The 1pm arrival message getting through

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  • MikeyA
    MikeyA Forum Participant Posts: 1,072
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    edited June 2022 #122

    Just suppose that each day, 50 units leave site by the specified time of 12.00 noon and are replaced by another 50 units.

    What number will leave by 10.00am, by 10.30 am etc etc. Isn't it a good possiblilty that sufficent numbers will have left to accommodate the early arrivals. Yes, there will be little choice but to many that is an acceptable trade off.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #123

    How can a business operate efficiently on supposition? That’s a totally impractical basis for running club sites in the UK.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #124

    I think that's too simplistic, especially on popular changeover days. So what if 10 units arrive at 10:30 and only 2 have left? I don't think sites can operate on your "good possibility" theory, which, inevitably would simply encourage the early arrivers.

    On the other hand, if 50 leave by midday and 50 arrive after 1pm, there's no problem. smile

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #125

    Well, that may happen but I can think of several other scenarios which would be problematic. Like most departures leaving late and most arrivals arriving early. Stack them then insist they must take and remain on the next pitch which becomes available? I’m afraid that old chestnut of prime pitch and worst pitch raising its head again and again and that musical pitch hopping happening particularly when folk say they arrive early (been a reason given many times on CT in the past)  to bag that best pitch!

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #126

    Is that really a good possibility, or just 'pie in the sky' laughing

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #127

    Reading all these posts, with much sensible input it asks the question, "what is the club doing to ease congestion on the sites which are badly affected?"

    What could be added to arrival and departure information on these sites to prevent problems? 

    Yes, like TDA I would strongly dislike any local access being impeded if I was a resident (and the residents of Old Hartley have obviously reared up and objected.) So what can be done as people often arrive en masse at the same time on the dot with early arrivals increasing the problem. Swifter arrival procedures like at Rowntree Park might help? Why can't these be the norm at congested entrances? I don't think the problems are all the fault of the customers and early arrivals are only a part of the story.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #128

    I do believe most sites, particularly those with historical or local issues, adopt a procedure called ‘fast tracking’ if congestion occurs but they shouldn’t be fast tracking much before arrival times if we all make that effort to turn up at the correct time. Just fast track between 1pm and 1:30pm should then clear the rush and congestion!

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited June 2022 #129

    Just suppose all the folk who wanted to visit the same site at different times but their satnavs malfunctioned & they all arrived at once jostling for entry to a full site it could create havoc & potential injuries to boot! The fisticuffs & damaged vehicles may be an acceptable trade off. . .But is it🤷🏻‍♂️🤔

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #130

    It can be modelled, queuing theory is well established but what is a 'good' possibility? It won't be anywhere near certainly so that means there could be people turned away so back to square one. And you can safely bet if 10 am was the time stated that people will start arriving before then and again back to turning people away.

    As I've said from my own experience on club sites sometimes it's a nice steady flow, sometimes it all in the last 30 minutes, and it does indeed change from to day. There appears to me to be no predictable pattern, you might think Sundays they all leave it late but no it does indeed vary from even on the same day each week so there would be a good probability that at some points the club is going to get caught out, turning if your plan 40 outfits away to roam the area till they can get back in? And when will that be? Just keep coming round till one can get in? is that a good plan to you? 

    Yes, there will be little choice but to many that is an acceptable trade off.

    As someone who says they never use club sites you're making rather a bold statement there? How do you know it is acceptable to many, which club stayers have you talked to? And as you don't use club sites how can you make that offer for those that do? Would you like a very limited choice of pies when you open the tin?

    A prime example of my second law of CT, those who use club sites the least want the most changes.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #131

    It can, some airlines ‘bump’ passengers as they deliberately overbook their flights working on that good possibility theory of some missing the flight time. Now it can work very well for some bumpees but for others it can be at best a headache but could also be a disaster for others. I know ‘cos it’s happened to us!

    Hey, how about the club adopting a similar system to cover the possibility theory of those that no show?🫣

  • MikeyA
    MikeyA Forum Participant Posts: 1,072
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    edited June 2022 #132

    It must work OK at Coniston with its 10.00 am arrivals and Abbey Wood ( 12.00). I'm sure there are more but I can't be bothered searching the website. laughing

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #133

    I don't think they do Micky, fast tracking isn't the norm, unless users can let us know. Only Chatsworth comes to mind along with Rowntree.  In fact there's nothing worse on arrival than finding a congested office with people needing information etc.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #134

    Our experience at Edinburgh  which has early arrivals was congestion, lots of foreign vans trying to book in on spec and an overflowing LA. 

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #135

    Well I’ve witnessed it several times on several sites. A procedure that is often forced on the staff due to the congestion caused by early arrivals. They would be silly not to consider using it if it really is needed. Possibly as that last resort or never ever needed by some sites mind. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #136

    You missed Edinburgh. OK that’s 3 sites and for whatever reason it works so you say, although I don’t know when you last visited them and paid the non-member surcharge.

    However, this is about the club's decision to make all the rest of the sites 1pm arrival and Micky's OP was questioning whether the message has got through and not about alternatives to 1pm. The deed is done, the club wants it that way, how does the club make members follow the rule?

  • MikeyA
    MikeyA Forum Participant Posts: 1,072
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    edited June 2022 #137

    Coniston a few years ago, Abbey Wood  at least 20 years ago. Never been to the Edinburgh site. 

    Why would I ever contemplate paying the Club surcharge when they are lots of other site providers available? 

     

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #138

    Must be more than a few years ago, you've been posting on here saying you don't use club sites for longer than that? 

    So you must have paid the 'surcharge' then? Were you there for the Pie festival in the village?

    Been there seven times down the years but as you will no doubt remember it's a huge site with 250 pitches and low occupancy rates than can accommodate the earlier arrival time which I think is stipulated by the owners or in the lease.

    And if there are so many other providers why are you so bothered about the 1pm arrival time. Of those other providers do any of the comparable ones have earlier arrival times? Many have off at 11am and arrive at 2pm.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #139

    "Why would I ever contemplate paying the Club surcharge when they are lots of other site providers available?"

    You wouldn't, obviously, but the relevant point (to this thread) is that those other providers also have set arrival/departure times don't they? (Although at least one poster on here would no doubt claim they're much more flexible if you phone up and say you want to arrive early - doesn't make it right though, does it? ) undecided

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #140

    I agree with everything you are saying. We once got caught up in early arrivals queue outside Chatsworth on public road. (We were just travelling from Sheffield to Matlock, not using a site). It was chaos to be honest. Took ages to clear, and this was a good few years ago, before any new systems were in place.

    Man can land on the moon, but some are incapable of understanding a booking in time and what their timepiece tells them🤷‍♀️

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #141

    Indeed, why would you?

    I think, though, in view of your reply, you are probably way out of touch with the club and  site procedures and maybe that’s why you swerved the "how does the club make members follow the rule?" part of my previous reply which is, after all the crux of this thread and which keeps being forgotten.

     

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #142

    Thanks M, as you say, totally different scenario to Club Sites. Glad you and a few others understand what I am saying.👍 

    I can only liken it to a swimming pool. Lessons on, pre booked, limited number of places, all timed, turn up early and you will have to queue🤷‍♀️
    Open swim session, much greater capacity allowed in…..turn up when you like and you can go in!

    😉Its not rocket science really.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #143

    Edinburgh has changed recently to 1pm earliest. I know, I was there last week. Others may have followed!

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #144

    It could be possible to fast track, but this Club isn’t set up for it. It would require increased technology, a fast track lane into Sites and possibly an extra Member of staff. Ergo……more revenue to fund. (Think how the Underground functions with folks prepaying and swiping in🤷‍♀️)

    Pre paid bookings, swipe card entrance, separate arrival lane, and no picking up gate keys until a couple of hours later. (all the gate cards carry the same code, so these could be handed out through window, doesn’t really have to have pitch number on)  Find your pitch, get set up, wait for queue at gate to disperse, and only then consider a trip into reception for a chat with staff, a moan about things generally, tell them your pitch number and be handed a gate card. Anyone getting it wrong goes to back of queue. Anyone desperate to use loo before they have the loo block code needs to plait their legs, or, use onboard facilities.

    I have moaned previously about the protracted fuss of getting onto a Site at first arrival. If you have prepaid, included your vehicle reg number, provided your Membership number, and actually know the Site well, and are confident and happy enough just to motor through to find a pitch, why does it take two barriers, loads of paper and repeats of information every time someone visits a Site🤷‍♀️

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #145

    Thanks for that, Micky.

    It's another step towards standardisation.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #146

    It was Edinburgh that made me think about this very issue, Tinny. Good job too as we might just have been perpetuating the problem by suggesting otherwise. The sites that may be different could be very few and far between and where they do exist it will be for very specific and individual reasons. I can see some using these anomalies as their excuse, mind! Best to assume it’s 1pm or always to check in order to eliminate issues associated with those early arrivals.
     Edinburgh is 1pm earliest arrival!

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #147

    No, it does it at several sites when really needed, drive through, no extra tech needed. Greeted at barrier, a second to be told to go immediately and find a vacant pitch and report back later in the afternoon when the queue has gone. Quick and easy in those times when required. Eliminates those long conversations inside reception which add to the problem.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #148

    That’s good to hear then, never come across this approach, but then we rarely use Club Sites now, and when we do we are usually a 6-8pm arrival. That’s very quick……your pitch is number x, pay in the morning, goodnight! 🤣

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #149

    If it's that good this conversation wouldn't be necessary. wink 

    I would say it's good with the opposition, all fast track and pre-paid but not with CAMC. Early arrivals know they won't get a pitch early and there's no rush for a pitch type. Maybe we'll see improvements with the new system. smile

     

     

     

     

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #150

    But it is necessary, Brue because a few selfish folk tip up early to satisfy their needs, not their fellow members needs! A small minority yes but annoying nevertheless for the rest of us who do abide by the times and for staff who need to find solutions when problems occur!

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #151

    I know when you book, you have to tick a time slot when you are due to arrive. However I wonder if it would be better to ask all bookers to write in the time unprompted? It would put a moral responsibility on them to honour that time? It would also give the site staff the opportunity to ask why they said the would be arriving at a certain time but turned up two hours early!

    David