Arrival times

This thread has had me thinking about the times we have arrived somewhere at an odd hour, or set off home at an odd hour. And the occasional journey via hell (hell being for this purpose, linear with few detours!) that upset the best laid of plans!

its the concept of forcing customers to queue outside (perhaps in an entrance road) waiting for a specific 'opening time' that causes the congestion issues.

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Ahem ---- Who is forcing customers to arrive at a site far too early, The earliest arrival time is well published in both the handbook and on-line, so if they arrive at the wrong time, either the customer cannot read or cannot tell the time.  It's so easy to plan your journey to arrive after the earliest arrival time. It's the CMC rules which all CMC customers have signed up to. ---if going to a CMC site follow their rules. -- Simples.!!  

K 

I agree K. The Club has very proscribed rules about arrivals and departures, and on popular busy sites they are probably the only way a site can be managed. I don't subscribe to a blanket enforcement across all sites, all of the time though, and this is where members will disagree.

Some want a blanket enforcement, no concessions at any time, under any circumstances policy. While others prefer what they consider a more common sense, adaptable approach that allows some flexibility if bookings and other conditions allow. Where you stand on this will be an individual preference. For some, that preference may make Club Sites an unattractive, not worth joining choice, particularly if you have set times you can tour such as weekends and busy holiday periods only. I know that when we were working, we seldom used Club Sites because we found private sites were much more flexible, and we could maximise our time away.

Classic example: booked in one night at a Club Site in SW (break in travel) We were badly held up (three hours on M5, standing traffic, no way off) so I phoned Club Site to explain we couldn't arrive until after 8pm. No late night arrivals area, so no we wouldn't be allowed on. So, I phone a CL, oh dear, yes of course we have a pitch, don't worry what time you arrive. We stayed three nights, and used it on way back home, and it is now our regular overnight stop. 

Rigid inflexibility does not attract prospective members, and the Club no doubt knows this, hence what we term Wardens discretion. If it can be accommodated easily, without detracting from the enjoyment of others, or putting strain on staff, then it should be considered. Staff should have the empowerment to supervise a Site how they think most productive, safe and reasonable. Rigid inflexibility is not always the best way forward. 

 " its the concept of forcing customers to queue outside (perhaps in an entrance road) waiting for a specific 'opening time' that causes the congestion issues highlighted in this and similar threads...pensioners and post offices comes to mind.."

No ones forcing clients to wait outside, the client is causing the problem.

Business brain in action !! The customer is always wrong.

It's how you let him know it !! 

Happy caravanning.

 Some wardens though seem to revel in the power to be able to make people wait until the last second before they allow arrivals on site. 

Personally  from my experiance of arrival times most wardens,are quite flexible where possible, on arrival times,the perceived  "problem" of having to wait to get on some sites until a specific time normally i have found down to the amount of staff on duty,and the legal requirement for breaks,,no site is the same across the network with how these can be managed ,and of course has got worse since the WTD was introduced

When travelling a distance arrival timing is not an exact science and whilst a certain degree of adjustment is feasible by reducing one's cruising speed, there are limits and no, there aren't always available lay-bys.

I find that when "checking routes" on the sat nav or the route planners,it has always had the minimum time it should take for the journey

I normally decide when I am 45 mins from site if I am going to be early and that leaves time to find a layby or similar.

I am happy to be kept waiting if I am 5 mins early.

Very rarely do we arrive on site early especially if we have to travel a fair distance from home, as long as we arrive before dark we are happy, When we are on site I have observed an early arrival circle round a site looking for the perfect pitch ( is there one). Then  after they have had to pitch somewhere, about half a dozen will leave. Does not always pay to be early.