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Hello

I'm on the look-out for my first caravan, but believe dealer forecourt prices are too high for used caravans, especially in current economic climate.  I'm looking to spend around £7-8K, say for a 5-6 yr old caravan 5 or 6 berth

Have any of you had recent success with haggling down the price recently, or negotiating extras in for the price ? 

I know the dealers talk up the trade "its getting busy now", but I have noticed many vans which remain unsold after many weeks on forecourts and fleabay, so money is not so freely flowing as the dealers make out

Looking forward to hearing about your good deals.  As this information would be of great help to me

Many Thanks !

You may not be able to get them to drop their prices very much but you could manage to get some other stuff thrown and therefore save quite a few £'s on accessories.  Good luck

I am sure if you haggle you will be able to get a bit of a deal but if that is the forecourt price that is about what they sell for. Dealers are not in the business of displaying - they are in the business of selling.

They may get the odd few that stick but generally they are moving on at around that price.

I read in Practiacal caravan magazine that there is a shortage of second hand family caravans i.e 5 or 6 berth, hence the prices for those are inflated at the moment, especially given the time of year. There seems to be no problem with the supply of 2 berths.

Jon

Quote: Originally posted by jonbob71 on 20/3/2010

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I read in Practiacal caravan magazine that there is a shortage of second hand family caravans i.e 5 or 6 berth, hence the prices for those are inflated at the moment, especially given the time of year. There seems to be no problem with the supply of 2 berths.

Jon

 

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yes there has been a shortage for more than 12 months now,the good side is we have just re-insured with the CClub and the value given was extremely good.

Quote: Originally posted by Rune Caster on 20/3/2010

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I think you'll find that caravan prices are not controlled by the current economic climate, also we are now coming into the 2010 season so dealers (and private sellers) will be prepared to hang out a bit longer to get the price they want for the van.

If you want to knock the sellers (dealers or private) down then you'll have to wait now until the end of the season when they won't want them hanging around for the winter (or in the case of private sellers won't want to pay out for the winter's storage)

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We bought our 1st van last Feb (5 berth) & whilst we couldn't get the dealer to move on price (he could have sold it several times over as they were going like hotcakes) we did get a good deal on accessories - awning, waste & water carriers, hitch lock, step, leisure battery & warranty.

We traded ours in this Jan for a new one & the dealer has sold our old van for only £100 less than we paid a year ago. 

Great advice from all !

After a nice walk in the sunshine (cracking day) I have decided to visit a couple of dealers next weekend.

I may be bold and go for a new caravan perhaps the Bailey Ranger 540/6 - which should be a giant improvement from my tunnel tent : ).  I have also seen a nice looking 3 yr old Sterling Europa 540 on a dealer website too.  So I think it will be new or nearly new caravan.  We all need a little treat to cheer ourselves up !

I understand that Bailey offer a transfer of warranty on their caravans (for small fee and service history), does anyone know is Sterling offer a similar warranty & transfer ?

Many Thanks