NEC SHOW

[Meg55]

Hi,
Returning to touring after 5 years away. Looking at going to NEC show in October.
Q1) Are there deals to be had at the show?
Q2) Is it best to get in first or wait until last day for a good deal.
Q3) What would be a realistic discount on buying new Motorhome? 5% etc.
Q4) Is it right that road tax on motorhomes is going to be £2000 or more from Sept. 2019?

Cheers
Marion

 

[Kannon Fodda]

There may be some special rates and claimed deals but don’t take everything at face value. Do some research and check dealer and other pricing before you go.

One dealer said those who are serious often go over two days. One to explore and get to know what is on offer. Then go away to hotel or wherever and chew the fat checking stuff online. If they return day two it’s to sign up.

But look at what may be on dealers forecourts often some big discounts for “ last years” model. And if one does fit your needs that would save even more if those tax changes go through.

 

[canopus]

If you have the time, money and inclination visit the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf late August early September first, where you will see more choices and get an idea of how much profit the UK dealers make on European imported vans.

 

[eddie]

Hi,
Returning to touring after 5 years away. Looking at going to NEC show in October.
Q1) Are there deals to be had at the show?
Q2) Is it best to get in first or wait until last day for a good deal.
Q3) What would be a realistic discount on buying new Motorhome? 5% etc.
Q4) Is it right that road tax on motorhomes is going to be £2000 or more from Sept. 2019?

Cheers
Marion

By the last day, all the freebies have gone, the staff are tired or, business's have bussed in extra staff to allow the sales staff some time off, often valeters, admin and office staff for a jolly.

The exhibitors are much more wary as so much stuff gets nicked and we the exhibitors get warnings to that effect

People with groups of feral kids roam, trying to prise anything away that isn't bolted down and the crowds are heaving.

Or, go on mid week, get taken seriously as a buyer, browse the motorhomes you are interested in, without queuing and sit and chat to sales staff who have time to sit and have a coffee and a chat with you.

I have pulled rank and disappeared Sunday mornings from our exhibition at the NEC for about the last four years as most exhibitors hate Sundays, and some in the trade refer to it as "Scumday" as some people are just so rude and blatantly out to nick what ever they can.

 

[The general]

Scumday a truly horrific experience with out of control kids and adults

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[hilldweller]

By the last day, all the freebies have gone, the staff are tired or, business's have bussed in extra staff to allow the sales staff some time off, often valeters, admin and office staff for a jolly.

The exhibitors are much more wary as so much stuff gets nicked and we the exhibitors get warnings to that effect

People with groups of feral kids roam, trying to prise anything away that isn't bolted down and the crowds are heaving.

Sir, I am writing to Her Majesty right now. "Ma'am, with the deepest respect may I propose the selfless, the heroic, the suffering Eddie Vanbitz for the supreme honour of Knighthood for services to the leisure industry".

 

[eddie]

Sir, I am writing to Her Majesty right now. "Ma'am, with the deepest respect may I propose the selfless, the heroic, the suffering Eddie Vanbitz for the supreme honour of Knighthood for services to the leisure industry".

I was young, thin, had hair, had colour in my hair and didn't need glasses when I started exhibiting at shows I'll have you know lol

We have seen most things lol Gas bottles exploding, people having sex in vans for sale, people using toilets, people trying to steal stuff off of our stands, exhibitors getting out of Transit vans (just empty vans you understand) that they have slept on a mattress in! They stood there stretching and yawning, whilst scratching their arses, having a pee behind their stand and then putting that days pies out on display while her oppo, starts bagging up Pork Scratchings! Lost children, lost Grandparents, pissed people, lost dogs, lost motorhomes, Stand space being nicked other traders(attempted), Arrive in the morning to find the electric hook up has been unplugged and nicked by other traders, people screaming literally, screaming in my face that they've had enough of being "pissed around" by Dometic and I'm going to resolve their problem or there will be "trouble" getting even more angry at me when I laugh at them, then mortified when I point out that "we are not Dometic (we have a Dometic logo on the Van Bitz exhibition unit) Gypsies wanting to buy stuff getting lary when we refuse to deal with them, watched people trying to embarrass dealers by wandering around with sandwich boards having stand up fights with Security as they are being dragged out.

My favourite was being opposite the Motorhome Club at one show when they didn't like the Motorhome Fun flag on one of the Van Bitz exhibition unit flag poles being flown. A delegation of sado's came over and asked to see "the boss" (my wife wasn't there ) They went on to say the MHFun was a noisy lot of rabble and that they had even had complaints about the noise from the MHFun marquee the night before! I was proud to point out that we had all been in the MHFun marquee the night before, having fun, and actively advise people to join Fun and shun the motorhome club. That did it, a raft of old wrinklies stood, glaring at us, arms crossed "tut tutting" for the remainder of the show, from memory we even had some of Jim's family handing out leaflets that weekend lol

The Pork Pie one is the worse that we've ever witnessed as the day before we were all tucking into their pies for lunch!

 

[hilldweller]

Sir, I am writing to Her Majesty right now. "Ma'am, with the deepest respect may I propose the selfless, the heroic, the suffering Eddie Vanbitz for the supreme honour of Knighthood for services to the leisure industry".

Ma'am, further to my previous message. More facts have come to light about Eddie Vanbitz, may I respectfully withdraw my request for a Knighthood for Mr Vanbitz and humbly request he is made Lord Eddie of Strikeback for services to leisure and humanity.

Please may I beg your Majesty's indulgence for I am also writing to the Pope with a proposal that he create Saint Eddie of the Strikeback after he survived the miracle of the pork pie.

 

[pelican]

Observation last year.
On last Sunday a family of mum,dad and five children looked over a Swift motorhome the kids virtually had everything apart inside and treating it like a bouncy castle.Dad says to salesman "How much is this"
Salesman gives price Dad replies "Cor that's more than our 'ouse is worth".
Sales thinks for a minute and replies "Yes Sir and it has an inside toilet". The Dad and Mum roar with laughter thankfully!

 

[Viennese]

eddievanbitz - which 'Motorhome Club are you talking about? I'd like to know so I don't inadvertently join it!

1. Caravan & Motorhome Club (formerly Caravan Club or Tuggers Union)
2. Camping & Caravanning Club (Great club)
3. Motor Caravanners Club (Well thought of)
4. The Motorhome Club - never heard of it till today based in Scotland and rallies in N> Ireland)

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[Lenny HB]

Hi,
Returning to touring after 5 years away. Looking at going to NEC show in October.
Q1) Are there deals to be had at the show?
Q2) Is it best to get in first or wait until last day for a good deal.
Q3) What would be a realistic discount on buying new Motorhome? 5% etc.
Q4) Is it right that road tax on motorhomes is going to be £2000 or more from Sept. 2019?

Cheers
Marion

1) Normally the manufacturers throw in extras that you would order anyway so yes.
2) Can be advantageous at the end of the show if a dealer is trying to make up numbers for a retrospective discount.
3) 5% I wouldn't get out of bed for that, 1st van we only got 13% but it was a special edition so not so much room to manoeuvre, last van 16.5%, current one 19.75%. I doubt if you will get decent discounts from UK dealers thats why we always buy in Belgium.
4)Supposedly for up to 3500kg but not confirmed, play safe and get one over 3500kg with a decent payload.

Personally wouldn't bother with the NEC, get yourself over to Caravan Salon at Dusseldorf at the end of this month, biggest Motorhome & Caravan show in Europe if not the world.

 

[eddie]

eddievanbitz - which 'Motorhome Club are you talking about? I'd like to know so I don't inadvertently join it!

1. Caravan & Motorhome Club (formerly Caravan Club or Tuggers Union)
2. Camping & Caravanning Club (Great club)
3. Motor Caravanners Club (Well thought of)
4. The Motorhome Club - never heard of it till today based in Scotland and rallies in N> Ireland)

It would be wrong of me to say, however, Lyn & I are members of one and two on your list, and have never heard of the fourth

 

[Cheshirecat57]

If you have the time, money and inclination visit the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf late August early September first, where you will see more choices and get an idea of how much profit the UK dealers make on European imported vans.

Do you believe that UK dealers make more NETT profit than Euro dealers because I dont

 

[canopus]

To be honest its the bottom line for the punter which most people look at. I can't speak from experience.

Many on here say they've saved considerable sums. If UK dealers get charged more for the van then possibly not, but when all said and done, we are still in the EU and there are vast differences in retail prices between here and EUROPE.

 

[Lenny HB]

Do you believe that UK dealers make more NETT profit than Euro dealers because I dont

Must do as Euro dealers always prepared to give much higher discounts.

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[pelican]

Must do as Euro dealers always prepared to give much higher discounts.

Do UK dealers work from a comparative manufacturers price list if so maybe the other EU dealers have the advantage of a fixed euro price whilst the UK dealer maybe opt to pay on completion of build hedging on the exchange rate.

 

[Simon Select]

This year I probably won't do the NEC as its all about best price and competing with 20 other dealers.
We are going to match/ beat offers with a big advertising campaign. Much easier to do this sat in my office back at base with a coffee knowing I can go home at night!
If I did it and took a team of 2 which I would sensible need, we would need to spend £1000 per staff member for hotels, then £100 a day per sales person for food and drink, plus fuel etc.
I would much rather match or even better a deal sat at home and use the money I would have spent going to the show as discount against a deal!

 

[eddie]

This year I probably won't do the NEC as its all about best price and competing with 20 other dealers.
We are going to match/ beat offers with a big advertising campaign. Much easier to do this sat in my office back at base with a coffee knowing I can go home at night!
If I did it and took a team of 2 which I would sensible need, we would need to spend £1000 per staff member for hotels, then £100 a day per sales person for food and drink, plus fuel etc.
I would much rather match or even better a deal sat at home and use the money I would have spent going to the show as discount against a deal!

And the Rugby World Cup is on! which is why I shall be absent for the NEC this year!

 

[Simon Select]

And the Rugby World Cup is on! which is why I shall be absent for the NEC this year!

Well I wouldnt obviously mention thats the real reason lol!

 

[eddie]

Well I wouldnt obviously mention thats the real reason lol!

Well a lot of this thread is about honesty in the salesmen people like to buy from.

I'd honestly rather watch the Rugby World Cup than go to the NEC lol

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[Lenny HB]

Do UK dealers work from a comparative manufacturers price list if so maybe the other EU dealers have the advantage of a fixed euro price whilst the UK dealer maybe opt to pay on completion of build hedging on the exchange rate.

Manufacturers normally set an exchange rate to cover the following 6 to 9 months, Often set this time of year just before Caravan Salon so we could see a of around £6k on a €100,000 van just on currency rates plus inflation increases. Does mean stock vans will look cheap.
Once the B crap is settled pound will probably go up quite a lot & will make a personal import a big money saver.
Its all guesswork, manufacturers may hold UK prices betting on the pound going up.

 

[pelican]

This year I probably won't do the NEC as its all about best price and competing with 20 other dealers.
We are going to match/ beat offers with a big advertising campaign. Much easier to do this sat in my office back at base with a coffee knowing I can go home at night!
If I did it and took a team of 2 which I would sensible need, we would need to spend £1000 per staff member for hotels, then £100 a day per sales person for food and drink, plus fuel etc.
I would much rather match or even better a deal sat at home and use the money I would have spent going to the show as discount against a deal!

Interesting you say not go to NEC and stay home and beat quotes good idea as long as joe public is aware.
But doesn't this conflict with your statement in another thread (poll) about not matching discounts but providing a better service, Unless you do both of course!

 

[Simon Select]

Interesting you say not go to NEC and stay home and beat quotes good idea as long as joe public is aware.
But doesn't this conflict with your statement in another thread (poll) about not matching discounts but providing a better service, Unless you do both of course!

Shows are slightly different as the money we save I am happy to punt out to customers!

 

[Cheshirecat57]

To be honest its the bottom line for the punter which most people look at. I can't speak from experience.

Many on here say they've saved considerable sums. If UK dealers get charged more for the van then possibly not, but when all said and done, we are still in the EU and there are vast differences in retail prices between here and EUROPE.

And there are differences in Business rates, vat rates, workshop (in)efficiency, part exchange expectations, cost of getting van across the water, etc etc

Sometimes uk dealers get a bad name, sometimes deserved, sometimes not

 

[Cheshirecat57]

This year I probably won't do the NEC as its all about best price and competing with 20 other dealers.
We are going to match/ beat offers with a big advertising campaign. Much easier to do this sat in my office back at base with a coffee knowing I can go home at night!
If I did it and took a team of 2 which I would sensible need, we would need to spend £1000 per staff member for hotels, then £100 a day per sales person for food and drink, plus fuel etc.
I would much rather match or even better a deal sat at home and use the money I would have spent going to the show as discount against a deal!

I think there are many that share your sentiment and wish they weren't going, but haven't got your bottle to jump ship.???

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[addoaddo]

I think the show is a great opportunity to look at different makes of vans and layouts, If possible I would always buy from a local dealer and from experience you will not get a better deal at the show.

It is also good (or bad) for finding "useful" accessories that you think you will need but never use.

New tax rates apply to new vans under 3500Kg with the latest Euro6 engine only

 

[Simon Select]

New tax rates apply to new vans under 3500Kg with the latest Euro6 engine only

Not confirmed yet.

 

[Thombocol]

Had a classic conversation with a dealer salesman yesterday. I'd made an e-mail enquiry asking how wide the beds were. So I got a call, which started with reassurance that the van was in fact still available. Phew, I was sooooooo worried about that. I replied that I thought so, as it wasn't marked as sold and had been on the site for at least a couple of weeks. Had it ?, he hadn't checked. Fair enough, why would a salesman keep an eye on unsold stock ? that would be stupid. Then, when could I pop down to view the van ? Not for a couple of weeks I replied. No problem, he could take a deposit to secure the van for me ! After all, that makes sense, putting a deposit on a second hand van, I hadnt yet seen, is very logical.

I'm new to the camper van market, but tell me, is it really the case that dealer salesmen can spout such cliched sales spiel and still get away with it ? Is the market so full of buyers with way more pension money than sense, that these guys make a living ?

 

[eddie]

Is the market so full of buyers with way more pension money than sense, that these guys make a living ?

It seems so looking at some of the reviews on Motorhome Fun