Excessive site fees

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  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited April 2016 #32

    Been once to Lady Margaret this winter, normally would have been 4/5 times. Fees far too expensive and site tired.We have been away as often this winter but found commercials,CLs much better value. Duringour visit average attendance was 7 outfits on a 73
    hard standing site. There must be many CC members like us who now go elsewhere thus a large loss of income.Will this mean even higher prices at peak times, closure of more sites in winter or a look at price reductions off peak. Dont hold your breath that HO
    will take a radical view. If thy gave mid week discounts bringing prices to say £12 we would certainly return.Dont have to go as far as Haven at £6-80per night-A nightmare as we found last week.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #33

     

    ...but £20 wont do it....it needs to be close to a tenner (poss £12 tops) to get customers' attention....

    The trouble is because more vans use more consumables, you need significantly more pitches occupied to make a difference.

    For instance 10 vans at £20 using £3 of consumables each brings in £170. However 20 vans at £12 using £3 of consumables brings in £180. So you need to double the occupancy to make a small extra profit. Wether doubling the occupancy midweek is likely, is open for debate.

    +1

    perhaps a better way is to get more people to stay for longer, ie stay a minimum of three nights, get one night free, the income would be the same (for the amount of people who would be coming anyway) but you might either get an extra paying night (who would book 2 rather than 3 and get an extra night thrown in) or some consumables bought?

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #34

    Club do provide mid week discounts at quite a few sites, although to be fair it is only half the pitch fee, and may be for set periods only. Not a great saving, but at least something. Best value sites by far are the £14 per night sites, but this won't suit
    a lot, as they have no facilities.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited April 2016 #35

    Dont know what the selection criteria is for Mid week discount, but Lady Margaret with its low usage in winter should be one. Even then the prices are still high compared to commercials at the same time of year.

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #36

    Dont know what the selection criteria is for Mid week discount, but Lady Margaret with its low usage in winter should be one. Even then the prices are still high compared to commercials at the same time of year.

    If I'm not mistaken, LMP did have MWD, I'm sure we stayed there mid week a few times and got the discount.  Seems strange they've done away with it there with such low occupancy.

  • tivano
    tivano Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited April 2016 #37

    Hi mid week discounts OK but for the hard working family man who can only get away at weekends and school holidays over priced the club is not for family members started to use other sites not worth being a member too  expensive

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2016 #38

    As has been stated on so many threads,looking at Off Peak the Two Major Clubs are not as competitive as some loss leader organisations,but are normally more than competitive in the Peak when compared to most comercials who get their money back from Families

  • fur ball
    fur ball Forum Participant Posts: 155
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    edited April 2016 #39

    I have said before that I feel the club is pricing me out of it, I also agree that its up to the individual to decide. I would have usually been away four or five times by now on a cc site,not a lot compared to others I know but I have instead used cl and
    the other club. Incidentally four of my five weeks holidays are with the other club where's last year they were all with cc. Time will tell I suppose but for a club that seems to want younger members unfortunately I don't fee veryl wanted.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited April 2016 #40

     The problem for families is If we off peakers go elsewhere, income falls- so Peak periods will have to increase to make up the shortfall. Loss, loss for everyone. The club does not seem to recognise that there are some great competitors out there and the
    "Loyalty" element has by and large gone in the search for better value.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #41

    Due to price we have only used 5 club sites for a total of about 10 days in the last 4 years as opposed to using 30+ CL's in the same period.  CL's are the jewel in the crown of the CC.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2016 #42

    We are the opposite ,we have only used one cl and three music festivals.in the last 10yrs ,the rest in the uk on cc sites,and even now this year, we have found it difficult to book some pitches,we only got on one site which showed full,by ringing direct as we wanted 10days,and the site we used last week to "test" new van only had two nights midweek available,so whether a "few" think its expensive, the majority of both clubs members think otherwise

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #43

    We are the opposite ,we have only used one cl and three music festivals.in the last 10yrs ,the rest in the uk on cc sites,and even now this year, we have found it difficult to book some pitches,we only got on one site which showed full,by ringing direct
    as we wanted 10days,and the site we used last week to "test" new van only had two nights midweek available,so whether a "few" think its expensive, the majority of both clubs members think otherwise

    Agree, for once I have had trouble booking into certain sites at certain times and have now booked everything for the rest of the year in case the peak times also go.

  • Mitsi Fendt
    Mitsi Fendt Forum Participant Posts: 484
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    edited April 2016 #44

    Only use club sites when we have vouchers otherwise it's CLs.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited April 2016 #45

    Whilst some claim that "peakers" would subsidise the "off-peakers", I would suggest that the reverse could be the case as increasing off-peak income would aid the reduction/stabilisation of peak prices.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2016 #46

    There is one point about "off peak" usage declining? the winters are getting warmer and wetter which when talking to people is deturing them useing their leisure vehicles,where they would go if it was cold but bright

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited April 2016 #47

    irrespective of the number of vanners who 'off peak', isnt the issue whether CC is interested in attrarcting them to their sparsly filled midweek stes?

    currently, their pricing suggests they arent and are happy for members to sample other suppliers wares....

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2016 #48

    We ,I  would have thought ,all sampled other suppliers wares but then reverted to the best for each persons own requirements, but find it more difficult to do so as the product  has become more difficult to access as it unable to keep up with demandWink

  • thebroons
    thebroons Forum Participant Posts: 165
    edited April 2016 #49

    We are the opposite ,we have only used one cl and three music festivals.in the last 10yrs ,the rest in the uk on cc sites,and even now this year, we have found it difficult to book some pitches,we only got on one site which showed full,by ringing direct
    as we wanted 10days,and the site we used last week to "test" new van only had two nights midweek available,so whether a "few" think its expensive, the majority of both clubs members think otherwise

    No matter how many think it's expensive it shows the clubs pricing structure is not working as stated in the price guide. 

    Club site fees are set to be as fair as possible to ALL MEMBERS which clearly its not by the comments made in this thread. 

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #50

    Whether club site fees are excessive or not is a matter of opinion. Where the sites are full it would appear they are not. Where sites have lots of room then there may be rom for some adjustment but the trick is to get the maximum revenue and recucing fees
    may not achieve this.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited April 2016 #51

    It might depend on how much they were reduced by. £5 and the effect might be minimal, resulting in a loss of income. Knock a tenner off and there could be a substantial increase in turnover.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2016 #52

    We are the opposite ,we have only used one cl and three music festivals.in the last 10yrs ,the rest in the uk on cc sites,and even now this year, we have found it difficult to book some pitches,we only got on one site which showed full,by ringing direct
    as we wanted 10days,and the site we used last week to "test" new van only had two nights midweek available,so whether a "few" think its expensive, the majority of both clubs members think otherwise

    No matter how many think it's expensive it shows the clubs pricing structure is not working as stated in the price guide. 

    Club site fees are set to be as fair as possible to ALL MEMBERS which clearly its not by the comments made in this thread. 

    ..It proves that the majority of members are far from as some would like to think leaving in droves,and its been busy on the club stand at the Peterborough show signing up new members ,so priceing is not having the effect some on here hopeWink 

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #53

    Dont know what the selection criteria is for Mid week discount, but Lady Margaret with its low usage in winter should be one. Even then the prices are still high compared to commercials at the same time of year.

    If I'm not mistaken, LMP did have MWD, I'm sure we stayed there mid week a few times and got the discount.  Seems strange they've done away with it there with such low occupancy.

    You are correct. It used to carry MDW, as we've utilised it in the past. Can't understand why it's still not on.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #54

    We are the opposite ,we have only used one cl and three music festivals.in the last 10yrs ,the rest in the uk on cc sites,and even now this year, we have found it difficult to book some pitches,we only got on one site which showed full,by ringing direct as we wanted 10days,and the site we used last week to "test" new van only had two nights midweek available,so whether a "few" think its expensive, the majority of both clubs members think otherwise

    No matter how many think it's expensive it shows the clubs pricing structure is not working as stated in the price guide. 

    Club site fees are set to be as fair as possible to ALL MEMBERS which clearly its not by the comments made in this thread. 

    ..It proves that the majority of members are far from as some would like to think leaving in droves,and its been busy on the club stand at the Peterborough show signing up new members ,so priceing is not having the effect some on here hopeWink 

    But do those that are signing realise what the real price of sites are, or are they just tempted by the ads showing how low theycan be? And how long do those new members remain in the club? Perhaps they are just joining for the "kudos" of being a member.Wink

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #55

    .. its been busy on the club stand at the Peterborough show signing up new members ,so priceing is not having the effect some on here hopeWink

    Didn't look particularly busy the times I passed it, especially compared to some of the other Club stands. If you were helping out JVB you should have said and I would have dropped by to say hi.

    peedee

  • fur ball
    fur ball Forum Participant Posts: 155
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    edited April 2016 #56

    I see some are saying that midweek off peak should be cheaper, strikes me that the privileged want to be subsidised by the ones unable to have that choice. When I join my rugby club I pay the membership fee, each game I play costs me five pounds, they don't
    increase it to ten when there is lots of players available to choose from or reduce it to two pounds when there short in an effort to get people along, the club have set the amount and that's it so why should this club be any different, surely the pitch fee
    should be set at whatever it costs plus whatever percentage more that they feel they need and same with occupants fees and it should be at that price constantly with maybe the only exception a summer and winter fee to take into account extra electricity usage
    during winter. A club shouldn't be trying to take advantage of its members or treating members different,all members surely have the right to the same standard of service and usage for the same price. 

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited April 2016 #57

    perhaps not rugby, but certainly at golf clubs, they are using their own (and other specialised reseller) websites to get interest in otherwise unused tee times.

    i realise it can grate when someone playing at peak time has paid more than another at a quiet time, but this is today's 'flight seat, holiday place' selling model.

    camping/touring parks are just doing the same thing....

    there is a view that, if these places werent sold (at whatever prices) that lack of extra income would require peak time prices to be raised to claw back that missing cash.

     

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #58

    It might depend on how much they were reduced by. £5 and the effect might be minimal, resulting in a loss of income. Knock a tenner off and there could be a substantial increase in turnover.

    This is the difficult problem facing the club. At the current occupancy rates they know what to charge but if you reduce fees you sail into the unknown. A  wrong decision could cost serious money but a right one make it. It needs a brave committee to go
    ahead and risk a major loss.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited April 2016 #59

    Obviously the CC are reluctant to follow the industry standard and reduce their prices considerably during midweek and quiet periods of the year.  But that may be counter productive, so if they don't test the waters, how are they to know if they could utilise those unused pitches to their advantage. 

    The answer is to run a test for a year on a number of selected sites and monitor the results. 

    To keep it simple make a standard reduction of £10.00 per night Sunday to Thursday nights 

    What sites could they choose -- Quieter sites which have a low turnover during slack periods -- But must be spread over the whole of the UK. 

    Only head office will know this so they should choose.

    Go on the CC what have you got to lose.

    Smile

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited April 2016 #60

    The off peak price at the Leek site for two adults is £18.70 per night. Take a tenner off that and we're getting close to the sort of sum quoted by posters for what some people use in electricity. 

    A reduced price in off peak has to cover costs or peak prices will have to subsidise the discounts. 

    I'm all for increased usage at discounted prices but each pitch night should not result in a loss 

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited April 2016 #61

    Can understand costs need covering but a price of £10/12 per night, mid week in say Nov/March could be a trial.With most CLs closed at that time might not be that much of a conflict of interest.