No Shows

Helen,

When you say that the numbers cancelling just outside the 72 hour cut-off don't concern you, that really surprises me.

Given that there are so many regular complaints about these issues and so many people think that the cut-off period should be much longer, are you not a little curious about how many people are simply 'working the system'? I would be.

Another question......does the average of 4.5 bookings per member take account of all members i.e. does it include tens of thousands of members who haven't made any bookings - which would include an awful lot of zeros for those who cannot / will not book
on frenzy day, those who don't use Club sites, those who no longer caravan but forgot to cancel their standing order etc.

Also, presumably the 'block booker' might make a lot of his / her bookings the day after frenzy day and therefore wouldn't be included in the 4.5?

Ian

Just for clarification it was me that quoted the 4.5 figure as a number I seem to recall being mentioned so it might not be entirely accurate? However in the context of that figure it was only based of the people actually booking sites around the time the
bookings open for the year. I am happen for anyone to either correct or confirm my figures.

Reading Helen's post it seems that as the Club have made the decision to adapt the 72 hour rule as policy
why would they analyse figures outside that time period as a matter of routine? Perhaps its just too cosly to spend time looking at figures which under the policy are a bit meaningless? 

David

To check whether they have adopted the right policy, in view of all the complaints about it?

This issue has been raised and discussed at length many times before. It is also an issue that the CC has researched and acted upon.

Why did you feel the need to start another thread on the subject?

Those who cancel just slightly outside the 72 hour timeframe are, in terms of our policy, doing nothing wrong therefore we do not concern ourselves with those statistics: ....

Or in other words the CC don't care about people "working the system".

GC - how do you make that out as "solo travellers" being penalised? I think the point many of us have tried to make is that booking and then cancelling ( without penalty) 72 hours in advance simply because of bad weather is not on. Everyone's choice, obviously,
we wouldn't want to go away with 2 dogs if we thought we were going to get constantly drenched! 

5 days has been suggested as a reasonable compromise, that's all.

The same conditions apply to everyone, solo or not. 

GC, I'm not trying to be awkward but I really don't understand the point you're making. Even allowing for the possibility of cancelling due to bad weather, you can easily get 5 day forecasts nowadays, just go to the BBC site for example. There's surely not
that great a difference between 3 days and 5?

You're right of course, Michael; I was just replying to a specific post.

72 hours suits me fine as it often means we can snap up late availability pitches; 5 days would be even better though (IMHO) 

We only book in advance if we think a site/CL is going to be booked up or we know it is very popular. We tend to be away every fortnight, and annoyingly for us, have to go over the weekend. We much prefer mid week breaks as it is quieter. So booking as late
as possible, sometimes day before is the norm for us. We do use the weather checks, which on the whole give a good five day indication of what is going to happen, often on an hourly basis. Only extreme weather, deep snow, very bad winds will prevent us from
travelling. On the plus side, we pick up a good few cancellations when others change their minds for whatever reason. For longer stays, such as our forthcoming long break, I have booked the CL well in advance, as 5 pitches on a peach of a CL, at a seriously
good price needs snapping up! 

Hi all

In answer to your replies, the "72 hour" cancellation period was discussed, as well as longer adn shorter periods, by the Site Operations team extensively in consultation with all departments here at East Grinstead, wardens around the country and a panel
of members. Whilst not plucked out of thin air it was a trial period.. it seems to be a sensible time frame and works well (for most).

David has already explained that the 4.5 bookings per member referred to those that made bookings on peak booking day.

Without getting into the bi-discussion about bad weather (!), all I can add is that whilst the issue of late cancelling, and those abusing the system, is brought up here on the Community regularly, it is not as big a problem as people suspect.

Finally we pride ourselves on not taking deposits giving our Members the flexibility to change their routes/ plans/ minds before travelling which is the true essence of touring. We simply ask for 72 hours notice.. which isn't a big ask in the grand scheme
of things!

Thanks again. Helen

TW  - if that is the case then surely that negates the idea that there are a significant number of cancellations just outside the 72 hour window.  If you have paid a deposit or even the full price in advance then I'm guessing you are far less likely to cancel.

That is presumably why other leisure travel companies do that, Presumably it is based on experience for them.

I am highly doubtful that the CC experience would be any different. I'm not sure I believe them.

Write your comments here...We had 2 booking with theother club and have had to cancel due to the new M/H not being here so have lsot £50 thru no fault of my own so I for one dont want deposits and am thining of cancelling the other club membership because
of this and their crap booking system,

Thanks Helen, that touring ethos you speak of is the very reason many of us enjoy our wonderful pastime and the  booking system differentiates 'us' from the others in this sector of the leisure industry . It's wonderful, long may this continue! 

Don't really understand what that last post is actually saying......but successful commercial organisations look at whatever affects their business and what their customers think and want. To only look at what you have decided is "within the rules" - your
own made up rules - is short sighted, poor business (perhaps compensated by simply bunging up prices every year, making you uncompetitive) and not a little arrogant.