Is it a rip off?

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So, has the OP made use of the facility in the Caravan Club's way of doing things to cancel without penalty and go somewhere else?  I think not!

Could I ask that those of you who mention when prices go up for Easter, Christmas, Guy Fawkes, St Swithan's Day, etc if you could at the same time mention when the prices go down again so that those like I might consider a visit.

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28/10/19 - 31/10/19 Silverbank at Banchory  price is £8.60 of course that is for only 1 person + unit, £14.40 for 2 + unit.

As far as I can see its the only dates that match their advertised rate at the top of the page.

We have stopped using C&MC sites unless its off peak, not because we can't afford it. Its more about what we think its worth, £35 + for a patch of gravel and a few facilities doesn't fit our idea of VFM.

I agree TG. We won't pay anything like that  Even off peak they can be expensive. Our first two this year were CC sites, roughly twenty two pounds per night.. We are about to leave our current site, far better than either CC site so far this year,,free WiFi and only seventeen pounds per night . Good old camping club.. 

I can understand the clubs pricing policy at sites like a Black Knowl £35.30 for two at peak, on a standard pitch. It is a very popular site and there are already dates unavailable on standard pitches during summer peak. However, continuing to try this policy at less popular sites seems strange. Last year we had to cancel most of our May / June bookings and ended up going short notice in July / August. Booking on the 11th July I was able to secure 9 consecutive nights for mid July at Bridlington. It was the only CAMC site within 100 miles of us where this was possible. Price then was £33.60 (this year £35.50) whilst we were there it was not even totally full at weekends and a maximum of two thirds mid week. Continuing to market it at this high price, which actually starts on the 28th June, seems rather flawed.

The above are just observations,  we will still go there we rather like the site. However, at £4.80 more a night than Scarborough, I can only assume the CC trying to cover the cost of the refurbishment / extension.

Please bear with me.

As I understand it, the ‘Club’ belongs to ‘us’? No shareholders to pay? In which case, all funds taken are to cover costs and investment? I have no idea if there’s a mountain of cash hidden away, but I somehow doubt it. I think what I’m trying to say is that the ‘club’ has to make ends meet, whilst planning for the future. I guess this entails charging what they can, when they can, to cover the leaner times. I too think that the cost is high at times, but at the end of the day, the ‘books’ have to be balanced.

Yes, I know, I’m probably naive 🙄

I agree with Freddy that it’s all about making ends meet and balancing the books.

Take a look around the high street and consider those businesses which tried to run on a shoe string and offer cheap prices. Some have vanished into the ether and others are struggling. We don’t want to see the club follow suit.

I believe the Club has quite a large cash reserve, you can check the accounts.

Some of the spending can seem a bit strange, such as buying sites near existing ones, or refurbishing sites which did not seem to have much wrong with them while others have much poorer facilities.

The offering of mid week discounts also can be puzzling, with only limited sites and limited months even in the low season.

The main problem for those of us who are on fixed incomes which are not keeping up with inflation, never mind CAMC price increases, is the widening of peak periods and additional higher price bands rather than the usual "off peak, shoulder and peak"

Good post 👍

I guess it makes good business sense to have a cash reserve. I did say “hidden away” though 😉

I don’t follow what is and isn’t being invested, but for all we know, there may well be good (business) reasons why the ‘club’ invests in some, but not others. On that point, it would be good if the ‘club’ laid out their strategy on investment, or lack of. Maybe they do, I’ve not seen it.

As for pricing, again, there are probably very good reasons why they price the way they do. That said, as with all things, stick a ‘human’ in the mix, and it’s bound to go pear-shaped 😀

I’ll be on a fairly fixed income myself shortly, and planning on doing a lot more touring, so CL’s will have to be the ‘norm’. I don’t think ‘club’sites are a “rip-off”, but they are getting more expensive, so more consideration is needed these days.