Do not rely on the APP for correct details on CL's
As you may have realised, the Mobile App, which was launched by the Club last year, does NOT currently show up-to-date information on CL's.
The idea of a Mobile App is laudable, especially when we know that the majority of interactions with the Club Website are from mobile devices. After all this is a Touring Club.
The reason for this is that App is 'tied' to the out-of-date database that was behind the old Club website and the App has not yet been switched over to the new database where current information, photos, prices and email addresses reside.
Hence since October/November 2016 the App has been 'out of date'.
The Club is well aware of this shortcoming, and has been promising CL owners that it would be fixed 'soon', but as we experienced with the new website at the start of this season, change happens frustratingly slowly and it will probably be the end of the 2017 season before the App reflects the correct data.
Unfortunately the Club has not warned members (to my knowledge) that the App is out-of-date, and of course because it is out-of-date, the App shows CL's that have closed, CL's that have recently opened are not shown and Members have booked on CL's thinking they accept dogs or children when the CL in question may have changed their policy.
So, please don't rely on the App for accurate details on CL's, until the situation is resolved.
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Yet another example of the shoddy treatment of CL owners by the club.
Who could blame them if they sought exemption with another organisation?
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Ironically September's magazine has icons on the club sites featured to say book on the app. Prominently placed as Whitton the photo background.
Personally I didn't realise there was an app, probably wouldn't use it anyway, until this thread started, but seeing the icon I would assume the app was up to date and contained everything.
Silly me 😉
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CG
I stopped using the app some time ago. The most important thing to me when booking a cl is price. Not one site showed a price, you are directed to the website or to phone a contact number.
Thanks for bringing this up. Maybe it will get sorted soon.
It's so annoying when people bring up faults with the system and yet the club do nothing.
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Does the Club not monitor the feedback given by members to the app? With very occasional exceptions, the app is awarded the lowest possible score -- one star -- and comments to the effect that it is not fit for purpose.
We're also members of another Caravanning organization in the UK, whose app, while not perfect, vastly overshadows that of the Club. New Zealand's Motor Caravan Association has an app for members which could be a model for that in any country of the world, and this in a country with the population of Yorkshire.
This app should be withdrawn, and completely re-written before being again released onto an expectant public, taking into account all the comments and frustrations which users have expressed. In a triumph of hope over experience, I have installed the app three times, hoping to see changes made, but each time it has been a disappointment, and been removed.
I've said all this in an email to CAMC: deafening silence, of course.
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Another thing you cannot rely on is the site location grid referances (the very accurate latitudes and longitudes) three CL visited this recently all with the wrong Lat/long? The first experience of this was locating a CL near Ashbourne the guide entry specifically says "do not use post code in sat nav as this post code serves four farms" I thought I will use Lat/long but that was wrong it took me to a field away from the farm. Good job we follow the site written directions.
I have now researched several CL locations and not found one to be correct. What I have found is, search the post code (not a very accurate location particularly in rural areas) and pin the location, then search the Lat/long, hey presto they are the same! Whoever does the setting up for the club must just enter the post code and then flag it as the lat/long - not good, in fact a waste of time. So why does the club go to the trouble in the first place.
When we go to Europe with the caravan we use Acsi affiliated sites a lot and the Lat/long given for each site takes you to the front entrance of the site without exception so if they can do it right why not the biggest club in the UK?
I will email this text to the CL team at OUR CLUB also, don't expect a reply either I never seem to get one other than the acknowledgment but then that's automated.
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Hi All
Please see below the latest response I received today from our digital team regarding the app.
“We’re aware of the issues and we’re doing everything we can to address the data inconsistency – it’s a top priority for the Club and we hope to have a fix in place in the near future. We’ve had a number of technical issues where planned updates made to link the app to our new web platform have caused unplanned errors in other areas of the app resulting in a failure during regression testing. Work continues to iron out the bugs so we can provide members with an up-to-date and stable app. We’ll provide an update as soon as we have more information to share.”
Thanks
Maddie
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Maddie
Thank you for the reply and chasing the Digital Team, but it doesn't really help either CL's or members.
The fixes seem to have been a 'work in progress' despite being a 'Top Priority' for some months now and this answer gives no definite dates or timeline.
One top class (award winning) CL I know attributes a 30% reduction in bookings during 2017 due to the data on the App being incorrect and not showing the CL.
The end of the touring season is now in sight, I guess the best we can all hope for is that it's working next year..
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I am pleased to report that the App, now seems to have been updated.
Good points:
- CL's Photos - current ones showing
- CL Pricing now showing
- CL Website (if listed) now showing
Points where it could still be improved:
- Show Reviews (or at least the star rating)
- Allow Reviews to be posted
- Show pricing and review rating on the search
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Peedee - you might need to reinstall the app - it was working OK on my Android phone.
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The CC don't seem to want to make things straightforward however.
I utilise an iPad and iphone. As with peedee it was not showing prices, so Deleted User and reloaded. Still not showing prices ☹️👎 Further investigation revealed there are two versions of the App in the store, the old one 1.3.5 and the new one sorted for prices 1.3.9.
Downloaded 1.3.9 and everything is working OK. Why can't the CC do as everyone else and flag up that there is an updated version to download. Or at the very least remove the old one from the store.
Not impressed. Even if the club have made the fact more generally available, that price info is now available. Don't do Facebook, so no idea if mentioned on there. It still relies on folk picking the correct version of the app to download.
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CG thanks for the update. New version seems fine now. Agree with the extra facilities you suggest.
I digress now. We still have the major fault of getting signed out without warning. Last post was at 9.28 uploaded new version 1.3.8 i was asked so sign in to use it. All ok. Had a coffee came back on to write this reply and had to sign in again. Quick better press reply now
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Hi AlanGL7,
I am sorry to learn that the app isn't working for you. I will contact the relevant team to get this looked in to.
Please could you email CLResponse@camc.com with your details I will get back to you with an update as soon as possible.
Thank You,
Maddie
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OK thanks Peedee think I know what the problem is. I'm running Android 4.2.2. Its says there are no software updates available but from the Samsung website looks like they've stopped automatically rolling out updates to Tab 2 as its so old! I'll investigate later as to how I upgrade to v7.
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It seems I spoke too soon.
Some CL's have reported that their details are still showing the 'old' data rather than the new.
It seems odd that the app is showing data from different sources, but perhaps the testing wasn't very thorough. I have notified the Club, but as yet, not had a response.
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