It Pays to Read Reviews

Clearly there were a few visitors who didn't heed your advice. In 30 plus years of touring, mainly at CLs, I have never come across one that I could remotely describe as a smelly, untidy rubbish dump. One or two haven't quite met our personal needs, mainly due to road noise, but that is just us. Others might not have been bothered. 

We always check out reviews, but we are canny enough to read between the lines of a few reviewers as well. Folks are very brave voicing opinions online, sometimes rather unfairly.

You will of course now have a lot of folks wondering which CL you didn't visit, how could it be so bad? 

Another one who likes reviews. We are also readers between the lines but do rely on a few regular contributors (not all of them on CT) whose reviews have proven to be reliable.

Must admit that we have not stayed on many that we could describe as the OP has but there have been a few that we wouldn't return to for various personal reasons.

Agree. Some members put together very good, informative reviews, truthful if things don't suit, but without a personal rant. One person's perfect CL could so easily be someone else's nightmare. It's all about choice and preferences.

I also ignore those gushing ones about the owners ( first  name terms).What  I want is a truthful assessment of the site, accessibility and what there is locally. That's what I give as anything else is subjective

We've stayed on a few that we've yet to meet the owners, even on repeat visits, and have posted a cheque through the letterbox when leaving. 

Not a top priority for us but quite willing to chew the cud if applicable.😀

When you use a site on a regular basis, say four five times a year, over dozen or so years, you do tend to end up on first name terms and perhaps swop the odd Christmas card! But likewise, we have done the post it through the letterbox as well!

Agree whole heartily, and what I too attempt to do, although I may include the owners name if we've visited a few times and have talked to the owner on a number of occasions.