Expensive purchase of a LEMON.

robails1 · Member

Expensive purchase of a LEMON.

Eaglemax · Guru

Sorry to hear of your dilemma. I cant help you though. Makes me proud I built my own and apart from a drawbar design fault (mine) that was fixed at Cloncurry) has done the lap then vic to Bundaberg etc and no leaks, etc. So many faults in your van is more than unacceptable. I bid you good luck in getting them fixed.

skins · Senior Member

If it was me, I would go and see a solicitor who is versed in consumer law

woofta and precious · Senior Member

www.facebook.com/groups/lemoncaravansinaus/

Desert Dweller · Guru

This kind of thing is happening too many times.

Our theory is that if you have a caravan that you've ironed all the bugs out of, KEEP IT.

People that keep changing caravans to own the ''latest & greatest'' give themselves self imposed grief.

Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.

Hope everything gets sorted out for you. You have our sympathy.

Ron-D · Guru

Your right to a certain extent DD but the new vans with there modern interior and ensuite are very nice to own once the bugs are sorted ,We went through hell with ours,but I have had a life time at fixing things paying others to do repairs is a rare occurrence, I found the dealer was more trouble than it was worth .now that its sorted woul we go back to old faithful no way...

Phillipn · Guru

robails1 wrote:
Purchased a caravan in 2016 but did not pick it up until 2017 April 4 from Sydney. After picking it up and going camping with others we took it back 2 weeks later with warranty 3 problems which the dealership fixed. We later went up the guys of Australia to Darwin and things started to go wrong 27 issues occurred and the only person who could fix the problems was a mobile repairman. Whilst in Darwin a further 4 items occurred, we were in Darwin for 7 and a half months awaiting things being transported from Melbourne and fitting in with paul the mobile repairman. We finally got on the road and got stuck with the floods ruining our travels around Australia. The main office in Melbourne informed us to take our van to Port Hedland but this was out of the question as cyclones and the rains had arrived and roads were cut. We then made our way back to Sydney and now we have been back 1 month so this makes us 8 and a half months wasted and a ruination of our dream travel time. $94000 caravan leaking and drawers falling out fllors marked because of same electrical problems flooding problems and doors sticking and now faulty tv pipes leaking can anyone tell me if they have similar problems and this company won the 2016 award I will not mention the name of the make as this will go against my claim. Think god I have a 2 year warranty.
What do I do about my lemon.

What make of lemon did you buy?

-- Edited by Phillipn on Thursday 19th of April 2018 10:07:42 PM

Hylife · Guru

The best advice I can give is to NEVER buy from a dealer, always buy direct from the manufacturer.

I think they estimate more than 95% of vans are made in Melbourne so that means get in your car and drive to Campbellfield or Dandenong and visit the factory.

My experiences with caravan dealers is that they are mostly less trustworthy than used car salesmen and operate on the same principles.
They have no vested interest in keeping you happy after you have purchased. The manufacturer does!

SouthernComfort · Guru

Hylife wrote:
The best advice I can give is to NEVER buy from a dealer, always buy direct from the manufacturer.

I think they estimate more than 95% of vans are made in Melbourne so that means get in your car and drive to Campbellfield or Dandenong and visit the factory.

My experiences with caravan dealers is that they are mostly less trustworthy than used car salesmen and operate on the same principles.
They have no vested interest in keeping you happy after you have purchased. The manufacturer does!

I wholly agree, if buying a new van that's the way to go if you can.

18 months ago we bought direct from a small/medium manufacturer in Campbellfield where the owner is hands-on. One key selling point for us was their offer of a factory tour, it was done impromptu so nothing was contrived or hidden. We saw every stage of the builds in progress right from raw chassis to finished vans at end of the line and the technicians at each stage were happy to chat with us. Their after-sales service has been excellent and any phone queries we've had are answered promptly. The van has been wonderful.

oldbloke · Guru

Lol. Long time no see. In the end how did it work out?

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Robails1,
By all means contact Tracy on the lemon caravans Facebook site given above.
I have read many instances like yours on her pages - she has given lots of advice that has successfully seen the owners get satisfaction.

Brodie Allen · Guru

Go to your State's consumer Affairs.
I have had multiple dealings against bums thru them and all have
been resolved in my favour.

At no cost!

Boats, Cars, Roof repairs, and so-on.

I have had 5 different brands of van over the years, multiples of one particular
brand. all have had pages of faults that with most was an ongoing squabble -
but of 2 of the much maligned Jaycos everything was attended to without argument-
and mostly replacement immediately of the parts - water heater, light switching
system, leaking window, brake pads (wasn't their problem), washing machine,
bed gas struts, moisture collection on wall/roof metals, a/c, door catch and so-on.
All the parts were non-Jayco names - could hardly blame them anyway.

I would be amazed if you have the same brand - if you have, contact the factory-
they are very receptive and they have (in my case) jumped onto the sales
organisation very promptly. The key is the Factory!

JayDee · Guru

Philipn asked

"What make of lemon did you buy?"

Phillip, Admin will not allow the answer to your question as per the policy listed earlier in this thread and I quote again for your reference.

www.facebook.com/groups/lemoncaravansinaus/

Robails1

We feel for your problems and we concur that you contact one of the Consumer Affairs Office.

We have never and will never purchase a new van for the reasons pointed out in this thread.

Good luck my friend.

Jay&Dee