Marketing Puff
You've got to laugh!
I was reading the latest magazine when I had a wry smile at some marketing puff on site fees. It tells me that the CC will offer even greater value this year, as pitch prices at 20% of sites have been kept at 2016 levels.
Now, when I was at school (and I don't think they've changed this), that meant that 80% of prices had increased - so where's the even greater value in that?
I'm not saying that prices aren't good value (that's a whole other discussion). But i do think that members (and this is a magazine for members) should be treated with some modicum of respect for their ability to separate fact from puff. Is this another case of Alternative Facts?
Comments
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It seems we're all capable of basic maths-100% minus 20% equals 80%, not a major problem really
. I don't ever remember any company trumpeting an 80% rise as a positive. Similar to dept stores advertising-up to 25% off but the majority is 10% off, if you delve into a corner you'll find an item marked down by the vaunted 25%. Tis life, Tis std spin. The CC are no different.2 -
I take the point but the statement is probably no different to what any other operator would have said. I suppose it is called "accentuate the positive". It is good though that not all prices have risen and does tend to indicate rises are linked to the costs incurred in running each site.
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No idea WN, the new forum was born & I was relegated to behind the shutters
. Mayhap an 'anti fungus' I.T person
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Sadly the club seems determined to waste millions on buying companies that are going down the drain, eg Camping Cheques are DEAD or at least on their last legs. whose bright idea was that?
Time to get back to basics, spend the money BUYING SITES, proper caravan sites NOT affiliated sites. They are not club sites just a small discount and not good value at that.
I nearly discontinued over 30 years of membership this year as I use the club sites about 7 to 10 nights a year and nearly £50 membership fee on top of the very high fees we have to pay for very Late or early off season pitches is disgraceful.
I really feel that we are no longer a club, just another business. A top to bottom change has got to happen or more people like me will walk away.
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Or perhaps it's because these are sites that are not being used to any great extent and they are trying to entice members to go by making them seen "oh so much" cheaper than the more more popular ones.
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I think that club sites are expencive, why do we have to be charged per person and a pitch fee, either per person or a pitch fee but NOT both, if they also didn't have big ablution blocks, we all have toilets in our vans now, put electric on a coin meter, I am sure most of us use less than a £1.00 per day, we are paying for things we dont use,
I only use C.L. s from £6.00 to £15.00 per night for 3 of us
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I am not convinced that the clubs site fees are expensive. If you read Practical Caravan you will find regional reviews of sites and the average fees charged tend to be fairly close to the clubs most of the time. There are some real bargains out there though in the private sector by the look of it.
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For those of us who camp alone the club sites per person charge is often cheaper than a nearby CL. For families the per person charge can work out to be very expensive. We all look at the way that clubs and commercials charge and book accordingly.
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As already stated club sites prices are middle of the road. There are far more expensive sites out there. Call it pitch + person or an all in price it will come out the same for a couple and children. Yes there are very good toilets and shower in vans, we have one, but many like us like to use the shower blocks.
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On the point of the Club investing in new sites. The Club are always on the look out for new, suitable sites. The problem is that it is very difficult to get permission for new sites, and much of the land that does become avaliable is now earmarked by local authorities for housing development.
David
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I agree wholeheartedly with much of what has been said here - skipping over the "puff" pages and advertising in this month's issue of the magazine leaves little reading matter of interest, including the letters page (three letters), and looks even more like a shopping brochure.
I can't quite put my finger on exactly when I ceased to be a member of a club for caravanners and was magically converted into a customer for a big business aimed at maximising its profits from people hooked on caravanning (or, as in our case, motorhoming). But it has happened and I don't like it.
And, before I'm swamped by helpful messages advising me what to do about it or, indeed, where to go, I have already made up my mind.
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I suppose it depends on what function you think the magazine has. In order for it to cover its costs by advertising it has to be of a standard to attract that advertising in the first place. If it is self financed by advertising, as we are told, surely is a good thing rather than being a drain of Club funds that could be used elsewhere? Unusually the letter page in the latest edition was the most interesting it's been for years with a detailed response from the Club of site bookings. The problem is that there is a limited amount of news and Club details that are available at any one time. If we just wanted a bulletin board type magazine it would only need publishing every three months. Might it be more helpful to suggest what you would like to see in the magazine rather than just saying what you don't like?
David
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Unusually the letter page in the latest edition was the most interesting it's been for years with a detailed response from the Club of site bookings
Totally agree with this, it certainly puts some club 'myths' that are often repeated on here to bed.
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I can't quite put my finger on exactly when I ceased to be a member of a club for caravanners and was magically converted into a customer for a big business aimed at maximising its profits from people hooked on caravanning (or, as in our case, motorhoming). But it has happened and I don't like it
Interesting point, what has actually changed in the way you use the 'club'? what has changed for you when you are on site? When you were a 'member of the club' rather than a 'customer' did you not pay to stay on club sites?
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