Buying British - Is it being a true patriot or a fool?

97% of everything around you, came here by ship

The light coming from the ceiling
the wood chip table that you are leaning on
the mouse in your hand
None of it comes from the UK or even the EU

I do a 45 minuite lecture complete with slides where we assemble an office chair from scratch

  • Iron ore from Australia
  • Coal to make the iron ore into steel from South Africa
  • Steel made in China
  • Bolts and screws from Taiwan
  • Chrome ore from Indonesia
  • Plastic parts from Saudi oil, to the UK to make polymers, to HK to make plastics
  • Leather from Argentina
  • Leather dye from Morocco
  • Plywood from Canada
  • Cotton wadding from Azerbijan
  • Stiching done in Thailand
  • Hydraulic oils from Vezenuela
  • Rubber from Brazil
  • Cardboard packaging from Norway
  • Partial assembly in India
  • Final Assembly in Italy

Tag says 'Made in Italy' !
 
No way would I risk my hard on cash on the junk the British Motorhome industry turns out.
Why take British food abroad when you can buy much better food in France, I'll give you the beer not as good but there is nought wrong with the wine.
 
IMO British MH manufacturers are still making caravans with the towbar replaced by an engine while all the van innovations have come from Europe. We've owned 3 vans the first was British and the others German and as long as we have one it won't be anything made in this country. Little England van manufacturers haven't a clue on upscaling for the export market - how many British made vans are seen abroad with foreign plates - answers on the back of a stamp please. British vans are a tribute to form over function with attention to luxury seating and glitzy curtains without attention to weatherproofing while European vans are built for practicality, longevity and winterisation as standard. As an example one British manufacturer's answer to winterising water tanks is to fit stick on electric blankets that can't be used off hookup - priceless. Europeans just route the hot air ducting against the inboard tanks so if you're using the heating your water tanks won't freeze - simples.
However, I do pay tribute to the loyalty of the British brands customers who appear to put up with anything that's thrown at them and are yet so proud of their price and joy. I was in conversation with a German in a European campsite some time ago and he said they get what they want while we (British) take what we're given.

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596 said:
I try to buy British when I can, I bought a British brand of motorhome and quite frankly after seeing German models it was really an act of charity giving this manufacturer my money for the sake of the industry and country, but how loyal can you be, can you be too loyal and forgiving for lack of quality?

I take all my own BRITISH meat and as much BRITISH food and BRITISH beer and wine to France when I go for 6 weeks in the summer, my plan is to spend as little as possible in France and to eat known food and drink real beer.

How do you support Britain and British industry?
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Thread title- is it a rhetorical question??
 
596 said:
I try to buy British when I can, I bought a British brand of motorhome and quite frankly after seeing German models it was really an act of charity giving this manufacturer my money for the sake of the industry and country, but how loyal can you be, can you be too loyal and forgiving for lack of quality?
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As someone who’s staff takes, in the main, brand new motorhomes to bits every day, we have seen good and bad in British & European motorhomes, and, wouldn’t be put off buying either

However, the discerning buyer buys American, eh Jim ?

596 said:
I take all my own BRITISH meat and as much BRITISH food and BRITISH beer and wine to France when I go for 6 weeks in the summer, my plan is to spend as little as possible in France and to eat known food and drink real beer.
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You could be the poster boy for the petition for those that feel that Aires should be free and there should be more of the as it brings so much business in :LOL:
 
I posted this in order that some people would sympathise with me for being such a fool to buy British, seems there is
Cheshirecat57 said:
Thread title- is it a rhetorical question??
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No I am genuinely interested, I had a go a German but design was deadly and weight payload all lies, was told 450kg had it weighed and was 220kg heavier than stated! They blamed it on bits added in the UK like awning, oven, gas, and other bits to suit UK market, I didn't care I was lied to, it was ONLY this forum and my attempt to upgrade my last motorhome that alerted me to weight issues! I am not a true motorhomer, once a year I get in it, drive to the SofF, park for 6 weeks and drive home, I am a pure fraud of a motorhomer no iffs no butts, in fact Iam lucky to be allowed on this forum, so to put it bluntly 596 is a fake and needs to get out more ?. I have bought a luxury cover for the motorhome and it is now all tucked up for winter, but I may use it at Christmas to give it a run ?‍♂️ ?
 
In defence of swift we bought an ex showroom Swift caravan in about 1999 and it was absolutely superb. Really. No issues, well built, amazing bathroom. Loved every holiday in it.
So what has gone wrong?
 
eddievanbitz said:
As someone who’s staff takes, in the main, brand new motorhomes to bits every day, we have seen good and bad in British & European motorhomes, and, wouldn’t be put off buying either

However, the discerning buyer buys American, eh Jim ?


You could be the poster boy for the petition for those that feel that Aires should be free and there should be more of the as it brings so much business in :LOL:
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What motorhomes do you take to bits, the more you post the more I think you may know what your talking about ;)

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Jim said:
If it's not Yorkshire tea I won't drink it.
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I used to deliver tea, and for a few years Janie was drinking freebie yorkshire tea, our contract then moved to freebie twinings tea, and Janie never liked it, so she gave it away................ until we was round a friends one day and she made her a cup of tea, ? she said oh this is nice tea what is it ? twinings breakfast tea what you gave me. ?
She never gave anymore away. ?
Here in Spain she has PG tips, the reason was many years ago they were 50% extra free. ?
Bob.
 
Grianan said:
In defence of swift we bought an ex showroom Swift caravan in about 1999 and it was absolutely superb. Really. No issues, well built, amazing bathroom. Loved every holiday in it.
So what has gone wrong?
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I owned a 2004 Swift Kontiki for 9 years, absolutely perfect, everything now is more chavvy and follows fads like a dull grey interior, problem with that is one day fashion will change you are left with a battleship nobody really wants. We went for the light wood look so something for everyone out there ?
 
bobandjanie said:
I used to deliver tea, and for a few years Janie was drinking freebie yorkshire tea, our contract then moved to freebie twinings tea, and Janie never liked it, so she gave it away................ until we was round a friends one day and she made her a cup of tea, ? she said oh this is nice tea what is it ? twinings breakfast tea what you gave me. ?
She never gave anymore away. ?
Here in Spain she has PG tips, the reason was many years ago they were 50% extra free. ?
Bob.
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I guess it’s a bit like being married then having an affair, it’s not until then you realise what you have been missing I guess ?



To confirm I have NOT had an affair my mind is just wondering
 
596 said:
What motorhomes do you take to bits, the more you post the more I think you may know what your talking about ;)
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Surprised you didn’t come across eddievanbitz whilst looking at alarms.

This is him.

Home - VanBitz

Van Bitz is the UK's leading motorhome security installation company with an envious reputation for providing first class services and cutting-edge security
www.vanbitz.com www.vanbitz.com
 
Lenny HB said:
No way would I risk my hard on cash on the junk the British Motorhome industry turns out.
Why take British food abroad when you can buy much better food in France, I'll give you the beer not as good but there is nought wrong with the wine.
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I like the sound of “hard on cash”. Is that the money you use for the ladies with plastic chairs? :LOL: ;):rofl::rofl:
 
596 said:
I posted this in order that some people would sympathise with me for being such a fool to buy British, seems there is
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It can be a bit difficult to sympathise when you were warned about the quality time and time again, in a very long thread. And, in the same thread, you were moaning about the poor quality finishes you had seen in other Swifts, and all before you committed to buying. And yet against all of that you fell for the "it will be alright on the night" spiel from the dealer and maker.

As for payload, there are plenty of German and other European vans with plenty. Our Hymer had over 1200kg in basic trim, but by the time you added in all the dealer specced factory fit additions that went down to 860kg and a check on the weighbridge showed that was about right. I decided, before I bought it, that would be OK for us.

I am not saying that our Hymer was or is perfect, but it certainly had a lot less problems than you have reported in the various threads you have kept us all entertained with.
 
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peterc10 said:
It can be a bit difficult to sympathise when you were warned about the quality time and time again, in a very long thread. And, in the same thread, you were moaning about the poor quality finishes you had seen in other Swifts, and all before you committed to buying. And yet against all of that you fell for the "it will be alright on the night" spiel from the dealer and maker.

As for payload, there are plenty of German and other European vans with plenty. Our Hymer had over 1200kg in basic trim, but by the time you added in all the dealer specced factory fit additions that went down to 860kg and a check on the weighbridge showed that was about right. I decided, before I bought it, that would OK for us.

I am not saying that our Hymer was or is perfect, but it certainly had a lot less problems than you have reported in the various threads you have kept us all entertained with.
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I actually don't mind the problems, it gives me something to do :D

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peterc10 said:
So why you do you want any sympathy? :doh:
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Who said I wanted sympathy, I'm just sharing my issues so hopefully anyone else will be forewarned what to look out for, and also the solutions that can be found, surely that is what a forum is for :rolleyes: I'm not being paid to post and actually have better things to do, but I am learning so much from others experiences and knowledge I wanted to give a bit back ;)
 
Landy Andy said:
Surprised you didn’t come across eddievanbitz whilst looking at alarms.

This is him.

Home - VanBitz

Van Bitz is the UK's leading motorhome security installation company with an envious reputation for providing first class services and cutting-edge security
www.vanbitz.com www.vanbitz.com
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Is that the same guy with the fancy motorhome? :eek:
 
peterc10 said:
So why you do you want, or deserve, any sympathy? :doh:
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I took some mates to a restaurant that we used to use a lot, until we had a crap meal and no one cared.

We had a great night and excellent food and told them that we'd not been there for a while, and I also told them that as we also own a campsite had instructed the Wardens not to recommend the place after a bad meal, with no shits given.

They explained that the management had been changed, this had caused the original staff to return, which in turn, had started customers returning.

Things can change and things do get better. It's off the naughty step LOL

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eddievanbitz said:
I took some mates to a restaurant that we used to use a lot, until we had a crap meal and no one cared.

We had a great night and excellent food and told them that we'd not been there for a while, and I also told them that as we also own a campsite had instructed the Wardens not to recommend the place after a bad meal, with no shits given.

They explained that the management had been changed, this had caused the original staff to return, which in turn, had started customers returning.

Things can change and things do get better. It's off the naughty step LOL
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Are you the alarm guy?
 
596 said:
Are you the alarm guy?
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I own a motorhome business called Van Bitz and we specialise in motorhome security and specialist installation of Lithium batteries, fully integrated power systems, multiplexed inverter/charging systems, etc
 
eddievanbitz said:
I own a motorhome business called Van Bitz and we specialise in motorhome security and specialist installation of Lithium batteries, fully integrated power systems, multiplexed inverter/charging systems, etc
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Bldy hell, I bet I could spend a fortune in there, where is it, I'm in Kent?
 
eddievanbitz said:
LOL Book us for the next one, we have a waiting list :winky:
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I think its already with you (y)

You know your one that I am buying :D

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