Leaving because unable to book
Well hello everyone. We have been members for 7 years now and we our cancelling our membership. The reason being that people book up several sites at once and just cancel what they dont want at the last minute. They do this because they dont have to pay a deposit. We did get into one once which was because of a last minute cancelation. When we got there people were suprised we got in and we was even told that you have to book in Jan on several sites and just cancel what you dont want. This is not the way to run things. If a deposit was asked people wouldnt do this. We have mentioned this before but nothing has changed. Im not paying a membership when I cant book anything .
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Some people consider that a perk of the club - so I guess you can't please everyone - a lot of sites are booked in December for the year - personally I work round it and find a site that isn't full or use the CL network. I do think there should be some restrictions on the number of bookings and cancellations but that's they way they do things and most people seem to like it like that - paying a deposit when you are uncertain you will be able to go is an expensive past time. I hope you find a system that works for you. Many of us belong to the C&CC too giving more options.
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people book up several sites at once and just cancel what they dont want at the last minute.
It is is not possible to book more than one CC site for a given date on a membership. No idea where you got that idea.
Sorry. I suspect that you meant a series of bookings on different dates. I am one who books for 12 months ahead in December. I use all my bookings. If I had to make a deposit nothing would change.
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This is a myth in reality. Can't remember which month's magazine it was but the club chairman did sate that the club had monitored people who booked a number of sites like on booking day and then cancelled and it was very small indeed, and a lot of those actually re-booked else. For a number of sites and dates the club is very popular and the club said that it had looked at a number of different proposals to alleviate this but none of these including deposits was seen to be effective. Incidentally when the club removed deposits the number of no shows went down.
But it's your money if you don't like what's on offer then don't buy. It really is that simple. Hopefully you'll find sites that as good as the club sites you want to use.
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I don't think he/she meant that people book multiple sites for the same day, more that they book multiple sites in one spell of booking.
I totally agree that the 'book'em all up in Jan and cancel what you don't want later' with no deposits required is a dreadful way to run the booking system, and which is why I use CLs mostly or non-Club sites. I don't use any other CAMC products as I get better deals independently, and as for the banal magazine; I unsubscribed when I stopped having open fires.
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We did get into one once which was because of a last minute cancelation.
Some sites are popular and supply far outstrips demand, so a certain amount of advance planning is required. However, there are plenty of sites that do have availability. Like ET we book the majority of our sites in December, and would only cancel in an emegency. If the club introduced deposits, it would not make any difference to how we book.
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I'm sorry but the CMC don't take deposits , you could try the C&CC or any indepentant sites , I believe they are quite willing to take your money when you book .
You'll be able to book as many sites as you like , good bye & good luck 👍
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I suppose it could be possible to book a series of sites with The Caravan Club in the form of a cascade where when one booking finishes another starts. That is how I have my bookings for the summer when I am away for a number of months staying at each place for a few days but as I am a member also of the "friendly club" and also use CLs and their CSs, I have never actually had two Caravan Club bookings back to back. But I shall try that just for the fun of it.
I'm sad for Disy that The Caravan Club does not keep a pitch enpty on every site for her/him so that he/she can book at the last minute, as that arrangement would suit me very well also.
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Why bother to post instead of just doing it? Perhaps you want us to beg you to stay, Disy.
The reality is that we all have the same chances to book. It just takes a little organisation and willingness to compromise if we can't get our first choice.
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Goodbye!
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I booked 7 sites at the beginning of the year. surely like most things in life its a case of first come first served? I intend to use them all as well and the weekend before last at a site, we spoke to the warden and booked an 8th there and then for mid September working around what was still available. As already said it's just a case of being proactive.
The other thing about being a member is it's not just about getting access to the sites, there are many other benefits and discounts on goods and services.
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Ultimately, its market demand which results in full sites, and I am still one of those who much prefers it that way. I actually think it is a benefit to not pay in advance, thus making the inevitable changes which life throws at you, easier to make.
consumer choice is improved because there are 2 clubs each of whom does things differently.
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Like the old saying goes "You can please some of the people some of the time but you will never please all the people all of the time ".
but i do have to agree to agree that the club should have a better booking system in place ,whatever that might be.
but as a footnote we always use club sites and never anything else and have never had a problem booking before.
Brian & Jo
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Perhaps the network will eventually grow sufficiently so that supply meets demand and the possibility that in the future that more sites stay open all year.
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As we don't usually just weekend but tour at least 7 or more sites on a pre-chosen route it suits us to book in advance. The weather at first weekend has not been a factor on more than one occasion where warden advised site access kept icing on a short but steep incline and after two days of similar advice we chose another site
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Hello Disy, I can sympathies with your situation as I have had problems booking due to inconsiderate members booking weekends in the middle of my chosen two weeks.
I much prefer CLs anyway but you would still need to book early for the popular ones, many of which do require a deposit due to no-shows.
Good luck to you, seven years is a long time to put up with a service that you are not happy with.
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This is a problem that has no answer. The club uses a no deposit system which appeals to many but is disliked by others and whatever they do they will never satisfy everyone.
You could as an alternative join the C&CC where you will pay a hefty deposit and lose it if you cancel within 31 days. Basically you will get in easier there but even then some sites still book up and you might also find some with a minimum stay.
Both clubs seem to be losing sites at the moment and the real need is for more sites but for whatever reason this is not happening.
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I'm aware this is an old post but I wonder if this member did actually leave...for the reasons quoted? I've been a member for 25 years and have never experienced any of what is described. Claims are made without supplying anything to substantiate them, assumptions are made for the reasons people do as is claimed. Who told the member that "you have to book in January on several sites and just cancel what you don't want?" Another assumption about whether people would act as described if a deposit was required. Then the claim "...I can't book anything." yet he previously states that he had booked a site. Seven years a member without being able to book a pitch...except one of course. 😀
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If I had the time available to waste I would try booking two sites for the same time period, just to see if it works, and then cancel both right away - but I don't think one can actually do that.
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It certainly did not let me. Last year the club wrote to say they were canceling one of our bookings due to refurbishment works. I wrongly assumed they had cancelled it and went to book an alternative. It refused as it said I already had a booking. Once that was Deleted User everything went through as normal.
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If a deposit was required, the CMHC would lose a major point of distinction compared with CCC and indeed most (if not all) commercial sites. Clearly, customers/members value this - along with other features of the ‘offer’ by CMHC, otherwise the sites wouldn’t be so booked up. (Subject to factors outside of any operators control, such as weather, school holidays, etc).
I personally have never ‘late cancelled’ but inevitably there are reasons why ones plans change. Either to cancel, reschedule or add/subtract a night from a booking.
as for my bookings, yes, I have found a ‘target’ site to be full, but so what? I find an alternative, be it CMHC or commercial, or on a few occasions, a CL.
same process and philosophy as when booking any other holiday, a restaurant table, a theatre show, etc.
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Disy,
I'm sorry to see you go, as we are when anyone cancels. Contrary to popular opinion we do care about our Members but as this thread clearly demonstrates we cannot please all.
Our system monitoring late cancellations and no shows has been incredibly efficient in managing those "repeat offender" and as mentioned above the amount of late cancellations and no shows that happen in reality is not as many as people would think.
Our popular sites are just that: popular and advanced bookings are essential. But we can always suggest alternatives if people are willing to go "off the beaten track" or try something different.
But we wish you well Disy.
Take care.
Helen
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40 years ago we turned up on the Isle of Purbeck (which we know well) with a small tent on a Bank Holiday weekend. Every site was full but eventually a kindly owner let us squeeze into a tiny space on a slope. It was freezing cold weather but still rammed everywhere. I hate to think what it’s like now.
Fact is, this country has limited space and camping and caravanning has always been popular. Booking at peak times has always been essential and I guess always will be so you can’t blame people for booking ahead in December or January.
Having discovered this many years ago we started caravanning on the continent and in thirty years travelling at peak times we only booked about five times and rarely found a site full but it’s further to travel of course and not convenient for a long weekend.
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But according to the late availability list there are more than 800 vacancies on Club sites in Devon and Cornwall for this May Bank Holiday weekend - and there must be a thousand or two more on the independent sites.
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Even up in the middle of the Scottish Highlands one of the CC sites had 70 arrivals today.
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