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Some of you may know after selling our fixed bed GT60 we wanted a different layout and went for a new 2011 Lunar Quasar 525. Against our better judgement we didnt buy local (struggled to find the model we wanted) and picked the van up about 12 days ago. On collection it was peeing down, the handover guy was ill so the salesman stepped in. They assured us the list of things we'd asked to be sorted when we first looked at the van had all been done. We are trusting people and inside the van everything appeared to be fine. The next day and over the following days we found more and more things wrong with it, some little niggles but some more major. Dealer offered to collect van and fix everything which we agreed to. Then the evening before we were told no the van wasnt being collected and they could maybe get some guys down to work on it but no guarantees they could or perhaps we could take it to our local dealer and get them to deal with the bodywork!! (which was our biggest issue)

Anyway to cut a long and very stressful story short the van has been picked up today by the dealer and we've had our money back.

Perhaps its us but we just dont seem to have any luck with vans. Some of you may remember our first van was a 2005 Pageant that went back after 3 weeks because of damp. We bought the GT60 privately, had no problems whatsoever with it but the layout just didnt work. Thinking now of just maybe giving up, are we too fussy? Went to look at some 2011 vans yesterday at a dealer and why when you ask a question can we not get a straight answer? I honestly thought buying new would be easy but its such hard work. All we want is to have confidence in what we are told by salesman and that they then deliver on these points. I'm no starting to lose faith in any of them.

thanks David but just at a loss at the min. What van and where from? We have both said though now if its new/newish from a dealer we will only buy local (will travel an hr max)

We both still love the new Olympus 540-5 and theres a brilliant dealer special but thats where the damp Pageant came from and OH a bit reluctant to go back incase they tell us to go away

Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 08/11/2011

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thanks David but just at a loss at the min. What van and where from? We have both said though now if its new/newish from a dealer we will only buy local (will travel an hr max)

We both still love the new Olympus 540-5 and Chipping Sodbury have a brilliant dealer special but thats where the damp Pageant came from and OH a bit reluctant to go back incase they tell us to go away

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we've been to Forest Of Dean Caravans, really lovely family run business but the dealer special at CS is only £455 more and its definetly worth the money!!

Unfortunately when we took the van back for them to look at it the owner was waiting for us and he was in a foul mood. We were shouted and ranted at by the owner, it all got out of hand within a matter of minutes. We stayed calm and tried to explain the problem as we saw it (damp) with the Pageant but unfortunately he was having none of it and wouldnt let me get a word in edge ways. By the time we left I was in tears. Its a real shame as I think they are a good company and their prices are very competitive. Think I'll get OH to ring up and see how things go.

Quote: Originally posted by robin52 on 08/11/2011

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You think they are a good company and yet you left in tears! I wouldn't give them the time of day.

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Nor would I to be honest! You need to be confident that they will play ball without fuss in the event of any problems.

Find another dealer and get them to put together deal around the (CS) spec you want. A customer who knows what they want and is ready to buy is probably a novelty in the current climate so you should be able to name your deal. If one dealer can do it so can the others (they all have the same margins and they are all capable of fitting accessories?).

You should not need to go cap in hand to a dealer whose customer service policy is to rant at his clients. Plus they are not likely to give you much of a deal if they think your going to be fussy (as most of us would be).

Hope you get something sorted.

Gosh Im shocked - I can't believe you have had problems with this caravan/dealer aswell!  To be honest I wouldn't be returning to the previous dealer either, they may have good prices and be helpful and friendly when things are going well but sounds like they aren't so nice when the chips are down. Will you have the confidence to negotiate the best deal with them because of your previous experience and what if you need any warranty work doing at some point, it could be case of history repeating itself with the owner.  I know it must seem like you are going around in circles but I really wouldnt touch them with a bargepole. 

We don't have many dealers local to us either - the closest one we wouldn't deal with anyway but we have to drive over an hour away for the service or warranty work but so far they have been really good.