I've recently purchased a used 23ft dual-axle caravan for $38K from a long established dealer in the east of Perth.
The good news is that I had it inspected prior to purchase and it received an A1 rating, with nothing requiring attention.
However, to say the dealer was rubbish is an understatement! He had no idea what he was selling, what equipment the van had, or how to use it. The van has one of those electric/remote control movers, but dealer could not tell me how it worked! I found a full, walled, annex under the bed that was not listed and dealer didn't know of. I also found a front protector/cover to stop stone chips/cracks in the front windows when travelling - again, dealer knew nothing! I had air-con fitted prior to delivery and he ordered the wrong unit!
When I went to pick up the caravan the "handover" (and I use that word advisedly) was simply to be assisted in hooking it up to my car! As of one month ago I'm 100% new to caravaning, and this is simply not good enough, especially on such an expensive (to me) purchase.
I'd like to name and shame so that others do not have such an experience, but maybe this is not the place for that?
I hope my experience is not the norm in the caravan industry.
John K
jules47 said
02:20 PM Nov 12, 2015
Don't think we can name and shame on here - but you can always send a private message if someone asks the dealers details.
I think you did quite well, pricewise, considering the front protector, the van mover, and the annexe as well - lots of $$$$ there. But salesmen are just that, there to do a sale, not many of them know what they are talking about, most have never been caravanning, and from what I have read on this forum and others, this is the norm, not the exception.
Having said that - enjoy your new purchase - happy travels - and take care out there on the road. Getting to be the busy time of the year.
the rocket said
02:52 PM Nov 12, 2015
Hell jrk46' welcome. I totally agree. Have had those that know what they are talking about and another totally New n useless. when i need go to a caravan yard i will only be interested in speaking to the head salesman n will be asking "do they have a caravan". If the answer is no, they cannot help me. Happy caravanning. Rocket n strop
Bruce and Bev said
05:52 PM Nov 12, 2015
We bought a new van from George Day Caravans in Perth, WA.
The salesperson who approached us had not the slightest idea what an RV was (fortunately we have owned vans in the past and knew what we were looking for).
Turned out it was his 1st day, so I told him to go get an experienced salesperson - which he did. There was no nastiness, I the new boy (which he was) stood back and watched the experienced guy at work. Funnily enough, the guy who sold us the van, Brian Soares, was really helpful and honest - told us not what to buy and asked lots of questions about our use it a van. He didn't try to sell us the most expensive one and when we sat down to write up the sales contract, he asked if we wanted a discount - I hadn't even got to that stage!!
Of course I said yes. He wrote out all the stuff and then suggested we mark off all the dearest stuff we wanted free (off the listed price, plus unsupplied items like an annexe, more storage batteries and extra solar panels). We wrote out $18K's worth of discount and he said he would check it out with his boss. No arguments, and the deal was done.
We subsequently had major fights with the companies service manager and I refused to deal with her. For the next year I would phone Brian and he would do all the donkey work and sort out the warranty claim with the maker, get the parts, book the van in for the work. We still stay in touch with him and send him the odd post card.
I did have a frosty phone conversation with one of the youngish owners (family) who couldn't accept his service manager was just a - well you know what!!
When we went to Melbourne, I got it serviced by the maker for $199 - the Dealer had quoted us $599 !!. I now deal directly the the makers warranty person who is exceptionally helpful.
But before we bought from George Days, we went to 5-6 larger dealers, including Jayco, and the staff were off-hand, didn't care and obviously sales were great as they weren't interested in selling. They are the legendary used car salesman !!!
Koala said
06:46 PM Nov 12, 2015
Hi, yes I know the feeling, I'm sure they just pull people off the street give them a job, I hate buying things off sales persons that have no idea. I also feel like naming & shaming a certain caravan dealer too, the sooner there is investigation into the quality of caravans being built the better off we will all be. I like you think the money we are all spending the service should be better.
K J
sufil said
08:27 PM Nov 12, 2015
I am sure we went to the same dealer John!! The salesman had no clue, had never even been inside a van until he got a job there and couldn't answer any of our questions about the vans we were interested in. Needless to say we didn't buy one from them.
We live up near Seabird on 5 acres so if you want to go somewhere and practice parking ,backing etc you are more than welcome to come up here anytime.
jrk36 said
09:53 PM Nov 12, 2015
Thanks Sue & Phil. The van was absolutely the best one I saw by a long shot, and I didn't want to cut off my nose to spite my face. I did go ahead with the sale despite the dealer, but did insist on an independent inspection first :)
John K
-- Edited by jrk36 on Thursday 12th of November 2015 09:53:46 PM
JayDee said
08:48 AM Nov 13, 2015
OK On the upside, we purchased a USED Coromal Princeston from a Coromal dealer, and I got to say that the presale service was excellent.
I was also able to batter on the price and then when agreed, I then asked for them to install a Lemar washing machine and then we can shake hands.
We are very happy customers of this dealer who has his business at Loganhome in Queensland.
But, we did come across some questionable sales person in our search for our van.
I guess that some sales people in this industry are guys who failed the BAR. exam.( am not referring to pubs here.)
Jay&Dee
Cloak said
06:03 PM Nov 13, 2015
Gotta say we had a great buying experience at Bayswater Caravans a few years ago... In contrast to several other Melbourne based dealers who take it or leave it types.
villatranquilla said
10:21 PM Nov 13, 2015
we bought from George Day and 2 vans from Jayco - good service and hand over from Jayco. Also bought from a well known brand in Heidelberg and handover was non existant - the salesman did not even know the van had solar on the roof till we pointed it out - think they just wanted to sell new vans and their own brand.
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Friday 13th of November 2015 10:24:50 PM
I've recently purchased a used 23ft dual-axle caravan for $38K from a long established dealer in the east of Perth.
The good news is that I had it inspected prior to purchase and it received an A1 rating, with nothing requiring attention.
However, to say the dealer was rubbish is an understatement! He had no idea what he was selling, what equipment the van had, or how to use it. The van has one of those electric/remote control movers, but dealer could not tell me how it worked! I found a full, walled, annex under the bed that was not listed and dealer didn't know of. I also found a front protector/cover to stop stone chips/cracks in the front windows when travelling - again, dealer knew nothing! I had air-con fitted prior to delivery and he ordered the wrong unit!
When I went to pick up the caravan the "handover" (and I use that word advisedly) was simply to be assisted in hooking it up to my car! As of one month ago I'm 100% new to caravaning, and this is simply not good enough, especially on such an expensive (to me) purchase.
I'd like to name and shame so that others do not have such an experience, but maybe this is not the place for that?
I hope my experience is not the norm in the caravan industry.
John K
I think you did quite well, pricewise, considering the front protector, the van mover, and the annexe as well - lots of $$$$ there. But salesmen are just that, there to do a sale, not many of them know what they are talking about, most have never been caravanning, and from what I have read on this forum and others, this is the norm, not the exception.
Having said that - enjoy your new purchase - happy travels - and take care out there on the road. Getting to be the busy time of the year.
Hell jrk46' welcome. I totally agree. Have had those that know what they are talking about and another totally New n useless. when i need go to a caravan yard i will only be interested in speaking to the head salesman n will be asking "do they have a caravan". If the answer is no, they cannot help me. Happy caravanning. Rocket n strop
The salesperson who approached us had not the slightest idea what an RV was (fortunately we have owned vans in the past and knew what we were looking for).
Turned out it was his 1st day, so I told him to go get an experienced salesperson - which he did. There was no nastiness, I the new boy (which he was) stood back and watched the experienced guy at work. Funnily enough, the guy who sold us the van, Brian Soares, was really helpful and honest - told us not what to buy and asked lots of questions about our use it a van. He didn't try to sell us the most expensive one and when we sat down to write up the sales contract, he asked if we wanted a discount - I hadn't even got to that stage!!
Of course I said yes. He wrote out all the stuff and then suggested we mark off all the dearest stuff we wanted free (off the listed price, plus unsupplied items like an annexe, more storage batteries and extra solar panels). We wrote out $18K's worth of discount and he said he would check it out with his boss. No arguments, and the deal was done.
We subsequently had major fights with the companies service manager and I refused to deal with her. For the next year I would phone Brian and he would do all the donkey work and sort out the warranty claim with the maker, get the parts, book the van in for the work. We still stay in touch with him and send him the odd post card.
I did have a frosty phone conversation with one of the youngish owners (family) who couldn't accept his service manager was just a - well you know what!!
When we went to Melbourne, I got it serviced by the maker for $199 - the Dealer had quoted us $599 !!. I now deal directly the the makers warranty person who is exceptionally helpful.
But before we bought from George Days, we went to 5-6 larger dealers, including Jayco, and the staff were off-hand, didn't care and obviously sales were great as they weren't interested in selling. They are the legendary used car salesman !!!
Hi, yes I know the feeling, I'm sure they just pull people off the street give them a job, I hate buying things off sales persons that have no idea. I also feel like naming & shaming a certain caravan dealer too, the sooner there is investigation into the quality of caravans being built the better off we will all be. I like you think the money we are all spending the service should be better.
K J
We live up near Seabird on 5 acres so if you want to go somewhere and practice parking ,backing etc you are more than welcome to come up here anytime.
Thanks Sue & Phil.
The van was absolutely the best one I saw by a long shot, and I didn't want to cut off my nose to spite my face. I did go ahead with the sale despite the dealer, but did insist on an independent inspection first :)
John K
-- Edited by jrk36 on Thursday 12th of November 2015 09:53:46 PM
I was also able to batter on the price and then when agreed, I then asked for them to install a Lemar washing machine and then we can shake hands.
We are very happy customers of this dealer who has his business at Loganhome in Queensland.
But, we did come across some questionable sales person in our search for our van.
I guess that some sales people in this industry are guys who failed the BAR. exam.( am not referring to pubs here.)
Jay&Dee
we bought from George Day and 2 vans from Jayco - good service and hand over from Jayco. Also bought from a well known brand in Heidelberg and handover was non existant - the salesman did not even know the van had solar on the roof till we pointed it out - think they just wanted to sell new vans and their own brand.
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Friday 13th of November 2015 10:24:50 PM