Poor service from dealer

Glossop caravans as quite a few others are well known for poor aftersales service

We have learnt over the years of quite a few LVs to ,buy local, where you can desk thump if needed

One dealer from Nottingham tried to blame every one but their own service dept  when a wheel came off a new caravan on the M1when we picked it up

In my experience ( having owned several vans since 1981) this is not just a problem with the one dealer you name, but a problem with  most dealers and  all manufacturers of caravans. There is no mechanism for them to be held accountable for poor service, and it’s not visible other than in forums like this one. 

Most dealers  have no concept of customer after sales requirements, and I’ve yet to come across a manufacturer that lives by their claims that they are customer focussed ( or similar corporate statements).

it is high time caravanning and member organisations pushed for an industry wide standard for after sales and/ or customer care, which dealers/manufacturers should strive to achieve. A system that requires independent third party audits against a score card would drive improvements in this provision. The need for company reports to include their score against a standard alongside details of action plans and made publicly available ( for customers) would certainly focus an organisation in neglected and poorly managed aftercare provision.  It would also give us caravanning folk a choice in where to spend our hard earned money.

come on Caravan Club, take up the mantle on behalf of your members!!!

You are not the first person to suggest clubs should take up the cudgel with manufacturers and dealers.

What isn’t realised by some folk is that manufacturers and dealers are members of the NCC which is a trade organisation primarily interested in looking after its members, not us customers. Both the major clubs are also members of the NCC so we have all branches of the industry, including the clubs, sharing the umbrella of the NCC.

In addition, the clubs receive income from advertising, LVs for review and so on from their cohorts in the NCC. Therefore, no one is likely to rock the boat within that set up.

Club appears to endorse some dealers https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/discussions/club-talk/caravanning-events-and-announcements/glossop-caravans-open-weekend/

So you will get no joy asking the Club to look into poor service etc..... We know someone who took Glossop Caravans to court, and won, around the kind of after sales care they received. Very much Caveat Emptor, I doubt they are they only such dealers with a poor after sales record. Well composed reviews, factual of course, are your best response. Once you have got things sorted to your satisfaction.

Rather than name and shame dealers and manufacturers etc, and I'm tempted to,  why don't we start a thread naming the organisations that give excellent service?

The one that springs to mind immediately is Sargent Electrical Services that provide the chargers and alarms etc for many makes of caravan. I have had an issue with the alarm in my caravan from new and am now on replacement number three, their technical department have always responded immediately and sorted my problem to the point that the problem is not now ongoing.

Although I have only had to contact them a couple of times over many years, another is Truma with immediate help to solve a couple of problems. 

The third in my list is 614 Caravan Servicing from Nottingham. Excellent service from Allan.

This would really need a new and dedicated thread just naming the companies concerned. If anyone else has had good service they could just add a 'Like' so that the thread doesn't get too long. Anyone else like this idea?

My only issue is that I can foresee disagreements, John.

For instance, while I agree about Sargent's helpfulness, why on earth do they churn out so many units that give trouble? You see, that's an example of how a thread would wander, become lengthy and you’d never be able to find relevant info if you needed it.

A sticky thread consisting of a spreadsheet listing only names and contact details in, perhaps, county order would be easy to refer to if someone was willing to start it and keep it updated.

 ... For instance, while I agree about Sargent's helpfulness, why on earth do they churn out so many units that give trouble?

In a nut shell. I found that Sargent were very helpful with a repair to a power supply unit ... above & beyond etc, however, they repaired the alarm on my caravan shortly after I bought it at 3 yrs old, it worked for a while but now does exactly what I sent it back to them for repair.