I'm looking to upgrade from my 2008 Folding Camper to a caravan and intend to have a serious look whilst at the 2010 caravan show at the NEC. I have never been there before and wondered if the main caravan dealers do part exchanges or do they only sell cash only?
The Dealer's do offer part-exchanges. When we bought our new van at a show, they checked the book price for our van and asked us about it - then made us an offer that they stood by when we eventually took the van in to their dealership.
Other folks have had problems where the dealer has eventually refused to complete the deal as arranged - because they have found problems, such as damp, when they check over the traded-in van on collection of the new one.
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Our van was taken as part-ex on a van we bought at the NEC. The dealers honoured the price offered when they checked it over. The thing is to be honest about the condition of the trade-in you're offering.
Phil if i was you i would advertise your folding camper privately , what a caravan dealer will offer you will be a pittance to what you think it will be worth,
Quote: Originally posted by john&lynn on 10/9/2010
Phil if i was you i would advertise your folding camper privately , what a caravan dealer will offer you will be a pittance to what you think it will be worth,
The advantage of buying at a show is that there are so many dealers all there in one place, so you can trade off one against another.
The trick is to find the boss-man or the one who can actually barter with you - most of the staff will have strict instructions and limits on what sort of deal they can give.
If you need any extras (battery, jack, spare wheel, water / waste container etc.) negotiate them into the deal - that will be far cheaper than buying them later in the accessory shop. (Yes I know - many of these items should not be seen as 'extras' but they are).
I agree with the comment about selling privatley rather than trade in - any discount that you negotiate will be more than wiped out by the reduced price that they offer for your tade in. The only saving grace is the conveniance, and only you can decide whether that's worth the money (on a caravan it could easlily be £500 to £1000)
we part exed our old van at last years nec and did a great deal. they asked me what i thought my old van was worth i said £7500.... £500 more than book price. when my new van was built i went to pick it up from kimberleys in nottingham i live in lancashire we did the deal without them even seeing my old van until the hand over.
im very pleased with it and would say you might get a better deal by going on the last day of the show.
You can get a good deal at a show but sometimes it means you travelling a long way to collect it and also when service time comes around another long trip at an inconvenient timne. So any savings made at the show is chewed up in fuel costs.
Quote: Originally posted by richard615 on 10/9/2010
Buying at the show does not usually get you the best deal despite the hype.
My experience of buying three vans at shows ahs taught me the opposite. Respectively the deals were £2500, £2000 and £1800 better than the best offered locally. DEals were done with dealers around an hour's drive from home.
Quote: Originally posted by john&lynn on 10/9/2010
Phil if i was you i would advertise your folding camper privately , what a caravan dealer will offer you will be a pittance to what you think it will be worth,
We found that, so we kept it. Just couldn't part with it for that sort of money.
One thing with the shows is to go with the number/s of your local dealers, get an offer at the show and then call your local dealer and see if they will match or better it, they often will...
Thanks for all your replies. I was aiming to part ex for the simple reason that it's easier. If I sell the FC privately I've got the hassle of putting it up for viewings etc.
On a final note, what extras should I be looking to get thrown in with the deal. Don't want to haggle for something i'm never going to get lol.