Hi Guys,
Have any of you bought an awning (or anything) from Awnings Direct (part of United British Caravans)?
I placed an order with them on Sunday, and had all the relevant emails including one on Monday that said Order Completed. I assumed this to mean that my goods had been despatched. As nothing had arrived by Wednesday, I rang them and was advised that my goods were in a courier's depot (about 10 miles away from where I am). I assumed therefore that they'd probably be delivered today. Whenever I check the Awnings Direct website it doesn't show any shipment information, and as there's been no delivery today (still time - but unlikely) I'm getting concerned. When I spoke to Awnings Direct they didn't say who the courier is that would be making the delivery.
Just wondered if anyone had used this company before and whether they'd had any issues. It may be that the goods get delivered tomorrow, but at the moment I'm beginning to get concerned.
Geoff
You say you placed an order with them on Sunday but haven't stipulated by what method you made your purchase. Did you do the order over the phone or the whole transaction online?
If the order has been already been despatched then there should be a tracking number which should be confirmed in an e-mail.
Well we just ordered, (and received), our Kampa Rally Pro 330 porch awning from those very people and I'm pleased to report that we had no probs at all. We ordered it on the Wednesday and hubby had his confirmation email saying it was being processed, but he didn't actually receive anything about what day it would be delivered on and it arrived on the following Tuesday.
The courier used was Yodel if that's any help?
We're thrilled and can't wait to try the new awning out but as we only EVER manage to use our tin tent for our annual hols as a rule there's noooo way I can wait until next summer!
So...at the moment the pitch next to ours is currently vacant at the storage site so one day next week we're aiming to nip over and put it up just to see how much easier it will be for hubby, (our Dorema full size is proving a tad too much for him these days ), and THEN....I'm determined that we WILL actually get to take the tin tent and porch awning to the only campsite that appears to be local to where his part time job is so that he won't have to take any annual leave but will be able to commute quite easily on the 4days he does a week while pooch and I enjoy more time in our tin tent
I bought a kampa Rally Air Pro 330 from them recently. It arrived by Yodel courier about 2 working days after ordering. We did get a dispatch notification and a tracking number, so you should chase this up.
Incidentally we had a problem with our awning on the first use due to twisted air poles. We happened to be in Northumberland on holiday, so I returned the awning to their shop in Newcastle. They did grumble a bit when I turned up (even though I had phoned in advance): "Well, it'll have to be sent back to Kampa... oh, everyone's on lunch break," etc. etc., but eventually they did give me a replacement after inspecting it. Not the friendliest customer service experience I've ever had, but I guess it worked out ok in the end.
My order is for a Kampa Rally Air Pro 330 and Awnings Direct was one of the very few outlets that appeared to have them in stock
It's still not arrived, I've just rung Awnings Direct who tell me that it's "Low Cost Couriers" that they are using. They are going to 'chase' the courier to find out what's happening.
I'd have happily paid a small charge for a 'proper' delivery service, but the web-site never gave me the option.
Their customer services seem reluctant to give any details.
I'll update the forum later today or tomorrow when I know a little more.
Quote: Originally posted by Geoff917 on 17/8/2015N.B. I can't actually find an address for Low Cost Couriers in the town (Alfreton) where Awnings Direct are saying the parcel is.
"Low Cost Couriers" is the same as Yodel, just a different name. They use the same order tracking system (the tracking number should work on the Yodel website).
I hope it turns up soon. I wish these companies wouldn't insist on using the cheapest courier services to save a few pennies.
Did Awnings Direct give you a tracking number? They sent me one by email when mine was dispatched (although I did email them first to ask for it).
We bought our kampa hayling 6 with them. Package included carpet and footprint. All a great price.
Tent arrived minus carpet and we had to really argue the toss with them that it definitely wasn't there!
------------- Wife, mum to 2, avid book reader, enthusiastic knitter and geocaching family. Please close the gate!
May 2015 Cotswold View
August 2015 Henlow Bridge Lakes
August 2015 Disneyland Paris (not camping!)
September 2015 Henlow Bridge Lakes
August 2016 Polmanter, St Ives
Quote: Originally posted by Geoff917 on 18/8/2015
Still not received my awning, though I'm advised that it should be out for delivery this afternoon. I'll not hold my breath in anticipation.
Have you checked all outhouses/bins/fences - anywhere an awning sized package could be shoved? We had some walking poles delivered by Yodel once. We found them months later, stuffed in a random hole in the garden (they walked straight past the unlocked shed!), no card through the door or anything. The packaging was obliterated by this point, but the poles were still OK! We'd had a second pair delivered by the seller by that point anyway! Our experience is apparently not unique with Yodel. The 'warehouse' you mention could well be some guy's garage - there is a guy that lives round the corner from us, and works for Yodel and clearly uses his garage as a depot as he's loading stuff up as we leave home every morning.
Things moved on yesterday. Chloe at Awnings Direct took ownership of the issue and managed to chase down the awning to the Yodel depot in Alfreton. I then collected it directly from the depot. So:
Top marks to Chloe at Awnings Direct for locating the awning and arranging that I could collect it.
Negative marks to Yodel for providing a non-existent delivery service
I've not yet unpacked it, I intend to try it on the caravan tomorrow (weather permitting).
Hope you don't mind me giving a word of advice: When you first put it up, make sure the air poles in the legs aren't twisted before you inflate it fully. If they are twisted, the front legs will end up bent.
When the awning is pumped up enough to hold its shape you can go inside, unzip the sleeves around the air poles, and adjust the poles so that the internal zips run straight. Then zip the outer sleeves back up. It sounds a faff but can save a lot of trouble later on. There is a Youtube video from Kampa explaining how to do this.
The legs on our Air Pro 330 were severely twisted when we first blew it up, leading to a kink in one of the legs. The strain of the kink ended up damaging the air pole. Luckily I managed to get a replacement. Unfortunately the instructions don't mention anything about checking for twisted poles.