Equi-trek!

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HorseyMumm

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Just wanted to share our experience with as many people as possible, we ordered a new lorry from Equi-trek through Equi-trek Shaftesbury who's correct name is SSW Leisure Ltd. It was eventually delivered nearly 3 months after the agreed deliver date and it came with so many faults and defects it was unreal! We rejected the vehicle under our consumer rights for a full refund, vehicle cost over 100k, to say we were disappointed and upset was an understatement. We gave Equi-trek plenty of opportunity to repay us the money we were owed but in the end we had to issue a winding up order in the courts against Equi-trek Shaftesbury (SSW Leisure Ltd) and we have got our money back at a cost, not to mention the stress it caused and the time it left us without a horsebox. This process has taken just over a year from us ordering the vehicle to the Judge signing it off this week. I still can't believe that this company let it get so far. Now some person has bought said horsebox after they have supposedly fix it and I hope for their sake that there is no lasting damage from the amount of rain water that had pooled in the living due to the pop out not fitting, one of the many issues. I have never dealt with such a horrendous company that appears to think that customer service and consumer rights don't apply once they have your money. If you are thinking of buying from them pleased do your investigations, not just the good reviews but the bad ones too, I just wish we had. Thankfully a very reputable horsebox company came to our rescue (Oakley) and we can not thank them enough for their help and continued customer service.
 
and axles..

sorry you had such a bad experience OP, their level of customer service when things go wrong is well reported sadly.
 
We obviously didn't do enough research! It was more upsetting that they thought it was acceptable to deliver such a defective vehicle and then make us take them to court to get our money back. But its done them no favours either as they now have a severe risk credit rating after it being lodged in The Gazette and I will make sure that people realised they are registered as SSW Leisure Ltd and not "Equi-trek Shaftesbury"
 
I am sorry you have had a bad experience OP. We looked at EquiTrek for a small box, and sadly found them flimsy, and the main manufacturer was quite rude when we asked about improving the finish.

I am sure you will be delighted with your Oakley, we had two for work from them, and they did fantastic service, they were built like tanks, were well designed, and comfortable for both horse and rider.

For our small box we eventually went to Bloomfields, and although they were also late in delivery, the box itself has been faultless, and is as fantastic as I could have hoped for. As for their customer service, when I *thought* we had a fault they were excellent. In fact the reason the spring on the partition was stiff was because some of our gravel yard had entered the spring (not their fault!) but they still fixed it with a smile and can-do attitude.
 
Red-1 said:
I am sorry you have had a bad experience OP. We looked at EquiTrek for a small box, and sadly found them flimsy, and the main manufacturer was quite rude when we asked about improving the finish.

I am sure you will be delighted with your Oakley, we had two for work from them, and they did fantastic service, they were built like tanks, were well designed, and comfortable for both horse and rider.

For our small box we eventually went to Bloomfields, and although they were also late in delivery, the box itself has been faultless, and is as fantastic as I could have hoped for. As for their customer service, when I *thought* we had a fault they were excellent. In fact the reason the spring on the partition was stiff was because some of our gravel yard had entered the spring (not their fault!) but they still fixed it with a smile and can-do attitude.
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Red-1 thank you for you reply. Equi-trek "main/only" manufacturer excepted no responsibility for the horsebox, bearing in mind they built it, they said they were not associated with Shaftesbury and then processed to advertise the horsebox for sale after it was returned and before we had been received our money back as Equi-trek Shaftesbury/ SSW Leisure Ltd by right were unable to trade as we had served them with a winding up order.
I'm so pleased with our Oakley and the customer service they have given us, its amazing that companies like Equi-trek still treat "customers" in the way they do, word of mouth, recommendations and social media means it gets about very quickly..............
 
That is just bonkers they built the horse box and then said it was the franchisee's problem. I'd be ditching that franchise pretty quick if I had one!
 
ester said:
That is just bonkers they built the horse box and then said it was the franchisee's problem. I'd be ditching that franchise pretty quick if I had one!
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They ditched him (franchise) faster than a hot cake!! And he wrote a statement saying that he accepted full responsibility for the horsebox. How mad is that!!
 
HorseyMumm said:
Red-1 thank you for you reply. Equi-trek "main/only" manufacturer excepted no responsibility for the horsebox, bearing in mind they built it, they said they were not associated with Shaftesbury and then processed to advertise the horsebox for sale after it was returned and before we had been received our money back as Equi-trek Shaftesbury/ SSW Leisure Ltd by right were unable to trade as we had served them with a winding up order.
I'm so pleased with our Oakley and the customer service they have given us, its amazing that companies like Equi-trek still treat "customers" in the way they do, word of mouth, recommendations and social media means it gets about very quickly..............
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That is awful. It may please you to now that the Oakleys I used were Police boxes, so used day in, day out for years, packed with 17 hh heavyweights, and a full living of clumsy Bobbies, kit bags etc, and they were fantastic for 10 years plus, and still worth loads of ££££££s when we sold them!
 
Red-1 said:
That is awful. It may please you to now that the Oakleys I used were Police boxes, so used day in, day out for years, packed with 17 hh heavyweights, and a full living of clumsy Bobbies, kit bags etc, and they were fantastic for 10 years plus, and still worth loads of ££££££s when we sold them!
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That's good to hear, they are quite beautiful, inside and out. Drives like a dream too.....
 
There is a good reason why Equitrek are sooo much cheaper than a comparable lorry - build quality - or more accurately the lack of build quality.
 
I too sadly echo your review on Equitrek Shaftesbury aka SSW Leisure Ltd. Unfortunately I also have had the misfortune of dealing with this sham of a company and equally devious Director. I think it's about time that the public be made aware of their dishonest business practices and appalling behaviour.
 
Wow I didn't know this about Equi-Trek!
So glad I decided to go for a van conversion 3.5 rather than an Equi-Trek as they were a box I was considering.
 
It's a difficult they seem to me to have two issues .
One is terrible customer service when things go wrong
And the second is very very variable build quality I have two friends with new equitreks and they are both having a happy time enjoying their horses and trucks .
 
Sorry you've been through this Op it sounds extremely stressful. I purchased a new 7.5 tonne Equi trek and also had a massive delay in collection date. We put everything on this horse box to ensure we had a super time where ever we would be and everything was of inferior quality. They are well known for using the cheapest available materials and not thinking the build through ( the generator on ours wouldn't run the microwave never mind every thing else we had put on the box). The unfortunate thing is people are still buying them being delighted as they collect their new shiny horse box but it will rot as mine did from the cab back and I have shown a few other owners that didn't realise their horseboxes were rotting exactly what they are loading their horses on. The phrase apparently is " you can't polish a turd" well it truly looks like Equi trek have found away.
 
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Surprised that Equitrek are still trading, don't potential purchasers google reviews of a company before shelling out the pennies?

I like many of their designs, but had only to put my hand on the grooms door handle of one of their trailers (brand new) to confirm that all the tales of shoddy construction were true. The build quality got even poorer as I ventured inside.
 
Charcal said:
I too sadly echo your review on Equitrek Shaftesbury aka SSW Leisure Ltd. Unfortunately I also have had the misfortune of dealing with this sham of a company and equally devious Director. I think it's about time that the public be made aware of their dishonest business practices and appalling behaviour.
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Absolutely!!
It's funny that he has now removed the FB page after removing the review section initially. But if you google SSW Leisure Ltd it now shows the winding up information we took out against him and "Equi-trek Shaftesbury", so even though he eventually paid back our money his business reputation is shot!! Which is exactly what he deserves and one day someone will take on the "main" Equi-trek and it will be their downfall but that will be no easy feat as we had dealings with their Solicitor and would rather have dealt with the Krays in their heyday!!
 
Tiddlypom said:
Surprised that Equitrek are still trading, don't potential purchasers google reviews of a company before shelling out the pennies?

I like many of their designs, but had only to put my hand on the grooms door handle of one of their trailers (brand new) to confirm that all the tales of shoddy construction were true. The build quality got even poorer as I ventured inside.
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We did Google but most of the info we found was from about 6/7yrs ago so didn't feel it was relevant as there appeared to be no recent reviews good or bad.................
 
Annie B. said:
Sorry you've been through this Op it sounds extremely stressful. I purchased a new 7.5 tonne Equi trek and also had a massive delay in collection date. We put everything on this horse box to ensure we had a super time where ever we would be and everything was of inferior quality. They are well known for using the cheapest available materials and not thinking the build through ( the generator on ours wouldn't run the microwave never mind every thing else we had put on the box). The unfortunate thing is people are still buying them being delighted as they collect their new shiny horse box but it will rot as mine did from the cab back and I have shown a few other owners that didn't realise their horseboxes were rotting exactly what they are loading their horses on. The phrase apparently is " you can't polish a turd" well it truly looks like Equi trek have found away.
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Luckily for us that when the lorry was delivered we checked it over and put the pop out out and the water under it was about 2cm deep and we found a multitude of other faults/defects so rejected it for a full refund, but that took us 6mths and serving him with a winding up order with the courts (which went to court) to get our money back. Equi-trek Huddersfield (the builders of the all the products) would accept no liability and hung the bloke out to dry, so he took the full repercussions when he was just the go-between and seller of their products. But things happen for a reason and now we have an amazing Oakley Lorry with 1st class continuing customer service, nothing is too much trouble even out of hours!!
 
FfionWinnie said:
Glad to read this. Equitrek are our most local lorry company and I was considering using them. I won't now.
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Don't do it, we have heard from so many people since this all started and once you use the vehicle you have no chance of getting your money back, repairs or any kind of customer service.............
 
They are cheap crap. Made cheaply with the cheapest materials with no thought to design nor equine safety. Only saving money on their part.

Steer well clear!
 
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