Deposits?
Comments
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As we are still in the land of "if" at the moment what has not been discussed is how a deposit system might work. I am sure it is assumed that when you book a site you will pay a deposit, possibly of £25 for every site booked. However there could be other alternatives which would prevent those that book a lot of sites paying so much up front. A couple of options that might work would be for all members using main Club sites to pay a small bond in advance from which any cancelled booking a fee could be taken. Another option would be for the Club to take details of a payment card and if a members cancelled without giving sufficient notice the card would be charged with the sum of one nights fees. This is a system used by some hotel chains. Just a thought!
David
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The silence is deafening.
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One suspects the warden was correct, WTG, but spoke out of turn.
The club needs to tighten up, or hack down, the grapevine.
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Having just completed, at the insistence of the senior partner, a projected budget for touring holidays 2019......given the 'talked about' deposit figure of £25, I would have had to pay £325.00 to the CaMC across 13 sites booked prior to the 5th December deadline for site fee increases. 3 of the 4 'one nighters' are in excess of £25 with one at £21.50...
If a deposit system was introduced, I would hope to be able to book a pitch of choice....as have done on commercial sites.
Out of curiosity..... today I checked the price of a couple of sites I booked and found an increase of 2.81% a saving of £41.41 for booking prior to December 5. Chatsworth site appears to have a price freeze.
On two commercial sites, one in France out of necessity to secure a pitch, (75bth 'D' anniversary) I have had to pay a 25% deposit plus a cancellation scheme charge for the UK site....
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Why are people linking paying a deposit to choosing a specific pitch?
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maybe this £25 is a one off payment? Or an open payment that can be taken if needed (bit like when you swipe your card at a hotel - no money is taken till the end but could be) if you never cancel then it just stays there, but cancel outside of the regulations then the money will be taken?
who knows but it would be nice for the club to make a statement one way or the other?
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Probably because they see paying a deposit as a punishment and want a quid pro quo? Personally I think it would be a nighmare to be able to book a specific pitch. Pitch type yes but not individual pitches.
David
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Because they can do it "over there" perhaps?
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I'm very much with you on that one David.
If we could book hardstanding or grass then I think that the CC would probably see less of me on those sites with (say) 10/20% grass pitches.
At present I can roll up on site and pick a hardstanding. With 12 month booking I suspect that I would miss out on hardstanding as I am not likely to keep up with the bookings.
I booked Wharfdale in early to mid November for 5 nights in April. It was then showing less than 5 free pitches. 10% of the pitches are grass. Chances are that if folk were able to choose when booking then the ones left would be grass and I would be going elsewhere.
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..and certainly at some commercials here, too...
we use the Crealy site nr Exmouth to take our GD to the adventure park there...
the booking process gives you the site plan, with numbered pitches and a place to 'book' the pitch number you want.
...and to keep to the OP, we also have to pay a deposit, ....
..but, arrive at 11ish and a smiling young lady welcomes you, checks the booking and away you go, no problem with arriving early there.
so, deposits don't necessarily hinder flexibility....nor are specifically required for booking a specific pitch...
deposits, choosing a pitch, arriving early.....just all elements that any site can choose to adopt (or not)....
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Alan, as sites are generally full in season, even those with a mix of grass and HS, are you suggesting that a (large) proportion of those who choose (end up on) grass pitches are unhappy to be there?
ie...if they could choose a pitch at booking time but they were all gone, they'd rather go somewhere else than pitch on grass?
yes, I realise that out of season they can be wet, or even closed, but don't the staff remove them from 'stock' if deemed to be 'unsuitable' thus reducing bookable capacity?
in season I'd be more than happy to have a grass pitch, in summer far nice IMHO than acres of chippings...
out of season, iffy pitches will be pulled won't they, so the chances of getting something unfit for purpose on a CC site must be (very) small?
...and as the club are fiddling with prices (along with booking options) isn't this the time to set the (obviously inferior) grass pitches at a lower rate to ensure customer take up doesn't give rise to the situation on your post?
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Alan, as sites are generally full in season, even those with a mix of grass and HS, are you suggesting that a (large) proportion of those who choose (end up on) grass pitches are unhappy to be there?
I have generally observed that, even in reasonable weather, the hard standings are taken up first on most CC sites. Although I will use all grass sites such as Dunnet Bay, when on mixed sites I usually opt for hardstands. Because I am not arriving after work on a Friday I have not been compelled to take a grass pitch in over 10 years.
If I knew that all hardstanding was booked up I personally would look at other options regarding site booking.
yes, I realise that out of season they can be wet, or even closed, but don't the staff remove them from 'stock' if deemed to be 'unsuitable' thus reducing bookable capacity?
Yes the staff will remove from stock if necessary. Guess what? That means any bookings cancelled would likely be those on grass. That is another reason why I am unlikely to book for grass.
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good point, but only applicable if booked well in advance.
we generally only decide we're off somewhere a week or two (or much less) before the off, so wet pitches will have already been removed by the time we are looking...
i realise this doesn't help those who book early.
however, each site must know the number of pitches that can get taken out 'at a stroke' and which require a much longer period of bad weather to have an effect, so I'd expect the 'permanent' grass stock (those which will certainly be useable in any booking month) to be suitable.
more vulnerable grass pitches can be removed from stock as the year moves on, bad ones taken out perhaps straight away as we move to 'Autumn' and some remaining if they are better able to be used for longer.
it isn't rocket science for those that know the site well (wardens) to reduce stock as the year progresses....in fact, this should,be planned into the available stock as the bookings are released, to ensure folk aren't booked onto dodgy pitches that might then be removed (and bookings cancelled).
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I can understand ET's reluctance to get "stuck" but since he readily admits to being prepared to visit Dunnet Bay which is all grass, then it would appear that location is the key point rather than the HS v grass choice.
I know DSB is a 'HS only' man and, I presume, accepts the limitations on places to visit as a consequence.
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At present we book our tours in the back end. So far booked mid April until late July with a three week + break. Not yet booked September.
One site that we have probably used three or at most 4 times in the last 13 years is Shawsmead near Aberaeron. I have twice seen the block of a dozen grass pitches in the middle out of use during our visits and the ground there is prone to being very soft in wet weather. This removes 12 pitches on a 48 pitch site.
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in fact, K, what I was really advocating was that, based on previous years' 'grass performance' the projected monthly stock levels for the coming rolling year could be planned in, thus not overselling against the projected good stock.
if, as time moves on, more pirtches are deemed to be still in good enough condition, there might even be an injection of unplanned stock back into the system.
surely better than pulling dodgy pitches after folk have booked them?
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however, each site must know the number of pitches that can get taken out 'at a stroke' and which require a much longer period of bad weather to have an effect, so I'd expect the 'permanent' grass stock (those which will certainly be useable in any booking month) to be suitable.
more vulnerable grass pitches can be removed from stock as the year moves on, bad ones taken out perhaps straight away as we move to 'Autumn' and some remaining if they are better able to be used for longer.
Sounds fine in principle BB, however given the unpredictable nature of our climate, difficult to achieve 100%. I have seen all grass pitches taken out of service in early September, when it has been particularly wet. Therefore, even if I did want grass, if booking early for April / September I would pick HS and hope to switch on arrival if possible.
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I have no concerns regarding getting 'stuck' Cyber. I simply prefer to be able to step in and out of the caravan wearing carpet slippers. I also prefer not to pather around the caravan in wet and mud.
Dunnet Bay stands well in wet weather and even in bad weather, whilst no carpet slippers used, the grass has been mud free. I have used some national trust sites on grass areas which have been very well drained. One was at Houghton Mill where after a day of heavy rain there were several kiddies playing in their bathing suits in over 12'' water in a depression when the rain stopped. Within a couple of hours the water had gone.
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Ah, yes, Pentewan Sands. Many years ago Mrs M's parents used to go there every year, booking their pitch at the end of each stay for the following year. Her dad used to be a keen sailor and would launch direct from the site. Can only remember it vaguely after all this time but I seem to remember it was a huge site with pitches closer together than most club sites nowadays. What I do remember most though was the cost! We were still tenting at the time and certainly wouldn't have paid what they were asking.
They may have an option for choosing a specific pitch, but what are you paying for that privilege - and how far in advance do you have to pay in full?
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Moulesy...booked for early September so won't be overfull...25% deposit on a Premium pitch (these are not serviced but from a location perspective) plus a cancellation insurance charge...final payment is month before arrival.
OH just reminded me that we have already paid a 30% deposit on a cruise we are taking back end of 2019..( Dontt know how I forgot..it was b***dy eye watering for a deposit...)
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And:
During our peak periods (13 – 20 Apr, 25 May – 1 Jun and 20 July – 31 Aug 2019 for Holiday Homes or 25 May – 1 Jun and 20 Jul – 31 Aug for Touring and Camping), we require bookings from Saturday to Saturday, with a minimum of seven nights.
Outside this period we offer a minimum stay of two nights on our touring pitches and short breaks in our Holiday Homes, for three nights starting Friday and four nights starting Monday.'Fine for that commercial site to cater for those who wish this but a nightmare and an anathema for those of us tourers who enjoy the whole network provided by the club and different consecutive nights on the clubs different sites.
That difference in providers is good in my opinion but heaven help us should specific pitch booking and minimum night appear for our touring club.
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Not for you M - no dogs!
Not for me either having looked at the site plan - too big a site.
£25% or £50 min booking balance 6 weeks before arrival plus a booking fee of around £8.
20th July until September bookings in blocks of one week only.
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Yes, that's the point I was trying to make about Pentewan - it would be no good for us anyway as they don't accept dogs! Yes, nice to be able to pick a specific pitch, but that comes at a (not inconsiderable) cost and additional conditions. And folk are already complaining about the cost of club sites after the recent increases.
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