Pitch availability

My experience and observations are that sites are pretty much full wherever I go. I'd reckon that the number cancelling are fewer than some would believe or even would like it to be, for arguments sake or otherwise. No sooner do pitches become available it seems, they are snatched up very quickly.

Such cancellations could be considered beneficial to some as they provide opportunities to book when, like me, work or family circumstances allowed that previously unplanned break. Some may even argue that we need more such cancellations which would provide 'drip feed availability', not that I'm advocating that mind! The possible issue may be those that don't cancel and don't turn up but I'd bet that they are very, very few in number indeed in my opinion.

....a drip feed of cancellations aat 72 hrs would be great for you and I, we can go at the drop of a hat and change plans accordingly.

but those who have schedule their work hloidays months in advance couldnt benefit....in fact, it would be like rubbing salt in the wounds of someone who had tried repeatedly (and failed) to get the site of their choice and had booked somewhere else, only to see pitches for their first choice site become available a couple of days prior to their due date....

I do understand stand the issue for some, however I'd bet that there are far more clinging to the remote hope of a cancellation than cancellations themselves. Just a guess and an opinion mind!

My experience and observations are that sites are pretty much full wherever I go. I'd reckon that the number cancelling are fewer than some would believe or even would like it to be, for arguments sake or otherwise. No sooner do pitches become available it seems, they are snatched up very quickly.

Such cancellations could be considered beneficial to some as they provide opportunities to book when, like me, work or family circumstances allowed that previously unplanned break. Some may even argue that we need more such cancellations which would provide 'drip feed availability', not that I'm advocating that mind! The possible issue may be those that don't cancel and don't turn up but I'd bet that they are very, very few in number indeed in my opinion.

....a drip feed of cancellations aat 72 hrs would be great for you and I, we can go at the drop of a hat and change plans accordingly.

but those who have schedule their work hloidays months in advance couldnt benefit....in fact, it would be like rubbing salt in the wounds of someone who had tried repeatedly (and failed) to get the site of their choice and had booked somewhere else, only to see pitches for their first choice site become available a couple of days prior to their due date....

I would have thought that (depending on time of year and perhaps area) those who had scheduled months in advance would have at least booked the weekend dates.

BB, is that such a bad thing?

no, not necessarily.....ideally there would be a minimum of no shows, and these only due hopefully to 'extenuating circumstances'...

whilst 'changing ones mind' is a prerogative of all customers, pitch availability has a 'shelf life' (its due date) and the club has to stike a balance with being able to give ALL members the chance to take up the slack... 72 hrs takes most of the working members out of that group...

now, make it 7 ( or even 10) days and that opens the play up a little to more members and will reduce the cancellations of those who (really do) look at the weather forecast before deciding to honour their booking....

if these is to be no financial penalty for the current short lead time, a longer one would make folk think a bit more and give more folk the chance to pick up the pieces.

...and theres always holiday insurance for those forced to cancel a long holiday due to 'extenuating circumstances'...

after all, any other holiday company will not only insist on a healthy deposit, but also will scale back the amount returned based on the closeness to the due date...

you couldnt imagine (say) First Choice allowing a no deposit system and fee free cancelling 3 days before departure, and yes, they would also be able to resell the seat/hotel place. 

Thanks BB

Pitch availability problems are a symptom of the CC accepting too many members and their annual fees, without having the infostructure to satisfy their requirements.

Solution,:---- open more CC campsites !!!!!        OR         Restrict the membership  !!!!!!

K 

Pitch availability problems are a symptom of the CC accepting too many members and their annual fees, without having the infostructure to satisfy their requirements.

Solution,:---- open more CC campsites !!!!!        OR         Restrict the membership  !!!!!!

K 

Yes, I'd certainly go with the first suggestion and as you say continue making them campsites open to as many forms of camping as possible!

I am at a bit of a loss. The prices are too expensive, we get nothing for our membership fee, except a magazine filled with adverts! etc etc. Or at least that is what some would have you believe. Yet when the CC do something a bit different than the other operators, no deposit, penalty free cancelation, they are criticised for it.

Agree with you Steve, also according to some posters club sites are empty, the club has trouble getting people to actually go to the sites as they are so expensive, yet now we have a thread saying that there were three empty pitches and others that they have trouble actually booking a pitch in the first place? Which is it?

I am at a bit of a loss. The prices are too expensive, we get nothing for our membership fee, except a magazine filled with adverts! etc etc. Or at least that is what some would have you believe. Yet when the CC do something a bit different than the other operators, no deposit, penalty free cancelation, they are criticised for it.

Steve, you wont please all of the people all of the time, i agree..

however, this particular 'difference' doesnt really do anything for working families who cant change holiday dates as easily as some (you and I) can....

having to cancel at 3 days notice for you and I because of (say) a family change of plan, is just water off a ducks back, we change plans all the time, so this 'difference' is great for us and the rest of the predominant CC demographic.

however, when i was working (despite being able to, within reason, choose my own dates) agreed dates were expected to be honoured for the sake of the rest of the team.

so holidays were booked earlier....and deposits paid...

so, the answer some give is that ALL members have the same chance to book sites in December....yet, here again, the bias is skewed towards those who have the time to be at a PC when booking opens....not those who are at work at 8:00....

...and then there is the age old Sunday Departure issue where those who can only 'weekend' have to be away on Sunday at midday (WD not withstanding.....

so, thereare three examples where the club could easily be far more family focussed just by tweaking those three 'rules'...

one.....make the cancellation period 7 days

two....move the booking opening day to a weekend at (say) 9 am

three...allow departures on a Sunday to be 16:00 by default.

now, i dont want another SD thread, ive just given examples where tiny tweaks could easily change the 'perceived' bias towards families without incurring cost, nor impacting on any other 'groups' within the club.

the club is trying hard to get over its 'family credentials' yet there are small procedural changes that could be made which would show they mean business.....and thats before they get stuck into any large cost incurring projects.

I think the problem is caused by having the opening day booking fiasco

It's time for rolling bookings