Pay as you book

gygafo
gygafo Forum Participant Posts: 51
edited July 2016 in Club Membership #1
This is so frustrating! Why is it that some sites are fully booked all year?



I am a new member to the CC but have friends who have been with the club for years who say that members block book and then cancel within 72 hours if the weather isn't to their liking. I know where I want to go and regardless of the weather I don't mind paying
up-front for the privalage unless there is a complication. If this is true, it seems a bit unfair. After all, I wouldn't book a flight and cancel if it was raining in another country and not expect some sort of penalty!?

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Comments

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #2

    Well, we really don't know if this is the case.

    A number of people have admitted on this forum that that's exactly what they do.

    However, despite many requests, over at least the last two to three years, the Club has steadfastly refused to reveal how many people cancel just outside the 72 hour cut off.

    Why? We don't know.

  • forsythia
    forsythia Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited July 2016 #3

    I totally agree with your comments, does this not make some members a bit selfish, we tend to stick to c.l.sites and do not find this a problem.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #4

    A number also suggest they dont keep their dogs on leads. Some suggest they simply move the peg to match their lack of reversing skills. Some admit to arriving earlier than the stipulated times. All a minority in my view and not worthy of dictating how the majority of us rule abiding members enjoy our pastime!

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #5

    We are all equal in the eyes of CC. Hence, we all have an equal chance of booking. Some just happen to be quicker off the mark than others and make use of the opportunities that are available to us all.

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
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    edited July 2016 #6

    This is so frustrating! Why is it that some sites are fully booked all year?

    I am a new member to the CC but have friends who have been with the club for years who say that members block book and then cancel within 72 hours if the weather isn't to their liking. I know where I want to go and regardless of the weather I don't mind paying up-front for the privalage unless there is a complication. If this is true, it seems a bit unfair. After all, I wouldn't book a flight and cancel if it was raining in another country and not expect some sort of penalty!?

    I,m afraid that is the nature of the business these days.It was not like this twenty years ago but the CC now has many members chaseing a limited number of pitches especially at weekends.fact.The reasons members cancel are varied but at the end of the days its their choice and we all have to live with it as most of us have had to do it at some time or other..

    peter.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2016 #7

    I,m afraid that is the nature of the business these days.It was not like this twenty years ago but the CC now has many members chaseing a limited number of pitches especially at weekends.fact.The reasons members cancel are varied but at the end of the days
    its their choice and we all have to live with it as most of us have had to do it at some time or other..

    peter.

    20 years ago I went away with my wife and youngest daughter for 7 weeks in the main season (school hols). We used about 14 sites s we toured. I advance booked only the  Saturday evenings for the first 3 weekends and the August bank holiday Sat - Sun. We
    typically stayed 3 or 4 nights and phoned ahead a day before we moved. From memory there was only one occasion when we were unable to get a pitch. As we were early risers we arrived at most sites (with agreement) around 10.30am. Those were the days

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #8

    Are there really some sites where every pitch is booked for every night for the whole of the rest of this year, or is it more that getting a decent length of stay, or a weekend is impossible?

     

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #9

    A quick look at Chatsworth, usually a very popular site, shows that you can get up to 6 nights in a row in August.

    5 nights free  at York Rowntree.

    Everyone must be in Devon/Cornwall.

    Baltic Wharf is pretty solidly booked, but there are still 5 nights available in December.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2016 #10

    Are there really some sites where every pitch is booked for every night for the whole of the rest of this year, or is it more that getting a decent length of stay, or a weekend is impossible?

     

    I think it is usually weekends on some sites. However it can bw that with the most popular sites that because weekends are booked rhose doing tours tend to book up much of the weekday capacity as well. 

    York Rowntree Parkis booked up August and September with only odd days but 4 or 5 days available one of August weeks

  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
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    edited July 2016 #11

    This is so frustrating! Why is it that some sites are fully booked all year?



    I am a new member to the CC but have friends who have been with the club for years who say that members block book and then cancel within 72 hours if the weather isn't to their liking. I know where I want to go and regardless of the weather I don't mind paying
    up-front for the privalage unless there is a complication. If this is true, it seems a bit unfair. After all, I wouldn't book a flight and cancel if it was raining in another country and not expect some sort of penalty!?

    Write your comments here...I think you'll find it's called pre planning , otherwise you'll never get sites/dates/days or weekends whenever you think you should all members have to do it eventually

  • MeatHome
    MeatHome Forum Participant Posts: 54
    edited July 2016 #12

    I would happily pay a deposit and have on occasions had to forfeit this when booked in with the C&CC

    It is possible that the Caravan Club is not able, or prepared to pay, for a secure method of collecting deposits 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2016 #13

    I am happy not to pay a deposit

  • gygafo
    gygafo Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited July 2016 #14
    Thanks for the replies and reasons everyone, it helps to understand how the club and it’s members work. However, if you know that you want to go to a certain destination on a set date
    then what is the problem in paying “online” in full or placing a deposit. That way, when people look at site availability they get a true reading of what really is or isn’t available.



    Cheers!

    Nigel.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2016 #15

    Thanks for the replies and reasons everyone, it helps to understand how the club and it’s members work. However, if you know that you want to go to a certain destination on a set date
    then what is the problem in paying “online” in full or placing a deposit. That way, when people look at site availability they get a true reading of what really is or isn’t available.



    Cheers!

    Nigel.

    I book around 120 sites in advance (and use them) if I paid in full probably a\round £2,500 and for me not a problem. For some younger folk wit ha family paying up front when booking ( I bok a couple of weeks before Christmas for the following year including
    the Christmas week) might be a problem

  • gygafo
    gygafo Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited July 2016 #16

    Thanks for the replies and reasons everyone, it helps to understand how the club and it’s members work. However, if you know that you want to go to a certain destination on a set date
    then what is the problem in paying “online” in full or placing a deposit. That way, when people look at site availability they get a true reading of what really is or isn’t available.



    Cheers!

    Nigel.

    I book around 120 sites in advance (and use them) if I paid in full probably a\round £2,500 and for me not a problem. For some younger folk wit ha family paying up front when booking ( I bok a couple of weeks before Christmas for the following year including
    the Christmas week) might be a problem

    Fair comment and appreciated EasyT.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2016 #17

    I posted '120 sites' I meant 120 nights

  • statusMoty1
    statusMoty1 Forum Participant Posts: 225
    edited July 2016 #18

    We book quite a few dates in advance because of shift work but also because of work we quite often have to cancel at short notice....it is an unavoidable problem with the nature of my job....up to now we have always managed to cancel within the 72 hour deadline
    ( which is surprising actually) though this year so far we have only had to,cancel 2 weekends.....fingers crossed it lasts to the end of the year

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #19

    Thanks for the replies and reasons everyone, it helps to understand how the club and it’s members work. However, if you know that you want to go to a certain destination on a set date
    then what is the problem in paying “online” in full or placing a deposit. That way, when people look at site availability they get a true reading of what really is or isn’t available.



    Cheers!

    Nigel.

    I book around 120 sites in advance (and use them) if I paid in full probably a\round £2,500 and for me not a problem. For some younger folk wit ha family paying up front when booking ( I bok a couple of weeks before Christmas for the following year including
    the Christmas week) might be a problem

    How many younger folk with a family book 120 nights?

    Anyway, paying a deposit helps to spread the cost.......it has to be paid sometime.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #20

    Thankfully we don't pay deposits and long may that continue! It works!

  • gygafo
    gygafo Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited July 2016 #21

    Thankfully we don't pay deposits and long may that continue! It works!

    Sorry but it does not work. You block book then cancel within 72 hours! How is that fair to someone who wants to book a break a week or two before?

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #22

    I certainly do not block book!  And we don't have deposits thankfully! Any evidence of block booking? In my opinion it's a myth!

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2016 #23

    There are very few sites on the network that weekends are booked all year in advance and are filled imediatley again whenever some one cancels

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #24

    I don't mind whether they take deposits or not.......but without a doubt, the lack of deposits must lead to late cancellations due to weather / can't be bothered / decided to go elsewhere / decided to do something else......etc.

    Hence Nellie's thread about his current site showing full on the web site but near empty on the ground. The computer still shows those bookings as 'active' so no-one else books.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2016 #25

    I certainly do not block book!  And we don't have deposits thankfully! Any evidence of block booking, in my opinion it's a myth





    ...+1  it seems to be put about by a few with an axe to grind 

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #26

    I certainly do not block book!  And we don't have deposits thankfully! Any evidence of block booking, in my opinion it's a myth





    ...+1  it seems to be put about by a few with an axe to grind 

    Yes, that would certainly explain the empty pitches.......errrrrrrr?

  • Vicmallows
    Vicmallows Forum Participant Posts: 580
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    edited July 2016 #27

    Deposits do seem to be the main  differentiator between CC and C&CC when it comes to booking a site.  Let's hope that choice remains.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #28

    Thing is I trust the vast majority of my fellow members not to play the system and to be honest in my opinion they don't.

    Yes, theoretically it can be done but why should the very few bad apples dictate the way of the many considerate folk like us! 

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #29

    Can I just ask the people opposed to deposits.......are you against the idea because you don't like to pay a tiny percentage of your holiday in advance.......or is it because you want to retain the option to cancel with no penalty?

  • gygafo
    gygafo Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited July 2016 #30

    Deposits do seem to be the main  differentiator between CC and C&CC when it comes to booking a site.  Let's hope that choice remains.

    Lets not... I'm all for booking and paying with the intention of going so paying for my break is not a problem. Would look like some don't like the idea... It makes sence that booking could be done either long or short term and online pitch availability
    would be more accurate. It's the modern way of doing things.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #31

    But the suggestion was that serial block bookers and subsequent cancellations are at the root of the problem not the ability to amend bookings/change sites/nights etc. 

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