Deposits yes / no
Comments
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No.
I would support a review of the Club doing a full review of the problems and solutions to the real or perceived issue of inadequate supply of pitches during peak periods. Only by defining and quantifying the root problem and identifying workable solutions will the Club sort it out. Tinkering with existing procedures may tackle some issues but will probably create others. Tackle the cause, not the symptoms.
I have been through the difficult times of booking sites for family holidays and I have even been embroiled in the debates with staff on leave entitlement. Now retired I book during the off peak periods where possible. I can see both sides of the debate, not just one side.
There are problem solving techniques the Club can use if it has a mind too. It would help all members and if the Club came out and stated whether it does not think there is a problem or if there is, what is it going to do about it.
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I think the fact deposits are not required is what makes the Club different, and is attractive to we older members where things are more likely to go wrong .
Flexibility is good. We have only had to completely cancel once, due to health, but on a few occasions we have had to alter our plan a bit or change dates.
We operate a bit like ET in that we plan longer tours and book well ahead, sometimes on Booking Day, if the trip involves a school holiday period, otherwise maybe about 2 months ahead for a tour later in the year. None of our tours are over summer holidays, but often take in a BH period or part of the Easter break. And we are always away in September, which it seems is becoming increasingly busy.
Last year we also joined the other club and this year we have used 3 of their sites. These sites were slightly better positioned for where we wanted to stop, they were also about £3 per night cheaper as we got the age discount. And we were able to book a hard standing.
If both clubs were to take deposits, I think we would be looking much more at prices as there would be no reason to use a more expensive site than necessary. Being able to book a hard standing is also an important consideration.
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good post K, agree
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From the Facebook page early October...
Did you know you can already book your holidays up to 15 March 2018? What's more, many of our sites stay open all year round. Kids can stay for £1 per night and many sites offer mid-week discounts, too. Feeling inspired?
Susannah Washington Yes, ..... but unlike the other club you can book ALL YEAR ...ALL sites . Why can't the caravan club do that???
Caravan and Motorhome Club Hi again Susannah. We are looking at our booking system and procedures & considering all different options to book in the future. Watch this space! ~Helen
If there are any changes imminent, you can bet they'll be announced just after frenzy day. Heres hoping <crosses fingers>
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They may have changed their system, Nigel, but in 44 years of membership of C&CC I’ve always been able to book far enough ahead for my needs so hadn’t noticed a change.
I thought you were implying a major drift in business to C&CC but I see it’s only your 35 site nights you’re talking about. That will no doubt be balanced by my booking CAMC for preference because this club, unlike C&CC, has an easy to use booking system, straightforward pricing structure, no deposits and, most importantly, no minimum stay restriction.
Each to their own - what’s important to me isn’t to you.
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Not wishing to come across as ageist, far be it... but the Club can't and shouldn't base it's future growth on meeting the needs of long standing retirees on the basis the 'status quo', suits them perfectly.
I think they know this, as suggested by the recent marketing and PR campaigns.
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I used to 'go to work' now I don't but I haven't really found any difference in how I book.
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There has been a drift, it's in the figures both clubs have released prior to their respective AGM's
The C&CC are enjoying a surge in membership, and boy are they letting everyone know about it. The CMC are remaining quite static, not to the point of panic as far as I can tell, but the PR in the last year coming out of head office is indicative of a response.
and yes, you right, we're all different and have different needs, its this the Club has to try and satisfy to please as many as it can.
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Nor should it alienate 'long standing retirees' as it is these and the over 40s who are more likely to populate the sites (particularly with regard to week days) outside school holidays. Within this group are those who do not have to balance school holidays, annual leave entitlement etc.
I think that if we discount the likes of Chatsworth, Rowntree Park the problems, such as they are, are caused by the influx of weekenders on top of longer term bookings. I would think that the CC main criteria will be overall pitch bookings.
A major attraction is the no deposit flexible system. This is really an incentive for those using CC sites more and for longer periods.
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and yes, you right, we're all different and have different needs, its this the Club has to try and satisfy to please as many as it can.
Not an easy task and doubt that they will improve the present system in that regard. As I said above I think the main criteria for the CC will be the number of nights booked.
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"and yes, you right, we're all different and have different needs, its this the Club has to try and satisfy to please as many as it can"
Presumably, that's exactly what it does, or at least considers itself to be doing. Despite the small number of complaints and calls for changes on here, there are many thousands of members continuing to use the system and doing so quite happily?
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The OP said : There have been so many people complaining about not being able to book pitches because some members mass book and then cancel later.
I think that the reason for lack of availability is more at the door of the popularity of CC sites and the fact that more folk are free on a weekend rather than the effect of so called 'speculative' bookins.
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Absolutely, site nights being by far the largest income source.
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Yes, but where's the growth coming from? I'm no business analyst but with the recent campaigning the Club has undertaken, it doesn't see a projected future with happily pleasing the current membership.
Remember Blockbuster Video?
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"Do I do that no. I much prefer to book nearer the time and I have rarely not been able to get what I want. I also maintain flexibility so if one site is full I try another one."
funnily enough, i dont call booking a different site in lieu of my first choice 'flexible'...it still involves planning and bookings, albeit on 'alternative' sites...
my definition would be nearer to being able to leave a site when ive had enough (rather than when my booking says i should) or staying far longet than i might have though, as the place turned out to be far nicer than i might have anticipated...this is not easy, nor even possible in some corcumstances, especially if an extended stay takes you into a weekend...
this, to me, is flexible touring....not flexible bookings...
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Yes, but where's the growth coming from? I'm no business analyst but with the recent campaigning the Club has undertaken, it doesn't see a projected future with happily pleasing the current membership.
Increased membership growth will solve the problem of pitch shortage?
Steady growth is no bad thing. The trick is providing the capacity for any large amount of growth. Comparisons are made with C&CC but I have no idea of availability on their sites. There seems less of a problem than on CC sites. Are they as well utilised? I have no idea
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Closest you will get in the UK I imagine is to book one night and then either move or book another night.
If there is a problem booking additional nights then the site you have chosen is obviously too popular so look for an unpopular alternative, This is the UK you know not Shangri La
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I’m not ageist but.....
Sorry, Nigel, you failed there. Why mention older age at all?
Retirees, workers, youngsters - the club is trying to cater for all.
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I’m not convinced they are well utilised, Easy.
Here's one example which I accept may not be representative. We wanted to book one night on a Monday at the beginning of July on a C&CC site. Nope, minimum booking for a period of two nights was all that was on offer. Fine, we'll stay elsewhere, we thought. Later, on talking to the warden, she offered to override the computer and booked us in for the one night. When we stayed for that one night booking, the site was at least 30% empty. Draw your own conclusions.
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The difference in occupancy between weekends and weekdays is very marked outside school holidays. And on a recent trip as far south as Devon and Cornwall in September, we were surprised how quiet the sites were both midweek and weekends. One toilet block at Ramslade was closed, presumably due to low occupancy. Sites further north, in contrast, were busier.
We booked the trip in mid July and could not get our first choice sites due to weekends being already booked. I would say the difficulty of getting a longer booking that includes a weekend must be affecting overall bookings adversely, and means there is more need to book well ahead.
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me too....
the CC likes 'bow waves'....
one on frenzy day and another on every day at arrival time.
the premiss that spreading bookings out to relieve pressure 'on a system' works in exactly the same way with spread out arrivals taking up the slack in a low impact way...
yes, id like the club to ditch bow waves....
i also agree with an earlier poster that making this booking forms a committment that prevents another member access to that pitch, this should not be taken lightly, as those who were not able to be around on frenzy day to grab this pitch then are hardly going to be the ones who are able to grab this cancellation at a few days notice...
for these folk, seeing stock they wanted in December come back again but they cant take advantage must feel like a double whammy...
whereas us (you) pensioners who probably got all your bookings on F Day then have the flexibility to pick up any juicy cancellation....
so, to me, commitment means committing with your wallet (heavy bookers pay heavier (overall) deposits) and the cancellation period should be far longer to give a fair chance to those who need a bit longer to take advantage re: work/care commitments.
so, to the OP.....deposits yes, change FD for rolling booking period, extend cancellation period....makes for a fairer system, IMHO of course.
ps.....none of this affects my approach to booking....i only go when i know im going
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I normally book a week give or take a few days before I intend to go. Honey spot sites don’t really appeal to me as I like the peace and tranquillity of less busy ones.
i can’t see no matter how the booking process is operated, it won’t make a difference to the booking of the honey spots. If it’s done on a rolling system, then the days the bookings open for them, they will still be snapped up!
If the isn’t a fixed booking period then, you may well find that they are booked for years in advance, leaving little chance of anyone else getting a look in.
Staggering the complete booking system and releasing the sites at different times for booking might make it less busy trying to book your chosen site, but wouldn’t guarantee success. Some might argue that in doing that way might allow some members to be prepared on each day and acquire their choices at the expense of others.
Introducing a deposit on booking, won’t guarantee that people (who have money to spare) wont book and cancel at a later date.
It will increase the clubs funds as it will be able to get some bank interest on the members money.
Think that may well offend some🤔
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I suppose if the CC are to continue with frenzy day, it could become a two day affair.
First day week or longer bookings.
Second day any length.
Would not stop folk booking a week on day one and then shortening it though.🤔
Although I suppose if they did it for 10 weeks over the year, someone might notice.
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