Payment at booking
Comments
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+1 (or 0.5 laugh and 0.5 report)
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Stu, the club's official line (which answers your question) is:
There will always be a small number of sites and dates on the network that attract a high level of demand and regardless of the initiatives we implement (deposits, restricted bookings per member, rolling release of dates etc the demand will always be there.
Also personally while I could afford paying for my whole year's booking in one go (as I assume you can as you are suggesting it), there may be members who can't and save up for their summer holidays or get money in at certain times (when our family were young and I was the sole earner the marking money in July paid for the 5 weeks away) and therefore your suggestion may penalise some members?
Also as other have said the system works if you book early enough.
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The only people against a deposit system are those who want the option not to turn up, with no penalty, or to cancel at late notice without penalty.
I see that Ian also posts something that is simply untrue. I am confident that most on this thread who are saying that they don't want deposits do not book with any intention of cancelling. I certainly don't.
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Nor me, Easy, but some will grasp at any straw and stir with it.
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Have to agree, so that's two of us at least!
I am against a deposit (as it is not necessary as there is no evidence to suggest otherwise, I don't see why I should give my money up early, it would complicate and slow down bookings, how would you get your money back?) and mainly because the club says it wouldn't help anyway. The idea of the option to not turn up without penalty really does not come into it for me at all.
Also there is a penalty for late cancellations.
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+1. (as stated above)
So that's at least three of us
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For us booking direct with Brittany Ferries, it was only £35 until 8 weeks before, and they even refund your money, or give you a credit note until quite close before sailing. Unfortunately Eurostar are more like the budget airlines, to get it cheap you have to book early and pay upfront. It is also non refundable, although the booking can be altered for a fee, plus any extra charge. However, for a £400 saving worth the risk.
The OP did not specify if the payment at time of booking would be refundable, or forfeit if the booking was cancelled.
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There you are then.
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It isn't very often (if at all) you can book a holiday, hotel or a ferry without a deposit. Why should the CAMC be any different? A 25% deposit on booking but extend the cancellation period to 14 days. If you cancel outside that period the deposit can be held on your account against a future booking. Cancellations within the 14 day period would forfeit the deposit. Bookings made within 14 days of commencement should pay in full at the time of booking with a 100% cancellation fee.
This would stop a a lot of speculative booking.
Another thought would be a minimum two night stay at weekends in July and August.
Clearly death and serious illness would have to be exempted on the production of relevant documentation.
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I am very glad that the CC does not take a deposit. Contrary to Ian's belief that such a view means I want to cancel at the last minute; the reason is that on average this year I have paid a £10 a night deposit on 25 nights (5 sites) at commercial caravan sites. If I paid similar on CC sites I would have to shell out around £1,200. I prefer not to.
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Here's the second of the club's new 'values'
Simplify - We'll make the experience as easy and seamless as possible so you can enjoy the great outdoors your way.I'm not convinced that your proposal fits that value very well. I think the club will continue to resist requests for deposits and restrictions on members booking patterns.
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Non refundable, booked three site's with CC, but being a member of both clubs non with CC&C,I wonder why😇Now must watch that weather forecast 😜😜😜😜😜
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It was only a suggestion. I suspect some members do book "just in case" they can fit a weekend away in, then cancel if the weather doesn't look great. Whilst not proven you only have to look at popular sites that are full for a particular weekend then pitches become free just before the 72 hour cancellation period.
Personally the weather doesn't stop us going away.
Every holiday company wants to make the experience "as easy and seamless as possible" but you still have to pay a deposit. Let's face it you wouldn't book any other holiday without paying one and you either have to be prepared to lose it or have it covered by insurance. Why should the Club be any different. My suggestion goes further by holding the deposit within your account providing you cancel outside of 14 days.
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Why should the club be different from any other holiday provider?
Perhaps because they take nearly £50 off us all to be members. You have to offer some sort of advantage or benefit or we wouldn't bother joining. They need to find a way of being unique and 'special' in a crowded market. The ease of booking has been the single factor that's kept my membership and no I don't speculatively book or cancel on a whim.
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Let's face it you wouldn't book any other holiday without paying one and you either have to be prepared to lose it or have it covered by insurance.
Lets face it - I don't book over a hundred nights away every year with any other single holiday company.
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My thoughts too.
We have had to cancel or rearrange in the past due to illness, but never at the last minute thankfully. However, the older we get the more likely it is that things could go wrong, so we appreciate the ability to cancel easily.
Like ET, we tour, and we do have a plan. The plan is made well ahead and bookings of popular sites at peak periods are made on day 1. We try to avoid school holidays as much as possible, but Easter is impossible to avoid. And of course every week has a weekend.
However, due to unforseen circumstances, it may occasionally be necessary to change a couple of dates, even change a route slightly, so it is good to be able ro do this without too much difficulty.
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I don't think deposits or up front payments would have much effect on the situation at Rowntree Park, particularly if you're looking to book over the Easter period. And I can't see the club changing its system any time soon. Why would they when it appears to satisfy and work for the vast majority of members? (I base this on the fact that, compared to the furore over the recent name change, not many folk feel strongly enough about it to come on here and complain!)
Personally, once I've decided on a site I want to visit I'll go with whatever system they choose to operate. We've 6 bookigs over the next couple of months. 3 wanted a deposit and balance on arrival, 1 wanted a deposit and full payment a month in advance and 2 ( club sites) want payment on arrival. I'm content with all these arragements; if I wasn't I'd be looking for alternatives.
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We are with you Moulesy. Happy to go with whatever arrangements are in place at the destination we have chosen, be it MH, caravan, cottage or anything else.
Deposits won't help the popularity of Rowntree Park. Location for most folks is good, York is a brilliant place for a holiday, it's strolling distance into the city centre. That's why it is busy. Fact that it is prone to flooding doesn't put folks off. Anyone wanting specific dates at RP needs to be very organised and join the fray in December.
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So then.......about 3 or 4 people say that they don't want deposits and that they want to retain the option of late cancellation without penalty........versus a similar number who don't mind either way and the dozens upon dozens of empty pitches on sites that are showing as full on the booking system.
I'd say that was pretty conclusive evidence that deposits would improve a situation no end, whilst only upsetting a tiny minority.
But like I say, it matters not a jot to me either way........I'm just providing an un-biased assessment of the situation.
Anyway, off for a well earned G&T now, sfter all that work.......
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