The UK’s leading bed specialist has underlined its confidence in the future by embarking on a major programme to replace its entire fleet of long-serving Mercedes-Benz Sprinters with new versions of the same model.
Dreams, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary, is already running 29 fuel-efficient Sprinter 313 CDIs. They are the first vehicles to wear its smart new livery.
Dealer Midlands Truck & Van will deliver another six over the next few weeks, and the retailer intends to complete the process by commissioning a further 53 units during the course of 2015.
The new Sprinter chassis cabs have box bodies by JC Payne, of Walsall, West Midlands. They are being allocated to two-man teams who deliver beds from Dreams’ Home Delivery Depots directly to customers’ homes.
The new fleet is the subject of a CharterWay contract hire agreement from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, under which the vehicles will be maintained within the manufacturer’s Dealer network.
Key to the retailer’s decision to put its faith once again in vehicles bearing the three-pointed star, were the outstanding reliability and competitive operating costs of its outgoing Sprinter fleet.
Dreams Distribution Controller Shaun Bullock said: “The last fleet of new Sprinters we bought date back to 2004-05. Some of our older Mercedes-Benz vehicles have clocked-up well in excess of 400,000 miles, yet they’re still going strong. Indeed, they have proved over the last 10 years to be brilliant workhorses and we’ve every confidence that our new fleet will be just as reliable and cost-effective to operate.”
He continued: “The new Sprinters have been very well received by our delivery teams, and the fact that Mercedes-Benz dealers are geared-up to service and repair our vehicles outside normal operating hours is also a big attraction, as it means they will always be available for work when we need them.”
Midlands Truck & Van won the business after providing exemplary service support for the vans and trucks based at Dreams’ depot in Wednesbury, West Midlands.
Shaun Bullock said: “The whole process of ordering the vehicles, from liaising with the bodybuilder to delivery, has been excellent. We’re looking forward to arriving at customers’ homes in our gleaming new vehicles, which showcase our new brand identity perfectly.”
Passionate about providing the perfect night’s sleep, Dreams is committed to delivering the highest standard of expert customer advice and service. It offers an extensive selection of high-quality products, including mattresses, bed frames, divans, bedroom furniture and soft furnishings, many of which are hand-crafted in the UK at the Dreams Bed Factory.
Dreams has more than 160 retail stores and a transactional web site – www.dreams.co.uk Its head office – known as ‘Bedquarters’ – is located in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
