Booking ahead is unfair at some sites

Not at CW but at Sandringham site we wanted to change to a non awning pitch as it was much nearer the facilities for OH  the lady in the office was most insistant that it was not possible,even though it showed on the website that there was vacant non. awning pitches

The pros and cons and different versions of booking systems and deposits have been discussed quite sensibly by contributors to this and the other thread. As yet this is still a relatively small number of people. What we don't know is what happens when the subject reaches a wider audience? I know the idea of deposits has been in the offing, probably since the 2020 AGM but it does not seem to be part of the wider debate out there on social media and regular forums. So what quite happens when it becomes a reality is difficult to guess? Obviously those that have been calling for deposits will no doubt rejoice that they have been listened to but will the silent majority be so keen? 

Some might suggest a mass desertion from the ranks of Club members. But where do they go? The Club is a very big player in the campsite market and inevitably anyone leaving the Club is just going to encounter the situation with deposits elsewhere and perhaps more rigorous requirements to pay up front 4/6 weeks prior to arrival. I imagine it will be met with some disappointment but probably accepted. Perhaps some older members whose thoughts might be whether it was time to give up might just hasten that decision. After a period of reflection I am sure it will all settle down?

David

Two things there DK, first is communication with the majority of Members. I think you said earlier that little as yet has been put to the Membership, other than one or two threads on here, a quite controversial thread on another forum a while ago, and the tiny few snippets picked up via the AGM. The Club isn’t renown for its communications of things as big as this, (think back to the name change😂) so I suspect many Members are going to be offered a fait accompli, take it or leave it. How that will go, as you say remains to be seen.

We look long and hard at our Membership each year now. Being canny, it costs us nothing as I get my £54 back in partner deals like Mountain Warehouse, some of the money off attractions. But from a personal point of view, other than in the Winter months when prices drop, or looking at Sites with MWD, we seldom use Club Sites now. They no longer represent value for money to us. The small, no facility Sites are a dwindling resource, Sites are (outside of Covid) closing earlier, so places like Bolton Abbey are no longer available. We aren’t interested in Bridlington, Clumber isn’t safe to take a bike to, and that’s about it close by🤷‍♀️ Chatsworth and Castleton ok for a one off visit, but we don’t sit about on Sites, we go to see something, do something. So we use far more CLs and small private sites nowadays. If the CLs broke away, formed their own network, we would be off like a shot. We simply don’t want to pay £30-40 for 12 hours on a pitch. We can get much better value elsewhere. I can understand folks new to touring, coming from package holidays overseas, etc.... thinking “this is cheap” once they have purchased some sort of tourer, but the jury is out on how many will keep that lifestyle before the lure of something easier calls again.🤷‍♀️ There’s nothing Club like at all now beyond the rallies, the committees and the AGM, great if you like that sort of thing, and possibly better value, but beyond this, the Club is a very big business, about to have a major rethink that won’t suit everyone. We have never had a romanticised “belonging to the Club” view of our Membership (nothing wrong with that if you have), but we will be as ruthless with our thinking, as the Club is with theirs. We won’t be missed, no illusions on that score, but we will survive as tourers, simply because there are more options, and we have been using them for a while.😉

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We always fully intend to take up our bookings, none are speculative. Other than in booking 6 months to a year ahead none of us can be sure we will be able to go.

I should have thought it was blindingly obvious. We make a lot of separate bookings, over 30 CAMC sites this year.  Slightly different to when we were working, when it might have been 10. Why would I want to tie so much of my money up with the club. Even when we bought our current MH and they were installing a refillable gas system and several other add ons, we only parted with a 2.5 % deposit. Folk seem far too eager to hand over their money. I don’t mind paying in advance but I would expect a discount. Remind me just what is the £54 a year membership for.?

 

Perhaps they were empty because the price of a pitch was out of most peoples price range not necessarily a no show or cancellation?

Exactly my point TDDA as its the C&MC now we have to be all inclusive and not just caravan minded.

Blimey A D whatever did you encounter for your wife to draw that conclusion ?

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Forgive fellow caravanners, for I have acted "outwith the "spirit of club membership".

A wet dinner time and farmers not really keen to dash out to work, we discussed upcoming events to add to the calendar. Owing to our work/lifestyle we usually expect to get away for a weekend in April and in September, plus 7 - 10 days in June. We're creatures of habit and return to sites we know and like. We have to fit in our main holiday between 1st and 2nd cut silage, and that of course is in the hands of the weather gods. So - I have booked 19 nights at New England Bay, knowing full well that I will have to chop some dates off the beginning or end.

Sorry. You can either call it "working the system", or any other epithet, but I would probably do the same with deposits in place.