Deposits yes / no
There have been so many people complaining about not being able to book pitches because some members mass book and then cancel later. Should we then ask for members to have a vote on whether to reinstate a non refundable deposit system or not and also should the amount of bookings be limited on booking opening day to give other folks a chance of getting a chosen site.
Moderator Comment - Thread moved from General Chat which is for off topic discussions.
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Totally agree with all of the above and the “so many people complaining “are a very, very small percentage on here compared to the overall membership,
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This is an old chestnut and I agree with above comments.
I presently use CC site for around our 15 night 'Christmas' break. We have around 110 nights on three tours through the rest of the year. We use commercial CC affiliated sites for around 25 of these nights.
I have recently joined C&CC. Am I more likely to choose their sites over commercial sites? No, I doubt it as I seen little advantage. They use minimum booking periods, require a deposit, allocate pitches and you can specify hard standings. So pretty much the same terms as most commercial sites. With the CC sites there is clear distinction in regard to bookings.
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'should the amount of bookings be limited on booking opening day to give other folks a chance of getting a chosen site.'
If I can't book the number of 5 night stays on CC sites that I require at December then I will book elsewhere and pay a deposit if needed. In general only the weekends of my 5 to 7 week tours would effect site availability anyway and then, on most sites, only on certain weekends. If people were unable to book these times in advance with CC they would do so elsewhere.
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Did not the DG of the Club recently say, in response to a question on the name change, that there is no procedure in the Club's T&C's to allow for referendums? Usually changes are made via consultation with the elected members of the Club Council and numerous surveys conducted with members to gather their views. The Club are currently looking at the Booking System (according to Facebook) but the idea of deposits seems to have been ruled out.
I think the problem is that it is usually people who have been disenfranchised by the current system who want to change the system. What we don't know is what proportion of the Club that actually applies to. Bookings made on the opening day are a tiny proportion of the available site nights. However those bookings are often concentrated on the so called honeypot sites. The Club have always worked on a first come first served basis and from that point of view we all start as equals. I think the Club would be reluctant to put in an extra layer of administration to accept deposits when I think it's questionable how many members would support such a move.
David
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In the past, I think the deposit system has not worked and has resulted in more empty pitches and therefore a reduction in income.
When deposit were taken, apparently folk did not feel the need to let the Club know if they were not going to go - they felt their obligation was fulfilled by foregoing the deposit. The result is that the wardens did not know if a pitch was going to be used or not and folk were being turned away and there were empty pitches because of no shows. Members lost out because they couldn't book pitches and the Club finances suffered as they were only benefiting from the deposit and not the full pitch fee. I understand it was also a more expensive system to run by having to have a online or telephone system on taking money in addition to taking money on site. A reintroduction of deposits could very well result in price increases.
I can't see the system changing, at the moment, as although there are no shows under the current system, the no shows are smaller in proportion to the number of no shows there used to be under the deposit system, from what I gather.
Personally, I prefer a non-deposit system. It enables a greater spread of 'financial organisation's for those who use 'booking day as a serious way of booking pitches, and, as the Club has experienced in the past, has resulted in fewer no shows and therefore greater pitch availability.
David
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In one statement or other by the club or DG, the club has actually looked at this and it said that this mass booking is in reality a myth. Only a very small percentage of bookings are over a number of weekends and of those only another small number actually cancel and those that do actually change their booking to another club site.
also it is a myth that nothing is left on booking day.
Also the club has stated that it has looked at various ideas but the bottom line is that club demand exceeds supply on some sites and no system (it talked about rolling booking, deposits...) would change this simple fact.
It is a (sad) fact of club life that despite what complain about on here, club sites are popular and if you want a pitch then you have to book early.
So no from me
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Why would the club wish to do away with a unique selling feature that makes it stand out from the others. If the club switched to deposits we would almost certainly book less nights with the CAMC. We have only generally cancelled or amended due to health problems. Either our own or my mum. It makes it much less hassle at an often difficult time.
Also I agree with DSB folk may well not bother informing anyone, if the deposit is non returnable or transferable. Recently we had to cancel a trip, where to get cheap fares we had paid out several hundred pounds in advance. None of it was returnable / transferable and if we had not taken out Red Pennant I would not have informed anyone.
Off topic but it is a point worth knowing. The claims people require cancelation invoices. So although there were no refunds for cancelling, I had to go through the motions and get proof that I had done so.
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We use both CMC, C&CC and private site and have no difficulty with a booking deposit system providing it can be paid on-line.
Some private sites that we have used required a deposit and completion of payment a month or so prior to the booking. Again it's not a problem as we can choose to take the risk or not.
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Hit the nail on the head DSB. WE had to change bookings due to no fault of ours with the other club and it was practically impossible so we just did not turn up and forfeited the deposit. We had met our side of the bargain after all so someone lost out on a few nights. At least with C&MC yo can change bookings or cancel if required and do it all online so keep it as is.
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Completely agree with that. I don't see "so many" complaining, just the same number who complain about just about anything on here. It's been explained time and again that there are less "no shows" since the club dropped deposits. Block booking and serial cancellations are myths which come up every year around about this time.
For the record, we've only used 2 club sites this year and haven't booked on frenzy day (which I do think is something which needs looking at) for years. I'm pretty relaxed about deposits - when we book a site we want to stay at we just go along with whatever system they choose to use.
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+1 says it all.
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Regarding CCC:
Minimum booking periods only apply at certain times, including weekends, if you require ehu. From what I recall, there are many times mid-week when there is no minimum booking time.
As regards CCC allocating pitches, this is untrue on most sites at most times. Usually you can choose any available pitch of the type you have booked. You will usually be taken to your pitch by a member of staff but that is not the same as being allocated a pitch.You are likely to be asked if you have any preferences for where on the site you would like to be before you set off from reception. When you see an available pitch you like you can have it!
(There are times on some CMC sites when you will be allocated a pitch eg this is the norm at Crystal Palace.)
EasyT can you please explain what the last sentence of your post means?
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Another No to deposits.
Although we don't often use sites in the UK I like to be flexible, I'm fortunate that the honey pot sites don't bother me, I've been once to each and that's fine. Most other sites we tend to visit we can usually get a booking when needed.
Not yet a member of the other club but I do keep looking at it and will probably at some stage apply for membership. As they do take a deposit I wouldn't book a site until I knew for sure that I was going to go on those dates, I'm very much a weather person so tend not to make speculative bookings months in advance, that wouldn't change with or without deposits.
I think there is a small amount of folk that do make bookings very early in the year for specific dates, I don't have a problem with that as long as they play by the rules. I do know that some folk do go back year on year to the same site at the same time and have to be ready on booking day to guarantee getting in for that 'special' time.
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What I mean is that with CC sites there is a clear distinction when booking when compared to the alternatives.
There are no deposits - unlike alternatives. Bookings can be easily changed without penalty - in as much as if I am a site for 5 nights and decide to move earlier to another CC site I can do so with minimal mither. I can tour the site at my leisure on arrival to choose a pitch. Presently arrival times generally 12 O'Clock rather than 1pm or later.
It is pointless asking me at reception if I have preferences on any site that I have not previously visited.
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I have only ever needed to book once when the system opens in December and I was lucky it worked for me then.
Since then I have never been in a hurry to book. I decide when and where I want to go and use the website first. If successful then fine. If not, then although disappointed, I just try somewhere else or go for another date. So I am not over bothered but I am fortunate in that I am retired so can understand the annoyance of some over the system
As for deposits.For me it's a NO.
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I think the OP has misunderstood the way governance of the club works. We elect council members to make decisions for us. That’s it, end of.
As for deposits, here we go again. The posters so far have covered all bases so there’s nothing new I can add.
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I'm already in one club that takes a deposit for all bookings , if this club did take deposits that's fine by me too .
As long as it puts an end to all the complaining, whining members that constantly say it would put an end to members mass booking & taking up all the availability , they claim they can't get .
Same with Frenzy day .....I love it being able to make my yearlong bookings all in one sitting is wonderful , paying a deposit on every booking wouldn't make the slightest difference for me .
Lets have deposits , then we can finally kick this wild speculation of perceived unfare mass pitch booking abuse done away with for good .
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I know EasyT the CMC will never please everyone , why some people can't & won't except the system as it is , bringing in deposits wont change a thing , but we'll never know....... probably more complaints about .....deposits..... its a no win , no win situation for us all .
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Couldn’t care less anymore, reading the constant arguments for and against is a waste of time. The C&CC take deposits and I can book ‘big’ holidays i.e. at least a week somewhere well in advance with no wait for frenzy day and the lottery this entails. So... its up to the Club, if they are happy with the way they currently do things, as far as I’m concerned, they’ll not get those type of bookings I make (the bulk of money I spend on sites each year, well over £1000 going to the other Club)
I’m entered into the Warwick Half Marathon first weekend of March 2018. Despite being very very local to home, its convenient to take the caravan to the racecourse for the weekend as this is where the race starts and finishes. It’s a royal PITA that I cant book this weekend until frenzy day and then ive got to be on the ball on that day, to make sure I get the booking. Crazy
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In addition to my above post, if this Club want to attract the younger member with families as they say they do, then they’re going to have to look at their booking system and has been noted on FB, it seems there is some scrutiny happening.
Families have to plan their future holidays, by the very nature of school term time and Mums & Dads getting their workplace leave sorted early too. The other Club gain massively because their system allows the ‘family’ member to plan ahead, this Club needs to wake up to this or their market share will diminish further.
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