I have just had a nervous half hour following my caravan's first service.
I called the dealer to find out how it went and was told the service engineer needs to call me back.
When he called back he told me the caravan had damp readings off the chart along the triple bunk window panel for three quarters of the panel height. He then went on to give me a list of about 8 additional faults which needed attention and that the caravan will need to go back to the manufacturer for new panels. My first thought was unprintable followed by despair and a sense of impending doom and gloom at the prospect of missing the summer holiday we have booked.
I asked him if he managed to sort the 3 small items I told them about but he never had those faults on his job card. After a moments confusion it transpired that he thought I was different customer with the same caravan.
After going away to double check he came back to tell me my caravan had a clean bill of health.
The feeling of jubilation was much welcome after this mornings downer but I can't help but feel sorry for the other customer who hasn't been given the news yet.
I hope this isn't a common fault as I seen to remember Frank007 had a similar problem with the same caravan (Hope you got it sorted Frank).
That’s quite shocking, to put you through all of that, I suppose its a relief its not your van, though it doesn't give you a lot of reassurance that they can get something so simple wrong and it doesn’t say much for their data protection!
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I don't have a problem with the dealer. They have provided good aftersales support until now. It was a case of mistaken identity as 2 of the same models were dropped off together. It was still disconcerting to hear my pride and joy was to be sent back to the manufacturer for major repairs. Thank god this particular cloud had a silver lining.
My main concern now is whether there is an inherant design and build problem with that particular model as I have read a few horror stories regarding damp.
This will spur me on to check with a damp meter more frequently.
we had a very similer phone conversation with our dealer a few weeks ago and unfortunatly they did have the right caravan, our darling Milly is going in for major repairs in october.
it turns out that they have done a temporary repair until a time to suit us all could be found for her to go in and have a new panel fitted.
we have been told that bailey had a batch of faulty panels delivered but didnt know which vans they were fitted to, until the vans began throwing up off the meter damp readings.
bailey and our dealer have been great sorting it all out, we too paniced in the begining as we are away most weekends and for several weeks from april through until end of september, milly goes in the first week in october for her big operation.
Ours is April 2008 (Bought in May) and all is well. I can only assume the damp caravan was from around the same time as it was also a series 5 Ranger and that model wasn't out long when we bought ours.
Mines a 2007 Pageant and goes in to,tomorow under warranty. Only waited 4 months to get everything sorted. Although would have taken longer if I hadn`t called Bailey myself to check progress. Dealers need to wake up. The bits have been there since March but have been too busy to do the job until now. But they would not book into workshop until all bits were there. Dealer only too happy to help when ordering a new van but couldn`t care less after. The last service they told me I needed a new battery. Checked and they had taken cables off. Charged up fine afer. Left oily fingerprints inside and out of caravan. Charged me for a new battery strap but just left it with the service book did not fix it.When I told them I was looking for a new van so could they push job through was told no time as they have new vans to prepare. Upshot is after warranty work is complete will look at selling van at end of year and buy from a different dealer.
Gadgetman, you endorsed what I always say and that is the dealer is probably more important than the make of caravan because once bought you are in thier hands as far as warranty work is concerned. Which dealer is it? if you don't want to say just say the area.
If you aren't happy with the dealer it can be very difficult.
Just bought a Bailey Pageant three weeks ago, getting a bit worried now, first with damage above the cooker if you use the back two rings and now this dampness, have we done the wrong thing and bought the wrong make of caravan!!!!!
just brought a new 2009 bailey senator carolina and am now worried lol i will definitely check all the things mentioned but have to say i love the van as do the kids we took it in this week for a motor mover to be fitted and when we went to pick it up were told the mover had been fitted and also the dent and scratch on the passenger side had been repaired too.... what dent and scratch i replied it's only a week old and is pristine the service chap said he only knew what it said on the sheet i got back in the car and informed my husband who needless to say hit the roof if it was dented and scratched it certainly hadn't been done by us!! twenty minutes later same chap came back and said sorry work order was for another van had been put on to our work order so nothing to worry about and off he trotted to ruin someone elses day
I have no real problem with Bailey who answered all my questions and understood why I was peeved with the dealer who I complained about. I was half looking into buying another van but no one would look at the van with an outstanding warranty issue. So I asked the dealer who I bought it off if the could give me a part ex price to compensate me for problems if I bought a new van. The part ex price was £400 worse than I had been offered from another dealer who I used to get a price without telling them about the work. My original dealer told me he would give me an extra special deal to compensate the problem. The whole servicing/warranty thing with the caravan industry seems wrong that you have to get warranty work done with the original dealer you purchased from.
I think dealers need to wake up and understand who there customers are and look after them. It is like any other business in these times. Looking after your customers should be your number 1 priority as they will return and talk and to other people and recommend you. This is the best form of advertising.
The upshot is I will never buy a Bailey van again.
But then again maybe it is me. I walked out of another showroom a month ago. I was talking to a salesman asking about a new Coachman van and the layout compared to another van. I was chatting for approx 5 mins when a lady asked for a brochure on another van. The salesman started chatting to her and ignored me. After another 3 minutes or more the salesman had not said another word to me so I stood looking a little miffed but no reaction from salesman so I put the brochure down and proceeded to walk away when he asked me if I was okay. I told him not to bother as he was obviously busy. (with a timewasting woman who just popped in about an old van who had no idea what she really wanted) I did call the dealership the following day to report how badly treated I was by the salesman and when I do buy my new Coachman it will not be from this dealer.
Dealers like these do not deserve to be in business.
I must say I am very happy with my Bailey caravan. The purpose of this post wasn't to make anyone worry, it was just to share the story of what happened during the service visit.
I hope everyone waiting to collect their new Baileys enjoy them as much as we have.