How Good Is Dethleffs After-Sales Service?
Picture shows DOC editor during Factory Visit Weekend....No wonder my wife wanted me to pose there!
Dear Richard,
Just a brief note to say, that as you know we took our van into Steve at LeisureTimes Stoke, and have been absolutely delighted with the service we have received. He has been very thorough and professional, and as I'm sure you know Dethleffs have agreed to replace the cushions and other bits affected, which is great news. We have been really pleased with both your intervention and Steve's, and are spreading the word about how great Dethleffs are!!!
After Steve serviced the van it's the first time the fridge has closed with ease, and the heiki blind works correctly - little things that mean a lot! Thanks for pointing us in his direction.
By the way - the Family prototype that you sent us pics of has created quite a stir here, when is that due to be at show?
Also I noticed on the website you can recommend insurance companies - ours is up for renewal with the caravan club, but just wondered who you might suggest.
Thanks and Kind Regards
Annette
Hi Everyone, We are recent converts to Dethleffs & so far we realise we have made a very good choice in our new van having owned Autocruise vehicles until their recent demise. We were surprised to read in 'Forum' that another member experienced difficulties during the recent recall of the Dometic Fridges. When we first read about this recall in the CCC magazine we went to look at the number on our fridge & yes, ours had one of the winning numbers. I rang Holland & my very first phone call was answered immediately by a young gentleman who was most helpful, he confirmed that our fridge was to be tested & then endeavoured to locate a local dealer to whom we could take the van to have it checked, this was to be Marquis Devon. However I told him that we were to be travelling North for the Christmas & would rather go to Lowdham Leisure World in Nottingham, He then offered to arrange this for us but I suggested that we would prefer to arrange this direct which we did. I rang Lowdhams who were already aware of the recall & proceeded to book the van in for Dec.18th. we were travelling from Plymouth in Devon & so booked onto their overnight stop area for Monday 17th to ensure we would be there when the Dometic engineer arrived on the Tuesday. The only hold up was with the engineer, due to traffic & weather conditions he did not arrive until 11-30am but no worries we were warm & cosy with a nice cup of tea when he arrived. The job took all of ten minutes to complete & we were soon heading to our daughter's in Derbyshire for the festive season. From initial phone call to job completion was 3 weeks, that delay being our choice not theirs due to our prior arrangements. A first class service which we trust will continue ell into the future. We look forward to meeting up with fellow members soon. TRAVEL SAFELY, Steve & Lorraine
We bought our 500L camper at the NEC at the end of 2006 , as it was Dethleffs 75th anniversary , we were offered the anniversary awning , but at that time could not afford it , we are now wondering if it is still available , as a matching Dethleffs awning would be rather nice.
Dear Mark,
I have forwarded this request to a very helpful lady at Dethleffs. She has replied today to say that they have one such awning still in stock that appears that it will fit your caravan !
Here is the exact reply:
Hi Richard,
the anniversary awning was a special awning we offered during our anniversary year. It is no longer available, but we have one left in stock with a size of 1014 to 1040. This should match the DL 550, which has an awning size of 1010.
Part number for this tent is 5010334. Please ask the customer to contact his supplying dealer, who can order this tent from us and will also be able to give him a price for it.
I don't know who your local dealer is, but if you print this and show them, they should be able to get this for you. It would certainly make your outfit special. Any problems get in touch with me again as we know who the best dealers are.
Best wishes,
Richard
DOC
This is taken from a Motorhome and a Caravan Forum:
Message posted by CaravanSkier on 13/2/2006 at 8:56am
Our first caravan was a Dethleffs. It was fantastic and I was really sorry when it got too small for our family.
Debbie
These are all posts on Motorhome Forums:
Message posted by dippy2 on 13/2/2006 at 1:35pm
Outfit: dethleff DL520
Have the new dethleff DL520 its a nice caravan lots of room and it has been built with the family in mind. however i preferred my old dethleff which was built in germany it was a nomad 1982 model in excellent condition inside and out . when i bought it i thought it had had some sort of refit as the walls and cupboards looked brand new then i found out these where the original. the cooker/ fridge where in excellent condition and the originals. the curtains nets blinds all the original i couldn't believe it . i paid 775 pounds for it and got 1500 pounds part ex for it on my new one . this new one is comfortable has some really lovely features lots of storage and room , the end bedroom has bunk beds and a single and you can close it off as it has a pull across door. its easy to tow we use a pajero jeep but we did pull it easy on our omega auto 1800 . the big however here is. having had a older model dethleff and a new dethleff made to British specification i dont think the British ones are anywhere as good as the german market ones. i cant see this one lasting as long as the 1982 model. but all in all a lovely caravan . by the way dethleff have a huge range of caravans in their german outlets in germany for instance the new twin bed model here was there 1995 model . i think they are way in front of the British makers and have some beautiful caravans .if you go on the internet and look for german caravans you will come across an advertising site where they sell all kinds of dethleff caravans and they are some lovely ones and so cheap ,
Message posted by dippy2 on 13/2/2006 at 4:01pm
dippy2
Outfit: dethleff DL520
PS . Did forget to mention i still wouldn't have any other make of caravan . dethleff are definitely the best i have tried and seen.
Two Star
Guess who damaged his new caravan door cutting through the sealant/superglue , and lost some skin off my wrist too , when it did come out. Mark,s not a happy bunny , e-mailed dealer and Dethleffs direct , explaining why i did an emergeny repair , and what has happened , hopefully they may see the predicament i was in at the time , and replace the top half of the door , now i have damaged it. God knows im mad with myself , as an engineer of over 30yrs im not used to causing damage , or hurting myself come to that , ohh well a weekend away will ease my annoyance with myself , so its hello Leeds DA and Fraisthorpe for the weekend.
Two Star
Wow , super service from Dethleffs , and Leisuretimes in Stoke , had a call when i got home today , doors on its way from Germany, hows that for service.
Two Star
Doors arrived , ride down to stoke saturday for it fitting. Super service from Leisuretimes and Dethleffs , and we can go away for our two week break on the 30th now , with a shiny dent free van. And im sure no one will see the crack in the rear valance , where i bounced in and out of a dip in the field at Fraisthorpe
Hi Shane.
I emailed Dethleffs last week to enquire about getting a manual for a second hand MH we bought last November. Had it through the letterbox in FOUR days. They're like a breath of fresh air to deal with.
Jane
Hi All
Bought our ten year old Dethleffs I6842 "A" class motorhome recently. When we got it, the "Dethleffs" lettering on the front was almost invisible due to fading. I contacted Dethleffs in Germany through their website to ask if they could sell me a new one. No, came the reply, we dont sell parts directly, only through dealers, but we will send you one free of charge! It came three days later and looks great.
Last week, I was trying to translate the handbook from it's original German with very little success. (It was a LHD import-never officially sold here.) I was so frustrated, I emailed Dethleffs again to ask if there had ever been an English translation. Apparently there had, but there were no longer any left. The helpful lady I dealt with suggested that an English copy of their current manual might help, as many of the systems are still the same-again, she would send me one free of charge. She also took the time to confirm various specification details on our van. The handbook arrived today and is very useful. The key areas I needed to know about are virtually unchanged on their current A class models.
Basically, this post is to praise Dethleffs and their standard of customer service. Nothing has ever been too much for them and their responses are friendly and helpful to the extreme. I would suggest that this might be in stark contrast to many other manufacturers aftersales service-particularly on a ten year old van !!
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Kind Regards
John
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Upon reading Waleem's experience with Dethleffs in Germany, I decided to give them a try. I asked them for the colours of the motorhome, so I can match when its resprayed and also about the stickers. She replied back within 24hrs with all the colour codes and asked me for my address so she could send out replacement stickers for me.
Absolutely fantastic service!
Snelly
Rally Organiser