Campsite costs
Comments
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Personally I’m not a fan of all the rules that Aires have I much more prefer the laid back welcome of CL’s & lack of strict ‘must/must not’ rules👍🏻
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H&T
Whilst I think Club policy is clear I am sure there will be unofficial divergence from the policy, as TW suggests, just in conversation. General conversations are difficult to regulate. We would need to know where the conversation started? Given that the local inspector would likely visit all the CL's in a particular area it is possible they have picked up complaints that some CL's are charging an unrealistically low price which is bringing into question whether other CL's find it worthwhile to continue. In those circumstances is it unrealistic to expect the Inspector to broach the subject of pricing? That conversation needn't lead to a specific price recommendation that should be charged but a suggestion that the CL should review its pricing? If the question of pricing has been mentioned by the inspector it is quite possible a CL owner might have a misinterpretation of whether its a general comment or an instruction, the later apparently not Club policy.
David
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It is quite obvious to me that your comment is just why members new and old seem to post as to why CLs are seen to be club sites in the first place when it comes to prices
I did not say all members , but when reading posts and reviews it is quite obvious that many do not understand what is required to open a CL even if it "easily found out?"
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But they would say that wouldn't they! Have heard it said by a new owner that they were "advised" at the sort of price they should be charging.
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And don't you think that that said volunteer had been "instructed" by his regional manager to encourage new owners to set a higher price than the owner was intending to charge?
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We would need to know where the conversation started? Given that the local inspector would likely visit all the CL's in a particular area it is possible they have picked up complaints that some CL's are charging an unrealistically low price which is bringing into question whether other CL's find it worthwhile to continue. In those circumstances is it unrealistic to expect the Inspector to broach the subject of pricing?
Could it not be the opposite, that those that are charging the higher price are complaining that those charging less are attracting the greater number of visitors, "robbing" them of business and threatening to close or expand to a small commercial site, having become established in the area by being a CL, and so the club would loose yet more sites? Why should charging the higher price dictate what other CL owners are charging if less than them?
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Why would I think that, Nellie? Very often the inspectors are local people known to the site owners and they get chatting. What could be more natural for a new owner to ask his mate what sort of price could be asked? I think you see demons where probably none exist.
Even in the example quoted by H&T it’s not clear if the advice came from head office or if it was a tip given by someone.
Don't get me wrong here, I’m not defending CAMC but, as Rocky said, there no evidence of the club telling CL owners what price they should charge.
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I think you need to expand on that JVB. I do not understand your point.
I, and no doubt many other members, completely understand what CLs are, those who do not should investigate the rules, it is not difficult.
What we really do not want is for CLs to think they need to emulate Club full facility sites to attract members. And then put up their prices.
What they offer is up to them, but they need to understand that if offering more facilities means they bump up their prices, they will be limiting their market among many Club members.
Those of us who use CLs are mainly happy with reasonably basic facilities as we have our own on board. Even on Club sites with facilities, we mainly use our on board facilities.
Owning a large twin axle, we do look for hardstandings, and always EHU, but otherwise we need nothing more. A serviced pitch is a bonus, not a necessity, and a facility we are willing to pay a few pounds extra for.
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Well said Kj, we to don't need or look for anything other than ehu, anything else is a bonus but not at any cost.
I thought Inspectors were there to Inspect, not give business advice, if indeed they are then they shouldn't.
I can only go on what I have been told by others and some owners. I appreciate that in certain areas CLs can charge what they like and get enough members to make it worthwhile.
Time will tell how things go but those CLs that are charging over the odds may find they are not as busy as they thought.
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they will be limiting their market among many Club members
How can you know this K? You've often said the same about club sites and now CLs as well?
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It would appear that the same posts about club sites getting too expensive are now being said about CLs.
It would appear that caravanning in general is just getting more expensive, but as with club sites find a CL that matches what you want for the price you want.
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It seems to me that we have two types of CL customers emerging. The traditional ones, where value for money is important and a new variety who want the facilities of a big campsite but prefer the intimacy of a CL and are willing to pay an enhanced rate. You only have to look at Facebook to see how popular some of these latter sites are. Ted of Cholsey Grange CL has made the point that people shouldn't expect a well spec'd CL to be a lot cheaper than a comparable campsite. No doubt the argument would be that creating that level of facilities for 5 pitches is more expensive per pitch than a larger site? We have just stayed at Overwater Marina which was £20 a night, the only difference I could see between staying on their main campsite for £25 a night was a larger hardstanding and serviced pitches. This CL was pretty popular whilst we were there and I thought £20 a night was perfectly reasonable.
David
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Yes, I’m one of the latter-peace, quiet, tranquility & solitude is priceless. I want to hear & see the natural world. I am also a fair minded person who will pay a fair rate. I’m not one to drive prices down to unsustainable levels then moan at ‘my favourite’ CL has closed my ‘bit of heaven’. I will support them👍🏻
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Peace, tranquillity and solitude we can have by just staying home, and the natural world too, our garden is bird heaven, and plenty of squirrels, hedgehogs and foxes, even the occasional deer. We are very fortunate in where we live.......convenient if we need shops etc, but an extremely quiet area close to open countryside..
A fair price is good, happy to pay that, but would not be happy to find all CLs going "upmarket" and prices going up to match.
The ones we will be using this year range from £14 for EHU and hardstanding, to £20 for same plus serviced pitch, which is perfectly acceptable. We need nothing more. Location is the main attraction.
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I’m happy you’re happy👍🏻. I live in deep country with no shop for miles nor a bus service so I’d not trade it for anything less but I do like different periodically. £14?, I’d expect a bit of grass, chem waste point & water🤷🏻♂️, anything else I’d see as the CL as part charity☹️. £20 per night is good value👍🏻
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This is our favourite CL - £5. There are a few left out there. Tick ‘no electric’ in the search facility and flick through the few that will come up until you find one in your price range.
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We mix our sites up to get a decent average cost per night. Touring is still a cheap holiday for us, our MH didn’t cost us a huge sum, we have no storage fees, and get close to 40mpg depending on routes. We can easily do a week without hook up, so take advantage of some gorgeous peaceful out of the way spots, but don’t mind paying £20 if the CL location suits us. But for that I would expect hook up, hard standing and decent spacing. Happy to leave CLs with serviced pitches, loos and showers to others.
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We know that CL owners have suffered over the last couple of years and are feeling the effects of inflation as we all are so we're not surprised that basic prices are rising. However more of the owners are starting to add extras such as for children, an awning, a dog, an extra car etc. One site we looked at had a basic price of £19, After adding extras the cost rose to £30 (£5 for our daughter, £4 for an awning and £2 for our tow car which is classed as an extra vehicle). Needless to say we won't be going there. This is becoming increasingly common and makes it more difficult to find a basic CL at a reasonable price. The owners are starting to price themselves out of the market so why don't they have a straightforward price without the extras? All we want is value for money.
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"….why don't they have a straightforward price without the extras?"
They choose their own way of pricing just as you and I can choose whether to give them our custom or not. It’s as simple as that.
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I sometimes wonder if these "extra charges" are there as a discouragement. Could it be they don't want children/awning etc but feel they have to accept them? We recently stayed at a CL which was part of a large Marina. Whilst the base price for us was a very reasonable £20 (given the facilities) I was a bit surprised they charge extra for extra adults and children over five. I could perhaps understand the discouragement of children on safety grounds as children and deep water don't usually mix. I suppose the point is that if the site are transparent in what they are charging the customer always has the choice? I suspect we are going to have to get used to rising prices given the increase in inflation.
David
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Cliz is a motorhomer. Try 'towed' car.
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