Silly site prices. Off season and peak season

Not Mike replied on 28/02/2019 02:08

Not Mike

Posted on 28/02/2019 02:08

I have looked at the latest handbook to book a site. Prices are not clear ... There is no guidance, as there was in the past, as to off season / peak season pricing. Is all pricing now charged at peak season rates? Go online .. No mention of differential prices as you book.

So the only way I can find how much a site will cost is to go through the booking process, then I will get a price, then I can decide if I can afford it or not.

for Example

I looked at the Bladon Chains site ... Page 149. A bargain at "from £7.90 a night, for one adult and pitch. It's open from 01 March. I decided to book from 01 March ... Surely this is must be low season, my experience tells me that this is the case. But I wanted too book two adults, so I wonder how much this will cost?? Perhaps, at the very most, my wildest guess, at the most 2 X £7.90. Perhaps £16 a night. No it can't be that much ... The site has only just opened, so it must be off season. Proceed to book it £179.20 for 8 nights. £22.40 a night for 2 people!! There is no breakdown of the pricing on the email confirmation.

In the wildest imagination of consumer rip offs, "I could not believe it"! How can you get from £7.90 to £22.40 by adding one person. How do I find when I can go by myself for £7.90?

This seems to me the most opaque pricing structure you could possibly get. I thought transparency was the new watch-word in consumer relations!

I booked, but will be chasing this up to find out WHY., The silly price declaration. (Would it have been cheaper to book 2 pitches with one person on each?). I don't expect I will get a sensible answer over the phone tomorrow.... But I have given the 'powers that be' a chance to formulate a response, in advance.

Watch this space!

10 people like this

287 replies

replied on 01/03/2019 11:04

Posted on 01/03/2019 10:51 by JVB66

But overpriced? is in how some look at it but the majority seem to accept that is not the case which shows with the site occupancy that seems to increase year on year

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:04

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

2 people like this

Justus2 replied on 01/03/2019 11:06

Member

Justus2

Motorhomer

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:06

A site has to be in a very special location for us to pay more than £25. Any provider that charges more than that will not get our custom. We find alternatives. Sometimes it is camping club, or CLs or no facilities sites or private sites. Perhaps I am in a minority. We have a very expensive van, it cost a lot, and is not cheap to maintain either, but was bought with an inheritance, our actual income is not far away from the minimum wage. 🙁 This will improve when we both get state pension. ☺️

Takethedogalong replied on 01/03/2019 11:10

Member

Takethedogalong

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:10

Club Sites are probably not overpriced given how the Clubs pricing policy seems to operate, and in comparison to other similar sites in UK. They are partly a product of what the membership now decides it wants before it heads off for an “adventure”, ie HS, toilet and shower blocks, hook ups, service pitches etc.... All this comes at extra costs. Add in the usual rapacious trend for holiday providers in UK to ramp up prices over school holidays, and there you have it. Some thought has been given to family members in certain offers around children, and there are still some Sites on the network that are very good value if you don’t require all the extras mentioned above, for £15 per night.

Touring has changed greatly nowadays. No use old timers like us grumbling about Club fees, it’s a big business, caters for a different clientele in the main. You either go with it if taken as a whole you are getting value for money, or you don’t. Unlike other things in life, this one isn’t compulsory.

2 people like this

JVB66 replied on 01/03/2019 11:14

Member

JVB66

Caravanner

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:10 by Takethedogalong

Club Sites are probably not overpriced given how the Clubs pricing policy seems to operate, and in comparison to other similar sites in UK. They are partly a product of what the membership now decides it wants before it heads off for an “adventure”, ie HS, toilet and shower blocks, hook ups, service pitches etc.... All this comes at extra costs. Add in the usual rapacious trend for holiday providers in UK to ramp up prices over school holidays, and there you have it. Some thought has been given to family members in certain offers around children, and there are still some Sites on the network that are very good value if you don’t require all the extras mentioned above, for £15 per night.

Touring has changed greatly nowadays. No use old timers like us grumbling about Club fees, it’s a big business, caters for a different clientele in the main. You either go with it if taken as a whole you are getting value for money, or you don’t. Unlike other things in life, this one isn’t compulsory.

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:14

Spoken how it is ,good post

replied on 01/03/2019 11:20

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:04 by

I booked 2 nights next week at a club site and then due to a change of plan booked a 3rd, 10p more for the other day. Talk about squeezing the last drop out

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:20

Sounds like you got a bargain there with two nights at a reduced rate. All depends how you look at it

replied on 01/03/2019 11:26

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:20 by

Sounds like you got a bargain there with two nights at a reduced rate. All depends how you look at it

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:26

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

1 person likes this

Cornersteady replied on 01/03/2019 11:27

Member

Cornersteady

Caravanner

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:10 by Takethedogalong

Club Sites are probably not overpriced given how the Clubs pricing policy seems to operate, and in comparison to other similar sites in UK. They are partly a product of what the membership now decides it wants before it heads off for an “adventure”, ie HS, toilet and shower blocks, hook ups, service pitches etc.... All this comes at extra costs. Add in the usual rapacious trend for holiday providers in UK to ramp up prices over school holidays, and there you have it. Some thought has been given to family members in certain offers around children, and there are still some Sites on the network that are very good value if you don’t require all the extras mentioned above, for £15 per night.

Touring has changed greatly nowadays. No use old timers like us grumbling about Club fees, it’s a big business, caters for a different clientele in the main. You either go with it if taken as a whole you are getting value for money, or you don’t. Unlike other things in life, this one isn’t compulsory.

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:27

Good senisble stuff + 1

Takethedogalong replied on 01/03/2019 11:39

Member

Takethedogalong

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:39

It might be how it is JVB, but sadly we used less and less Club Sites each year now, and I think to a certain extent there is a sizeable clutch of members like us. 😕

JVB66 replied on 01/03/2019 11:46

Member

JVB66

Caravanner

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:39 by Takethedogalong

It might be how it is JVB, but sadly we used less and less Club Sites each year now, and I think to a certain extent there is a sizeable clutch of members like us. 😕

Posted on 01/03/2019 11:46

But the sites are still being used more, so it must be the "younger" ones who are increasingly getting what they consider value from sites,

Takethedogalong replied on 01/03/2019 12:05

Member

Takethedogalong

Posted on 01/03/2019 12:05

People’s perception of “value for money” is very personal, you can’t really compare, best not to try and work that one out.

As for the Club doing well? Well shorter seasons for some sites, some of the AS coming off the network, investment in none touring based accommodation.........the Club is changing. It is hanging on to its core clientele, while trying and possibly succeeding in attracting newer, younger members. You don’t have to be a member don’t forget to use the Experience Freedom lets. Double win if you get a member to book it for you as well!🤔😲😀

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