Bongo Fury

I've got a AVA side conversion with one of their bespoke fridges which has broken (again) and AVA are too busy to fix it (well TBF they said I could leave the van with them for a couple of weeks and they *might* be able slot it in)

I've been trying to find a fridge repair person in Sussex, but they all seem to refuse to touch campervans.

So I'm a bit stuck.

The actual problem with the fridge is that the compressor is running, but it's not getting cold.

Do I really have to learn how to repair fridges to sort this out???

I've no knowledge on AVA conversions but what make of fridge is it ? Maybe you can find some help from the manufacturers?

Hi
It's ages since I've lived down your way, but I seem to remember a caravan dealer in Hurstpierpoint, and another up the A23 selling motorhomes...see if you can find them in the Yellow Pages, and call in and show them.
Cheers
Helen

This is probably of no use to you at all, but just in case....

I had a similar problem with a 3 way fridge I was running on gas. It was lit, but it just wasn't cooling. I was told this was quite a common problem and to switch it off, turn it upside down for a while (you should hear the refrigerant gurgling), and then the right way up again. After that it was fine.

I've got a AVA side conversion with one of their bespoke fridges which has broken (again) and AVA are too busy to fix it (well TBF they said I could leave the van with them for a couple of weeks and they *might* be able slot it in)

Customer service like that deserves a p*ss taking medal really doesn't it.
Why do people continue to buy from companies who couldn't give a flying one about aftersales service

kelv wrote: Customer service like that deserves a p*ss taking medal really doesn't it.
Why do people continue to buy from companies who couldn't give a flying one about aftersales service

Maybe AVA were just telling the truth and they were too busy - would you like your new van delayed because they had to do minor repairs to others? They have a good reputation and that's why people buy off them.

francophile1947 wrote:

kelv wrote: Customer service like that deserves a p*ss taking medal really doesn't it.
Why do people continue to buy from companies who couldn't give a flying one about aftersales service

Maybe AVA were just telling the truth and they were too busy - would you like your new van delayed because they had to do minor repairs to others? They have a good reputation and that's why people buy off them.

I can't belive that you would be happy waiting two weeks for a fridge repair Franc ?

"too busy" is a cr*p excuse, and that excuse just doesn't stack up with me.
I am in business, and take care to look after customers both old and new, making sure I have put in place resources to be able to do both in an efficient manner.
It's not rocket science, it's customer care.
To my eyes, the AVA response to the guy with the broken fridge just
looks like a case of " we have taken your moey, now go join the queue to get something that we have supplied, fixed".
Meanwhile we will be busy taking someone elses money, because that is far more important to us.

Not good enough really.
People buy off them.............. yes, but how many would buy twice having received that kind of rubbish excuse to an after sales service matter ?

kelv wrote: I can't belive that you would be happy waiting two weeks for a fridge repair Franc ?

Probably not - that's why I'd do like airsine and find another place.[quote="

kelv wrote: I am in business, and take care to look after customers both old and new, making sure I have put in place resources to be able to do both in an efficient manner.

You may be in a totally different type of business. It's not at all unusual for a lead time of 2 weeks or more, for non-essential work, in the motor trade. Just imagine how happy you'd be if you had your car in for a service/MOT and went to collect it, at the pre-arranged time, only to be told it's not ready because we had to spend a couple of hours doing some non-essential work on another customer's car

francophile1947 wrote:

kelv wrote: I can't belive that you would be happy waiting two weeks for a fridge repair Franc ?

Probably not - that's why I'd do like airsine and find another place.[quote="

kelv wrote: I am in business, and take care to look after customers both old and new, making sure I have put in place resources to be able to do both in an efficient manner.

You may be in a totally different type of business. It's not at all unusual for a lead time of 2 weeks or more, for non-essential work, in the motor trade. Just imagine how happy you'd be if you had your car in for a service/MOT and went to collect it, at the pre-arranged time, only to be told it's not ready because we had to spend a couple of hours doing some non-essential work on another customer's car

To the contrary I may not be in a totally different kind of business .
Please don't confuse "usual" with "acceptable".

whatever next. Poor customer service is OK for Bongo owners

Funnily enough I did buy the conversion from AVA as I wanted a decent aftersales service, and whilst two weeks turnaround isn't bad itself the problem was that they wanted to keep the van for two weeks regardless of when I brought it in - which isn't what I expected.

Luckily, I've finally found a guy in Brighton who's going to look at it for me - I'll let you know how it goes. The problem with the AVA side conversion is that I need to dismantle everything behind front seats to get at the fridge. The thing is so unreliable I reckon I'm going to make a better access hole in the front of the furniture so it's easier to fix next time it goes wrong.

Hope you get it fixed soon airsine,
That sort of customer service isn't really acceptable is it ?
Although, as others have aid, it may be "usual"
Looks like the weathers helping you at the moment anyway

Ok this has been a total disaster, no one will fix my fridge as it apparently needs re-gassing, and as it's a 'diy' job by AVA local fridge repairers won't go near it.

AVA are ignoring my emails asking with them to book at time in to repair it rather than their previous offer of keeping my van for two weeks on the off-chance they might fix it.

So that basically leaves me with the option of buying a new fridge.

And this breaks down into two options:

1. Buying a Waeco CF-25 which will require some modification of the furniture to fit in the space where the old fridge is, but will go in.

2. Buying a different and possibly bigger fridge and leaving it loose in the van or the awning so I can feed the kids and have cold beer.

Any ideas other ideas or thoughts on this would be gratefully received!

Cheers

Hi, Sorry about your fridge. I know it is necessary on a holiday with children. Could you not borrow one until you know for sure whether or not yours can be repaired. If you need it now for the bash, someone may be able to help, or there might be something in the Bring and buy at Stourport. It would be a shame to waste your money if it can be fixed.

Anna

I suggest you buy a 12V/240V plug in cool box £39, and camp with mains hookup if possible, which will allow you to pug it in.
When on the move, use te 12V connection sparingly, and ice packs etc to assist.

thanks for the advice.
AVA did offer to fix it in the end, but it was going to cost over £650.

I'm going to buy a Waeco, as we often go wild camping and need the efficiency.
I'm probably not going to use the existing space as it's going to be a difficult job to get it to fit nicely, but this means I can get a slightly bigger fridge and just keep it in the awning or on the passenger seat.

The AVA fridge was pretty inefficient anyway - the battery never lasted more than a day at best.