Loosing More CLs, why?

Let me just say that I have just sent £25 to a CL, who didn't take deposits, as an apology for having to cancel the day before we were due to go through an accident to our car so I am not against deposits.

However I think you are making it difficult for your customers. You want payment in full at the time of booking, you don't accept cheques and you charge an extra 2.75% for credit cards. I am afraid I would look elsewhere.

Given the apparent lack of access problems, I find the two hour changeover period rather unnecessary as well. A new CL has to be careful not to put off potential clients by creating obstacles.

 If you are having little trade why even consider demanding payment with booking? It is not as if you would be likely to turn down trade due to a no show?

Oly, you may be disappointed, but frankly I think that for a site like yours  your figures are really rather good. 

Yep, 2pm arrival time would rule out any booking from me. 

The way we run the site has been derived from our own years of experience, but mainly from feedback from other CL users, this forum, the Club and from other CL owners.

So, addressing the points in order;

- We take full payment at the point of booking, this aligns with most other holiday accommodation, plus most guests only stay for 2 nights anyway, so we were taking £20 deposit then taking £8 cash on site...it just seemed pointless to be honest! However, having now started with this approach people seem to like the fact that they have it all confirmed and its one less thing to worry about or remember once on holiday.

- Most customers pay by BACS, so free and easy for everyone involved.

- I'm not sure what is meant by the "lack of access issues", however the arrival/departure times stated are the standard ones the Club recommended.  But, also as stated on our listing, changeover is flexible by arrangement, and many do ask and enjoy the benefit of an early arrival or late departure.

- Eurotraveller, that is our conclusion so far - which is why I wanted to raise it here. We are probably not unusual, which is why many CL's may give up and close a year or two after opening. We appreciate feedback like the comments above, but Club members also need to do their part and be supportive and not overly critical of new CL's if they want the network to survive. Fundamentally as owners we are not as sensitive as many, maybe as we are dyed in the wool caravanners.  But we also know that bookings are mostly not driven by the fine details but by having an amazingly fantastic location and surrounding area such as ours.  Don't get me wrong though, ease of booking, great personable customer service and facilities during the stay do secure repeat custom (which we don't have a problem with - most of are bookings are from the same few people who have visited to date!) but as with any new site, people just need to get to know about the location first...and the Club could help with that. 

http://www.pinsleycornerfarm.co.uk/caravan-site

https://m.facebook.com/PinsleyCornerFarm

As said. 2pm arrival would simply mean that I would choose another site. Most caravan sites that I use are 12pm including most club sites

Bank transfers are not as straight forward for those that do not use the internet banking. 

Not wanting to reiterate everything twice, but that is what the Club and other owners recommend (it's also what the vast majority of our nearest, busy, established, sites offer), and we do state that we have flexible arrival and departure times to be confirmed upon booking.  Part of the problem is the restrictive format that the Club uses on its website.  So if people want to ask at the time of booking then 95% of the time they will get the thumbs up to arrive and depart as early or late during the day as they wish 

You can do it by just phoning your bank, easier than posting a cheque