Booking Fees for the Honeypots
Hi, On Jan 2nd we tried to book 2 nights in December at one of the so called "honeypot sites" (Rowntree Park). But its fully booked for the whole year and I couldn't even find 1 night in December. I like the CC policy of no fee when you book and think it should stay, but with a few site exceptions.
I've no doubt that as the year goes by a small number of people who have booked RP will just cancel with no penalty but member's like myself who wish to book and will not cancel lose out.
What do people think about putting booking fees on the 2 or 3 honeypot sites to ensure that people who book uphold their booking. As I have said I think the overall policy of no booking fees for the vast majority of sites works and should be kept.
Comments
-
I assume you mean cancel after the cut off point? (72 hours).
The problem with deposits (according to the club) is that when they had them the number of late cancellations (after the cut off) and the number of no shows was actually higher than it is without them. people thought they had a paid a deposit, wee happy to lose it and therefore didn't need to give any notice. So bringing them back for these very busy sites would make the problem worse.
Also people cancel for a number of different reasons. You seem to imply, actually you say you have no doubt, that a small number book with the intention of cancelling but how do you know this is the case? Likewise how do you know you won't have to cancel?
And sadly booking on Jan 2nd for a 'honeypot' site is quite late. Club sites are popular.
3 -
For that site I am afraid you need to be on the ball on frenzy day. I am not sure deposits would make any difference, as due to its popularity I think most would be willing to risk loosing a nights fees, which would be the most logical penalty. As to availability in December, currently there are several odd days available. I would book one of those and keep your eyes pealed for cancellations and then add to it.
0 -
I can well see that a non refundable booking fee would upset some members particularly if the cancellation was for a reason beyond their control.
Last year I had to cancel a booking at another club's site and fee was not refunded despite my advising of cancellation with 4 days to go. Reason to cancel was the death of a family member but club still said no.
0 -
This subject is often raised under the circumstances highlighted by the OP. How do we know that if there was a deposit that there would be more availability on those "honeypot" sites? In truth we don't. We don't of course know the occupancy rates at any particular site but in central York I would reckon it would be pretty high all year so those bookings which are cancelled are more often than not taken by someone else. There is also the issue of setting up a separate system for a handfull of sites and would that we worth it. Personally I think you have to have a single system be that no deposit or with a deposit. Despite many pages of discussion on this topic I have never got the impression that there is overwhelming support to change the current system.
David
0 -
Thanks, Tracy.
There you go, FB. Pitches are available so you can book.
I'm sure you know this topic has been debated ad nauseam so it's all been said before.
0 -
When this subject is discussed it would always appear that the vast majority of members are happy with the current no deposit booking system.
I don't think that deposits would have any effect on the honey pot sites as people would be happy to pay the deposit and if they cancel accept they have to forego it. A lost deposit would not be an issue to some members whilst to others who may have to cancel for genuine reasons not merely just because of a change of plan/mind could feel the financial loss.
Personally I'm for leaving well alone.
5 -
The deposits required back then I think were only £5 for a booking whether 1 or 20 nights which is why people thought it was cheaper just not to turn up however if it was the cost of a night's booking and then £1 for each extra night, then maybe they would think twice about not arriving.
The C&CC seem to manage okay with deposits and there is availibility all year round even on their popular sites.
0 -
"The C&CC seem to manage okay with deposits and there is availibility all year round even on their popular sites."
Indeed. That is my impression, and why we recently joined the C & CC. I have found they have good and bad points but membership provides access to a whole range of alternative sites, some better located than CC sites (and some not - obviously).
It's been said on here many times, if you don't like something, vote with your feet, just moaning on here is unlikely to solve it!
My own view is to cream off the best of CC membership, C &CC sites and private where there is neither of the above.
If sufficient people vote with their feet then things will change, if they don't, then things cant be that bad....!!
0 -
I tried booking a week as part of a tour, on booking day at about 9.00 am, and all weekends were booked and as far as I can see no weekends are available now.
But it was nice see some people very happy that they had managed to book 3 or 4 weekends there.
1 -
I'm afraid it's first come first served old chap , & if anyone does need to cancell for what ever reason death in the family , accident , car break down , early arrival of baby , unexpected work commitments , etc ,as long as it's outside of 72 hours of arrival date ..........It's quite acceptable ,for most normal members anyhow .
Oh & by the way bookings are normally made via the booking system & not via CT , I believe you can even book 24/7 online , hope this helps 😇
5 -
Yes, deposits would help ease this situation, because people do book weekends and then decide nearer the day whether to go or not.
Deposits would stop a lot of the speculative bookings. It works well for the C&CC.
The oft-spouted theory that people don't cancel if they have paid a deposit is just an unproven, nonsense theory......quite obviously.
It would not advantage me at all to have deposits, but from a 'good business sense' point of view, it is a no-brainer to have them.
Incidently, we have asked tge CC for many years now for the number of cancellations just outside the 72 hour cut-off but they have refused to release them. I think many of us can work out why that might be.
0 -
La La land , I've heard it's a good film 😉
7 -
I we are going to have deposits it would probably be better to have them for all sites although that might may reduce the numbers booking the less popular sites. Basically though we have a few sites that book up immediately and frankly I doubt that even deposits would make a lot of difference.
The location of these sites is often so good that even deposits and doubling the site fees might not fully cure the problem. We will probably have to live with it, but if there really are people booking several weekends on these sites then the system might be better limiting the number any member can book on one site to give more people the chance of using them.
2 -
By my calculations all current members are £26.32 in pocket 😇 for every booking they make , because there are no deposits required & long may it continue .
The CC as been there & done that , times have changed & no matter how much spin & speculation on any ones part is going to change that.
So suck it up & accept the facts , that may be extremely hard for some members .............But that's the truth.
Live with it 😘
2 -
yes agree, I cannot understand why some are so keen to give their money up often months before they take their stay? I know this happens in other holidays (so does kids go free) but I cannot see any advantages for deposits to be reintroduced here, as according to club figures when they were taken away late cancellations went down.
There would also be the added complication of taking money at the time of bookings and returning them ( or do people want non refundable deposits?)
1 -
The simple solution is the lodgement of card details with the club and then any fee/penalty can be deducted accordingly. It won't happen, of course, as the club don't do simple solutions as evidenced by this website.
0
The available dates in December are clearly listed. 
