Leaving the Club - finally had enough

Posted on 11/07/2017 08:19 by geordie21

After over quarter of a century we have decided that the CC has little to offer for us anymore.

The subscription provides little value for money. Discount on site fees is irrelevant if one cannot get booked in. Other discounts, ferry fares and insurance offers are often available elsewhere on the internet and not exclusive,

Site fees have risen out of proportion - what one gets now for what is in essence a shower, some electricity and recycling bins is ridiculous. The most expensive sites are pricing themselves out of the range of families with a modest/average budget, which is very sad for the future of caravanning.

The booking system is lucridous - popular sites being filled up for every weekend and just stopping others getting longer stays. But then closer the date, if one has the will to keep checking there are vacancies because surprise surprise booking are cancelled. The club will not release information on how many bookings are cancelled and yet refuse to go back to a deposit system that would stop the farce!! Over the last few years we have also increasingly noticed that sites that appear full on the booking system are not full during the time we are there. Cancellation up to 72 hours does not help those who need to book time off work in order to pick up the places left! It is a very biased system.

When issues are raised - like the booking system and its abuse; nothing is done or improved and the club now appears to operating solely for itself not its members. The values that I joined the club for, have been totally lost - all ithe Club is concerned about is its £100 million turnover!

Finally the new website is useless - trying to search discussions to add these comments was a total waste of time. It is far from user friendly for the occasional subscriber to discussions and is not much better for bookings. I am therefore very sorry if I have started a duplicate discussion - I am sure someone who spends a lot more time on here than me, will put me right!!!!

 

Posted on 11/07/2017 16:59 by DavidKlyne

Can the Club be all things to all men (and women) I somehow doubt that. At the weekend we were at Clumber Park which was full, we are now at Bridlington, it is also full despite being £32 a night, which out of school holidays I also feel is expensive. We booked both sites three weeks ago not six months ago. I suppose the point is that if a Club does not suit your needs then clearly it is sensible to consider whether it is worthwhile continuing to be a member. By all means give feedback to the Club but unless your views coincide with the majority it always will be attempting to push water uphill.

David

Posted on 11/07/2017 16:49 by Amesford

After last weeks stay at a club site if things don't improve we may join you, can't wait for the email to do a site review 

Posted on 11/07/2017 14:40 by Merve

 A good post BB. Geordie! I agree with all you say-  You don't have to scramble for that pitch anymore- there are dozens of CLs out there( I'm on one at the moment) where you are not regimented - check the CL network out and as far as expense is concerned, I am paying less now than I was 20yrs ago- it can be done and I have had great fun doing it- I suspect BB has as well!! The CC are interested in the bottom line- of course they are- they are a business but I and many others have made a conscious decision not to play ball. We stay purely for what we can get out of being members- not for putting money in the clubs coffers! The age of alternative caravanning is here with all the modern technology - all you have to do is fit it and you are as free as a bird- to go where you like and virtually at what price you like- weren't these the values that you had 25yrs ago? We have all watched as the club has become more and more elitist with pricing and some of us have balked against it and 'done it ourselves' . We don't need hard standings, heated washrooms, showers, EHUs , our own tap, or any of the other periferies that you get from paying through the nose but we do require peaceful, (or otherwise) , uncrowded, financially reasonable , quality holidays and breaks and that's what we are now able to get- don't be held captive by a business that wants to turn you upside down and shake you for every last penny- it doesn't have to be like that. I no longer worry about bookings- I KNOW I will get a pitch and I KNOW that will be very affordable. Look again and discover the new way to caravan. Good luck 

Posted on 11/07/2017 17:27 by Goldie146

Why wait for the email?

Posted on 11/07/2017 18:38 by Amesford

LIke the site wardens there is no rush !!

Posted on 11/07/2017 17:11 by Cornersteady

sorry but it's been said before, I assume you knew the price before you went? so if you thought it expensive why did you go?