Southdowns

cabby

I must add after reading my post that it was me being casual, not Southdowns.

cabby

Auj

Goodness - I thought I made it clear I HAD paid £10 and joined?!? But what I have found most useful is the information on sites and tips, and what I didn't find helpful was some responses I got on a very real problem. I never wanted to just merely slag southdowns off - my question of were my expectations too high was is very real. Being new to the game, I wasn't sure if these were just teething problems or to be expected. Cabby - you never did ask Southdowns their point of view - or did you? You told me in private email, last time we had contact, that you didn't? What on earth makes you think I didn't write them a list? I did - a long letter in fact which I got NO response to.

To sum up - we DID write to Southdowns and no response was received. The motorhome still leaks over the cabin and I took photos and considered posting them on this site, but to be honest I couldn't be bothered in the end as these postings turned out to be pointless. The window that they tampered with has not been sealed properly, and in heavy rain the bed is still damp.

We now go to a different dealership, more local to us, more friendly and we can take the motorhome to them easily without having to take time off work. We've gone down this route rather than banging our heads against the rudeness of southdowns. At least if stuff goes missing out of the motorhome it's a short drive to pick it up....!

BUT, at the moment it still leaks. Does anyone really want to see the photos? And what is the point of posting them? Who's really that interested? I realised somewhere along the line that southdowns weren't interested and in actual fact that is all that matters. I realised I love going away in our motorhome, and in terms of engine and habitation area it's ideal for us. I realised that dealing with southdowns is upsetting, frustrating and better to be avoided, so we'd rather pay for service elsewhere. So that's what we're doing.

I too feel some of the people that post are a bit one sided. Anyway, I popped on here not to revisit this posting, but to see if I can find a nice site in the cotswold

cabby

It is a funny way to just pop in to look for a site.
However to answer your question ,yes I did speak to the dealership in question, their answer to me was that they had not received any letter with a list of faults from you, when they did they would be only too happy to inspect the vehicle.
In the emails that passed privately between us I got the impression that you were being evasive and you never replied to my last email.But I still spoke for you at the dealers.As you have now changed to a dealer that is more convenient for you why have you not had the leaks fixed rather than put up with a wet bed.Maybe arrange for that dealer to send an estimate for repairs to leaks to Southdowns and see what happens.
I really do hope you enjoy motorhoming and you will always be welcome to pitch up next to us anytime, no sugar in my tea please. Laughing

cabby

Auj

Well there we go - it's just confirmed to me what I always thought - that they blatantly lie at southdowns. It's appalling really - what a way to go about business.

The motorhome is booked to go in, it's taken time to co-ordinate it as we've needed it to take the children to summer camps in it. I've been working really long hours and been juggling new job and kids this summer, so time has been very tight. At the point it goes in we're having a habitation test done, damp tested. Then I will take it up again with southdowns if I feel the energy to. We've been fortunate because the times we've gone away in it this summer it's been lovely weather and we've protected the mattress with plastic in the meantime. In fact, to be totally accurate, it leaks now only if we drive in the rain. If we're stationery it's ok. But, a leak is a leak. It shouldn't leak at all, should it? And southdowns should respond to my letter, shouldn't they?

Sorry Cabby, I thought I'd sent you the last email thanking you for taking an interest in response to you telling me Michael was on holiday so you'd spoken to no-one. I certainly wasn't evasive about anything?!? I answered every question and signed off our conversation politely saying thank you?

It may indeed seem a funny way of using the site, but I thought that was what it was here for? I said I had nothing constructive to add. I work very long hours, I've got 3 kids I'm trying to juggle this summer whilst working and the motorhome is our family time. We never go away for longer than 2 nights - it was bought as a way of all of us getting away together and spending time enjoying ourselves, removed from distractions like domestic chores, work etc. So, for me, I simply don't have the time to be on here chatting - I wish I did.

Right now life is running a bit too fast and the motorhome is our time for making us slow down, which is vital for us as a family. So, bearing in mind the function of our motorhome, I realised i needed to stop winding myself up about it. Otherwise it's not serving it's function, it's having a negative effect. Eliminate southdowns, and part of the negative effect is eliminated. So that's what I've done.

Anyway, I'm not really keen to be defending myself. My view is unchanged - southdowns have been very difficult to deal with and have not sorted out the problem and have no interest in responding to my correspondence. I don't need to retract that opinion and I'm not embarrassed I've posted about. I know (and they know) what I have posted is accurate. And as to whether anyone else believes me is irrelevant.

Mine's a glass of rose, thanks!!! Or two or three...

Now, just out of curiosity - any advice on cotswold sites anyone? I need to drop the children off in manchester and cotswolds is on the way. Thought we may stop over for a couple of night?

Oh, and here's a bit of something constructive - a tip on a first class site. Budemeadows, Devon is a wonderful site. I can fully recommend it. Lovely warm pool, a bath!!! yes bath !!! and really really lovely staff. It's spotless and the play area for children is great. They're quite strict on site which means it's lovely and peaceful after a certain time and it's very close to the beach - 5 min drive, half hour walk.

Lisa

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