New booking system with deposits
Comments
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All these emails from the Club but they don't actually tell us anything. Why can't they have a "news" page on this website to keep members updated. Like lots of people I have half a week booked for next May and I'd like to book the other half.
Likewise will someone keep us updated about the appalling slowness/server errors. Again this should be a news worthy item without having to keep logging in to look at the thread.
This is a multi million pound organisation but, frankly, they couldn't organise a children's tea party!
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Unfortunately although it's been reported to the club some of us aren't getting any emails at all. There is a News and Events area in the top menu bar which doesn't update very often. The club use all the usual social media sites but there's no information on there either.
Yes it would be useful for those hoping to book ahead to have updates. The alternative if certain dates are important is to book elsewhere.
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I think it’s very poor that the members are not being informed and kept up to date with what’s going on with the booking system. We are currently away and are quite shocked as to how many pitches are available! I think the club is taking a big risk introducing this deposit system and also by not keeping members informed about what is actually happening. The club is going to be holding an awful lot of members money! The option of not paying a deposit was a nice benefit of being a member of the camc. We are thinking of looking at other private sites now which we didn’t do before. I hope they have thought about all this because it may not go the right way for them after all.
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I do wonder if the cost of living crisis has resulted in empty pitches and rather pulled the rug out from under the club's feet in terms of potentially stopping any speculative bookings. On the other hand, It will make it more important for CAMC to speed up cash flow by taking deposits.
What can they say to inform us of progress other than what’s in the FAQs? Perhaps "whoops, sorry, there is a problem but we’re working on it"?🤷🏻♂️. We'll find out in due course. Meanwhile, carry on booking deposit free.
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Adijo
I would agree that the Club could have kept us better informed on when the new system will actually happen. As to what impact the new system will have on bookings I suspect we don't yet know. All I do know is that having been on 5 Club sites this year, so far, all of them have been pretty full. As to using commercial sites, don't most of them also take deposits and many of them require full payment up to six weeks prior to arrival? That makes the Club's new system quite attractive in comparison?
David
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It’s the 1st July. We’re supposed to be able to book 13 months in advance. Been trying to book for half term (summer) next year, end of May beginning of June for a few weeks now, but still only able to book to end of May. What’s going on CAMC?
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They are holding off on further releases until they can bring the new booking system online and give us a wonderful user experience.🤔 When that is I don’t think has been definitively communicated, but is likely to be a few months. The fact that folk are sat with part of half term booked and won’t know until possibly September if they can book the rest, does not seem to concern them.
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When speaking to some site managers we know(had phoned to see if OH was still in hospital)it seems from the conversation that ,some problems not envisaged ,have come to light, and it is now hoped to get it sorted by September?
Even though some training has taken place with site staff,it seems that is when those who will need to operate the system at site level,have noted the problems,
It is only what I have been told
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+1, I’ve had conversations with folk I know who say they’ve cut back-1) it’s biting but not badly. 2) October will be the killer when it jumps much more. 3) fuel prices are making things harder to justify & travel.
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🤣 It’s that age old issue. Someone (usually with limited practical experience) has a light bulb moment, expenditure, time and resources are thrown at it. And then someone asks those who will have to make it work for their thoughts, and it’s revealed that it might not be as easy as envisaged on paper………….
Its a fashionable way of working. Whole Governments run countries this way now, with Joe Public looking on and shaking their heads is disbelief. Or wondering how they are going to get by………..☹️
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Having booked Ibis hotels here in UK and around the world, and paid deposits in five different currencies, with everything happening smoothly and efficiently, I wonder why this Club is making such a meal of all this.
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yes I agree fully.
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For Ibis and alike it’s an historic practice, for those transitioning to a new way of working and attempting to dove tail that into an existing system it may be slightly more problematic. Change in my experience is never that straightforward, particularly when driven by those who are not at the chalk face.
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I agree they should definitely have let the members book in the usual way until they have a definite date and have got any problems sorted out. Members are now in limbo just waiting until whatever and whenever things progress doesn’t seem very fair. Terrible communication from camc very disappointing.
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Well, if it’s hard you start with one site. Something like this .
“From 1st August all fresh bookings at site A will require a credit card number, we will take a deposit of B pounds at that point and three weeks before arrival we will take the full cost”
Put the regional:managers in there to show the poor old wardens what to do.. Then expand the idea to one site in each of the other regions. Move on from there.
And when people book tell them which pitch number they are on. I don’t run round a hotel or a ferry or a cruise ship choosing which room I would like and then go back to the desk to tell them which I have picked.
Get professional.
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I hear what you are saying but historic aspects alway need to be recognised. A lot of members actually like turning up at the correct time paying at point of arrival and selecting their own pitch from what is then available. All the changes I recall since the birth of CT have been met with differing opinions, needs and wishes. You just can’t please all. Thankfully I’m not able to influence the professionalism of the powers that be, just comment on my own experiences. I’m sure a lot would want standardisation from a given date across the network. For me the ‘historic’ system worked. Whatever ensues though if it works anything like reasonably well for me then I’ll live with it!
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+1, it’s an easy smoothe way of booking. Card is king, particularly CCards, I’ve only had the odd issue that has been sorted by an email. We should be looking forward not back. There’ll soon be extra charges for cash it’s just messy & unhygenic. Contactless is clean & has a trustworthy epaper trail👍🏻
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Agree?🤷🏻♂️, you said folk like rocking up & paying🤔. That’s the opposite of agreeing Micky boy.
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We recently joined the 'other' club and booked a site where 25% deposit was paid on booking and the balance is automatically deducted from the payment method on the morning of planned arrival...
What % deposit is the camc asking for, it should be sufficient to deter 'speculative' bookings.
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I quite agree. I’ve given up carrying cash. It’s heavy, dirty and wears trouser pockets out.
I wasn’t a fan of contactless until Covid came along but now it’s a disappointment if I have to put my card in the machine and use my PIN.
Even better is paying upfront online as it makes check in, or anything, so much simpler. 👍🏻
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"A deposit will be calculated for each individual campsite stay within a booking and will usually be 20% of the total value of each stay. If several different campsite stays are booked together within one booking, one payment will be taken at the time of booking to cover all the applicable deposits of all the stays combined. There is a minimum deposit value of £25 per stay. However, if the total price of the stay is less than £25, then the total price will be paid as the deposit."
It's all in FAQs.
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Totally agree. We do everything we can via Apple Pay, Pay Pal and cards nowadays. So much easier and secure.
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+1😂😂😂. When it went up to £100 limit I cheered, which was embarrassing stood in Lidl👍🏻
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Would it not be far easier if the deposit was, say £7 night with a minimum deposit of £25 a booking. Why mess about with many possibilites differing by pennies?
ISTM the CAMC are experts are making things more complicated than they have to be.
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I wonder how much upset there would be if the Club proposed only to accept card payment (including electronic) plus automatic deduction of the balance on the day of arrival? Personally I would be happy with that as it seems to work well with the C&CC. It could also open the way for more automated arrival check in?
David
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