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Went to pick an awning up on Sunday which we got off ebay,quite a way from home.While out and about,we came across a large,well known dealers,so popped in for a look.Salesman soon descended,asked what we're looking for,told him our ideal layout (as you do lol).Shows us an 2006 Avondale.Perfect layout for us-and I wasn't even looking at changing.Start getting interested,loosely talk figures/trade-in etc.Then have a good look around the van......well !I've never seen damp like it.All around the rear window,you could literally push your finger through.Bubbling and rippling everywhere on that side,from front to back.Around the shower in the end bathroom the same.Inside all wardrobes/cupboards on that side were the same.

Salesman returns,I ask him about all the damp-'Oh thats not damp!' he says.Then starts explaining how one of the inner slats has dropped,causing all the ripples,spongyness and bubbling,from the top of the van to the bottom,front to back .He says the 'service team' are aware of it,and its going in for repair shortly.I say 'That is damp-I've seen that sort of bubbling before'-he insists  'no it isn't'.He then goes on to say they'll put a warranty on it.'How long' I ask,he then goes to ask manager,comes back,and says 'we don't normally do this but we'll give you 3years 3months warranty'.Whoopeee I think.Then I ask him about CRIS-'yes its registered',(as I expected),so I enquire if we could do a check on it ie outstanding finance,previous owner,insurance claims etc (not implying anything untoward),but he seems to start waffling.....so we politely make our excuses and run lol (not literally obviously lol).

Can't believe they've got a van up for sale in this condition-even a first time buyer would notice it.It wasn't a particularly cheap van either,just under 11k.Do you think it could/will be repaired sufficiently to eradicate the damp,when its that badly affected?Also is it possible its been paid out on regards to the damp?Would an insurance company do this?If so,would that show up on a CRIS check?Not going back for the van,obviously,but OH and I were just wondering.

As a relative newbie, I'm not sure I would have recognised any signs of damp .

That's probably what the dealer relies on...

Do yourself a big favour and find another van and an honest dealer!

I think you had a lucky escape!

Mike

I was just going to to start a topic with a similar query.  I've spotted an Avondale on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-AVONDALE-DART-556-TOURING-CARAVAN-/190427191598?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item2c5658592e

and was wondering why a company would sell a damp van. Does this indicate that its not worth their while fixing it? If you can't rely on getting a decent caravan from a dealer what hope is there for people who don't know all the "tricks of the trade"!!

Homebird

Quote: Originally posted by Grad Sailor on 11/8/2010

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Sounds like the dealer should be named and shamed.

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Quote: Originally posted by homebird2003 on 11/8/2010

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I If you can't rely on getting a decent caravan from a dealer what hope is there for people who don't know all the "tricks of the trade"!!

Homebird

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The fact that it is has damp is advertised quite clearly in bold. Why does anyone need to know any 'tricks of the trade' ? The seller is being quite upfront about it. Why can't you rely on getting a decent van from a dealer ?  I'm a bit confused ?

Quote: Originally posted by shirl250 on 11/8/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Grad Sailor on 11/8/2010

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Sounds like the dealer should be named and shamed.

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Why ? What more do you want him to do ? He's going to fix it, he's giving a 3+ year warranty, he admits there is a fault and you'll probably get it really cheap ! What else can he do ? ,

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Quote: Originally posted by shirl250 on 11/8/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by homebird2003 on 11/8/2010

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I If you can't rely on getting a decent caravan from a dealer what hope is there for people who don't know all the "tricks of the trade"!!

Homebird

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The fact that it is has damp is advertised quite clearly in bold. Why does anyone need to know any 'tricks of the trade' ? The seller is being quite upfront about it. Why can't you rely on getting a decent van from a dealer ?  I'm a bit confused ?

 

 

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Quote: Originally posted by Rune Caster on 11/8/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by shirl250 on 11/8/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by homebird2003 on 11/8/2010

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I If you can't rely on getting a decent caravan from a dealer what hope is there for people who don't know all the "tricks of the trade"!!

Homebird

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The fact that it is has damp is advertised quite clearly in bold. Why does anyone need to know any 'tricks of the trade' ? The seller is being quite upfront about it. Why can't you rely on getting a decent van from a dealer ?  I'm a bit confused ?

 

 

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Shirl, read the original post again will you - there is no mention of the van being sold as damp

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That wasn't a quote from the Original Post. It was a quote from an advert on ebay for a van with damp posted by Homebird ! Please read the rest of the thread properly will you ?

Unless..... she was referring to the Original Post and not the Ebay advert - in which case I stand corrected and that was probably why I was confused ! Sorry !

Sorry, my fault for jumping in on someone elses thread.  I would remove my post but it would make nonsense of other peoples replies!!

I'm still wondering why a dealer would sell a damp caravan, can't understand why they don't sort it out first. Rather like buying from a decent car sales, you'd expect the car to have no faults, with full MOT etc

Homebird