Weekend bookings something has to be done
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As we have been advised by the club, speculative booking is practically a myth and when possibly happening today is an insignificant occurrence. Probably those suggested solutions to this issue may just hit at folk who are genuinely wanting 2 or 3 weeks at one site. We are told that the instances which look like speculative booking do flag up and the club monitor and act on these. Of course the numerical data isn't available to us but baby and bath water come to mind.
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The only reason they do not require Deposits, is for the attraction of new members. If there was a deposit required I would not be booking as many nights that I have. CCC require a deposit so I leave them until nearer the time and I am sure about actually going.
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They dropped deposits when online booking came along. Can you imagine this software coping with deposits?
I leave booking sites with both clubs until I am sure about going.
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Then there are the people who go to work Monday to Friday and take their whole weeks off in weekly chunks. But, like I did, would arrive on the Saturday and to make full use of my time away would leave on the Sunday.
All these make weekends very popular. We all pay the same fee and no one group should have an advantage over the others. What you are suggesting will give you that advantage? Why?
The real problem is that the club is popular and the only way round it is to book earlyCouldn't agree more. Plan ahead is the answer
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thanks
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Well make the system cope, it seems a lot of private sites seem to manage it, CCC make it work,
Poor system is no excuse.
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OK, I’ll just go and fix it. 🙄
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A few points from someone who only very occasionally books a club site.
Weekends are popular for obvious reasons. The booking system is a nonsense, allowing non restricted booking (whether speculative or not) for as many weekends as you want is not fair. Those who sanctimoniously state that those who don't plan ahead get their just desserts should consider that most who work are not in a position to forward book when the gates are opened due to work commitments or restrictions. Many also have care duties and also do not have the luxury of forward planning 6 or 8 months in advance. To imply they are in some way deserving of the situation is shameful. Those who book multiple consecutive weekends at premium sites are in my book selfish, but under the rules perfectly entitled to so be.
If the rules favour the largest demographic group, the retired, then so be it, they are the largest membership of the club and want to keep things the way are, why wouldn't it, it suits them.
This also bring into question another issue of having clicky sites due to there being the same people there all the time.
If the club doesn't want your money then use one of the other excellent booking resources and use a non club site, I do they are really good.
On the question of speculative booking, have the club quantified the number of cancellations or do they state that the number of empty WE pitches is low? There is a significant difference in this.
I will finish with my normal rant that unless the club starts to apply commercial norms to the allocation of pitches and booking resources then the next generation wont be there.
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It was quite a rant, Phish, and I’m not really sure just what you want. You say it’s all within the rules and those same rules treat all members equally. The club cannot make allowances for people’s personal circumstances because every one of us has different circumstances.
To suggest posters have implied that those unable to get the bookings they want are deserving of that failure is itself a shameful suggestion. You seem to regard factual comments as finger pointing accusations.
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I don't think the booking system is designed to suit one demographic or another, it's circumstance and availability that does that! Heaven forbid that the club ends up just like 'all' the other providers in this industry. Many of us actually 'enjoy' the fact that you can book one to twenty-one nights without restriction if availability allows. Many of us 'enjoy' the non deposit system too. Again, the no deposits policy, we are told, has no significant or detrimental effect on the uptake of pitches. For folk on limited budgets and limited flexibility in their touring opportunities the system, in my opinion, helps greatly. Many in this group are the young and young families.
The idea that others who have different opinions are sanctimonious is hypocrisy itself.
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Having just had a look at the Camping Clubs forum, interestingly on there, a member is complaining that he is unable to book only one night but has to book 2 or sometimes 3 on some sites at some times of year. That is apparently so that a whole weeks booking is not lost for the sake of another member booking for just one night..... It would therefore appear that you can please some of the people some of the time but you you can't please all of the people all of the time..
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I think that the C&CC's minimum booking periods for Braithwaite Fold (Bowness) and their Keswick sites really disadvantages the weekend users. Minimum stay on EHU pitch in peak season is 5 nights and at all other times is 3 nights. Not a problem for me however
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On those commercial sites where the minimum 3 or 5 nights stay applied this can curtail or reduce touring opportunities for many of us. On a seven or ten day tour you may be limited to just two sites which defeats the plan. We have been on several tours in the past where we have spent 7 or 10 consecutive nights on club sites but just not on the one site. I'm sure there will be many others who do likewise. Given availability, the system allows those stay put caravaners and the 'true' tourers be they motorised or otherwise. Afterall, the club is a network of touring sites across the country not just one site.
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The C&CC restrictions do hamper touring and they’ve lost my business several times.
Interestingly, at one site the warden overrode the computer and allowed us to book for just one night. When we got there, the site was only about half full. I wonder if that was due to others going elsewhere?
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Phisling, just a few points
... for as many weekends as you want is not fair.
The club and its sites are not a resource to shared equally.
Those who sanctimoniously state that those who don't plan ahead get their just desserts should consider that most who work are not in a position to forward book when the gates are opened due to work commitments or restrictions. Many also have care duties and also do not have the luxury of forward planning 6 or 8 months in advance. To imply they are in some way deserving of the situation is shameful. Those who book multiple consecutive weekends at premium sites are in my book selfish, but under the rules perfectly entitled to so be.
you wouldn't say the same thing of a popular restaurant where you can't get a booking would you? Or Thomas Cooks have sold all their holidays and haven't kept back some for you? Or you can't get your car serviced on your day?
If the rules favour the largest demographic group, the retired, then so be it, they are the largest membership of the club and want to keep things the way are, why wouldn't it, it suits them.
Have you been on club sites? During peak it is mostly families, during term time it is mostly non families, at weekends a mixture. This is what you would expect, I think the club favors everyone equally
This also bring into question another issue of having clicky sites due to there being the same people there all the time.
I go to club sites a lot, now during peak and other times, and I have rarely if ever seen the same people there.
If the club doesn't want your money then use one of the other excellent booking resources and use a non club site, I do they are really good.
Good, what is your complaint about then?
On the question of speculative booking, have the club quantified the number of cancellations or do they state that the number of empty WE pitches is low? There is a significant difference in this.
Easy, neither
I will finish with my normal rant that unless the club starts to apply commercial norms to the allocation of pitches and booking resources then the next generation wont be there
I have heard this for almost 20 years now, and if true why are sites still popular? And why so popular with young families and young (30+) parents?
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It certainly seems to pay off in terms of the bottom line!
I don't particularly like the ruling but it has never bothered me becuase for a one to two night stay on route to a final destination I am looking for a no frills stop, Economy pitch, CL, CS, low facility site rather than pay a fee for facilities I don't need. I have never been a site weekend booker, I used to prefer to rally. Cheaper, normally not too far to travel and no arrival and departure time constraints like those on sites.
peedee
P.S. I am told if you just turn up at a C&CC site and there are free pitches you can do a one nighter.
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That’s true about the one night stays, PD, as long as you’re happy to take the chance. I’ve done that by ringing ahead. The wardens do have some discretion.
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I have known 6pm departures and arrivals before noon. Restrictions usually only apply to school sites in term time unless the rally officers have their own personal restrictions. Never heard of any Club rules about arrival and departure times on rallies.
peedee
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Agree with most of that, allowing bookings free of charge into the next sunset, in blocks of 21 days beggars belief....but hey that is the rule so enjoy it costs nowt.
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Are you really suggesting that people book 21 days straight on one site??? Really? And even if they did what is wrong with that? Are you saying people should only book a week?
The average stay on a club site is something like 5 days, and the average number of booking per member per year is something like the same as stated by the club.
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We are at FM now on the second week of the three we are here for, as it is more conveniant to do so than keep coming back, as we have quite a full programme of things we need to do in the area, and some ,which will probably mean coming back quite soon,we have thought about leaving to a local cl then returning for another "few" days
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I agree it is not designed to favour one group, but it does.
'Heaven forbid that the club ends up just like 'all' the other providers in this industry.' Why, they didn't exist 10 years ago and are now growing stronger and stronger. Growth in booking platforms for commercials has been phenomenal, club treads water.
'Many of us actually 'enjoy' the fact that you can book one to twenty-one nights without restriction if availability allows. Many of us 'enjoy' the non deposit system too.' I am sure you do, no downsides for you.
To quote from another posting "Just book every day you might need 12 months in advance, amend later at no cost, just remember the 72 hr rule, and even then you are allowed a few mistakes if late in cancelling or not tutting up, enjoy the club and use the system."
Imagine the chaos if everyone did this.
Being a club then there are certain behaviours that are implied if not expected. Using the statement seen many times in this thread 'its in the rules' to justify what I consider selfish actions is possibly not within the spirit of the organisation.
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Growth in booking platforms for commercials has been phenomenal, club treads water
what is a booking platforms and how do you know it has been phenomenal? And if this is true why are club sites so popular then?
Sorry but I think your posts have a hint of sour grapes that you can't get a club site booking of your choice and blaming everyone but yourself.
But as you have said, there are others and quote 'I do they are really good' so use those? I do wonder why though if as you say they are really good, why do you still want a club site and complain about not getting one?
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"To quote from another posting "Just book every day you might need 12 months in advance, amend later at no cost, just remember the 72 hr rule, and even then you are allowed a few mistakes if late in cancelling or not tutting up, enjoy the club and use the system."
Imagine the chaos if everyone did this."
I think you'll find that same quote, or words to that effect, has been made by the same poster several times before and is to be taken as very much tongue in cheek. I doubt anyone actually takes it seriously as a tactic!
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Nevertheless the system is open to abuse and I would be very surprised if some are not taking advantage of it. Some openly admit to doing so. What members don't know is to what degree this is occurring and what is the impact on Club profitability so there will always be speculation.
It is hard to believe that those who are so opposed to booking changes and insist they honour bookings are so against any form of up front payment. After all it is a form of spreading the cost and any up front payment means there is less to pay on arrival and they are not going to lose any money.
In my view some form of deposit would at least reduce the lead time of advance bookings, especially that for weekends, and give those wanting longer stays a better chance of obtaining them.
peedee
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