No News Yet on the New Booking System

Posted on 29/10/2021 13:06 by peedee

Thanks for the link Brue. I note that last years questions are also included in the list!

peedee

 

Posted on 28/10/2021 13:22 by eurortraveller

Dynamic pricing would adjust price levels to surges in demand. If site X is being heavily booked the price automatically goes up. 

Posted on 29/10/2021 12:02 by TiggyPeak

I wanted to share my views about deposits, and provide an insight to my C&MC experience in the hope it is of use. I'm strongly against deposits if they are non-transferable or non-refundable.

I am early 40's, owned a Motorhome for nearly 5 years, work full-time and go away in my van most weekends, all year around, and you can definitely class me as a weekend block booker. Exactly the person some people want to be able to stop being able to book multiple sites so they can have their full week booking. I also additionally book maybe 5 full weeks a year.

I sometimes change my mind about which site I want to stay at, so switch and change between them. Very rarely I will cancel a booking outright in plenty of time if work or family commitments arise. I have never in my nearly 5 years membership cancelled within the 72 hours, or not turned up.

If deposits were introduced I would not be able to book so far in advance, and take advantage of this flexibility. This leaves the C&MC with a similar product offering to most other service providers in the market. What the C&MC is not similar to other providers on is cost. As a camper with a van that is self-sufficient without EHU I can save a fortune booking with other clubs and service providers instead. I wonder, have the club been able to successfully measure the cost of giving up their USP, (unique selling point)? Have they measured how many people are currently paying their premium prices only because of this USP? Are they satisfied that the gains of giving up their USP will offset the losses of people like me - people who are spending a lot of money across the year with the C&MC because of the flexibility the current booking system offers? Are the big spenders with the club only big spenders because this flexibility allows them to be? When you are away for a big chunk of the year and camping is part of your lifestyle, rather than just two weeks away every summer you really value the flexibility afforded by the current system. 

This flexibility means I can plan ahead, the current system, with unlimited bookings allows me to commit to spending lots of money with C&MC, safe in the knowledge that if something should change I can take advantage of the flexibility. I currently have around 40 bookings, (yes 40!) with the C&MC. Over the course of the next year I suspect I will cancel 3 or 4 of these in plenty of time. Is it really a positive move to limit someone who will spend so much money over the next year to stop them making so many bookings? 

I've seen it said that you shouldn't book a pitch if you are not committed to it and completely agree. Despite my numerous bookings that commitment is there, but the fact is when you spend so long away the chances of something cropping up to prevent me getting away at some point over the course of the year are pretty high, but on any given booking I'd wager my risks are no higher than anyone else who has booked. 

Is introducing deposits even going to solve the problems that are why some people would like them introduced? If people think it will mean they can get in last minute for a full week at Chatsworth or York Rowntree I suspect they will still be disappointed - then what, they demand you have to book for a minimum stay? Or reduce the bookings you are permitted to make? It is always going to be the case at those honeypot sites, unless they are priced so that demand drops, that you snooze you lose. 

Only the club knows the true extent of the issue of no shows, but I wonder - is the ultimate goal of those asking for deposits to be introduced to reduce demand sufficiently so they can have their definition of flexibility - empty sites that they can book? Realistically that isn't going to happen with current levels of demand, so what will be achieved by introducing deposits?

As the flexibility offered by the club declines the potential market shifts, it must be very difficult to weigh up the pros and cons, financial and otherwise. It is my belief that people are looking for, and appreciating increased flexibility in their lives - not less. Personally I'm hopeful over the next few years I may even be able to work from the van and flexibility will be key.

I just hope that whatever decisions are made are not based on who shouts loudest but modelled based on market research, including costing, demographics and exploring what future requirements people may have, not even just of those who are currently in the club, but those who are the future of it.

Some people will read this and say I'm part of the problem - I am the reason they can't book Chatsworth for a week in August when they plan their holiday a couple of months before. It's up to the club to decide if people like me are the problem and they want to encourage me to take my custom elsewhere. I have no doubt that if non-refundable or non-transferable deposits are introduced, my spending levels with the club will dramatically decrease. They have to answer the question - will that spending be recovered elsewhere?

I should say I have no issue with deposits if the current levels of flexibility are maintained, and you only lose money in the event of a no show or late cancellation. For example if I could shift my booking to another date or site easily, (online, not sitting on the phone for 15 minutes) outside of the 72 hours cancellation cut off - then keep taking my money C&MC!

Posted on 29/10/2021 13:43 by joanie

 The way the club is run at the moment makes it different  from other sites / clubs, it has the advantage over them where it doesn't take deposits, do away with that and they will find they are then in competition with the rest of the field. In fact why pay for membership when you aren't getting anything over and above the rivals and please don't quote the £13 extra you have to pay if you are not a member.

Posted on 29/10/2021 14:02 by Tinwheeler

Joanie, some of us have been pointing out that the no deposit and easy cancellation system is indeed a USP of this club. Others don’t see it that way and it looks as if their voices have taken precedence over ours.

No deposits never made good business sense but we enjoyed the freedom while we could. Now it looks as if the club is returning to the way it was when I joined in terms of deposits. The decision has been made, so be it, I’ll go with the flow.

Nice to see you posting again. Stay around.

Posted on 29/10/2021 14:09 by

No deposits never made good business sense but we enjoyed the freedom while we could. Now it looks as if the club is returning to the way it was when I joined in terms of deposits. The decision has been made, so be it, I’ll go with the flow.

Depends on how attractive it makes it to book a CMC site