CL contact methods
I was booking my next holiday for August yesterday and after I had decided on area and looked at the CLs available and narrowed it down to a few that I would like to stay on equally I realised that the next thing I checked was the contact methods to see if any of them had email available. None of them did so I had to phone but if out of the 4 I was looking at one of them had email contact details that would have been the one I chose. I know from speaking to other people that I am not the only person in the world who doesn't enjoy phoning people I don't know so thought I would mention it in case any CL owners don't offer email contact and would be able to (or possibly for everyone else on here to tell me I'm mad and they would much rather phone!).
Comments
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Athel, you raise a very good point. Reducing the 'friction' of booking a CL will enhance the number of enquiries and bookings.
Times are changing and Members (rightly in my opinion) expect to be able to see the availability of a CL and book it pretty quickly. Calling multiple CL's, and then awaiting an answer from the answerphone message etc. over the following few days is now (in my opinion) 'Old School'. CL's should (at a minimum) offer an email address and many do. Some (like us) now offer on-line booking.
As a member of the CL Owners Group I can relate (from meeting with and talking to many owners) that most CL's now have email, but a few still like to talk to their guests at the time of booking to get to know them a little before their arrival, answer questions etc. I can appreciate their viewpoint, but I'd agree with you that in these busy times, many people don't have time for a chat on the phone to book 1 or 2 nights at a CL..
I think we are a long, long way away from a universal CL booking system, for a host of reasons.. Until then, if you want to book a CL quickly you might want to choose one with Online booking..
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Happy to phone or use email. Either not a problem, both preferable to automated booking. We usually have a few questions to ask before we book.
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Happy to phone or use email especially for first time booking. As TDA says in case of questions. Happy to use automated too, even if I phoned, at least you can see availability. We often phone and leave message on answerphone but call not returned 😔. That's annoying cos I need to book something. Usually give 36-48 hours. Similarly no response to emails in a timely manner. These days calls or emails can be picked up anywhere so generally scratch any future stops at such sites 😉
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We too are happy to phone or e-mail, but would expect a response within 36 hrs. It's is most annoying when the CL owner doesn't respond, and as you say B2, we too would scratch future visits to those sites.
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I must admit I like bookings by email as everything is in black and white and dates booked and leaving are easily clarified, plus you can guarantee the phone call comes as the door bell rings or you are sitting down to a meal or even the quick cat nap !. But never worry as long as the phone is ringing or the email is working we are filling up pitches making the project worthwhile.
David www.perthshirecl.co.uk
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Hi. When my parents started our cl twenty years ago email didn't exist! We are working hard at bringing our advertising and contact details in more modern format. We have a fab site Resthaven Farm which is near Woolacombe in North Devon. Please feel free to check out our Facebook Page Resthaven Farm Cl site and of course you can email us relaxatresthaven@yahoo.com😀
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I stay regularly on CLs, and 1 owner told me that they take bookings on either of their phones (landline and mobile) and they get enquiries by text to their mobile which they respond to. I never thought of texting an enquiry but I will bear it in mind in future if a mobile number is available
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I too have never thought of enquiring about a booking by text, but will certainly consider it in the future.
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Nellie, Whilst we have a mobile number we do not do texts, the mobile is used by us for emergency use only. Only just getting used to decimal coinage !.
David www.perthshirecl.co.uk
PS. We do take plastic notes though.
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Aren't all notes plastic these days?
Supertractorman, I know that you would respond to my e-mail so I wouldn't need to send you a text. Hope you are having a good season.
nth
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Just had a thought. A text response could well be saved as proof of booking, which might just come in handy should the site owner deny having your booking.
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We too get very frustrated when people don't return our messages either by email or 'phone as a lot of planning goes into making trips.. Also annoying when cl's are still advertised in the book and on line when they have stopped doing it, maybe a link somewhere on here for cl's that have stopped doing it, or is that to advanced.
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Don't you ever check the list of CL changes that's published each month in the club's magazine. We always cross out the closed sites, (too many), add the new ones ( infrequently these days) and make any alternations listed. This way our Site Directory is quite up to date, and our main source for finding CLs.
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Nellie, one of the reasons why we prefer email. Print the reply out and it's hard to dispute facts. However, not all CLs use email so phone has to suffice. Must admit that we've never been turned away from a "phoned" booking (fingers crossed).
Mind you these days confirmation is mainly to remind me when I'm supposed to be there.
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Nellie, Always try to keep checking emails and answering machine after being out doing jobs. Yes we are having a good year with so many folks now making annual visits to us from far away places which is great. Hope your travels are going well.
David
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