We need more basic facility sites
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All bollards on club sites are MCBs not fuses and it needs "qualified persons"to do anything except test when some. one trips a bollard
Hence a lot of what in the past wardens would sort out now has been contracted to out sources companies (at a price)
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with electricity costs being such an unprecedented driver, non facs and non EHU sites/pitches may well be the way to go...it's just so easy to remove a fuse from a bollard...
Not really. The installation cost will be set to be recouped over many years, so who pays the outstanding ballance if an EHU is taken out of use . . . ? Of course, everyone else!
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JV, that sounds very accurate & fair, you are of that generation TDA was talking about. You too look down on younger people & view them with total disdain. That attitude is slowly being left behind with the proponents of that attitude gladly👍🏻
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Lucky you JV. We joined at North Ledaig, an affiliated site, had a great week, then moved back down into England and wanted a few nights on a Club Site. We were 23 years old, touring in an old tiny camper with a pop roof. We were made to open the doors for inspection, demonstrate how the bed worked, put the pop top roof up, and got a lecture on our quiet, on a lead, sat obediently down Rottweiler. In front of other Members of course, all avidly having a good gawp at the youngsters daring to use a Club Site. We were polite, jumped through all the hoops and obstacles, endured the soured faced martinet and her audience, chuckled when she ran out of options not to let us stay, and then decided that a nice family run site in Cornwall was a better place to be for the next ten years, not renewing our Membership until the next decade.
But we digress. This thread is about giving today’s Membership choice. I would counter the “but folks want fully serviced, don’t have to exert oneself physically in any way, it has to be easy, no matter the price” with a report in Guardian that says the basic little pop up campsites are thriving, and want to keep the opening extension granted to them via COVID rather than revert back to the 28 days maximum. There is a market.
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JV, myself and OH were the young people. Confronted with a different generation and mindset🤷♀️ Judgemental, stereotypical in their outlook?
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JVB
Can't quite claim the length of service you have but I am relative newcomer at 41 years next month
I started out as a fresh faced 30 something with a wife and two young children. A 10 foot Ace Airstream caravan with no toilet, no fridge and no electrics. Certainly never felt the organisation to be elitist. Site staff over the years can vary as they do in any type of organisation but very rare over those 40 odd years to find someone less than polite or friendly. OK may have had the odd acerbic comment but often deserved! Have fond memories of the warden at the Newcastle Trax campsite as we arrived after heavy rain with a smile on his face asking us if we wanted a pitch with or without a swimming pool!!!David
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True, I was going on a report issued by the Club (Leisure Vehicle Survey) where they had 40,000 responses of the 350,000 requested.
76,000 is a good number and statistically useful but against the total membership and the nights sold probably not? Were site surveys not issued to all who used them? I've certainly had them for the sites I have used.
Not had my September Mag yet, presume due to the postal strike.
peedee
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But, it's usuually the same users who join in the debate, and usually these users have well known ideas and preconceptions, so the discussion tends to go round and round in ever decreasing circles.
Any new contributors have to dip their toes into what seems to be a pool of unfriendly sharks.
And the number of active users is miniscule compared to membership, and other social media.
I admit, I'm more of a reader than poster, but tend to think "what's the point, I know what the response will be, I've heard it all before."
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Not really. The installation cost will be set to be recouped over many years, so who pays the outstanding ballance if an EHU is taken out of use . . . ? Of course, everyone else!
No the cost of the infrasture can be built into the pitch price it would be just the cost of electricty which might have been supplied that would be discounted but it is most unlikely the Club will go down that route. What has happened to the meter trials that were being considered, still thinking about it I guess!
peedee
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this gives a fair offering to all customers, otherwise it certainly will become the preserve of the Discovery & Buccaneer set😉
Steady on YT, that is one of my son's outfit and he does not use Club sites preferring CLs. He considers Club sites too expensive except for possibly the annual holiday.
peedee
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You mention them constantly-‘as it seems the generations after the ones who’s younger ones see mainly these days’, I ran it thru Google’s ancient speak App & it’s classed as-‘speech from days of yore regarding anyone younger than poster in disparaging terms’. Don’t blame the messenger JV Mr Google(& you) done it Guv.👍🏻😊. I’ll move on now-no more replies👍🏻
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Agreed, and the write down period could be made as long as is necessary.
In 'many places' there are different ways of allowing the customer the choice not to take electric...
...locked bollards..
...removed (or even adjusted for amperage) breakers
...honesty...now there's a thing😉 (as ET mentioned upthread)
...meters, where no electric is actually used
the issue is whether the club wants to add this sort of pitch to its offering or not.
if it doesn't, and customers just get faced with costs rising ever faster due to the electric component, we might see some reducing the number of nights they take, others going elsewhere or even giving up.
either way, you'd think the club must be keeping a close eye on occupancy and be prepared to react if things fall away...
better still, preempt the situation and get some options on the table..
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🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Your timing is spot on Steve😁
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For someone who is not going to use club sites ever again and won't be affected you do have much advice for the club BB.
Is 'many places' aboard? I assume so as otherwise why out it in speech marks?
We might see...
Again this has been said many times down the years, a few times by yourself, but who knows this time you might be right.
But the thing is BB it is not just the club(s) have have these rises and inclusive EHU, it is the norm across other sites in the UK and remember there are more expensive ones out there, so what happens if the club does have metering and/or a non EHU option? Then perhaps people will go where it is I would say. Are metering and sites with the EHU option full? Are people preferring those? Even PD uses club sites on his tours.
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I do wish you would be at least a little accurate in your posts BB?
having one (or two) non EHU pitches (often closed) but a nice price banner on the website showing they're on offer, doesn't really cut it.
One or two pitches? Across our network, 18 of our campsites are offering non-electric pitch stays from just £9.60 a night (for one adult and a pitch), providing excellent value for money.
The club will indeed note their use and of course how profitable they are. If they start to become so then who knows?
And I ask how do you know they are often closed? Have you been to all 18 sites?
JK suggests that non EHU pitches wouldn't get used and, presumably, all CAMC member want more and more facilities like service pitches..
JK made no such suggestion at all, he merely gave you his view on the uptake if the option of having EHU was given, nothing at all about non EHU, a totally different thing in my view and of course the club's (see above definition but I'm sure you'll have a different view but the fact remains they are not the same thing in the club's eyes).
Also it is the view of a serving warden with more experience of club site users over the years than yourself with respect and with equal respect his 'view' or suggestion certainly carries more weight? And he most certainly did not presume or suggest anything about members wanting more and more facilities.
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Looking back over the last twelve pages there has been a favourable response to my topic. Given the number of likes in my OP and my two other add on replies there are many in favour. Plus a post in support received a number of likes. Those 'likes' amounted to 34 and that doesn't include the actual replies in person in support. It just goes to show then that basic and low cost sites are in demand.
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What amazing extrapolation harry!
34 likes and how many are repeat like from the same poster?
Ok 17 likes on your OP. Are these 17 truly representative of all the membership or rather than that those that use club sites in their thousands, if not hundreds of thousands across a year? You know representative in terms of age, sex, employment status, family or couples, income... As far as I can tell those in favour are all mostly retired?
It just goes to show then that basic and low cost sites are in demand.
You can really say that from 17 separate likes? Really all you can say is that of those really very very few posters on CT compared to the all site users on real sites it is in demand. In any case I've counted about ten singular posts that are against your idea? And of course as we don't have dislikes you've no real idea what the score is? On another thread people are complaining (rightly) about 36 actual people giving answers not being enough for a survey and you're basing it on 17 likes?
Any way it's not CT you have to convince but the club so if you're really that keen get some pressure from more than 17 likes to get the club to make some changes? Form a group, get a petition, raise the matter through club channels and the AGM. If there is as much support as you say you can't lose.
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I am currently receiving all sorts of emails from HQ offering me this, that and the other. Tour for less, use a Glamping Pod, consider a seasonal pitch, do I want storage, plenty of pitches at this and that Site. My email preferences are off. All I should get are the essential must know stuff, not all the hard sell stuff. Never had them before.
My marketing brain cells have laid practically dormant since I left work, but I am wondering about things Club wise at the moment. I am wondering if the little bubbles have started bursting and there’s a need to fill some of the empty pitches, rake in some of the disposable income prior to what is going to be a pretty hard financial Winter for the Club’s core Membership of retiree’s?
🤔 Sorry Club. But I have my eyes on a return to a nice cosy little cottage for two, priced at £42 per night. Dishwasher, central heating, free wifi, ensuite bathroom, free welcome hamper and dog treats, private garden and two pubs across the road. Views, walks and cycling outside the door. 👍
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I think that's a reasonable assumption Harryb and the thread has sparked a lot of positive responses.
There is an unknown factor due to rising costs but it's worth some attention, we don't know what the club's contingency plans are in the face of a major downturn but many on here know what back to basics means and in all sorts of contexts.
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I am not sure that the majority fundamentally disagree with you, it would be nice if there were more of that type of site. If they were like Hebden Bridge or even Stamford, both very popular, I would be happy to make use of them if they were where I wanted to be. Where I perhaps differ is the actual reality of making that extra provision. I just don't see where such sites would come from? Perhaps the best bet would be former CL's that decide to expand but immediately they do that they are outside the orbit of the CMC. Would the club be prepared to work in Partnership with such sites, I imagine that perhaps they wouldn't?
David
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I for one disagree!
There are plenty of basic sites.This Club has no need to provide more.
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Until this year, we have used at least 3 or 4 Club sites every year, but I cannot remember ever being asked to fill in a survey regarding what we look for when choosing a site, or what sort of sites we prefer.
We did get some, years back, where the questions were along the lines of "were the wardens friendly, were the facilities of a good standard."
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To go with the current hosepipe bans, striking rail workers, postal workers, etc, all we need now is 17.5% interest rates and having to be a member of a building society for a year before you could get an interview for a mortgage application and we'll be back in the good old days.
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