cl owner-bookings fail to turn up?
I have a 5 van CL,this year i have lost the equivalent of approx £2500 in income due to booking not turning up or leaving early.We ask for a deposit that does not always arrive ,but bookings close to arrival day is not always achievable.We are turning away bookings because in theory we are full. then 2 do not arrive and we are 40% empty and not making a profit on 3 vans capacity.Do any other CL owners have any solutions to this ever increasing problem?
Moderator Comment - Not sure why this has been posted in the story section so I have moved it to the CL Section in the discussion area where more people will see it?
Comments
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I'm not a CL owner but it seems to me that there are software systems available to control bookings and take deposits.
Since you should be taking full payment before or on arrival early leavers should not be a problem.
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Hello allcsm. As you will see from another discussion within the CL's section of Club Together, you are not alone.
If you are not already a member of the CL Owners Group, I urge you to become a member (we are now 350+ in number) and this is a very hot topic. We are currently collating statistics on this very topic, with the hope that Club Management will help us address this issue with Members. Please email me (tedhj@btinternet.com) with your details and I will join you to the group and show you how to record your cancellations and early departures for the report.
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You have my support for a pre-payment system since each empty pitch represents a loss of 20% of your income. I think CL users would be more amenable to a pre-payment system than would those using the large impersonal and regimented sites.
CLs are the sole raison d'être for my membership.
Sadly, it seems that there are evidently inconsiderate and selfish caravanners and motorhomers too.
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Sad people with too much time on their hands book every weekend away early season for the rest of the Year, never intending to turn up to half of them " but it's there if we wish to get away ", believe me I've heard it !
Happy caravanning.
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I would be quite happy to pay in full for a CL booking. You certainly have my support and sympathy for your loss of income.
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Join the CL owners group, they will have lots of advice and help about all issues, including taking bookings, deposits, payments, refunds. Customers come in different disguises, some are genuine, do a lot of research about where to stay, what to expect. Others, hopefully are in the minority! What is your CL called by the way? Good chance to advertise it via the forum and this thread? Al the best....
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I agree
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You are quite correct, there are a number of booking systems available. Some a free to use, others cost around £10-£20 a month. We have implemented one and the number of 'No Shows' certainly declined. The systems typically allow a member to see availability, book and receive a reminder with directions etc. a few days in advance. Some take deposits via PayPal etc.
Aside from the issue that many members don't like booking online, the issue is twofold if one implements such a system (as we have);
Even with a system in place and deposits requested for bookings you still get Members who cancel due to breakdown, illness, etc. this is inevitable with the demographics of the Membership and will never be eliminated. Automated systems and an email record of bookings should (in theory) reduce the number who simply forget where and when they have booked (quite common) and allow the CL owner to go back to these Members and ask for some redress..
Implementing these systems costs the CL owner in time and money, as even if the system is free, they have to check that Deposits have been received, bank them etc. This all increases the costs of running a popular CL, should avoid muddles leading to 'overbooking' and delivering a good customer experience for the Member.
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Indoors, Are you referring to club sites?
It would be interesting to see what a CL owner with booking for both 2018 and 2019, and doesn't charge a deposit has to say on the subject.
We never book a site thinking we would cancel it but stuff does happen, which is usually outwith out control. On that basis alone I would be happy to pay 20% non refundable deposit of the total costs but not any more. Whatever CL owners decide you must ensure its fair and equitable.
PS I am reluctant to use pay-pal but would happily use BACs.
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I am having trouble getting my head around anyone who books a CL, then forgets they have booked it! Just how difficult is it to put the dates on a calendar, with CL name and a phone number?
Charge a deposit at time of booking, tell member nothing is confirmed until deposit is received, and then if they "forget" don't give it them back. They will only do it once! I ran multiple Leisure Centres all taking events bookings (weddings, sports events, competitions, etc....) but never confirmed any dates until a deposit had been paid and cleared if a cheque. Ok, you can't do it with late bookings, but it will help.
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I wish everybody had an online booking facility with a payment online facility. Cash only is archaic as a payment method, charge a couple of pounds more to cover the tax!
Could the owners group not set up a website template with a booking system linked, share the cost and everybody reaps the benefit?
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I am a member and have stayed on a few cl sites which we have enjoyed, I can only suggest what my son does with our family run tattoo studio we take a 50 % firm non returnable deposit this ensures that if an appointment is non fulfilled we at least have some payment to cover the wage and shop expenses. If a client phones in good time because they cannot attend because of a genuine reason we will re set the appointment. You have to be clear that no refund will be made in case of a no show.
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I am quite happy to pay up front for weekends....if longer pay a deposit equal to we rates....you don't turn up then site owner can retain a portion to cover costs or credit non shower for remaining costs....Shouldn't the club be setting some rules to sort this matter out...if it's not sorted we will lose some good sites and good owners...come on club get a grip...David
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Totally agree with tigermans post. The club should sort this on behalf of both the CL owners and the majority of members let down by this.
One Put I wasn't suggesting that people booked the same site or CL for the whole year but some do for more than they intend to go when booking, no show no cost ! utterly disgusting.
Happy caravanning, indoors.
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You have my total sympathy allcsm. It’s appalling. Booking a site and then not turning up. Talk about endangering CLs! Tigerman alludes to the problem. We should all be outraged by this sort of behaviour as it is these selfish actions that risk CL owners turning around and saying- “stuff this for a game of soldiers- I’ll close” ! I think you need to up the deposit and to make it known ‘No deposit- no booking! And give them say 14 days to send it. After that book someone else in! If they are serious, the deposit will arrive. I wish you all the best and thank you for offering your land as a CL for our enjoyment. It’s not lost on many of us.
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