How to jump the queue to get the pitch you want.
We have recently noticed a new method of getting round the rules of no numbered pitch booking where you take a chance of what is available on arrival.
People further back in the queue of arrivals send the passenger on ahead to find the pitch of their choice and with mobile phone in hand tell their partner the pitch number when they book in. This of course denies those at the front of the queue the freedom of choice of pitch. This tactic recently happened to us at Chatsworth where this method is frequently used to jump the queue and a lady , phone in hand, told us the pitch was taken, not so I replied as there was no vehicle present and I continued to park on the pitch much to her annoyment.
How many fellow caravanners are seeing this selfish behaviour repeated on other sites.
Moderator Comment - Moved from Story Section
Comments
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Now you’ve told all of us and given others the idea!
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There are some sad individuals out there. Smacks of desperation to me. This is one member happy to holiday away from folks like this. Interestingly, we visited Rowntree Park last week, first time ever. Happy to report we saw nothing but happy, contented visitors. No mad dashing around Site, no bad tempered queuing, nothing in fact to mar our stay in any way.
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During our last two visits to Chatsworth people have been asked to stay in there units until called to book in. I don't wish to doubt the OP but I wonder if there is another explanation. Because its a essentially a one way system it is possible that a pitch decision could have been made but the unit had to go round the one way system to get to it. That wouldn't exactly be jumping the queue.
David
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This does raise the interesting question of when is a pitch "taken".
- On booking in and saying to warden, "I'll go there"?
- When driving about and puting a caravan on it?
- When back at the warden and saying "We are on Pitch nn"?
We all seem to assume it is the second one.
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Queuing though a pecularily Britsh thing is a far better system than that used on the continent to board say a bus, pushing shoving and walking straight in front of those who have already been there for twenty minutes. The worst are usually of Germanic origin and it winds me up !!
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That’s the problem with the checking in system at Chatsworth particularly as there isn’t a barrier. I wonder if, when the refurb is finished, someone will come up with a better system. This shouldn’t have happened there as they usually tell the driver to stay with the car and the passenger book in so they can keep the units moving through the lane.
I’ve suggested before that why doesn’t the warden who stands in the lane have the list of arrivals, tick you off as you drive in, tell you what colour peg you’re on, give you the site map and tell you to go straight to a pitch and go back to pay when you’ve chosen a pitch resulting in quicker pitching and no queues!
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personally number two works most of the time, but I suppose technically it is number three, there could be a MH on the pitch you have put your self on and that's why you go back and state your pitch number and then you are allocated it?
Number one does work too and I have done that as well if it's a site that I know, and the wardens says OK of course
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This forum is wonderful at providing useful tips. When we pull up at Reception, I could send my wife off [she doesn't drive the motorhome] so she can affix the obligatory 'motorhome on this pitch' sign on the pitch of her choice. In fact, I could get a few of these signs so we can claim several pitches and choose one from them.
But why should I?
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Been over there and had to queue as well. Seen outfits try and push in, sometimes its like a free for all. Continentals not very good at forming an orderly queue. Had one place 'over there' try and tell me which pitch to use when plenty of others empty, they wouldn't budge so just left. We need to be clear, that unlike some would have us believe, I've found it's not all roses over there. But I will still keep going back
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It seems bad behaviour can happen anywhere and it’s that aspect the thread is about rather than what causes queues to form. Thus, the earlier deletion was entirely appropriate as it appeared to deliberately take the discussion off course in a provocative manner.
It is very sad that people are so mean spirited as to try all sorts of tricks to bag a pitch rather than follow the first come, first served way. It’s an uncomfortable feeling to know there are fellow club members who have total disregard for others and act in such a selfish way.
I suspect pitch bagging in one form or another has been happening for some time and I first encountered it about 8 years ago but maybe it’s now become more prevalent and the perpetrators are using modern technology. I guess it’s up to the rest of us to rebuff the attempts as best we can, as did the OP.
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I'm not tempted back to Club sites by what I am reading here.
At six of the seven sites I stayed at this summer I was asked whether I wanted sun or shade, to be near the shower block or further away and so on, then walked in aimiable conversation with a member of staff to look at what was suitable, and chose one together. Most of them then asked if I wanted help unhitching and pushing the Eriba into place and I said Yes please. At the seventh site no one was on duty so I chose my own pitch and signed in two hours later when someone appeared.
But queuing and running and phoning to grab a pitch is just outside all my experience. And that's why I'm not tempted back.
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When I was there last month, SteveL, I was given a 12" length of drainage pipe to place over 'MY' selected pitch peg. Then I walked back to "Book In" but anybody could have removed the pipe if they wanted to, it's not exactly what I'd call Secure
Cherry Hinton Wardens let you in 2 x 2 to walk the site, find a pitch, and then report back !! Then & only then can you drive to the chosen pitch. Mostly this is because, like Trewethett farm, it's not a site conducive to "Happy Motoring" due to the preponderance of dead ends .
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Most of the sites seem to run on systems best suited to them, Rowntree has an excellent speedy check in at the gate. Sheer turnover on the popular sites needs logistics and I think most are OK. Trewethett is the musical chairs site where people change pitches for a better sea view. Bagging a pitch is not something I have seen happen, I'm sure it does sometimes. I can't think of a Chatsworth pitch mentioned by the OP that would have me rushing to outwit fellow users!?
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I don't think we have ever queued to get onto a site. Ok, we followed another MH through entrance at RP last week, at 2pm, we both climbed steps together and I said to other visitor 'after you', as their MH was in front of us. But that's as difficult as it has ever been!
If I saw a queue of outfits in front of us, it would send us into reverse and off looking for another site. If given the choice between an undignified scramble for a perceived perfect pitch, or returning to base after a day out and fancying a different pitch I know which I would opt for!
We are off next week again. All I have done so far is consider a tour route, based on what we fancy seeing, what we fancy doing, and what the weather for our first days might be like. Have got a proposed site in mind for our first night, just to get bulk of driving out of way, after that our tour will take us where we fancy. Nothing booked. The first site has pitches free at the moment, I will phone to confirm when we set off. Doesn't matter which pitch you get on a site if it's raining, they will all be wet! We like trying new CLs and private sites.
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Can I just remind people that this post was about the Chatsworth site. It has some unique problems that are not usually associated with other Club sites. The main reason is the long narrow approach road and there are often long queues to get into the site, this seems a particular problem for those arriving on a Sunday afternoon especially if there are events going on in the Park. The last time I used the site was in December 2017 and we got there about 1.30pm. There must have been 20 or so units in front of us and we were queued back along the access road. It was well organised by the wardens and as in my previous comment once you got to reception members were told to stay in their units until it was there turn to book in. This has the advantage that you only get a few units at a time touring the site looking for a pitch which makes me a bit puzzled by the OP's concerns.
David
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We have found that the answer to this problem at Chatsworth, if you are able, is to arrive midweek at about 2 pm. We did that back in May, no queue, straight on to a large HS pitch with a distant view of the house itself, near the door through to the park. Ideal if you like this site (which many do and just as many don't!)
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