miles it has had on they have never queried doing work under warranty.
Hence the reason I now have a merc based motorhome, and car

 

[Deleted member 60834]

Some thoughts.
It was not of merchantable quality as leaky window won’t just happen. Manufacturing error.
It was by mutual agreement that the third party was involved. This doesn’t excuse second party warranty.
I would take to court, the retailer is responsible. End off.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

I alway try to buy at the right price with no warranty so if it goes wrong im able to fix on the cheep.
So yesterday i spotted this we baby with 27 th mile 4 years old 2013 one old man owner.
A dealer had it on f/cort but being a od ball i knocked him well back also telling him i was in the trade and knew all the blub,so i cut him back £550 paying him £1900 walk away no come back,proton savy 1.2 ,seats other than drivers never sat in smells as new,what you think.

I always imagine you with a rear engined sideways bonnet Estelle or whatever made in 1968, so you get a load more miles out of it. This is new as far as I am concerned. Proton are OK just lacks dealers support and spares are hard.