Dealers

There was a similar situation back in 2008 (and probably times before that as well). We had ordered a new caravan from Nene Court Caravans with delivery due early in the new year. We got a phone call in January telling us that they had decided to close down the caravan sales ( they were part of a larger trailer business) and refunded our deposit. It was a great shame as this would have been our third caravan from them and the service we always received was excellent. There was a little bit of serendipity involved as we eventually purchased a van with a better layout from another dealer!

Are caravan and motorhome dealers eternally optimistic about future sales, I suppose in business you have to be but it should be tempered by a degree of caution. As Dave T points out they often have to commit to buying new stock before they might fully understand how the market is going. I keep an eye on a Bailey Motorhome Facebook buying and selling group. It seems clear to me that a lot of the people selling relatively new vans perhaps purchased them in the Covid sales rush. Some are changing to a caravan, some through ill health but many seem to have had a change of mind on whether it suits them. Perhaps the original dream didn't match the reality?

David

There is a video on Youtube by a caravan dealer and he says that dealerships generally still have a lot  of 2023 caravans unsold and are faced with the arrival of already ordered 2024 stock. He says he foresaw what was happening and hasn't ordered any 2024 stock and is concentrating on getting rid of his 2023 stuff, servicing, and buying and selling pre-owned. 

It’s a bit puzzling to know what the current economic situation actually is. We have just come home from a week at Hawes, where most of the pitches were occupied on most days. 

I noticed more rising roof camper vans than I have seen previously, a few new motorhomes, and the rest being caravans with many being towed by 4 x 4s.

In Hawes the pubs and cafes seem to be busy, lots of motorcycles and other visitors enjoying the good weather.

Are we seeing more outfits, of whatever variety, out and about because dealers are trying to shift stock or are club members still able to enjoy their hobby despite the economic pressures? 

I don’t know the answer, but would be interested to hear others views.

I wonder if the downside of that is that they might lose their dealership rights if they don't buy new stock each year?

David

I think David Klyne is correct regarding dealership rights, of course this includes warranty work as well. The leisure vehicle industry has embraced some modern manufacturing methods using bespoke jigs and tooling and modern CNC machines. Unfortunately, it also seems to be less agile than many other industries. For example, dealers have to predict the future seasons demands and secure part of the overall production of the manufacturer based on an annual build programme with seemingly little or no flexibility to respond to ultimate customer demands. Whilst the manufacturers can flex some of their own in house assembly, I suspect that the supply chain for all the common caravan sub-assemblies and items like cookers, toilets, windows, electrical components etc is less than flexible and is delivered to the manufacturer in accordance with a programme agreed many months previously. This inability to flex cannot be good for the manufacturer, dealer or ultimately the consumers. Not surprisingly , the dealers are taking the strain and for some, unfortunately, they are going out of business. A new manufacturing model is needed for the Leisure Vehicle industry and who knows, this might even include a robust Quality Assurance and Quality Management system.

We had a long chat with our dealer back in March as, while having our van serviced, we were looking at new vans which would be more suitable for our daughter and family to use too.   Ideally ones with fixed singles, a decent size fridge freezer, and a good size shower room.   It seems few manufacturers do fixed singles these days, and many “family sized” vans have only a small fridge, and a poor payload allowance.

We do not really want another twin axle, or one of the wider vans, but these seem to be the ones with the best payload upgrades, without which even adding a mover would  be very limiting for carrying much  other equipment in the van.  

They suggested we visit again in August as there were quite possibly upcoming changes to one of the Bailey ranges. 

We then got on to discussing the prices of new vans, they have found that these are way more than many young families can afford, they are looking to spend around £12k-£15k max, so are only looking at second hand models.  The dealer had a good number of unsold new vans in their yard, however  their service department was very busy.

Hi KjellNN, One of the discounted vans a few miles from us with the layout that you mentioned. 

https://www.edwardsleisure.co.uk/vehicles/new-adria-adora-612-dl-seine-ex-demo-only-31749/

the Altea Tyne is similar but with a bigger payload.

https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/adria-altea-612dl-tyne

Thanks, yes, those are the models which are the favourites at present, if we decide to buy a new van, we looked at both while on holiday last year, preferred the Seine.   Unfortunately too far away from us, but there is a Seine available a bit closer to home, though more expensive.

We are still having the conversation about how long we want to continue caravanning, and how much use our daughter and family would actually make of it……..we would need to lend them a tow car as well.  Not an easy decision.