Booking ahead is unfair at some sites

Posted on 09/11/2021 09:35 by mbee1

And that's a choice we all have. When there are two sites close to each other, both broadly similar in quality, it's a no brainer to choose the cheaper one, particularly where you can choose the pitch type. However, the size of deposit wouldn't be a factor if I wanted to visit a particular site or area where there wasn't a choice of sites.

I can't see that members would be driven away if they had to pay the pitch fees in full or pay a sizeable deposit, unless it's because they drive a motorhome rather than a caravan.  I suppose members with motorhomes are more likely to change their plans or itinerary than someone with a caravan.

We don't tour.  Our two week break in the summer will only be spent on two sites at the most, More usually, we set down roots for the whole time.

Deposits also spread the costs of the holiday or break.  I really don't see what the aversion to deposits is.

Posted on 09/11/2021 09:48 by SteveL

Members seem to think this is their club and run for them. it isn't. It's in business to make a profit and, whilst that profit isn't paid to highly paid executives or to shareholders, it needs to be run as a business.

Having written that mbee, I’m not sure why your so set on deposits. Is the club likely to sell any more pitches than they do now, or even before the pandemic. If they are so hard nosed, why should they worry about speculative booking, as long as they sell the pitches in the end. I personally don’t think they are loosing very much due to no shows / late cancellations, even when the weather is poor.

Posted on 09/11/2021 10:05 by mbee1

Take Chatsworth as an example.  We had 9 nights there at the end of October (generally half term week and the second week of the Nottinghamshire half term as we get two weeks).  As everyone knows Chatsworth is always full according to the website apart from an odd night here and there.

I'd have a walk out about 10.30 pm to take the dog for a last walk and it was never full.  On a couple of nights there were 3 super pitches empty - something almost unheard of, in addition to standard pitches. and this was during half term. On one night I counted 6 empty pitches! This is unheard of at this site!

Empty pitches at a site like Chatsworth I suspect is down to no shows rather than cancellations.  Deposits, as long as they're meaningful, would stop that.

Posted on 09/11/2021 10:05 by mbee1

Take Chatsworth as an example.  We had 9 nights there at the end of October (generally half term week and the second week of the Nottinghamshire half term as we get two weeks).  As everyone knows Chatsworth is always full according to the website apart from an odd night here and there.

I'd have a walk out about 10.30 pm to take the dog for a last walk and it was never full.  On a couple of nights there were 3 super pitches empty - something almost unheard of, in addition to standard pitches. and this was during half term. On one night I counted 6 empty pitches! This is unheard of at this site!

Empty pitches at a site like Chatsworth I suspect is down to no shows rather than cancellations.  Deposits, as long as they're meaningful, would stop that.

Posted on 09/11/2021 10:11 by SteveL

It might well work for Chatsworth and Some other honeypots, as enough folk want to go there and if you want to be on top of Chatsworth house or York, there really isn’t a lot of choice. However, it’s rather a sledgehammer to crack a nut at most other sites. Folk will just look elsewhere.

Posted on 09/11/2021 10:00 by SteveL

I can't see that members would be driven away if they had to pay the pitch fees in full or pay a sizeable deposit, unless it's because they drive a motorhome rather than a caravan. I suppose members with motorhomes are more likely to change their plans or itinerary than someone with a caravan.

Our tour in September / October used 14 CAMC sites all booked the end of June. I don’t think I will be doing that if your figure of at least £50 deposit was brought in. £700 worth of deposits, no thanks we would definitely look elsewhere. There are plenty of MH’s on sites that only stop for a few days, could the CAMC risk alienating a not insignificant section of the membership.

Posted on 09/11/2021 09:18 by mbee1

I don't understand why it should be curtailed unless, of course, your plans are likely to change.  If you intend to take the tour, like any other holiday, why should a deposit make a difference?

Posted on 09/11/2021 09:59 by Takethedogalong

The Club already operates its Experience Freedom network via payment up front, certainly for the more expensive accommodation. I haven’t checked out what refunds, cancellation charges might operate, but suspect they advise taking out holiday insurance.

(Cant believe that we can be mentioning “holiday insurance” etc... to pitch up somewhere in UK for a few nights away. World’s gone mad🤪)

Posted on 09/11/2021 10:13 by JVB66

The booking system as I have found is quite suspect at site level  did you query with the site staff. I know I would have, 

There are not just no shows that can  mean empty pitches. Did the site have a problem? :

As later in the season sites close some pitches as the staffing levels are also reduced

 

Posted on 09/11/2021 10:23 by Takethedogalong

Right from the very start of the all the murmurs about deposits, I have thought the Club is going to please more of its Caravan owning Members. Don’t think this is intentional, just merely that caravans tend to stay longer in one location. It’s certainly how we use our caravan rather than our MH. If you use your MH for longer stays, then of course, no difference. But it’s rare we do this. We have a good few MH and campervan owning family and friends who aren’t Members because the Club doesn’t provide what they need, deposits will be a further barrier. 
We can tour when we want, being as spontaneous as we like. All we shall do is just hoover up the odd unbooked night/nights on Club Sites at short notice, going elsewhere if they are full.