I've been shopping around for a new car - in every showroom (bar Mercedes) that I visited the salesamen were rushed off their feet with enquiries. Last Oct at the NEC salesmen had queues of people waiting to see them. I got a car with a good discount - the van will have to wait as the model I want is SOLD OUT for this year's production!
Surely all these people I've seen out buying aren't time-wasters?
Unlike the car industry where generally speaking New Cars are built to order, in the caravan sales industry things are slightly different.
Caravan dealers Buy their stock in advance of sales, so at the start of the year they will have a full 'Lot' and this normally clashes with the first, or last, shows of the year. This is why it is nearly always best to buy your new van at one of the shows as this is when some of the best deals are to be had on new vans. For it's size, Cottingham, is usually very busy for the sales staff.
Some sales staff even advise customers to wait a couple of weeks until the show so that they can get them a better deal.
So there you go.
If you're looking to buy second hand then be aware that their is quite allot of 'Flood Van's' on sale, vans that flood victims were given by the insurance companies to live in whilst their homes were re-built. Technically they have to be marked up by dealers as 'Flood Stock' but that rule won't apply to news paper sales.
If it's a flood stock then the van was previously bought by an insurance company from a dealer at RRP. You can bet your bottom dollar that the Dealer will have bought it back from the insurance company for relative peanuts in comparison to its original RRP. So if you're prepared to spedn a few quid on repairs, and drive a hard pitch with the sales staff, you can potentialy get a 1 or 2 year old van at a knock down price.
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Why on earth *shouldn't* we descend into a Rhodesian-style economy?
The Rhodesian economy was one of the strongest economies the world has ever known as she became self sufficient manufacturing a lot of necessities from TVs to washings machines and weapons. If we descended into a Rhodesian style economy Britain would prosper. I know I live in Rhodesia during the troubled times and worked for a manufacturer helping sanction busting.
One of the main reasons van sales are up is because of the cost of a standard package holiday abroad now and also the Pound vs Euro is just at a rate where even a lunchtime meal will cost you £50-£70 !! We've had friends go into the caravan market recentley and these are people that I wouldnt have dreamt of being caravanners but rather than spending £3000 - £4000 on a package holiday they've opted for going for a caravan that will see them through for the next 2 years or so to make sure they actually enjoy it and to see if they will get the use from it too.
Quote: Originally posted by mandk_surrey on 09/3/2009
One of the main reasons van sales are up is because of the cost of a standard package holiday abroad now and also the Pound vs Euro is just at a rate where even a lunchtime meal will cost you £50-£70 !! We've had friends go into the caravan market recentley and these are people that I wouldnt have dreamt of being caravanners but rather than spending £3000 - £4000 on a package holiday they've opted for going for a caravan that will see them through for the next 2 years or so to make sure they actually enjoy it and to see if they will get the use from it too.
What you're saying is very true. However, the reason that Holiday Packages are so expensive is becaues the majority of people are either bone-idle or just to dam lazy to be bothered to scan the pages of the private villa owners web sites and create their own packages. Like Owners Direct or Holiday Rentals
We have been doing the DIY overseas holiday thing for years and if you book in advance you can save thousands.
We have been using the same place now and for 4 of us including 2 weeks rental of a fully fitted 2-bed apartment, 2 weeks car hire, airport parking and travel insurance we have never paid more that £1200 for the lot.
I always thought that the DIY Package would be quite attractive to caravanners that want a far away holiday as just like caravanning, it's all independant.
A two week stay in a Haven site in Dorset for a 2 bed van is nearly £1700 - even with the poor GBP to Euro it's still cheaper to go abroad, as for one thing, the sun shines every day and laying by the pool or on the beach is Free. Unlike the very expensive UK tourist attractions that this year, will probably be increasing their prices because of the greater demand.
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hi new to this site i got wed in cyprus in aug 2006 the price for the holiday was £2850 to return to same hotel on the same dates this year just over £6000.00.
last july i bought a used tt and used it when we could.my two daugters love it.just booked five nights at stanwix park near the lakes in may for a whopping £163. 00. i rest my case.
And if I had a case to rest I'd now be resting it. But as I wasn't having a dig at caravans and was merely pointing out the potential Like-for-Like costs of renting a caravan in the UK against going abroad, I can't for one minute understand why people are getting their knickers in a twist.
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I see returnee has returned. It's his being so happy that keeps us all going!!!!!!!
Bloomin old misery!!!!
Bet his cup is always half empty rather than half full.
He is the type you dread being next to on a caravan site.
HAHAHHA, I nearly fell off the bed when I read your reply. I just got the image of the film "RV with Robin Williams. Moving their rig at 5AM only to avoid their neighbours on the site. lol lol
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I've been shopping around for a new car - in every showroom (bar Mercedes) that I visited the salesamen were rushed off their feet with enquiries. Last Oct at the NEC salesmen had queues of people waiting to see them. I got a car with a good discount - the van will have to wait as the model I want is SOLD OUT for this year's production!
Surely all these people I've seen out buying aren't time-wasters?
Hey, I am quickly coming to the same conclusion and I live at the other side of the world. I just wonder how much of this recession hype is just that" I have held off upgrading my car until I settle on the caravan I am picking. I went to a local car auction and couldnt believe the high prices the cars were selling for....... I spoke to a dealer who was there to get stock and he said, he hasnt been able to compete with the prices (his cut would put the car out of reach for most people). I jokingly said to him "someone ought to tell the auctioneer there is a recession on". His reply..... He had sold most of his stock and he cant get the new.
The only real effect will come if GM and FORD go under in the states, and then that will effect world trade. The Chinese govt has refused to make billions of US dollars available for bail outs..... and that will effect what is on the market, but for now!!!!!! Maybe time to dig up the carpark and put in spuds.
------------- "Time fly's like the wind, but fruit flies like bananas" :)