Vanbitz Motorhome Alarms. End of an Era?

[jdk62]

All you need to do is email us with the following information.
Full name
Full address
MHF name
Vehicle details
Registration number
The products that were installed onto your motorhome.

Does that cover my system installed 5 years ago?

 

[jdk62]

I wish Ash and his team all the best with the new venture. Always impressed by the help and support from Vanbitz.

Competition is always good for customers and hopefully Darrel and his team can continue to develop their Vanbitz business.

 

[pippat]

No, not really

No, not really

Eddie sorry saw a comment on another thread on this forum but couldn’t reply on that one. Sorry. Our fiat Ducato has a stuck immobiliser and you said you have instructions to disable it. Could you help. We’re also in Somerset thank you Pippa

 

[bubble63]

Crikey…. I can’t be the only one who feels uncomfortable with this ?
A butcher in a town where I used to live sold his shop/business and then promptly set up across the road taking all his old customers with him , the poor young man who had in good faith, bought the business , went bust
Buyer beware but …
And yes I am/was a customer of both

 

[CazPaul]

Crikey…. I can’t be the only one who feels uncomfortable with this ?
A butcher in a town where I used to live sold his shop/business and then promptly set up across the road taking all his old customers with him , the poor young man who had in good faith, bought the business , went bust
Buyer beware but …
And yes I am/was a customer of both

Yep that’s what money and business does, it’s a cut throat world.

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[eddie]

Crikey…. I can’t be the only one who feels uncomfortable with this ?
A butcher in a town where I used to live sold his shop/business and then promptly set up across the road taking all his old customers with him , the poor young man who had in good faith, bought the business , went bust
Buyer beware but …
And yes I am/was a customer of both

I sold the business and the campsite to a family that buy and own Park Homes back in 2022.

I retired from work

Two of my Sons stayed working for the new owners, along with other staff members

I have absolutely no financial involvement whatsoever in the new business

There is nothing to feel uncomfortable about

For reasons that are not mine to divulge the staff have decided that they would like to leave

The Earth isn't flat, no one knows who shot JFK and it is not uncommon if a staff member feels undervalued that they seek to start out on their own in any field of work.

Both of my other Son's own motorhome dealerships and both worked for dealerships prior to starting their own companies, is that wrong too?

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How do you think business should start?

Will you feel too uncomfortable to take up WattGuardz generous offer to register free of charge with them for them to continue with warranty and support?

Probably not!

 

[Tombola]

Crikey…. I can’t be the only one who feels uncomfortable with this ?
A butcher in a town where I used to live sold his shop/business and then promptly set up across the road taking all his old customers with him , the poor young man who had in good faith, bought the business , went bust
Buyer beware but …
And yes I am/was a customer of both

Every time a maccies opens, you can guarantee a burger king opens across the way. Same with most businesses, catch the existing foot fall. Though this one is different, he's not setting up shop across the way. Towns and markets have worked like this for ever. Butchers, bakers and candlestick makers.

I'd suggest your old butcher wasn't as good as the new one so died.
And like you said, you shopped at both, so if all his customers stayed loyal, then the new guy would maybe have not survived.
What do we expect, someone else not to open a business and feed there family etc, cos it may not be good for the others.
The world.doesnt work like that I'm afraid.

A fellow director of mine, we had to get rid of him as spurious things were found out what he was up too...anyway he set up again 6 months later 5 miles down the road, good luck to him I say, survival of the fittest. But I know he won't make it, cos he.hasn't got it.

Maybe that's part the reason the parties in this thread parted ways..people do often disagree how to taken things forward and do what's best for each other.

 

[PaulW2]

no one knows who shot JFK

I do!

 

[eddie]

Eddie sorry saw a comment on another thread on this forum but couldn’t reply on that one. Sorry. Our fiat Ducato has a stuck immobiliser and you said you have instructions to disable it. Could you help. We’re also in Somerset thank you Pippa

Sorry I am retired now and no longer am able to help with technical issues.

A Google search will give you the instructions that you need to remove the immobiliser

 

[DerryW]

Couldn't agree more, especially the 3 simple rules.

But Eddie...stop calling it WHATTGUARDZ will ya...

Eddie. We’ve nerver met, never done business (although we have has a long weekend at your site), with you.

But from someone who’s managed a multi national and owned and run a SME. I couldn’t agree more, look after your staff and they will look after your business, especially your suppliers most of whom were SME’s themselves every single one of them were paid on 2days of receipt of invoice bit it 1day, 1week or 1 month. Never ever had an issue getting contractors no matter what part of the UK.
As for employees, reward and recognition, that’s all they expect. It never hurts to recognise a job well done, but can mean a massive amount to your employee.

Values I’m sure you instilled in your children growing up.

Wish your Son all the best in his new venture, and you and your wife with continued enjoyment in retirement.

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[cyberyacht]

My van is 2016. The Strikeback Growler was installed for the previous owner. When I purchased the van in 2020, I registered the change of ownership with VanBitz.
Do I 1: do nothing, 2: re-register with the new owners, 3: register with Ash's new company Wattsguardz.

signed TotallyConfused.com

 

[PaulW2]

My van is 2016. The Strikeback Growler was installed for the previous owner. When I purchased the van in 2020, I registered the change of ownership with VanBitz.
Do I 1: do nothing, 2: re-register with the new owners, 3: register with Ash's new company Wattsguardz.

signed TotallyConfused.com

Presumably the database and records will stay with Van Bitz, and register with Ash's new company if you want to?

 

[DerryW]

Crikey…. I can’t be the only one who feels uncomfortable with this ?
A butcher in a town where I used to live sold his shop/business and then promptly set up across the road taking all his old customers with him , the poor young man who had in good faith, bought the business , went bust
Buyer beware but …
And yes I am/was a customer of both

Bubble63.

It’s only natural to feel uncomfortable when a long standing business that maybe you have a connection with (customer or friend) changes (new ownership etc), but that’s the way of the world. There is nothing to prevent both businesses thriving which will happen from competition and genuine customer service. The other way to look at it is, it’s another business on your high street rather than a empty or charity shop.

 

[Carpmart]

I don't know about Ash, but if Eddie was my boss for 25 years, finally rid of him; I'd be relishing doing things my way

Wow!!!

And there’s me thinking you were mates!!!

 

[Tombola]

One question, is the new company at Cornish Farm doing Installs of alarms and the like or binning it and concentrating on just sales and camping?

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[eddie]

Wow!!!

And there’s me thinking you were mates!!!

Never met the bloke!

 

[Jim]

A butcher in a town where I used to live sold his shop/business and then promptly set up across the road taking all his old customers with him , the poor young man who had in good faith, bought the business

Then the poor young man learned his lesson about faith and about not adding non compete clauses into contracts. I bet if he buys another it's the first item on the page. In business you live and learn.

And anyway, this is different, Ash did not sell the business. He's just been an employee. Employees start their own businesses every day, it's how 99% of businesses start.

 

[BrochMike]

.

Then the poor young man learned his lesson about faith and about not adding non compete clauses into contracts. I bet if he buys another it's the first item on the page. In business you live and learn.

And anyway, this is different, Ash did not sell the business. He's just been an employee. Employees start their own businesses every day, it's how 99% of businesses start.

Non-compete/non-solicitation agreements can also apply to (key) employees, although they can't be 'unreasonable' and I suspect they are quite difficult to enforce.

Nevertheless, if you have a business and don't already use them, it's worth considering.

 

[Carpmart]

.

Non-compete/non-solicitation agreements can also apply to (key) employees, although they can't be 'unreasonable' and I suspect they are quite difficult to enforce.

Nevertheless, if you have a business and don't already use them, it's worth considering.

It’s a game of top trumps! A previous employer cannot prevent you from earning a living, in spite of what may be contractually represented. Well, unless they enforce say a 12 month notice periods and pay you during that timeframe; garden leave!

 

[Tombola]

.

Non-compete/non-solicitation agreements can also apply to (key) employees, although they can't be 'unreasonable' and I suspect they are quite difficult to enforce.

Nevertheless, if you have a business and don't already use them, it's worth considering.

Not worth the paper they are written on in standard business

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[Coolcats]

That’s the problem with going with these small companies. Things change and then the support has gone.

Shame Ash wasn’t given the company, and it was sold to others.

I think it is fair to say family companies are complex. Caterham cars was created by Graham Nearn, and what a business it was great service and product, the company was handed to Simon Nearn and after Grahams death for whatever reason sold on to a venture capitalist company who installed Ansar Ali to run it, the venture capitalist’s sold Caterham to the Malaysian business man Tony Fernandez who used the company to re-brand his F1 team to Caterham a few years back Tony Fernandez sold Caterham to a Japanese organisation….You can no longer buy a Caterham or have it serviced at the factory which to be honest made you feel as part of the company and always welcomed. The new owners only sell Caterham’s via dealers

That’s business and nothing stays the same the only certainty is change

 

[PaulW2]

Non-competes are indeed difficult to enforce. And hindsight is great, but one may wonder whether one would rationally have put great effort into them here, based on risk assessment.

What is the likelihood that key people leave, not singly but en masse, to set up a competing business around the corner? Which bits of my new business model would they then compete with? How much of the goodwill/brand loyalty would leave with them?

 

[Coolcats]

Non-competes are indeed difficult to enforce. And hindsight is great, but one may wonder whether one would rationally have put great effort into them here, based on risk assessment.

What is the likelihood that key people leave, not singly but en masse, to set up a competing business around the corner? Which bits of my new business model would they then compete with? How much of the goodwill/brand loyalty would leave with them?

Personally I wouldn’t worry about it, it’s an opportunity to carry on providing excellent customer service and build on a great reputation.

Those who leave vanbitz may also provide a great product and customer service the winners in this case is the consumer

However the name Vanbitz is out there along with a great reputation. If I was buying today (and I mean 5th May 2025) I would still buy from Vanbitz.

 

[ShiftZZ]

I have over the years used a number of dealers and suppliers.
Contad Anderson fitted a satellite dish, it was forever blowing a fuse.i wasn't happy.

A local mobile service close to me , added a second battery joined together with crocodile chips, a massive disaster.Cracked my worktop, gave me the wrong adapter for my gaslow, fitted solar Wouldn't use them again.

I used Venture Caravsns in Watford Gap, brilliant, but Matt left.

BR cartrinics did my servicing for years, but as they couldn't deal with the bigger carthago. I couldn't use their service, but Bernard passed away, a brilliant bloke.

I now use Knights of Arley, Dan a brilliant bloke.just down the road.

I fell out with E&P, long story.

I've used Vanbitz, I thought I got one over on Eddie, but his knowledge was too good.

Ash has helped me more than once, even on bank holiday's. Even on my way to Plymouth they sorted me out, Nobitz even bought me an ice cream.
The campsite was pristine. Alison and Dave really nice and helpful.

I have a couple if guiding rules, one I don't mind paying as long as you deliver. If I have a problem, I want it sorted(even though it could have been my fault)

Have I had issues with Vanbitz, well only one, had work done, went to Weston-super-Mare, tang Eddie, he was going to send an engineer to fix it. I declined as I was travelling back past Vanbitz, they sorted it
It's all down to trust, I have trusted, Venture Caravans, BR cartronics, Knghts of Arley and Vanbitz.
Its all down to reputation and trust.

Rant over.

 

[Landy Andy]

I think it is fair to say family companies are complex. Caterham cars was created by Graham Nearn, and what a business it was great service and product, the company was handed to Simon Nearn and after Grahams death for whatever reason sold on to a venture capitalist company who installed Ansar Ali to run it, the venture capitalist’s sold Caterham to the Malaysian business man Tony Fernandez who used the company to re-brand his F1 team to Caterham a few years back Tony Fernandez sold Caterham to a Japanese organisation….You can no longer buy a Caterham or have it serviced at the factory which to be honest made you feel as part of the company and always welcomed. The new owners only sell Caterham’s via dealers

That’s business and nothing stays the same the only certainty is change

Yes. A story I know well as I used to build Caterhams and support them for a race team.

As you say nothing stays the same, but I will add to that the change never seems to be for the better, in my opinion.

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[PaulW2]

Personally I wouldn’t worry about it, it’s an opportunity to carry on providing excellent customer service and build on a great reputation.

Those who leave vanbitz may also provide a great product and customer service the winners in this case is the consumer

However the name Vanbitz is out there along with a great reputation. If I was buying today (and I mean 5th May 2025) I would still buy from Vanbitz.

That is the attitude that Van Bitz needs to take, I agree.

Together with irresistible loyalty bonuses.

 

[Coolcats]

Yes. A story I know well as I used to build Caterhams and support them for a race team.

As you say nothing stays the same, but I will add to that the change never seems to be for the better, in my opinion.

Then you know there was nothing like wandering in to the factory, picking up spares and getting first hand advise, I was even laughed at for ‘crashing’ a Caterham as I took it in for a service, later that afternoon I had a call from the service manager providing condolences as they had found another car written off as it really had been oil on the road…they thought I had just used to much of the loud peddle.

Everything does change and sometimes for the better and sometimes for survival.

At one point I was taking my Lotus’s to the factory for servicing again 1st class service and they often upsold me to a new model however they closed the service department the techs and one off builds were shifted to the production line. People kept their jobs but the business had to be re-shaped and as your probably aware they also closed the driver experience days, these are now back. But the company Colin Chapman founded is a different beast to what it was and it’s about survival. Still they give great service.

 

[Gellyneck]

I have over the years used a number of dealers and suppliers.
Contad Anderson fitted a satellite dish, it was forever blowing a fuse.i wasn't happy.

A local mobile service close to me , added a second battery joined together with crocodile chips, a massive disaster.Cracked my worktop, gave me the wrong adapter for my gaslow, fitted solar Wouldn't use them again.

I used Venture Caravsns in Watford Gap, brilliant, but Matt left.

BR cartrinics did my servicing for years, but as they couldn't deal with the bigger carthago. I couldn't use their service, but Bernard passed away, a brilliant bloke.

I now use Knights of Arley, Dan a brilliant bloke.just down the road.

I fell out with E&P, long story.

I've used Vanbitz, I thought I got one over on Eddie, but his knowledge was too good.

Ash has helped me more than once, even on bank holiday's. Even on my way to Plymouth they sorted me out, Nobitz even bought me an ice cream.
The campsite was pristine. Alison and Dave really nice and helpful.

I have a couple if guiding rules, one I don't mind paying as long as you deliver. If I have a problem, I want it sorted(even though it could have been my fault)

Have I had issues with Vanbitz, well only one, had work done, went to Weston-super-Mare, tang Eddie, he was going to send an engineer to fix it. I declined as I was travelling back past Vanbitz, they sorted it
It's all down to trust, I have trusted, Venture Caravans, BR cartronics, Knghts of Arley and Vanbitz.
Its all down to reputation and trust.

Rant over.

I just hope you adopt the same service philosophy with your new motorhome dealership venture!

 

[ShiftZZ]

I just hope you adopt the same service philosophy with your new motorhome dealership venture!

Sold that one to Nobitz

 

[pandas]

Sold that one to Nobitz

As I remember they then sold that into a Halal Slaughterhouse

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