No News Yet on the New Booking System
I noticed in the latest magazine there is an article on potential changes to the site booking system. I am sure we had a similar article a couple of months ago? Although there seems a commitment to being able to book a pitch type they are less than clear on other changes such as deposits. Apparently they are still considering it and looking closely at member feedback, including Club Together!!! I suppose we should be encouraged that they are taking note of what is said on this forum? I could be wrong but there seems a sort on consensus on CT that probably its coming to the point where deposits might be the way forward, some more reluctant than others maybe? Obviously many would want to see the small print perhaps before accepting it as a way forward. A decision may well have been made but it seems that it could be a few more months before full details are made public.
David
Comments
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In a statistical survey it is often impossible to get views from the whole population so a sample is taken. This can then represent the views of the wider population but only if it follows some basic rules. The most important and most basic is that it has to be representative of the wider group, for example in age ranges, genders, income, children... you get the idea.
Now from regular posters on CT, I would say the majority are retired, over a certain 'mature' age, and quite well off? (All open to question here - I don't mind it's just what I see)
How many regular posters go on holiday with their children? Or how many go on holiday with a young family? How many go always in peak times? How many work and use weekends?
Again you get the idea, for example there are a lot of thread about prices (justified or not) but do 'we' represent the whole membership? Also 'we' really are a very small numerical sample? How many regular posters can you count?
Personally I don't think 'we' do so while 'we' can or might be representative of one set of club members and the club can surely listen to 'us' I don't think we are the only ones who they should listen to?
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Personally, I have no issue with deposits at all. I even prefer it. I like the fact that it helps to spread the cost. I have never quite been able to get my head around why there seems to be so much resistance to it in this place.
However, to the extent that people book sites with no definite intention to fulfil the booking (and I make no judgement as to what the extent of that is, because I do not know), deposits will only work if the terms are reasonably tough. I note that the C&CC rules state that those who cancel within 30 days of the start of a booking do not get their deposit refunded. However, I am not sure what the deposit is. I think it would need to be at least the cost of the first night and the 30 day rules sounds right to me. Using 72 hours as the cut-off would make very little difference to the status quo, as far as can see.
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I was able to book a multi-surface pitch recently so it might be worth checking if some pitch types start to become bookable, we had a conversation about this slight change recently on CT. Can't find the link but could this be the precursor to deposits etc.?
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Now from regular posters on CT, I would say the majority are retired, over a certain 'mature' age, and quite well off? (All open to question here - I don't mind it's just what I see)
Its only the "unemployed" who have the time to browse forums and take part in discussions. Some seem to have more time than others.
Personally I don't think 'we' do so while 'we' can or might be representative of one set of club members and the club can surely listen to 'us' I don't think we are the only ones who they should listen to?
I agree, don't know about others but every Club site I have been on this year has resulted in receipt of a survey for completion. I assumed that everyone gets one and it is another avenue to express views.
However, I am not sure what the deposit is.
I think its 25 percent with a minimum of £25 or in full if booking cost is less than £25.
I also have no problem with deposits and have been one of those in favour of them.
peedee
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Dynamic pricing would adjust price levels to surges in demand. If site X is being heavily booked the price automatically goes up.
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Some seem to have more time than others
Not sure what that is supposed to mean or add to the thread there PD or why posting 'rates' are relevant? , but yes you certainty are posting more than myself atm so I guess that is true?
PS I didn't mention the deposit price, so not sure why you have replied to me with that quote?
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The experimental system previously rolled out where pitches on certain sites were bookable appeared to end in failure. So I would guess there's got to be some sort of financial committment ie a deposit and a pitch choice to firm up bookings and confirmations.
If CAMC just rolls out pitch type bookings again I don't think it will work, committment is needed on both sides.
If this isn't done people will forget what they have booked, want to chop and change etc and chaos will reign.
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Dynamic pricing is actually happening via the Club, but seems limited to the Experience Freedom network at the moment. Friends of ours had to give up on touring last year, but they still enjoy Club Sites, and have younger family members who do still own a van. So they are using the very nice Glamping Pods. Last night, catch up conversation, and they are off to Cayton Bay late November, they have a Pod booked at...................£34 per night🤩 That includes heating, all towels and linens and wifi. As we said, at that price, why drag out the tourer?😁
I hope that they do dynamic price pitches, as spur of the moment tourers, we would love to pick up an on the day overnight stop for cheaper than usual.
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We unfortunately had to cancel our 10 night stay in North Wales with the C&CC because of illness.
We rang the site directly to cancel & decided not to make another booking to use our deposit of £46 for a future booking next year ,it was approximately 2 nights fee's.
It was our last outing for this year anyway.
It was disappointing to us both, but felt cancelling was our best option under the circumstances.
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wasn't that DD? But yes I agree with you.
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Just thinking back to the one time we had to cancel a C&CC booking -on the morning we should have been arriving (the mover was stuck on engaged and we couldn't get the van out of storage), - we phoned the site concerned, Priddy, to explain and ask if it would be possible to move the booking to a different date. The warden said "the computer won't let me do it but ring me back in 10 minutes and I'll see what I can do". When we rang back he confirmed that he'd "tweaked" the system so that, yes, we could come later in the year - then apologised that it would be slightly dearer as we went into high season! Maybe that's because it's a franchised site, rather than a full C&CC one, but we were mighty impressed by that and it taught us that their T&Cs were not as draconian as often claimed.
As JVB says "it pays to talk!"
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Just to clarify. All I was pointing out that Club Together was one of the channels of communication they were listening to.
"We've listened to your feedback from the Welcome Home Surveys and we continually monitor Club Together forums and our Social Media pages for your helpful comments and suggestions. In addition, we have and will continue to run focus groups to help construct and test any new systems before they're launched."
Obviously from the quote above we can't determine how much influence any one element has.
David
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As I said above. I hope they don't consider that what is said on CT is representative of the general membership.
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