Membership renewal premium
Comments
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I disagree that almost 5% is a small increase.
I also disagreee that organisations need to simply increase their charges to cover their increased costs.
Most efficient companies would first look very carefully at how on earth their costs could have possibly increased by 5% at a time of low energy prices, low inflation and stable business conditions. They would firstly tackle that issue.
The truth is that the CC have no incentive to cut their head office costs and are gambling that they can just keep increasing their rates and that people will pay it.
The CC management do not live in the real, commercial world. And the members are paying the price for that.
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I disagree that almost 5% is a small increase.
I also disagreee that organisations need to simply increase their charges to cover their increased costs.
Most efficient companies would first look very carefully at how on earth their costs could have possibly increased by 5% at a time of low energy prices, low inflation and stable business conditions. They would firstly tackle that issue.
The truth is that the CC have no incentive to cut their head office costs and are gambling that they can just keep increasing their rates and that people will pay it.
The CC management do not live in the real, commercial world. And the members are paying the price for that.
Thank you Ian. Well said. My only ally and someone with some real commercial savvy
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I'm an ally too sefton, Ian, and while I'm not a fan of criticising just for the sake of it, I'd like to point out to the CC that my index linked pension rose by 0% this year because it's based on last Autumn's CPI. OK I'm just one member, and I may not be typical in having an index linked pension in the first place, many members have less. I'd better understand a membership increase if CC site availability were to grow, or maintain historic levels even, but it doesn't and site fees should be set to cover individual site costs and a portion of general maintenance, including labour. Our membership fee needs to cover central administration costs, the magazine and new site investment. A core issue might be the proportion of HQ staff who aren't actually caravaners which may explain a commercial at the cost of club style of management which so many people post in favour of.
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Im sure if the CC really wanted to keep their costs under control, they could. Most large inefficient organisations waste huge amounts of money in their head office operations. Great savings can be made by rationalising the staff and departments within any company's head offices. Those savings can then be re-invested in their front line operations.
K
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well, im an ally, too.....
companies cant keep ramping up costs and just 'expecting' their 'loyal' customers to keep coughing up....folk will vote with their feet (wheels)....as we do....
i pay the club membership fee as it unlocks certain benefits..
...CLs, the chance to use an alternative ferry provider etc...
however, none of this precludes the fact that folk are entitled to ask the question when fees rise well above (real world) expectations....
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Im sure if the CC really wanted to keep their costs under control, they could. Most large inefficient organisations waste huge amounts of money in their head office operations. Great savings can be made by rationalising the staff and departments within
any company's head offices. Those savings can then be re-invested in their front line operations.K
Possibly the problem is the club is not a commercial compan y run by a group of diorectors for the benefit of shareholders. What we have is a business run by volunteers and with thye best will in the world this does not produce the most efficient operation
but there again there are no fat cats living off the membership.0 -
Run by volunteers?
So no-one at Grimstead is paid then?
exactly, all the folk in the call centres? etc....
i guess the IT folk might be volunteers.....
make no mistake, CC is very much a company run for profit by paid employees.....
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According to an article I just read, a typical director's salary at CC is nearly £93k
Really! How much! Well if the CC can afford to pay that much in wages I wish they would spare some money for new chippings for the hard standings at Moreton in Marsh site. Just spent a week there and got a bit fed up with large patches of bare muddy earth.
We even moved some of the chippings from the edge of the hard standing ourselves to cover a large very bare patch outside our door.0 -
So; having been rightly reprimanded several posts ago I, as the original Op, now have another observation. Is it morally OK for an organisation that is run for profit to call themselves a “Club”. Whilst I am sure that it is all legally above board the word club to me implies that it is run for the benefit of its member; not its shareholders.
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a good point, but there are other examples the RAC, and of course your local premier footbal club
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But is CC run for profit? Is it not costed to cover overheads and maybe feed a contingency fund for future development? Are there shareholders taking a nice divi? I don't think so.
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But is CC run for profit? Is it not costed to cover overheads and maybe feed a contingency fund for future development? Are there shareholders taking a nice divi? I don't think so.
The club is not specifically run for profit but long term cannot make a loss or it would go bust. It has to have reserves to cover contingencies and be able to fund future developments.
There are no shareholders or investors taking a profit though and it is run by a committee of volunteers.
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Hi all,
Sorry its taken a while for me to jump in here but reading all the posts above it's clear there is split opinion on the increased membership price for 2016 but what is also clear is that a response from The Club is needed on these issues. An official statement
was released at the end of 2015 but if this was missed please allow me to re-post:"The Club has increased the membership subscription in 2016, mainly due to unavoidable increases in operational costs and a commitment to achieve members’ expectations for the delivery of a constantly more modern approach – incorporating continuous improvements
to The Club website and developments in overall digital capabilities, including such things as mobile Apps. Look out for news on these enhancements throughout the year.The subscription fee covers one full and one joint member at the same address, 12 issues of The Club’s magazine (worth £40 alone), and gives you access to an extensive network of over 200 Club sites and 2,500 Certificated Locations, situated in a wide-ranging
choice of locations from cities, towns, villages across the regions, including prime tourist locations. As a member you can take advantage of a number of exclusive offers and discounts, including breakdown cover. The Club also provides support through our
comprehensive information and technical team and as a member you can take advantage of The Club’s legal help line, should you need it. We look forward to helping you make the most of your getaways and holidays in 2016."I hope this adds some insight into the decision made & remember we are always available to speak to if needs be.
Thanks all
Helen
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as with most Club responses, anyone used to writing 'corporate speak' could have put this together...
"my household is also subject to unavoidable costs yet is pledged to a continuous improvement progrem for the enjoyment of all our family...etc, etc...."
very non informative....
....and as you mentioned the Magazine.....
july edition....132 pages, 66 pages of adverts or classifieds.....
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me too. at least the C&CC mag lists the THS program each month, really useful.
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If the magazine "is worth £40" then I will happily forgo the magazine (it goes in the bin unopened most months) and just pay £8.
I assume the comparison is with the commercial magazines which are £3.99 each. The discount you want would not work because if the let you and others club opt out the cirulation woulkd drop and the advertising revenue would follow it down.
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Sorry Helen.......another non-response I'm afraid.
When will CC staff actually be able to answer members' questions, without having to resort to management-speak mumbo jumbo that doesn't actually say anything, that they have been given by some faceless non-caravanning manager?
And to say that the magazine is worth £40/year is, frankly, an insult to members' intelligence.
I would be embarrassed and angry if I were made to pass on such dribble.
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Passing on 'dribble'? You giving people slobbery kisses, Ian? Perhaps you should stick to drivel.
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Sorry Helen.......another non-response I'm afraid.
When will CC staff actually be able to answer members' questions, without having to resort to management-speak mumbo jumbo that doesn't actually say anything, that they have been given by some faceless non-caravanning manager?
And to say that the magazine is worth £40/year is, frankly, an insult to members' intelligence.
I would be embarrassed and angry if I were made to pass on such dribble.
That may be your opinion but that does not mean you are correct. Some of us like the magazine and it probably is superior to the commercial magazines but that again is opinion rather than fact.
If the magazine compares reasonably well with those magazines then bearing in mind people pay that price for them the comparison is reasonable.
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