Would It Work ? – Open for sensible debate.

Doesn't look like the Club is going to comment on this.

peedee

I've done exactly the same on the day - the day our leafspring broke as we set off from the driveway at home.  Hardly something which was our fault, but as we wanted to go to the site, I decided to just amend it to a weekend a month later.  No problem, and I then rang the site concerned to inform them we wouldn't be arriving that day and that I'd changed the booking myself online.

Unlike NA I didn't subsequently cancel that amended booking and we managed to get to the site without a problem that time

I would have thought its in the interest of the club to sell out its sites as soon as possible. Makes business sense... why wouldn't they ?

I don't see that myself, there is no income from a sell out until ALL actually arrive!

peedee

in theory, they could all cancel 72hrs before and there would be no income at all.

most holiday companies require a deposit on booking (in line with their T/Cs) and the balance a bit nearer the departure date.

folk taking these holiday packages/cruises understand that this is a fairly normal model in this business area.

i have no problem with paying a deposit to C&CC, commercial sites, other leisure companies or even CC should this ever be required.

i never book 'van breaks' unless im totally certain Im going, and, apart from our New Year break, rarely book more than a week in advance....I like be confident about the weather

(in fact, we will be going away sometime next week but i will only confirm based on next week weather)

of course, i could book months in advance and then cancel if the weather was poor, but, despite some seeing this as a 'perk' of the club, i still feel this is somehow 'wrong' (tying up pitches until the last minute) so i wont do it...

im sure this means im missing out on being able to book some sites at some times but, hey, that's life

the CC system is an anomaly (in the modern leisure world) and provides members with a real flexibility advantage on the one hand, but a real issue for those who cant either commit at frenzy day (working families whose employers holiday rotas haven't been agreed) nor can pick up the cancellations (again because the required time off work requires more than the clubs 72hrs to arrange with their employer).

for the likes of me, retired no real diary ties, its great...but then Im part of the core Club demographic, aren't I?

Isn't the point of this thread that the sites are full on these so called honeypot sites so clearly people do turn up.....if it's not the people that book on the 'frenzy' day then what is the problem 

If the Club required a booking deposit and balance payment JUST for the honeypot sites at peak times, it wouldn't be the end of the world would it? All other sites and non peak times of year, the current system applies.

But you have to ask if there is a problem that needs fixing at these honeypot sites? it could be that the no shows or late cancellations are these sites maybe significantly lower than other sites precisely because they are so popular? Then of course it is back to the 'well I've paid my deposit so won't bother to cancel'

Also how many are honeypot? York, Baltic Wharf?

Don't see what the problem is. Plenty of pitches available now in the holiday season.  There are 122 at Malvern and believe it or not Late availability shows 35 at Chatsworth next Sunday. Never think of looking for a site until a few days before we decide to go and never have a problem. This mad rush in December is like Lemmings. Could it be the club has now priced itself out at peak times? Just back from Ilam Park Still £16 per night all in Sunday-Friday throughout the summer.

The 'paid deposit so not bothering to cancel' wouldn't be a problem if the balance payment were required in advance (as suggested in my post)

It has already been noted that there are vacant pitches seen on sites that were showing as full right up to the last minute, whether members cancel due to pending weather forecasts etc or other reasons. During peak times that are so important for people with families who don't have the flexibility of retirees, to ask members to commit financially for a select few sites at key times of the year, wouldn't be too much to ask. 

Only a suggestion mind, I'm not that bothered personally as I tend to visit adult only sites during school holidays. I'm merely speaking up for other demographics ;-)