June's magazine

PhilHeller
PhilHeller Forum Participant Posts: 267
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edited June 2017 in Club Membership #1

Don't know if this has been covered elsewhere as I do not have a couple of hours spare to read through all the various areas.

Page 52 and Harvey Alexander, Director Of Marketing, states that the new website was launched at the end of 2016 to make it easier for members to find wha they are looking for - he must have a different version than me.

The whole page is sound bites at their worst.

Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2017 #2

    Well if that was the CC's aim with the new website I hope that they fare better with the rebrand!

  • PhilHeller
    PhilHeller Forum Participant Posts: 267
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    edited June 2017 #3

    According to Harvey the rebrand has already resulted in an increase in membership and members using sites. This follows 2016, without the rebrand, being a great year with increased site usage during both the first and last quarters.

    Funnily, I have found it much easier this year to book sites like Southport including weekends🤔

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2017 #4

    This Harvey character wouldn't be a pooka — in the form of a six-foot, three-and-a-half-inch tall invisible rabbit that co-starred with James Stewart by any chance? 

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #5

     

    So bookings at club sites have increased in spite of at least 2 being closed and a couple of others only taking seasonal bookings as they are under refurbishment.

    Obviously he has been taking lessons from politicians

     

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited June 2017 #6

    I tried downloading it but kept getting the message that it's not available yet.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited June 2017 #7

    Not in the real world at HO. Its full of political speak, not in the least in touch with members. In  fact do any of the honchos actually Caravan?

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #8

    It does seem to be available for members, just not if you want to buy it as a non member. I just got a banner saying this mag is not available to purchase, but on entering my login details it started downloading. However, on club wifi I would not bother, it is not going anywhere. I think a typical mag is about 300MB, so based on the speed here at Cirencester would take at least half an hour. As I am not about to use 300MB of my phone contract data, I will wait till we get home.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2017 #9

    If there is an increase in members using CC sites the question is are other sites loosing pitch nights or is it industry wide? It could simply be that with poor exchange rates fewer are having a week in the sun and using their caravans.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #10

    As you say ET there could be any number of reasons for the increase. To attribute it directly to the rebrand without any further research would be silly. In our personal case, we are actually using them less this year, as we have taken one of our tours in France.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #11

    I was sorry to read the poor quality of the new web site launch was glossed over, particularly for CL owners where perhaps an apology was long overdue. Glossing over the truth doesn't improve customer relations and makes people sceptical.

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited June 2017 #12

    Is this not the start of the caravanning/camping season when lots of new people join camping clubs?

    Presumably the CC doesn't have the membership records for past years as the IT staff are still all on holiday after their amazing efforts on the new site!surprised

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited June 2017 #13

    But Mr Harvey is Director of Marketing so you expect a lot of what my continental colleagues call Marketing Blah, Blah

    Actually to ascribe anything to the name change is just plain silly and Mr Harvey doesn't.  He  just mentions the increase in membership and the name change in the consecutive sentences.  So you make the unconscious link.  This is what a good Marketeer does.   

     

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
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    edited June 2017 #14

    I agree with Brue,  regarding the quality of the web site.  The most recent magazine almost got dumped before reading it, as I didn't recognise the new style.  The format is far less impactive than the old CC  magazine.

    Cannot comment  on CC Club sites as I haven't used one for a couple of years.  Far too expensive today and we prefer the informality of CL's and C&CC CS's.

    Will not be renewing membership with CC in July.  Will soldier on with C&CC until we stop caravanning.  I really object the the new club claiming that s in been existence since 1917. It hasn't,   it started in 2017!   

    I really enjoyed my time with the CC, when we joined in 1977 it was great and the freedom really refreshing .  Things started to become less enjoyable in recent times with the club site rigid pitching policy. Serried lines of caravans, all facing exactly the same and closely sited so as to maximise numbers was not my idea of freedom.  CL's were the answer for us, but the "New Order" earlier this year, new name and horrible new logo, finished it.  Had always been a member of both clubs, so now it will just be the C&CC from the end of this month.

    TF

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #15

    I thought the actual magazine was a bit better this month but news from the meeting quoted by the OP wasn't....

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited June 2017 #16

    Go to agree Brue. I thought the 2page spread on picnic sets was a revelation.

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited June 2017 #17

    A treat to look forward to. Two whole pages of something I can't see the point of. Perfect!

    To be honest I could never imagine the club saying that the website made things more difficult for users or that numbers had fallen since the relaunch. Whether it's more than you'd normally see at the start of a season isn't really clear. 

    What is happening of course is that long standing members like TF aren't renewing but that will occur throughout the year rather than by mass resignation. My non renewal won't be noticed as its nearly at the end of the season 

    I don't find the magazine any worse than it was but reviews still use imperial measurements and the regional editions are a bit pointless but it's just your typical club type magazine. If you want something more relevant or technical there are better magazines out there and always have been 

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #18

    I always flick through the magazine to see if there is anything of interest , I think if someone has taken the trouble to write articles etc the least I can do is look through it ,weather I agree with them is another matter   

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2017 #19

    I tend to read the magazine whilst on the toilet.

    One sitting is usually sufficient.

  • Freelander359
    Freelander359 Forum Participant Posts: 107
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    edited June 2017 #20

    The Council Meeting report in the June magazine also mentions the issue of Motorway Service Area provision for caravans and motorhomes and the misuse by other drivers of the designated parking areas. We have often found this to be a problem so would have welcomed a bit more active lobbying by the 'Club' instead of the suggestion that we ourselves write in to complain directly to the service area operators.

     

     

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited June 2017 #21

    Dropping your 'aitches' Ian?

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2017 #22

    @ JayEss  but reviews still use imperial measurements and 

    Life still uses imperial measures .... e.g. speed limits, pints in pubs wink

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #23

    We still await our June issue. We always seem to be way behind the rest of you for this. You're so wetting my appetite for another good read 😉

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #24

    Plus of course how many of us calculate fuel consumption in litres per km, or check our tyres in kg per sq cms.😂

  • Amesford
    Amesford Club Member Posts: 685 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #25

    Yes  he also states caravan sales have "flattened" when perhaps leveled out would have been fairer 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #26

    or what about beer consumption in firkins - kids at school didn't believe it wasn't rude!

    personally I think we should go back to measuring caravan (and MH of course) mass in Slugs. My MTPLM is 109 Slugs sounds so much better!

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited June 2017 #27

    I don't calculate mpg. The car does it for me. 

    I do like to know how big something is in a review and seeing as the components are designed in metric why convert them without putting the original in as well? How do I know Mr natty leisure wear has a decent calculator? I want them to be accurate if they can't be objective and vague conversions aren't accurate 

    (I check tyre pressure in bars though)