Billggski Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 Called in today as I pass it regularly. By M6 J 14. Thought I'd do a bit of tyre kicking and see what's what. Wrong. You see a very helpful receptionist who invites you to sit in their luxurious lounge and help yourself to (very nice) coffee to await a salesman (all men). No access to the showroom or yard. Twenty minutes later I met a very helpful salesman who proceeded to sit me in front of a computer terminal to view their stock. He had me weighed up straight away as he started at the cheapest. £45,000! He explained that they stock only new or nothing less than three years old, mainly Hymer, N&B, and Dethleffs. He'd never heard of Sunlight, their budget range. The accessories bit is all Dometic for fitting on to your new purchase. So if you want a day out gongoozling or picking up some extra toilet fluid. It's not that sort of place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 I visited them in the week of their opening. Very impressive set up that sets a high standard. Bit like a Merc car dealer. It's a very big investment that deserves a return so I wish them well. Easy to find as well although you can only access the site from the A34 coming off J14. People like me who come cross country have to go down the A34, round the J14 roundabout and back up a short stretch of the A34. They sell Carados which is probably the £45k model range. You weren't supposed to enter the showroom at Telford without being signed in at Reception. The quality of the tea at Telford wasn't something to write home about but at least it was free. I understand they have sold the Telford site. Shame really because it was easier for me to get there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve928 Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 I visited the Telford site a few years ago and had the same experience (check in, wait for salesman, escorted tour of stock etc..). I've never returned. The thing that amazes me is that they still haven't grasped how to reduce and present a photo on their website - everything is stretched or squashed and has a very weird perspectvive. Witness the attached picture of a Dethleffs from their stock (the first one I looked at for an example) *very* lowline and with front wheels markedly bigger than the rears.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletguy Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 Billggski - 2019-04-02 2:02 PM Twenty minutes later I met a very helpful salesman who proceeded to sit me in front of a computer terminal to view their stock. He had me weighed up straight away as he started at the cheapest. £45,000! So if you want a day out gongoozling or picking up some extra toilet fluid. It's not that sort of place. Strange manner of marketing! Obviously they don't approve of the hoi polloi treading their carpet. :-S The expression, "never judge a book by its cover" springs to mind and that scruffy customer who walks in may well turn out to be a seriously loaded cash buyer unlike some sharp suited 'n booted type who defaults after a few months of finance! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solwaybuggier Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 Brock - 2019-04-02 3:25 PM You weren't supposed to enter the showroom at Telford without being signed in at Reception. Still the same at Stafford - quite a panic when they realised we’d not signed in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboyprowler Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 The expression, "never judge a book by its cover" springs to mind and that scruffy customer who walks in may well turn out to be a seriously loaded cash buyer unlike some sharp suited 'n booted type who defaults after a few months of finance! ;-) We ended up with a Niesmann, but only after the Concorde salesman never even bothered to send us the promised quote! Maybe we were that seemingly scruffy customer, but he got it wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laika.brian Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 To prove "never judge a book by its cover" Some years ago the contracts manager Irish division of an international group of diversified building materials businesses called to a very large car dealer ship. The day was very wet and this guy had a hobby as a farmer hence the attire, the sales manager on seeing this guy sent out the most junior sales persion to the showroom this was seen by our contracts manager/ farmer friend. The junior returned after some time to get some paper work and informed the sales manager of whom the guy was and that he had ordered 12 vehicles, on hearing this the sales manager made his way quickly to the showroom to be told by our buying friend that things very going very well with the junior sales man and he could return forthwith to where he had come from ! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HymerVan Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 I think premium brands are more likely to try to expect that the customers will be "premium people" or at any rate to hope that they are. The inverse snobbery part of my character usually causes me to dress down when visiting such places. There is a lot of psychology applied by sales people and that includes the design of the selling environment. Some years ago I accepted an inducement to visit a time share place in Portugal. We were quite clear that we would not buy it needed significant resolve to resist the subtle pressures being applied. One of these was to infer that I might not be able to afford the "investment" an approach no doubt designed to invoke a response that I would jolly well prove what I could afford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipper43 Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 I’ve been researching Hymer with a view to buying an A Class model on my retirement. I will not be visiting there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 Oh I dunno! Why not turn up in a top hat and tails? You'd probably get the instant attention of the MD - at least until you started to discuss discounts! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamRienza Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 Or light a cigar with a five pound note! It may not suit you but, Donaghey’s in Letterkenny Co. Donegal are a large Hymer dealer with a big selection of vans, both new and old. Their vans are all open for inspection. They have knowledgeable sales staff who will chat to you, assist you but leave you to explore the vans unless you wish to be accompanied. They sell a fair percentage of vans into N. Ireland so are well versed in ‘international’ trade. They also are Fiat professional dealers with service facilities and a customer ethos second to none. Perhaps a bit far to travel casually but keep them in mind. Davy Satisfied customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipper43 Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 Thanks Brian and Davy. Yes, Ireland may be a stretch as what I need at the moment is to physically look around and see what works. My top hat will need some dusting off before I start negotiating. We are experienced boaters (Motor) and will be losing a lot of space so want to work out the compromises. I’ll start a new thread, seeking advice as to what we should be looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernesto Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 I went there a month ago to take a look at Hymercars. Have to say all very pleasant and professional. After signing in, I was left to my own devices to wander the showroom and outside displays and then a sales chap checked in with me at the end. No pressure and professional. He followed it up with an email thanking me for visiting and off ring help next time if I needed it. All good for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaleg Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 We went a couple of weeks ago and we were surprised when asked to sign in however, should there be a fire at least they know who are on the property. we were left to our own devises to look around, confused some of the prices with continental telephone numbers :-D Horrible weather on the day so just a quick shuffty outside, we were asked if we would like a drink and spoke to a pleasant salesman before we left. I did fell a little uncomfortable but perhaps that say's more about me than them. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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