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Subject Topic: Where to buy from Dealership or Gumtree?? Post Reply Post New Topic
Personcamy17
18/4/2017 at 9:45pm
 Location: None Entered
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Hi everyone am new to caravanning looking to buy a 4 berth tourer.
I've been to one dealership and received some good information on the caravans that I was looking at.
When I looked on Gumtree I seen the same models a fair bit cheaper
I would just like to know what you''s would recommend where to buy from ??
Good experience 's / Bad experiences

Thanks Newbie


Personbobmel
18/4/2017 at 10:56pm
 Location: Aberdeen
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 460 VW Tiguan Moti View bobmel's Profile View Profile   Reply to bobmel Reply   Quote bobmel Quote  
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Bought our first van from a dealer, £1200, mainly for peace of mind and a 6 month guarantee. Damp is a problem in older caravans (and some new ones) it can easily be hidden and one thing you do not want is damp. We are now on our 5th van from the same dealer.

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Robert (BoB)


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PersonOpensauce
19/4/2017 at 7:20am
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All you are asking is whether it is better to buy from a dealer or a private seller who may advertise on Gumtree, Ebay or a card in your local newsagents.

The answer is. Buy from a dealer & with current consumer law you can get a refund in 30days for faulty goods but with private sale it's buyer beware. Either way if you get a bad one from a rouge dealer who digs his heels in or a private seller it's equally bad.

If you are looking at a secondhand caravan from anywhere examine it very carefully before buying.

Obviously beware of scammers. Gumtree & Ebay particularly are spammed daily with scam adverts offering caravans for very cheap prices. Ie a caravan that should be £10k for £4k. If you contact 'seller' the story is always similar pay first & expect delivery of(non existent)caravan later. It's a scam.

Buy the caravan from the seller's address. pay & tow away is the way to do it.

Post last edited on 19/04/2017 08:53:47


Personmisterg
19/4/2017 at 10:34am
 Location: East Midlands
 Outfit: Coachman VIP 575.Santa Fe View misterg's Profile View Profile   Reply to misterg Reply   Quote misterg Quote  
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I have owne dcaravans for over 40 years. I have bought new fromdealers and had to use trading standards to get things sorted. I have yet to find a dealer who has readily carried out warranty work I have bought many vans used and in doing so seen lots of damp vans described as damp free.
If you buy from a dealer pay part by credit card which gives you section 75 cover. .
If you buy private use adamp meter on every possible seal.
I honestly feel that the caravan industry generally avoids modern consumer legislation.
Good luck!

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Mister G


PersonGrampian91
19/4/2017 at 5:25pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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Just watch for the scammers on gumtree, offering vans that appear to be bargains.

Check the Cris paperwork and do not EVER send a deposit or other payments methods than paying on collection.

Do not let them deliver after payment etc. Lots of scams where they say pay by paypal or yahoo etc, where the company named hold the funds until you accept the purchase. This is ALL FAKE the companies do not offer a service like this and cars and caravans are often excluded from the protection anyway.

You pay them its like giving a bag of money to a stranger hoping they will do the right thing.


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Personrichardandjo2010
19/4/2017 at 8:10pm
 Location: essex
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I think it all depends on how much your budget is, if you want almost new I would buy from a dealer as if you intend to keep it for a long time,its a big investment and you will get peace of mind. If you are looking for a starter van then you will get more for your money privately. If you are concerned about what you are buying ask the seller if you can get a pro to inspect it first, if the seller has nothing to hide he will agree, there will be a cost to this but probably not a lot and atleast you will know what you are buying. If you google MCEA you will find local mobile engineers in your area who will be happy to inspect one for you.
Good Luck

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its our imperfections that makes us perfect


Personyrret
19/4/2017 at 8:57pm
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Private , use your common sense ,take damp meter , check paperwork, take your time, be prepared to walk away if everythings not spot on ! There are loads of caravans for sale so if everything is not how it should be dont buy it. If it is how it should be ,then save a shed load of money , you will probably get the awning and bits and bobs chucked in. For me private everytime !


Personegbert
20/4/2017 at 8:20pm
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If I was buying privately as a first time carvanner, I think take a friend who has a caravan with you - they may notice things you wouldn't think to check.


PersonRay Clayton
20/4/2017 at 8:37pm
 Location: Ilkeston. Derbyshire
 Outfit: Disco 4 Unicorn Barcelona 4 View Ray Clayton's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ray Clayton Reply   Quote Ray Clayton Quote  
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To be honest before this van we always bought private.

Astra ok Private local paper add
Abbey got stung on it. Private local paper add (still Green them days)
Ace ok private local paper add
Coachman ok Private friend
Senator ok Private gumtree
Barcelona 1 Dealer stung (took it back)
Barcelona 11 Dealer ok

Paid 7500 for the senator 3/ 4 years ago and got same part exchange last year. Maybe lucky,




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Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4







Personsaltysplash
20/4/2017 at 10:40pm
 Location: Grand union Canal
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Its luck of the draw really,

Bought my first 2nd hand caravan from a well known dealer in Blackpool, picked it up later that day and they had checked evrything and replaced faulty bits and away we went.
A few years later I bought another 2nd hand van from a well known dealer in Derbyshire, told to collect a week later when they would have it ready. Turned up bright and early on the day and spent 8 hours waiting for them to prepare the van which upon hitching up found non of the lights worked, and they left it too late to sort out a number plate, plus other little niggles.
It was now at the end of their working day and they were running around trying to find a member of staff to look at the van's running lights but I told them to forget it, drove the van out of their yard, parked up round the corner, and repaired the connections in the light socket that had corroded. They obviously hadnt touched the van at all.

Next van I bought off ebay. Seller let me have a good look over everything and tested all the workings.
came with a full awning and all the extras needed susch as water carriers/ waste carriers, step etc.

   eta paid cash on picking up the van


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Personlegenetay
21/4/2017 at 6:41am
 Location: Seasonal Pitch
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We bought our last caravan privately but agreed on a refundable deposit subject to a clean damp report. A local mobile caravan servicing company carried out the damp testing within a week. It cost £50 but worth it for the peace of mind.



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