GeistOwners.com FORUM

Dougal · 12th Man

Hi
I have done a bit more investigation about the Oakhurst problem and received this response from Paddy Doherty in the UK. It sounds positive.

Hello Ian and Anne
Oakhurst International, the importer of Geist to Australia has gone into administration.
I am currently in discussions with LMC, the manufacturer, as to how we proceed Down Under but there are legal complications at the moment that prevent the situation being resolved quickly.
Sorting out the aftersales is high on our priority list and we have a number of interested parties in Australia looking to assist.

I hope to have further information in the next couple of weeks.

Regards

Paddy Doherty

GeistRunner · Administrator

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Harry today, it isn't as straight forward as we would like. He has purchased what parts were left in Sydney, he has not got an inventory of them yet either, the main items that repair centres are after (have ordered) are in Maryborough. New parts to come in he wont be doing at this stage, not until he at least sees what he has, which I think is not much (volume that is). We still need to establish a main import centre for parts.

GR

GeistRunner · Administrator

Harry has told me he has some parts but not the ones on order by the caravan repairers around the country. These appear to be still on the wharves, tied up by the receivers. Harry did not have an inventory when I chatted to him but it is a limited amount he has bought.

Those who know Lindsay and Cameron who used to work for Oakhurst will know they are one of the best teams at fixing the Geist van in the country, hopefully they will be back up and running with a shed and tools soon. If anyone would also like to see them up and running and invest in the business start up then feel free to PM me or call me on 0427 878 645. These guys know everything there is to know on these vans. Not to deter you going to your preferred repairer but when most repairers in the country are scratching their heads, they call Lindsay or Cameron.

GR

didds · Fieldsman

Hi all, I was about to post my first post regarding the purchase of our new XK660 and our first outing to Woodgate beach as our trial run, it was great by the way. Well we bought our van only on the 6 March, from Oakhurst. I spoke to the guys who repaired the vans and they were telling me how busy they were and how they liked the job, hopefully they will stay in the area and something will work out for them in carrying out repairs and warranties.

I was about to call Oakhurst on Monday regarding the aerial reception of the van which is NIL, does anyone have any tips? Its comforting to see someone has taken up the baton with the spare parts and I am sure things will improve at least we can order from Gosford...will Geist cover all of this if its a warranty issue?

Just to finish the van was fantastic handled great and for a first time van owner I felt comfortable driving on the dreaded Bruce Hwy, parking and overall enjoyed our few days away. Laughing

Bob and Al · Fieldsman

Welcome to Geist land. We have had our van just over a year and are now on the road full-time and love it!

We have had ongoing problems with TV reception for the 12 months we've had the van. Lots of places with poor reception when other vans have crystal clear reception.

We also have an external areal socket and have found much better (but still poor) reception by purchasing a long lead and running it under the van and through the window into our TV. We've had it to Darios twice but not much improvement.

Any ideas welcome!

AntiSettler · Fieldsman

I found out about the recievership today, when I dropped in to the RV & Caravan Centre, Ballina - Geist service agent.

This is terrible news!

I purchased my XK660 last october and very happy with it.

My understanding is that they can still do the Geist servicing, but obviously, warranty work apart from appliances etc covered by Dometic warranty, is currently a problem.

Hopefully things can get sorted soon!

GeistRunner · Administrator

I can tell everyone now that there is some negotiations happening with another party within Australia to continue the importation of Geist caravans. I am waiting to hear more on the importation of parts but would suggest that the appointed importer could handle this.

I will be sending out an e- newsletter again soon. I hope to have some more news then.

If you are not a member of the club, not have a member number and card between 1 and 300 (different to membership on this forum) then go to this link and join, this is the only way I can send you the e-newsletter on more Geist news.

http://qmail.qmail.com.au/em/forms/subscribe.php?db=161457&s=32320&u=3977&k=412f8d0

A new membership card will be created soon to replace the existing card for members. This will be a new card that will have new exciting entitlements.

Catch you on the track.

GR

GeistRunner · Administrator

Just to keep you up to speed with everything in regards to the receivership of Oakhurst.

Here is an article from the Fraser Chronicle, Maryborough paper, it spells things out pretty well for the moment.

http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/story/2009/04/03/van-makers-owe-about-11-million/

We are still looking to get more info ASAP on parts.

GR

GeistRunner · Administrator

Just to reiterate what I said on another forum for Geist owners.

"I have good advice that the Geist brand will be up and going again soon in Australia. Parts are in country on the wharves and hopefully will be released shortly. The rumours of LMC (the factory in Germany) and its parent company, the Hymer group going under is the biggest laugh:lol: . I don't see any truth in that one. Just a little propaganda I suspect.

Warranty issues as I understand will be addressed once an announcement has been made on who is to replace Oakhurst or a factory distribution company is set up in Australia. In relation to resale values going down. Some models such as the AK 495, AK560, Family van AK 595, possibly the bunk bed AK595, XK559 are a chance of dropping due to the number still in country BUT the more popular models should hold value XK660, XK630, XK535, AK450, especially when new vans coming in will be bought at a higher AUS dollar to Euro than previous purchases. My advice is if you have any of the models listed that there is still stock of in Australia then hang on to it if you can for a while to ride out the economic downturn and the new Australian administration being put in place. Remember if you purchased your van for the right reasons, that is you loved everything about it when you walked in the door and it ticked the boxes of what you were looking for, then the van has not changed, it is just that your point of contact for parts in Australia will. This essentially relates to Roadstar and Boroma too!

Hope this helps the Geist owners out there. Australian Geist Owners club members will receive more info in their newsletter over Easter if they have submitted their email addresses via the geistdirect website."

In two or so years this should all be blown over and prices for the vans listed as having higher stock of at the moment should be right back up there as preferred vans. We are only looking at anywhere from 10 -25 vans over of each model, in all there are 75 vans in stock. The chance of them being dumped on the market I would hope is low, the factory would be loathed to do this in fear of destroying the brand. The good thing out of all of this is that the parent company is huge and if there is a chance of a company holding a brand up, this is the company to have on your side to do so.

Hope you enjoy the e-newsletter, new members who joined via post to Oakhurst may need to wait a little until I get all the memberships in the database (about 35), those who joined via online recently should get the newsletter today.

[/i]

Catch you on the track

GR

GeistRunner · Administrator

Hi All,

An update for you from the receivers. This is from the www.geist.com.au website.

Vincents Chartered Accountants (www.vincents.com.au) are administering the liquidation of the above company.

Peter Dinoris and Nick Combis were appointed Administrators of Oakhurst International Caravans Pty Ltd on 13 March 2009. They were subsequently appointed Liquidators of the company after creditors resolved on 24 April 2009 to wind up the company.

The company distributed motor homes and caravans from premises at Tinana South and St Helens in Queensland plus Gosford West in New South Wales.

Oakhurst International Caravans Pty Ltd traded under the names 'Fraser Coast Caravans', 'Geist Caravans and Motorhomes', 'Geist Vehicle Leisure Australia', 'Geist Vehicle Leisure', 'Geist Leisure Centre', 'Geist Direct' and 'Geist For Life'. All the business names are available for sale. If you are interested in any of the business names, please contact Vincents Chartered Accountants.

"The company’s directors advised the company experienced a significant decline in caravan sales due to the prevailing economic climate," Peter Dinoris said.

The parts stock and other equipment from the Queensland premises will be sold through Auctions R Us in Brisbane, Qld (telephone no. (07) 3630 0036) on 7th May 2009.

The company owns trademarks (word "Geist" no. 103060 and the composite image "G" no. 1039085). If you have any interest in acquiring the trademarks, please submit your written offer to The Liquidators, Vincents Chartered Accountants, PO Box 13004, George Street, Qld, 4003.
The prospects of a dividend to ordinary unsecured creditors "appears low based on the information presently available". The Liquidators will proceed to realise the balance of the floating assets of the company and investigate its affairs and transactions. The liquidation is likely to run for around 12 months, at which time a definite statement can be made regarding dividend prospects.

For further information, please contact Peter Dinoris - Vincents Chartered Accountants - (07) 3854 4555

I am offering $2500 up front for the lot, if anyone else wants to put in to be a part of holding the Geist brand in Australia for all to use instead of someone snuffing it and LMC (the factory) needing to trade under another brand in Australia once re-established then let me know real soon. The factory are aware of the liquidators quest to sell the brand but have not let me know of their intentions. I will not be bidding against them though as they are obviously the best supporters of the brand. They may not be in a position to purchase the brand yet and by a group holding the brand in trust, it may help us all.

Rang the factory tonight to talk to the appropriate people, they are away until Wednesday. Perhaps they are here in Australia.

Will let you all know if I hear any more.

GR

aladdin · Moderator

aladdin · Moderator

It would be good if we can get a statement direct from LMC in Germany, if only for the owners benefit.

BTW having looked at the auction lots there are a few items I and possibly others would be interested in. It is a pity they have restricted it and not opened up to on line buyers as they do for other auctions they hold.

aladdin · Moderator

Sorry I missed this bit from the Caravanning News.

[/quote] FUTURE UNDECIDED, SAYS GERMAN BUILDER

THE future of the Geist brand in Australia remains in limbo. Speaking exclusively to Caravanning News, the builder of Geist caravans and motorhomes in Germany - LMC - revealed it had not yet made up its mind about a new importer. Sales and marketing director Uli Stephan said from Sassenberg: "At the moment we have not taken a decision about the future. First of all we have to clear out the situation with Oakhurst before we start to find a new agent for the Australian market." He said this could take until the end of June.

GeistRunner · Administrator

Talked to Paddy in the UK tonight. He rang me to discuss more about the auction tomorrow and intellectual property. I have asked him to suggest strongly that LMC contact me with a statement for the e-newsletter due out next week. Because of legal issues they just can't commit to too much just yet but once the auction is over tomorrow I can then work out what parts are still needed in OZ and get a container in to distribute.

Andy and Sue from Ansue Leisure near Horsham are arriving this weekend at the Geist retreat where we will no doubt talk more about possible options with parts. Paddy has indicated that he has no problem with us pursuing a parts inward path outside his old wholesale company sales process. Meaning, we go straight through to the factory. Andy and I will discuss this further to see how we can set this up for the benefit of owners in the future. This process is open to others who would like to put forward their interest to me.

GR

dws76team · 12th Man

its very good.