This report highlights areas of concern the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
has identified with the conduct of some suppliers and manufacturers in the new caravan retailing market.
Now for the much-needed Royal Commission into the caravan industry...
Caravans are one of the most expensive goods consumers can buy. When things go wrong the consumer harm can be high.
For this reason, consumers need to have confidence that they will be able to obtain remedies if their caravans do not meet one or more of the statutory consumer guarantees.
The concept or indeed reality or necessity of a royal commission is a bit silly but a serious admonishing and future strict enforcement of consumer law by the ACCC is well overdue.
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
We bought a caravan 12 years ago & will be getting rid of it in 3 years time after around 200,000kms of extensive travel.
Constantly changing caravans has never interested us.
A royal commission seems a little over the top & totally unessesary.
Royal commissions used to be called for in extreme circumstances, now we have them at the drop of a hat.
I ordered a new van in the first week of March and were expecting delivery at the end of June.
Mid-May they phoned and asked when I can come in and take delivery(5 weeks earlier than indicated on the sales documentation). I didn't need the van until the start of September so they stored it for me free of charge.
I have just come back from a quick trip to southern Queensland and the van performed excellently.
Would I recommend a Snowy River caravan to others?
Blood oath I would.
Any Government interference in any industry leads to increases in costs to manufacturers which are quickly passed on to consumers.
There is zero need for any "official" investigation in to caravan manufacture, there are already processes in place for consumers to report bad practice or faulty purchases...they just need to be utilised.
Possum,
You & I know someone who has fought tooth & nail to bring dodgy manufacturers/dealers to tow the line. It is only the efforts of dedicated people that stir the government up so the rest can get better service, better warranties, caravans that do what they should not be leaky tanks, etc.
A friend of ours locked her "Big Name" (not Jayco, either) caravan up for 12 months while she fought the dealership/manufacturer over her Lemon. They thought she would be an easy push-over but they were wrong - she got her new replacement & free of defects.
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
Warren, Yep - 4 years fighting to get refund - Dealer found guilty of unconscionable conduct - caravan unroadworthy, etc
Although a major Manufacturer and Dealership no action taken by "Authorities" to reprimand/fine/gaol offender/s.
I got great assistance from Lemon Caravans along with Caravan Council of Australia. Fighting mammoth Company with Barristers at forty paces expensive and massively stressful. You need to put your home and future on the line to get justice.
Still out of pocket for many thousands of dollars although awarded full refund and costs.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
My gut feeling is a lot of unsuspecting buyers in the first instance do not know what is exactly required when purchasing a caravan, the glossy sales pamplet and slick salesperson who realy know SFA about caravaning, except what the sales bible tells them.
The old addage of cavet emptor is very important, the buyer must do their due diligence before signing up to buy a caravan, the single most elluding fact that brings most punters undone is the Tare Weight. By the time they chuck in a couple of full gas bottles and then fill the water tanks add all the extra's the salesperson assures them they will need, they are almost on their weight limit, add the personal stuff then their knackered.
Mechanical and structual faults sure these must be covered by the warrenty.
I will give you example how some people do not do their diligance, I have a friend who has an I Phone that he brought in Brisbane, he lives in Nth Qld, he has been bitching and complaining to Telstra about his phones poor receiption he live 6.5k from the nearest tower, he was pissing in my pocket of how it was telstra's fault yada yada, asking about his phone I found out that it dosn't have band 28 which is basically the best band for rural Australia. When he finally understood what I explained to him, he then proceed to blame the person who sold him the phone in the Brisbane telstra shop. To this day he is still complaigning his phone. Moral of the story its not his fault its always someone elses.
My gut feeling is a lot of unsuspecting buyers in the first instance do not know what is exactly required when purchasing a caravan, the glossy sales pamplet and slick salesperson who realy know SFA about caravaning, except what the sales bible tells them.
The old addage of cavet emptor is very important, the buyer must do their due diligence before signing up to buy a caravan, the single most elluding fact that brings most punters undone is the Tare Weight. By the time they chuck in a couple of full gas bottles and then fill the water tanks add all the extra's the salesperson assures them they will need, they are almost on their weight limit, add the personal stuff then their knackered.
Mechanical and structual faults sure these must be covered by the warrenty.
I will give you example how some people do not do their diligance, I have a friend who has an I Phone that he brought in Brisbane, he lives in Nth Qld, he has been bitching and complaining to Telstra about his phones poor receiption he live 6.5k from the nearest tower, he was pissing in my pocket of how it was telstra's fault yada yada, asking about his phone I found out that it dosn't have band 28 which is basically the best band for rural Australia. When he finally understood what I explained to him, he then proceed to blame the person who sold him the phone in the Brisbane telstra shop. To this day he is still complaigning his phone. Moral of the story its not his fault its always someone elses.
It is up to the Buyer to be aware of and UNDERSTAND the LEGAL WEIGHT CAPACITIES of both the Tow vehicle and Caravan once coupled together. All is not what it seems .........
It is best to get it "sorted" before handing over the cash.
It may require changing the make/model of intended purchase or an upgrade of their existing car or caravan in order to satisfy the "Weights " requirements to set up a new "rig". What you have your "heart set on" is not necessarily legal.
