Silly site prices. Off season and peak season

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

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!

replied on 28/02/2019 22:16

Posted on 28/02/2019 21:58 by brue

And there's only one non ehu pitch so you'd better be quick if you want it...wink

Posted on 28/02/2019 22:16

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replied on 01/03/2019 07:16

Posted on 28/02/2019 21:35 by KjellNN

Mmm, I wondered that too.  

There are a lot of grass pitches at Bladon, that and the prices these days are why we have not used it in many years.

Posted on 01/03/2019 07:16

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replied on 01/03/2019 07:38

Posted on 01/03/2019 07:38

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replied on 01/03/2019 08:05

Posted on 01/03/2019 07:43 by Cornersteady
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Posted on 01/03/2019 08:05

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brue replied on 01/03/2019 08:21

Posted on 01/03/2019 07:16 by

We have used Bladon Chains a number of times now  because its in exactly the right place  for us on our way from Portsmouth. Arriving when we do there is usually a poor choice of pitch, either close to a noisy road or worse on grass. We have been towed off once by the warden and another time remained hooked up and got off using plastic mats borrowed from the office.Last year the ground was fine but we were on steeply sloping grass totally surrounded by other vans, There are nicer pitches but we dont get them and its only one night . However its invariably the most expensive night of our 3 month trip and apart from a decent shower not much to justify the premium over a decent CL we use at the start of the trip.

Posted on 01/03/2019 08:21

We've stayed there, enjoyed being on the grass as the mats gave us confidence. We were opposite the single non ehu pitch, a small strip along side the field fence, not the best of pitches and the site was very busy so it was in use. At least we were away from the worst of the road noise. We were en route for East Anglia and it was easy to book for a short two night wander round the area. The site is well placed for overnight and longer stays.

We're doing an overnight at Knaresborough later this year, very expensive but it's convenient and although I could hunt around for a CL it will suit us for the purpose and we can get a meal after a long drive from the SW. 

What I will be doing this more often this year, if all goes well, is to look for better prices but sometimes like you convenience takes precedence. 

SteveL replied on 01/03/2019 08:47

Posted on 01/03/2019 08:47

Whilst like everyone else I like a bargain, I do think that some want something for nothing. The sites have to turn a profit, and more folk are likely to be looking for a pitch in mid March than in February. Hence prices are going to be higher.

I just checked our local site Clumber and the price for two, weekend / midweek from January to 14th March is £20 / £16.70. From then through to Easter peak £23.40 / £19.50.

The site is almost always totally full at weekends, even in the winter months. I think they have the pricing, certainly through this period, at a fair and reasonable level.

replied on 01/03/2019 09:18

Posted on 01/03/2019 09:18

Looking back at the prices I paid last year during last week in April, May, June, July and September I was pleased with the prices of the CC sites that I used. Christmas period at Southport was a tad dear but I paid it by choice

replied on 01/03/2019 09:24

Posted on 01/03/2019 08:47 by SteveL

Whilst like everyone else I like a bargain, I do think that some want something for nothing. The sites have to turn a profit, and more folk are likely to be looking for a pitch in mid March than in February. Hence prices are going to be higher.

I just checked our local site Clumber and the price for two, weekend / midweek from January to 14th March is £20 / £16.70. From then through to Easter peak £23.40 / £19.50.

The site is almost always totally full at weekends, even in the winter months. I think they have the pricing, certainly through this period, at a fair and reasonable level.

Posted on 01/03/2019 09:24

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