There is a lot of very unhappy club members

Perhaps I need to ask the Club some questions about Pods.  In particular to find out how often the pods are used in relation to what marketing is done, who uses the Pods (members or non-members - is there a difference in cost).  Also is there a strategy to increase the number of Pods.

Of course, if each Pod takes up a pitch, then every extra pod would mean one less available pitch.  I wonder if this should be seen in relation to tent pitches.  Are tent pitches underused?  If so is it viable to increase pods and decrease tent pitches?  Are club sites bound by by-laws on some sites to say there must be tent pitches on certain sites?  (Folk may be aware that some sites have to be open to non-members, for example, because of local regulations - but non-members pay more).

One advantage of pods is that they can be moved from one site to another - and I know the Club have done this.

Lots of questions worth asking to see if there is anything to be gained by increasing the number of pods without making disadvantages for current caravan/ motorhome users etc.

David

The answers would be interesting David ...... if you can obtain them. 

As I said earlier they would not make sense on some sites. No point a big advertising campaign with so few to let. 

I doubt if many users have not already got contact with a caravanner.

The season for those using tents would I suspect be shorter than pods perhaps, 

Maybe a use for a less popular grass pitch

You may well be right Alan.  Perhaps, because of the closeness of the Premier Inn, perhaps Whitewater may not be the best location?

David 

It seems to me that images of tent pitches are more in evidence on Club site booking pages and that booking looks easier. 

Is it me or is this a relatively new thing. Seem to remember that getting details of costs for tent pitches was not so easy previously. I could be wrong though.

All questions?  I'll start making a list.. 

David

Well for a couple and 2 kiddies £112 with breakfast included sounds better than £90 for a pod and no eat as much as you want breakfast. 

Certainly when our lads met up with us about 6 years ago they had to book a tent pitch by phone with the site. Now it is possible to book online and see availability, just like if booking our van.

Perhaps they will bring in the same for pods, when folk get a bit more familiar with them.

As posted on another thread (to many "new" threads on one subject)it has been said the "old club" were losing members as younger families were joining the more "upwardly mobile" camping club,  but i think it is more that because of the increasing pressure on their finances  ,and modern houses having no place for parking anything,  let alone a large leisure vehicle and storage in this area at about £600 pa, a modern tent with more space and all the equipment that is available for modern camping is far more attractive option , as is a small camping trailer and smallish family car is also a lot cheaper,and camping is still the c&cc core and growing customer base

Indeed we had a trailer tent for 12 months before buying a caravan. Fitted in garage OK, towed with a viva estate 1149cc I think. We rarely used the full awning and it would set up therefore in half the time of the caravan. 

On the subject of motorhome being sold to younger people, I can't remember the exact words spoken by the representative from Spinney Caravans, but the notes that the Central Region secretary made at the question time session 2 weeks ago says this:

"Motorhome too expensive for younger people?
• Spinney say that more younger people are in fact, buying motorhomes using finance to purchase.
• More motorhome being sold than caravans, using PCP. "

(By the way, PCP is short for Personal Contract Purchase.  It complicated to explain, but basically it's a way of purchasing a car/motorhome and what you pay is based on the depreciation value of the vehicle over a period of time.  Martin Lewis can explain it much better than me HERE.)

David