Loosing More CLs, why?
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Typically useless CC forum and IT staff again as it does not allow you to edit a quoted post so one has to post the whole of the previous post. I have had it with this forum and along with many others will not bother with it again in the future. I have unsubscribed from this thread.
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The last one I stayed on had the Paypal facility to pay(in full) I used it without issue. Paypal act as an intermediary in the event of a dispute & have a copy of all the correspondence. It works & works well-win/win
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[Typically useless CC forum and IT staff again as it does not allow you to edit a quoted post so one has to post the whole of the previous post. I have had it with this forum ]
Hear, hear! The only solution is is to cut a selection from the OP and paste it.
I really have no issues with not being consulted on the cost of the name change etc. etc. as nothing much has changed and the sites are still the same, but this long-awaited CT message board update is (still) archaic and should've been binned and replaced by an up to date and off-the-shelf software package of which there are many. Even my impecunious motorbike club with fewer than 800 members has a far more user-friendly message board.
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Deposits are the way forward, we've found this to be true. No one has baulked at paying one, and those who have no showed hadn't been asked for one. One lovely old boy who'd sent a deposit called to rearrange his dates due to a family matter, and due to this we've managed to fit another guest in at short notice, so a win win situation. And I must say, if a prospective customer refused to send a deposit I would have to politely refuse the booking. I can't think of any other holiday business that doesn't reserve your booking without a deposit, can you? EV
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I've not paid a deposit for a hotel for years
I don't have a problem with paying a deposit for a CL and can fully understand why they are useful. We read of CL owners being let down far too often.
However if I pay a deposit I like to pay it online if possible. Ideally by PayPal and with a nice clear paper trail. If I had to send a cheque by post I'd probably look elsewhere as I'd probably forget to post it and end up without a booking
So as a plea to deposit takers - can you make it as easy as possible for us to give you our money and confirm you have it?
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I've no problem with paying a deposit, but usually send a cheque. As I add my mobile no. with the accompanying letter it would be good to receive a text to confirm it's arrival....CL owners please note.
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Have just got home to find the last 3 months copies of the CC's magazine. There are 15 new CLs (Hurrah) but 18 closures (Boo), and also hidden in the updates listing are another 5 closed this year (at least), so that's 8 less to choose from.
I also wonder how many of those 5 closed temporarily will in fact re-open.0 -
As a new site owner (this is our second year) we can state that the incentives for staying open are few.
Simply put, the returns aren't there. Last year we had sub 50 night stays and this year sub 30 night stays to date. Everyone who comes loves their stay, but it takes time to become established and hopefully we'll bridge that major void.
If I were to ask the club to do one thing it would be to support and promote young CLs much more (e.g. magazine articles - but they seem unwilling when we've suggested this in the past) to help bridge this gap significantly. Otherwise many new CLs simply won't last.
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/england/cheshire/nantwich/pinsley-corner-farm/
http://www.pinsleycornerfarm.co.uk/caravan-site
https://m.facebook.com/PinsleyCornerFarm
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Let me just say that I have just sent £25 to a CL, who didn't take deposits, as an apology for having to cancel the day before we were due to go through an accident to our car so I am not against deposits.
However I think you are making it difficult for your customers. You want payment in full at the time of booking, you don't accept cheques and you charge an extra 2.75% for credit cards. I am afraid I would look elsewhere.
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Given the apparent lack of access problems, I find the two hour changeover period rather unnecessary as well. A new CL has to be careful not to put off potential clients by creating obstacles.
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Oly, you may be disappointed, but frankly I think that for a site like yours your figures are really rather good.
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The way we run the site has been derived from our own years of experience, but mainly from feedback from other CL users, this forum, the Club and from other CL owners.
So, addressing the points in order;
- We take full payment at the point of booking, this aligns with most other holiday accommodation, plus most guests only stay for 2 nights anyway, so we were taking £20 deposit then taking £8 cash on site...it just seemed pointless to be honest! However, having now started with this approach people seem to like the fact that they have it all confirmed and its one less thing to worry about or remember once on holiday.
- Most customers pay by BACS, so free and easy for everyone involved.
- I'm not sure what is meant by the "lack of access issues", however the arrival/departure times stated are the standard ones the Club recommended. But, also as stated on our listing, changeover is flexible by arrangement, and many do ask and enjoy the benefit of an early arrival or late departure.
- Eurotraveller, that is our conclusion so far - which is why I wanted to raise it here. We are probably not unusual, which is why many CL's may give up and close a year or two after opening. We appreciate feedback like the comments above, but Club members also need to do their part and be supportive and not overly critical of new CL's if they want the network to survive. Fundamentally as owners we are not as sensitive as many, maybe as we are dyed in the wool caravanners. But we also know that bookings are mostly not driven by the fine details but by having an amazingly fantastic location and surrounding area such as ours. Don't get me wrong though, ease of booking, great personable customer service and facilities during the stay do secure repeat custom (which we don't have a problem with - most of are bookings are from the same few people who have visited to date!) but as with any new site, people just need to get to know about the location first...and the Club could help with that.
http://www.pinsleycornerfarm.co.uk/caravan-site
https://m.facebook.com/PinsleyCornerFarm
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Not wanting to reiterate everything twice, but that is what the Club and other owners recommend (it's also what the vast majority of our nearest, busy, established, sites offer), and we do state that we have flexible arrival and departure times to be confirmed upon booking. Part of the problem is the restrictive format that the Club uses on its website. So if people want to ask at the time of booking then 95% of the time they will get the thumbs up to arrive and depart as early or late during the day as they wish
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I find it very strange that the CC & other CL owners have pointed you in the way of a 2:00 arrival time as the majority of both their sites are available from 12:00 noon. I would certainly not consider leaving it a s late as that to arrive at a CL if I could help it. I too would not consider a site that requires full payment at point of booking. Looking at your website and seeing the list of do's and don'ts also put me off from visiting you. Perhaps other feel the same as I and that is one of the reasons for the "low" number of bookings.
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Nellie we agree with everyone of your points, we visit CL's to get away from the rigidity of club sites and would prefer to arrive between 11am and noon.
We also commented to each other on the long list of do's and dont's, very OTT.
Lets hope olylowe takes everyone's comments on board.
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To be honest I didn't post on here for pointers. I simply wanted to state our experience as a new CL for the fullness of views as to why some CLs may be closing. However, we have found that all customers have different preferences and that leads to contradicting views what the "customer" does and doesn't like. But the advice of other owners and professionals is pretty static. As such we're working with them, who also seem to think our numbers are pretty normal for a new CL.
Whilst you may think you're being helpful, publically stating faults as why you as an individual wouldn't visit is not helpful to the CL and rather off topic in this instance...although ironically such comments might just help put the nail in the coffin of another CL less resilient than us. Please, with all due respect, think before publically posting comments on how other CLs operate, if you feel that strongly about the advice you have to give just email them directly. CLs are generally very small businesses that need the support of members to accept them as they are if they truly want the network to survive.
Thankfully we are lucky enough to live and have a CL in an amazing place, and we look forward to meeting anyone who wishes to share in our paradise...a picture of our stunning sunset tonight is attached.
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>>>Whilst you may think you're being helpful, publically stating faults as why you as an individual wouldn't visit is not helpful to the CL and rather off topic in this instance<<<
olylowe,
It seems that you dislike constructive criticism, Normally, this is welcomed and acted on by the majority of CL owners who post on here.
To me, your attitude seems a tad on the arrogant side, as CT members, we respect other members views on here (most of us anyway).
To that effect, I will just say, that having read your terms and conditions, I do not wish to visit your CL. Good luck to you in your venture...
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But we also know that bookings are mostly not driven by the fine details but by having an amazingly fantastic location and surrounding area such as ours. Don't get me wrong though, ease of booking, great personable customer service and facilities during the stay do secure repeat custom (which we don't have a problem with - most of are bookings are from the same few people who have visited to date!)
Well, with only 80 bookings in nearly two years and most of them repeat bookings you are obviously to me not doing something right, You might have the most fantastic site but if you can't get people to book to try it they will never know. We stayed on a Cl last year that was nearly full for the whole two weeks we were there. The owner told me she had been thinking of closing as the bookings were so low but she was advised to put in electricity, did so, and in the rest of that year had more bookings than in the whole of the previous year and in the second year, when we were there, was nearly full all season. That says to me that with the ease of finding sites on the club web site with good reviews you can build up a site quickly. I notice that you only have one review from over a year ago.
You can do it by just phoning your bank, easier than posting a cheque
A lot of CMC members are the older generation who don't do telephone banking.
Whilst you may think you're being helpful, publically stating faults as why you as an individual wouldn't visit is not helpful to the CL and rather off topic in this instance...although ironically such comments might just help put the nail in the coffin of another CL less resilient than us.
If you are going to make a statement on a public forum I am afraid you are going to get public responses and I think that your response will have done more damage than anything we said.
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Only Biodegradable Eco-Friendly chemicals are permitted on site. If you have inadvertently arrived with the wrong chemicals please see us ASAP and prior to disposal! We can help if given the chance. However we do apply a £150 fine (the cost of emptying the tank) if our septic system is contaminated
Judge and jury
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It is great to see some helpful pointers for new CLs and we as a club do encourage each site to make their rules and regulations clear to ensure clarity with our members when booking. olylowe clearly states on his website that he can amend the arrival time if discussed beforehand and we always advise having a chat with CL owners if needed.
olylowe your CL Site looks lovely - I hope to get to visit you in the near future.
We would politely ask members to return back to the original discussion and wish olylowe the best of luck with his new CL Site. Some off topic posts will be Deleted User.
Back on topic, we are always looking at ways we can support our CL owners and realise how important CL Sites are for members. We have recently added the link to the late availability discussion into the late availability section of the Club's website and will continue to look at ways we can support our CL Sites and owners.
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I think sometimes people forget that many CLs, mine included are just someone's "back garden". It's not a commercial site, not a "business" as such. The only people who can make a cl a business are those in a spectacular location where it's been possible to put in all mod cons and then charge a high fee for the privilege.
My CL is my home. I have plenty of repeat business and most people love the simplicity, but it doesn't actually make me money after all costs are taken out
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