Lack of proper CL site information
Who else out there is fed up with CL listings that are so far out of date (prices from 2016 etc) and no photos to show what the site is like? Many do not have emails and consequently you need to make phone calls for prices etc. You then risk booking a site and turn up to find it is not desirable - or as recently having talked to people the very old 8 year bad reviews are totally wrong with the site having changed hands - no new reviews as people seem to be avoiding it.
Surley the Club should police the CL advertisements insisteing that there are photos and also up tp date prices for year beginning.
Comments
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I understand the club is addressing the photo issue.
I'm afraid that CL owners are their own worst enemy at times. If they can't he bothered to update their details, I assume the site isn't worth visiting and I look elsewhere.
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It’s a good point... first thing I look at when researching any site is the reviews. If there’s nothing (photos or description) I wouldn’t give the place a second thought. I’ve probably missed out on some great sites,but hey ho. It’s amazing that anybody would go through the process of becoming a CL and then not bother to promote it - mad!
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We tend to do a lot of our own research. CLs are often listed elsewhere, such as UKcampsites, Pitchup, Etc..... Plus we are always on look out for somewhere new when we visit different areas. We check locations and surroundings via OS maps and Google Earth, read any reviews (sifting out the rants and the strange!). We don’t mind emailing or telephoning with any questions we might have as well.
It would be good if Club and CL owners could make sure details are as up to date as possible though, and if some decent photos are available.
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Maybe that CL has a set of clientele, that they have built up over the years, who turn up year in year out, tell their friends and the site is as full as the owners wants during the period that they are open.
However I do agree that many could do a lot more to promote themselves. Nowadays if the site has no photos or it's own website and old reviews, unless it has been recommended to me personally or by regulars on here it tend to ignore it. I just wish that those at HO responsible for CLs would ensure that a site photo is posted, especially for new ones, and advise all owners that CT has a section available for them to promote their site. It would also be nice if we, the CL users, could be informed on a more regular basis than is happening at the moment of additions and closures of CLs.
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A lot of CL's now use Facebook where additional information is available but I would expect they would be the ones that provide photos anyway. It's a shame that reviewers can't add photos into a review like we can in the discussion and story section.
David
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It could be said to be short sighted if they use FB instead of (rather than as well as) the website of the very club that has granted them their exemption certification as their business is going to come via the club through the membership.
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I think that the club probably doesnt realise that the CL network is the very thing that a lot of members pay their annual fee for, or the true number of pitch nights involved. The club has no motivation to promote CL's.
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There are lots of caravan groups - but this one is restricted to CAMC sites.
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It does seem rather bizarre to run a CL site but not make any attempt to publicise it, or to update it, although many these days have their own web site. I'm single so often CLs with EHU are more expensive for me than many C&MH sites so I rarely use them. I did however stay at one recently (which does have photos and good reviews) as it was in the area where I wanted to visit. The owner phoned me to check that I was still coming as he had read on Facebook that a lot of people are booking more than one site, then either not turning up or cancelling on the last minute. I am not on Facebook so was not aware of that and it is something that I would never do anyway, even if some people do! Another way of finding reviews is to try UK camping site reviews which often has reviews of many obscure sites.
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The non arrivals of members was in the past also a problem on the club sites network until the system as now will not allow more than one booking for the same dates
It would be difficult to have a system like that for CLs ,
I can see the reasoning for deposits on CLs to reduce the problem ,but it would need say at least one nights fee be a deterent?
When the club had deposits of £5 and £10 later it still did not eradicate the problem ,but it must be difficult when it could be a fifth or more of a CLs income
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I'm not talking about CT - the forum, PD, but about their listing on the CAMC website and in the handbook. That is a CL's only official listing and is where members will find details of all CL's. They can also promote their sites wherever they like but I think they abandon the one and only official listing at their peril.
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Price is always something to check at the time of booking as many factors could have affected the published fees.
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This is the group where I see most CL owners. It also has the advantage that visitors can also post pictures of their stay. One advantage of the group is that owners also post details of late availability. I appreciate that they can also do that here but I suspect they find it easier doing it on Facebook.
David
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The book is always going to be out of date because it is only issued every 2 years. Prices are always likely to be out of date especially in the book but less chance on the web site. Even if they do vary it is not usually by much and not worth worrying about if you accept it as a guide price. If you turn up and find otherwise you can always drive off to somewhere else.
I only ever use the C&MC book when there is no phone signal and it is very rare I need to because most of my planning is done at home where I have a good connection. I don't have any books for the C&CC. and have never needed them.
peedee
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The point is that CL owners need to keep their listing as up to date as possible on the website/book and not ignore it in favour of FB.
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Cann't say I have ever seen prices mentioned on FB when owners plug their sites. There may well be links to their own web site though rather than the Club's where increasingly you can book on line and lately you are requested to pay up front by bank transfer or card. This could well be the legacy of CV19.
peedee.
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Using google maps when looking for a site, be it Club / commercial / cl / 5 van site brings up reviews with images often enough.
A quick view on street view gives a reasonable idea of the vista.
last thing I use is the club website or handbook.
Often sites with no reviews hide diamonds. Why tell the world and his wife of a gem you've found?
For over 12 years used to ski at a small, almost deserted village in France. Never told a soul. Then someone let on to a local radio DJ back in the U.K. who broadcast it. Next thing featured in a Sunday supplement and is now over run and commercialised beyond recognition. Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise
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We tend to do a lot of our own research. CLs are often listed elsewhere, such as UKcampsites, Pitchup, Etc..... Plus we are always on look out for somewhere new when we visit different areas. We check locations and surroundings via OS maps and Google Earth, read any reviews (sifting out the rants and the strange!). We don’t mind emailing or telephoning with any questions we might have as well.
It would be good if Club and CL owners could make sure details are as up to date as possible though, and if some decent photos are available.
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And i for one hope they do not, otherwise the price will go through the roof as it has on club sites due to members wanting toilets and electrics and all the other mod cons.
The latest problem I've seen on a cl is a member with an electric car and two electric bikes, quite happily charging these at the expense of the site owner, Come on this is not right. BUT of course it will soon be the norm and guess who will be paying? all the members who don't have
electric cars and bikes
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Why would decent details and pics on their own listing on the website push prices up? There are all sorts of CLs with varying levels of facilities so we can all choose what suits.
Taking advantage of the EHU supply in a way that is unfair is of course something for CL owners to police but it has nothing to do with keeping their details updated.
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Is there any evidence that is the case? I would have thought that those that post on Facebook are internet savvy and would want to keep all channels open for new customers including their own entry on the Club website? Those that don't add photographs and are laxed in updating the information are clearly not too bothered with new customers? My answer to the problem would be not to list a CL until it had completed all aspects of it's entry.
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You’ve answered your own point, David. It doesn’t need evidence as it’s obvious that details on this website should be up to date and you have cited a remedy 👍🏻
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However, David, some of those CL that have not added photos or kept their details up to date have been open for a very long time, and could well be owned by elderly folk who are not internet savvy. Why should their site be excluded from the list, they may well get .many visitors, especially regulars, but would welcome newcomers, I'm sure.
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Best CL I have used had metered electricity. In the price for the pitch you were given x number of units per 24 hrs. Then paid for the excess units used at the price quoted at time of pitching up.
As for the 'view' etc. Check it out on ordinance survey maps and google view.
Then if you are still uncertain, phone the owner and chat to them.
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We use a number of CLs that have been open decades. Some have provided photos, some haven’t. Most have up to date prices though, in so far as on website. We use one that still doesn’t provide a photo, but it’s so popular we had to book it a year in advance😁
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and you know different? or has it changed
?
