Excessive site fees

Just read all 26 pages of this thread in my lunchtime. Perhaps I should get a life?

Some interesting and valid points raised for both sides of the argument.

However intolerance of others views has surfaced again and the topic degenerated into a bit of name calling.  

The price for a pitch is based on what the market will stand before that market moves on because they consider the price more than they are happy to pay. The Caravan Club does this as do many commercial organisations. The drawback to this strategy is that when people feel they are being taken for a ride they look for alternatives and don’t come back. You only have to look at Lidl and Aldi’s rapid expansion to see this in action.

Personally I consider the Caravan Club’s pricing a tad on the high side at times but pay because normally the facilities are good and the sites aren’t full of undesirables. If the standards drop or “chavs” should proliferate, I will vote with my feet. I can however understand others views to the contrary.

I view the Caravan Club as a business to make money. Insurance and financial services is probably where they make a lot of money and the sites side is probably not so important to them nowadays.

Clearly a number of people aren’t happy with the pitch fees charged, I myself would prefer to pay less, who wouldn’t, but not at the expense of standards. 

Dude, youre spot on, folk will eventually vote with their feet and try other options.

i think the main criticism of CC prices is that, as you say, they are on the high side but, their 'consistent' quality only delivers consistent mid-level quality....a pitch, a clean loo and shower block....pretty well the least you would expect on any site charging £25-£35 in season...

many are happy to continue paying, some will feel that the club is hitting the ceiling based on its offering....

there are commercials who provide better sites and facilities, but whose prices might vary more widely across the whole year.

we are able to mix and match to suit location, timetable and pocket but many cant and see the club sites as a de rigeur choice.

try a bit of variation, add in a cl or commercial and then youll (one will) get a more rounded view of the market's offerings.

then its back to (informed) choice.

Just read all 26 pages of this thread in my lunchtime. Perhaps I should get a life?

Some interesting and valid points raised for both sides of the argument.

However intolerance of others views has surfaced again and the topic degenerated into a bit of name calling.  

The price for a pitch is based on what the market will stand before that market moves on because they consider the price more than they are happy to pay. The Caravan Club does this as do many commercial organisations. The drawback to this strategy is that when people feel they are being taken for a ride they look for alternatives and don’t come back. You only have to look at Lidl and Aldi’s rapid expansion to see this in action.

Personally I consider the Caravan Club’s pricing a tad on the high side at times but pay because normally the facilities are good and the sites aren’t full of undesirables. If the standards drop or “chavs” should proliferate, I will vote with my feet. I can however understand others views to the contrary.

I view the Caravan Club as a business to make money. Insurance and financial services is probably where they make a lot of money and the sites side is probably not so important to them nowadays.

Clearly a number of people aren’t happy with the pitch fees charged, I myself would prefer to pay less, who wouldn’t, but not at the expense of standards. 

 I basically agree with you but the club simplyy needs to break even as it is not a commercial venture with shareholders to satisfy. They do need to at least break even though but that is all.

People do try to compare them with family run sites and ,arge commercial ones which can sometimes undercut them for various reasons but this is not fair.  The fees are a little on the high side but you get a known standard and if this meets members needs then that is all that they need. The sites are near full so prices cannot be so excessive as some think.

Wildwood - The CC may well need to only break even (I really don't know what their target is) but unfortunately, the CC seem to think that the way to do this is to continually increase prices to off-set a huge head office set up.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work this way, unless you really do have a premium product that outshines all the rest. The CC have a reasonable product, better than some, worse than some.......about average. But they seek to charge higher prices than average, especially in non-peak periods.

I disagree that their sites are 'near full'. Many, out of peak periods and mid-week, are actually near empty.

and as a regular visitor to club sites you'll know that won't you? 

We have been on three cc sites in East Anglia in the last three days and all have been at near capacity and this one all this week ,we are near entrance and as we were setting up saw a M/van turn round and leave,warden says" they still think they can just turn up ?there are more and more wrinkles on staycations now"

and as a regular visitor to club sites you'll know that won't you? 

We mostly have access to computers these days, that give you this information, Corners.....

and as a regular visitor to club sites you'll know that won't you? 

We mostly have access to computers these days, that give you this information, Corners.....

.. But that's one thing that you do not know is how many pitches are available apart from w/ends

and as a regular visitor to club sites you'll know that won't you? 

We mostly have access to computers these days, that give you this information, Corners.....

really? How?  If I assume you're looking at the club booking screens all you can deduce is that there is a minimum of one pitch left, not how many pitches are taken. 

also from someone who claims to use club sites less and less you've actually been looking month by month? For what purpose if you're not using them? on all sites? I suppose you must have to make such a claim that club sites are empty

I've looked for a site this weekend and the five I've looked at are full most days during June and July.