Conrad Anderson (don't think so) (1 Viewer)

Apr 29, 2014
459
253
Warwickshire, UK
Funster No
31,221
MH
Chieftain
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Since 2004
Has anyone dealt with this company I spoke to them at p'boro about new coil springs phoned to book van in with a very erratic receptionist then spoke to someone in service about which springs and what he asked me was does my fiat Ducati chieftain have two front doors by now not giving me confidence anyway booked in then got E mail asking for 20/ pc deposite -£125 so phoned back asked why she said because some people don't pay us I told her she has my van until the bill is paid that's the procedure when I have it serviced or repaired and with my cars anyway I object to giving my money to someone for six weeks without having anything done gone elsewhere and they were much more friendly
 
May 12, 2011
1,180
1,854
West Midlands
Funster No
16,388
MH
Hymer
Very strange attitude, I'd only heard good things about them. Had my front springs done by Dave Newell in Telford. Dropped van off, went to Blists Hill museum for the day, came back, all done. No fuss at all.

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JJ

Mágica
May 1, 2008
19,228
47,725
Quinta Majay, Pinheiro Bordalo, Portugal
Funster No
2,459
MH
Burstner Privilege T
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over 50 years
Conrad Anderson supplied and fitted a cruise control for me a little while back. Everything went perfectly.

They only have a small amount of working space at their premises.

Maybe, just maybe, people have booked in for work in the past and not turned up. A deposit might, just might, mean they don't keep space available for these folk?

JJ
 
Feb 24, 2013
12,991
101,155
Bolsover, Derbyshire
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24,833
MH
Hymer S800
Exp
not long enough
I suspect JJ has it, every rally I have been on there are no shows, they may genuinely have forgotten, but my suspicion is that if a deposit had been paid, or even payment in full, they might be less likely to forget

I run a small business and twice this month the day before we were due on site to do work, my customers have rung to cancel, we will redo the work later, but what do I do with the 2 men allocated to that job the following day, that I suspect would be similar for this company with either a no show or change of mind. Plus the bits they are going to to fit for you might even need to be paid for prior to delivery, credit is much harder to get these days, if something is bought in specially for a job that then gets cancelled what do they do with the bits ?

That is my take on the deposit bit at least
 

Lenny HB

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Oct 18, 2007
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658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
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Since 2008 & many years tugging
They have a very good reputation I've bought items from them in the past. I agree with you about the deposit.
The question about door seems perfectly reasonable, they can't be expected to know every model, my van only has a drivers door and that was an optional extra.

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Popeye

Deceased RIP
Sep 5, 2011
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edge of New Forest
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I used Conrad Anderson for my E&P Jacks, I even offered them a deposit but it was turned down.
When it looked as if the job would take longer than expected they offered to put me in a Hotel and pay for same. I had to take the van back to them for some checks and tighten everything up and they offered a contribution to my fuel cost. This company bent over backward to gain and retain my business and I would recommend them to anyone.
@Brendan and I were discussing the side cameras at Chester and this is the first company who demonstrated them to me. I will happily return my van to them if and when I decide to have them fitted.

1st Rate Company. (y)

Maybe just maybe the Great British Public have messed them around or failed to pay once too often and as a result they have decided to take deposits.
 
Jun 2, 2010
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Flintshire
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Probably rather than a deposit on the job it's a deposit on springs they have to buy in, if you never showed they would have them stuck on their hands.
 
Feb 27, 2011
14,669
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UK
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15,452
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Self Build
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Since 2005
I think it is maybe a failure of communication here? As @Gooney says I would guess this is a deposit for the springs as they won't keep every single type in stock. This combined with no shows are what caused this. If the receptionist explained this maybe no issues?

For things like Oyster and cruise control they may keep these in stock so no deposit is required?

I have never heard a bad word about Conrads...
 
Oct 30, 2010
4,256
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Suffolk or France or ........
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14,290
MH
A Class Carthago Chic
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Since 2008
I've just ordered E & P jacks from another company and they asked for a 25% deposit because they have to order them in.
To me that seems like sensible business practice and I didn't have any problem with that.
I have also used Conrad Anderson in the past and found them an excellent company to deal with.

Richard.
 

eddie

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Oct 4, 2007
8,122
41,030
Taunton Somerset
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540
MH
RV
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since 1989
First class company, First class reputation never heard a bad word about them.

For the record they are a competitor so I have absolutely nothing to gain in recommending them

They are just nice people doing a decent job

A few weeks ago we had a "no show" on a Saturday. Two fitters, who could be at home with their families, or away in their campers, ringing round trying to find out why a customer didn't bother to show up

It did mean an inevitable discussion in the staff room Monday morning about Van Bitz starting to take deposits! Worse for us as we have a waiting list for people that want work done, so an empty workshop doesn't just impact on us, but our decent customers as well

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Techno

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They simply want to know if you have two cab doors because it is more time consuming for them if you don't (e.g. A class ) and thus dearer
Surely easy enough to answer?
They did mine and I recommend them
 
Sep 3, 2013
768
816
Crowthorne, Berkshire
Funster No
27,910
MH
1992 RMB Silver Star 670
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One year. A whole one!
Conrad Anderson fitted the rear air assist in Udo.

We had a few last-minute issues with their scheduling, but they pulled through and got the job done. I'd use them again in a heartbeat.
 

sedge

Funster
Jul 7, 2009
5,491
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Nr Jct 3 M6
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Yeah - but if you happen to be a customer who didn't know some vans - let alone Mohos - only have one door - you would indeed be totally mystified at the question, I should imagine!

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Techno

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Yeah - but if you happen to be a customer who didn't know some vans - let alone Mohos - only have one door - you would indeed be totally mystified at the question, I should imagine!
Yes but you'd know the answer wouldn't you
Perhaps ask why it is relevant
 

Theonlysue

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Sep 14, 2009
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Not long enough!
I had my refillable gas bottles fitted at conrad Anderson. Left them to meet up with friends in Norfolk.
Turned gas on, had leak. Not impressed. Luckily friend sorted out.
When I phoned them, they said could not test as no gas in them.
Unbelievable! !!!!
 

Techno

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To be honest if I'd know about SAP near Doncaster I would have come here as its a much better facility and easier access
 

Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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I had my refillable gas bottles fitted at conrad Anderson. Left them to meet up with friends in Norfolk.
Turned gas on, had leak. Not impressed. Luckily friend sorted out.
When I phoned them, they said could not test as no gas in them.
Unbelievable! !!!!
That is just daft! Surely they could, and should, have put some gas in them to ensure that it was safe to use!
 

Techno

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VB coil springs on coach built £640 at SAP Doncaster

He also does comfortmatic clutches (y)

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eddie

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Oct 4, 2007
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That is just daft! Surely they could, and should, have put some gas in them to ensure that it was safe to use!
you would be amazed how many people fit Gaslow and don't have autogas on site to fill and test.

Equally when we say that a typical installation time is between one and two hours, which takes into account, fitting, mounting the external fill point, filling with gas and then testing, we get told that they have had a quote for one hour!

At which point we politely decline the work lol
 

Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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you would be amazed how many people fit Gaslow and don't have autogas on site to fill and test.

Equally when we say that a typical installation time is between one and two hours, which takes into account, fitting, mounting the external fill point, filling with gas and then testing, we get told that they have had a quote for one hour!

At which point we politely decline the work lol
Eddie, I've fitted it myself to several vehicles so know that sometimes it can be quick and other times it can be a pig especially if it's a tight fit and you need to be some sort of contortionist to get to where you need to! However that doesn't excuse any company who works on a gas system not testing it to make sure it is safe afterwards which, I suggest, is what a customer would expect it to be. For this to be the case for a system installed by a long standing, well respected, company such as Conrad Anderson, I am absolutely amazed as I thought better of them (even though I've never used them personally).
 

eddie

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Oct 4, 2007
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Taunton Somerset
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540
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Eddie, I've fitted it myself to several vehicles so know that sometimes it can be quick and other times it can be a pig especially if it's a tight fit and you need to be some sort of contortionist to get to where you need to! However that doesn't excuse any company who works on a gas system not testing it to make sure it is safe afterwards which, I suggest, is what a customer would expect it to be. For this to be the case for a system installed by a long standing, well respected, company such as Conrad Anderson, I am absolutely amazed as I thought better of them (even though I've never used them personally).
Er, I didn't make any excuses for anyone.

I do think that the first question that I would ask if I were asking a Company to install a refillable system would be "Have you bulk gas on site to test it after it's installed"

Most don't, worse still I know many people are told to drive away and get it filled and bring it back if there is a leak!

Boooooooooom!

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Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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Er, I didn't make any excuses for anyone.

I do think that the first question that I would ask if I were asking a Company to install a refillable system would be "Have you bulk gas on site to test it after it's installed"

Most don't, worse still I know many people are told to drive away and get it filled and bring it back if there is a leak!

Boooooooooom!
Never said you were making any excuses for anyone Eddie, I was referring to the first sentence of my post meaning that the time it takes to fit shouldn't be an 'excuse' for their not having time to check it for safety. (y)
 

dave newell

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Oct 31, 2008
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I don't have Autogas on site to fill cylinders or tanks but I do pressure test using an existing cylinder as a source of test pressure. As anyone who has seen me fitting at shows will know I test every install, both fill and take off pipework.

Going back to the OP and the "deposit" issue, we now generally ask customers to pay for air suspension kits at time of ordering simply because we have had a couple of occasions where they gave us the wrong vehicle information at time of ordering so we couldn't fit the kit we had ordered in (non returnable). We then ended up with expensive kits sat on the shelf for a long time before someone else needed that particular kit. If the customer pays for the kit at order time the responsibility is on them to make sure they give the correct vehicle details.

D.
 
Feb 24, 2013
12,991
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Bolsover, Derbyshire
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Most don't, worse still I know many people are told to drive away and get it filled and bring it back if there is a leak!

Boooooooooom!

Shakes head slowly in total disbelief o_O

All this H + S and EU regulations you really wouldn't think it could be possible

Great advice re the 'will you be able to test it?'

Should really not even need asking, or should be 'you will of course be testing it before we drive away'

Still shaking head in disbelief :(

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Aug 29, 2010
842
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Nuneaton. Only when I have to.
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They simply want to know if you have two cab doors because it is more time consuming for them if you don't (e.g. A class ) and thus dearer
Surely easy enough to answer?
They did mine and I recommend them
Exactly, Techno. Had my Laika Rexosline A Class front coil springs done by Conrad Anderson and the fact that it has two cab doors simplified access for the work. A very good job done and no up front deposit.
 

eddie

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 4, 2007
8,122
41,030
Taunton Somerset
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540
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RV
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since 1989
I don't have Autogas on site to fill cylinders or tanks but I do pressure test using an existing cylinder as a source of test pressure. As anyone who has seen me fitting at shows will know I test every install, both fill and take off pipework.

Going back to the OP and the "deposit" issue, we now generally ask customers to pay for air suspension kits at time of ordering simply because we have had a couple of occasions where they gave us the wrong vehicle information at time of ordering so we couldn't fit the kit we had ordered in (non returnable). We then ended up with expensive kits sat on the shelf for a long time before someone else needed that particular kit. If the customer pays for the kit at order time the responsibility is on them to make sure they give the correct vehicle details.

D.
Sorry Dave I should have said that some people, and I know you do, have bothered to buy the pressure testing equipment
 

Imbiber

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May 12, 2009
270
185
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VB coil springs on coach built £640 at SAP Doncaster

He also does comfortmatic clutches (y)

Mick will turn his hand to anything given the chance....he might have second thoughts though when it comes to replacing light bulbs :rolleyes:

If you get the chance Andy, ask him if he's considering expanding his product portfolio even further to include bespoke stainless steel exhausts? His favourite Eura Mobil might be in need of one!

Cheers

Andy

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