WHICH ARE THE BEST DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS OF PRE-OWNED MOTORHOMES IN BRITAIN TODAY?
Your votes are in, and the results are
below. See the March 2013 issue of Practical Motorhome magazine for full details.
The Practical Motorhome Owner Satisfaction Awards 2013, conducted in partnership with specialist leisure insurance company Coast,
seek to reward all the dealers and manufacturers who go the extra mile to keep their customers safe and happy.
SECONDHAND STARS
Many of us start out by buying a secondhand motorhome to see if we
like the whole lifestyle. If all goes well, we’re hooked! Good dealers
of secondhand ’vans play a vital role in this – as do manufacturers who
build their ’vans to last. But who are the best in the business? Your votes revealed all.
First, though, meet the overall winners – the stars of the secondhand market – VW Kamper Centre and MDG (Motorhome Dealer Group). VW Kamper Centre decided to try its hand at offering brand-new conversions on pedigree pre-owned base vehicles. Thus purchasers would be able to buy a motorcaravan with an unused interior and indistinguishable from new, for a considerable reduction in price. They have sold as fast as they can be built.
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David Carpenter of VW Kamper Centre and MDG collected the trophy from Editor-in-Chief Rob Ganley at the 2013 Practical Motorhome Owner Satisfaction Awards ceremony
MEET THE WINNERS
Rob Kirk, VW Kamper Centre & MDG
Winner, Manufacturers, Pre-owned Motorhomes
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What sets your company apart?
If you have models presented properly, described properly and priced correctly you can beat the competition. Our understanding of what appeals to customers is one of our key strengths.
What’s your company history?
The Motorhome Dealer Group has Countrywide Motorhomes, Three Counties Motorhomes and the VW Kamper Centre. MDG partner David Carpenter worked for Autohomes, was then a partner with Plymouth Motorcaravans and finally started Countrywide Motorhomes in 1997. Rob Kirk, the other partner, left Auto-Sleeper/Marquis after a long career, and in 2008 started Three Counties Motorhomes. They joined under the MDG umbrella, specialising in selling pre-owned models up to 15 years old. Up to 70 models will be in stock, from £10,000-£70,000. The VW Kamper Centre has now been developed as part of the group to add another niche and exciting arm to the business.
What feedback do you get?
Fortunately, very good. Our aim is to keep standards high.
What problems crop up?
Customers may be unaware of driving licence restrictions, seat belt issues and payloads. We discuss buyers’ needs.
Describe your service to buyers
Our staff are not on commission so they give unhurried, unbiased and honest advice. The easy bit is selling; the real skill is looking after customers. When vehicles have problems, if you’re honest, do what you say and ring or email customers, they’re understanding.
What makes you proud?
The most important thing is that the business is successful and profitable so that it can grow and improve. The key ingredient is our staff; they keep customers happy.
What are your plans?
Our site in Hampshire will treble in size, giving us a larger display area, refurbished offices and a new valeting and workshop area, plus the VW Kamper Centre will be here! We’ve recruited excellent new staff and we’re buying more stock to fill the forecourt.
MDG
Tel 01202 881 089/01202 673 735
Web www.m-d-g.co.uk
PRE-OWNED MOTORHOME DEALERS
In the Pre-Owned Motorhome Dealers Gold Award category, not only did the winning dealers achieve remarkable customer satisfaction scores, but six out of seven have been regular winners, year-on-year. Hardly surprising, then, that all have a high number of returning customers, many of whom say they are treated like old friends. Marvellous.
PRE-OWNED MOTORHOME DEALERS
GOLD AWARDS
MDG (Three Counties/Countrywide/VW Kamper Centre) 98.4%
Southern Motorhome Centre 97.6%
Heart of England 96.6%
Todds 94%
Camper UK 93.6%
Richard Baldwin 91%
Silver Awards
West Country 78%
Chelston 71.5%
Marquis 71.2%
SILVER AWARDS
West Country 78%
Chelston 71.5%
Marquis 71.2%
ROLL OF HONOUR
Mentioned in despatches: Campbells, Choose Leisure, Highbridge, Johns Cross, Kampers & Kars, Martins of Exeter, Oaktree, Oakwell, P & P Campers, Peak Leisure, Pullingers, Robsons, Wokingham Rapido
PAST WINNERS
2011 WINNERS: GOLD AWARDS
● Three Counties and Countrywide ● Heart of England
● West Country ● Richard Baldwin ● Southern Motorhome Centre ● Marquis ● Davan
2011 WINNERS SILVER AWARDS
● Webbs ● Travelworld
PRE-OWNED MOTORHOMES THAT WERE BUILT TO LAST
These are the pre-owned motorhomes that readers rated the highest. We turned your votes into percentages to reflect the level of customer satisfaction.
PRE-OWNED MOTORHOMES: GOLD AWARDS 2013
VW Kamper Centre 99.8%
Hobby 96.6%
Hymer 95.4%
Adria 95.1%
Ace 94.5%
IH Motor Campers 94%
Autocruise 93.6%
Bessacarr 93.5%
Swift 92.9%
Auto-Trail 91.7%
Rapido 91.4%
Devon Conversions 91%
Auto-Sleepers 90.6%
SeA 90.5%
Pilote 89.3%
Chausson 89.2%
Nu-Venture Motorhomes 89%
Elddis/Compass 87.7%
Tribute (CB) 87.5%
Roller Team/CI 87%
Lunar 84.2%
SILVER AWARDS 2013
Bürstner 76.8%
Tribute (PVC) 73.9%
Roll of honour
The following received exceptionally high scores but an insufficient number of responses: Frankia, Bilbo’s, Dethleffs,
Eura Mobil, Knaus, Murvi, Niesmann + Bischoff, Geist, Leisuredrive, Kentucky Camp
PAST WINNERS
2011 Gold Award winners
● Bessacarr ● Auto-Sleepers ● Hymer ● Auto-Trail ● Elddis
● Dethleffs ● Adria ● Lunar ● Pilote ● Bürstner
● CI/Granduca ● Swift
2011 Silver award winners
● Autocruise
Read more:
Practical Motorhome 2013 Owner Satisfaction Awards – winners announced
Coast Insurance reports in full here
Meet Britain’s best motorhome dealers here
Direct motorhome sales winners
Best motorhome manufacturers for 2013
