Geoff Tuckley Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 On our retirement, my wife and I bought a Sharky L1 last May as a new vehicle from a large dealer in Staffs. My wife and I went around France, Spain and Portugal in it last summer. While in France, some nice person scratched and cracked one of the corner panels, just behind the door, in a car park and beggard off. On our return I took the van to our local body shop to ask for advice. They said that as it is a plastic panel it would be very difficult to match the colour perfectly and I would be as well to buy a new panel. I contacted the dealership I bought the van from and they said they would order me a new panel from SeA but it would cost £160 which had to be paid before they could order. I sent them a cheque in March of this year which they cashed. I also had to send them pictures of the damaged panel so they could order the correct one from SeA. About 3 months ago, lo and behold a panel arrived by post to my home. I was overjoyed till I discovered that the panel was for the wrong side of the van. I sent it back to the dealership who said they would reorder and hurry SeA up. Since then, nothing. I have done the usual phoning and e-mailing and even driven down from N. Wales twice to try to gee things up. Still nothing. My wife and I called in today and were told in a rather abrupt manner that SeA no longer exist and this was demonstrated by phoning the UK number and of course no reply. We explained we were rather concerned and asked what could be done. They said they will try to e-mail SeA UK again but I cannot see the point if they don't exist any more. CAN ANYBODY HELP? Thanks Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickydripin Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Hi Geoff I do not think that SEA have stopped operating take a look at my posts that you replied to and look at what Brian kirby has to say. You sound as if you had your motorhome from the same place as I did does idle months ring a bell if so you will proberley get the same response that I got. Ziltch, none, nothing not even a phone call. There was a couple that was looking at an L1 when I was looking on a Sunday afternoon in October 2007 was it you by any chance Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Tuckley Posted August 10, 2009 Author Share Posted August 10, 2009 Hi, Mickydrippin, I guess you have hit the nail on the head. Nice to know that lack of customer care and assistance is not just aimed at ourselves. It wasn't us in the October, we were a bit later than that. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Does the motorhome dealership you are referring to in coded terms happen to be based in Shropshire? If it's the one I'm thinking of, then I wish you luck getting a positive response to your respective problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Tuckley Posted August 10, 2009 Author Share Posted August 10, 2009 Much as I would like, I do not wish to get involved in a discussion about the dealer. All I need to do at this point in time is to find the way either myself or the dealer can order the necessary panel from SeA if that is still possible. Can anybody help? Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Well, since the said dealer has taken your money, and not supplied the part within a reasonable time, how about getting your money back? No cure, no pay?Regarding SEA, so far as I am aware the firm still exists, but it is an Italian firm. If you have a little punt around on their website, you will find two UK addresses, one that relates to their now (I believe) dissolved relationship with Autosleepers, and another. My guess is that the alternative address is now the correct one.SEA is Societa Europea Autocaravan, and currently owns Mobilvetta, Miller, Elnagh, Joint, Sharky. A "Google" search under SEA motorhomes should bring up the Italian site. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Geoff I had no intention of provoking a forum discussion about whichever dealership sold you (or Mickydripin) your Sharky motorcaravans. Nevertheless, it's as well that motorhome owners who are experiencing after-sales problems be aware when a dealership has gained some notoriety for lack of interest when it comes to customer care and/or of having no particular fear of the threat of litigation. I don't know what the present UK position is regarding SEA motorhomes. There is a SEA(UK) website that shows UK dealers for the various SEA brands: http://www.seauk.co.uk/dealers.htm but the information on it will undoubtedly have been affected by the recent Auto-Sleepers/Marquis management buy-out. Two UK Sharky dealerships are shown on the website - in Bridgend or Portsmouth: http://www.leeandturner.com/ http://hampshiremotorhomes.co.uk/cm2/index.php It may well be that neither is still a Sharky vendor, but they may be able to offer advice. I agree with Brian's suggestion that it might be wisest to demand your £160 back and try to get a replacement panel from elsewhere. If there's no longer an 'official' SEA/Sharky presence in the UK (and it wouldn't much surprise me if that's the case), then obtaining the part you need in this country may prove impossible. I'm doubtful that the Sharky factory would deal with you direct, but it might be worth a try. One SEA brand not mentioned by Brian is "McLouis", still (I believe) marketed in the UK by Don Amott http://www.donamott.com/index.asp I don't know if one can obtain Sharky parts via a McLouis agent, but it may be worth checking. Otherwise, you might again consider having the damaged panel repaired. Although your local body-repair shop was pessimistic of being able to do this satisfactorily, it is nowadays possible to repair an acrylic-capped ABS moulding (which is probably what your motorhome's panel is) to 'as new' condition. Firms specialising in motorcycle cosmetic repairs, or in repairs to caravan bodywork, should have the required expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Tuckley Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share Posted August 17, 2009 Hello, All, Thanks Brian and Derrek for your replies regarding the position of SeA in UK. My wife and I have been back to the dealers who said that they would "Have another try". The next day they forwarded on an e-mail which had been sent to them from somebody who seems to be working for SeA UK. This person seems to have ordered the wrong part from Italy or Spain wherever! It seems that they have now discovered that the near side panel has a different part no than the off side panel! How surprising. Anyway the upshot is that they are reordering the part in September "When SeA return from their summer break. Watch this space Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Tuckley Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 GOT THE PART February to September can't be bad! Oh what joy and SeA are still in business. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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