Loss of Site Shops on remote rural sites

I don’t think the club actually managed or run many, if any, of the shops on sites. I was told that  many rural newsagents were now not delivering papers to sites as few folk these days bought them preferring to get their news online. Too many rural shops have also closed for similar reasons, they are just not viable! One site shop we saw recently had a very limited stock indeed and members were complaining about it being too expensive. I guess, if they are run by the managers independently from the club, there will be time constraints to consider as well as the financial burdens to cover. May be the whole idea is just not feasible any more and breaking even is too challenging in these times. There are also tax implications and hygiene certificates to obtain. The world has changed.

Ray, are you aware that stock in site shops was funded by the wardens themselves? CAMC did not operate the shops (with one or two exceptions). H&S made it impractical for site staff to continue.

Perhaps The Club should be running site shops as a service to members.

I’d bet the economics of that too are impractical, finding and paying staff, stocking, insurances and the like would drive site and membership fees up even further I’d think. The club I’m sure is trying to be more financially efficient in these difficult times, not less.

Spend three nights at New England Bay earlier this month. I bought ice cream from reception. They had a very small shop selling a few things, can’t remember what. Milk maybe? Possibly pasta. Can’t comment on gas because we have refillable cylinders. It was good to have ice cream because it was the Galloway local ice cream, wouldn’t have bought it otherwise. There are shops in villages just a few miles to the north and south of the site, we know because we used one at Sandhead. We don’t go to sites expecting a shop.

From our experience last year and the one site we used earlier in the year I thought an increasing number of sites were getting back to where they were before Covid. I think the Club provide certain items for sale which probably come from their tie up with Prima Leisure so that is why you see toilet chemicals. Gas, I suspect, is down to whether a site can find a wholesaler willing to deliver to remote campsites. Other than the things mentioned the site staff have to finance the purchase of stock and of course they will be paying top wholesale prices because of the limited amount they buy and stock. I am not sure its up to the site staff to provide a service which only breaks even if they are lucky. I always found it useful, especially the more remote sites, that they sold milk. However not much incentive if people are upset at paying more money than they would in their local Aldi when the site is probably buying at what Aldi sell it for? I am sure there is a willingness to have site shops but only if they give a reasonable return and don't take up a disproportionate amount of time to organise?

David

Surely exchanging Calor Gas cylinders is a 'minimum requirement'  on Caravan Club Sites ? 

They nearly always run out  'mid Breakfast'  packing up and driving 10 miles each way to a registered supplier is a bit 'unfriendly' on a site ? 

When we were at NYM site, near Whitby last year (or was it the year before??) the Wardens told us that they were no longer allowed to run their own shop because of the dangers posed by food allergies.  This in turn, meant taking out their own insurance and the whole exercise  had become unviable. For whatever reasons - mainly because these were private enterprises outside of the Club - the Club were not prepared to support them and accept the risk.

Although I found this stance disappointing, I suppose I could understand it.

So imagine my surprise when we arrived at the Sandringham site last week to find a very well-stocked little shop in reception, selling bread, other basics - and ice cream, of course.

Something doesn't quite add up.

 I agree,  not talking about a large store, just the basics,  Milk , bread,  perhaps biscuits, and 'forget' things like toothpaste, shower gel,  and Ice creams for those rare hot days !   And I expect to pay top prices for them,  after all  the convenience of not having to leave site, is worth the extra. 

No, I don't go to a site 'expecting a shop' but if you have been to the same site for several years and then suddenly  its gone, because of a change of Site Warden  it comes as a shock, especially if you come unprepared.   It's like going to hotel  with a pool for several years, then going and finding it closed  because the hotel manager, thought it  was  too much work to carry it on ?  

That's how I felt about the Gas and the shop.