Is it a rip off?
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Last year we stayed at Waverley Park (not a Club site) on the IOW and all pitches were serviced. We rather liked the luxury of just walking around the back of the van to fill the kettle. Once we have arrived we tend to stay on site and depending on how long we stay a service pitch does have some extra convenience so I am not surprised that motorhomers choose to have a service pitch. We made that decision at Hebden Bridge which does not have a toilet block, also even with a service pitch it was only £20 a night. I don't think I would do it on a regular basis but there might be more circumstances where I might.
David
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I was merely pointing out that the cost of the ferry (£500?) makes it expensive to start with, especially for a relatively short stay. The OP stated 21 days. From a purely economic POV, it doesn’t compare, even with the lower site prices,IMO.
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So, has the OP made use of the facility in the Caravan Club's way of doing things to cancel without penalty and go somewhere else? I think not!
Could I ask that those of you who mention when prices go up for Easter, Christmas, Guy Fawkes, St Swithan's Day, etc if you could at the same time mention when the prices go down again so that those like I might consider a visit.
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28/10/19 - 31/10/19 Silverbank at Banchory
price is £8.60 of course that is for only 1 person + unit, £14.40 for 2 + unit.As far as I can see its the only dates that match their advertised rate at the top of the page.
We have stopped using C&MC sites unless its off peak, not because we can't afford it. Its more about what we think its worth, £35 + for a patch of gravel and a few facilities doesn't fit our idea of VFM.
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I agree TG. We won't pay anything like that Even off peak they can be expensive. Our first two this year were CC sites, roughly twenty two pounds per night.. We are about to leave our current site, far better than either CC site so far this year,,free WiFi and only seventeen pounds per night . Good old camping club..
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I can understand the clubs pricing policy at sites like a Black Knowl £35.30 for two at peak, on a standard pitch. It is a very popular site and there are already dates unavailable on standard pitches during summer peak. However, continuing to try this policy at less popular sites seems strange. Last year we had to cancel most of our May / June bookings and ended up going short notice in July / August. Booking on the 11th July I was able to secure 9 consecutive nights for mid July at Bridlington. It was the only CAMC site within 100 miles of us where this was possible. Price then was £33.60 (this year £35.50) whilst we were there it was not even totally full at weekends and a maximum of two thirds mid week. Continuing to market it at this high price, which actually starts on the 28th June, seems rather flawed.
The above are just observations, we will still go there we rather like the site. However, at £4.80 more a night than Scarborough, I can only assume the CC trying to cover the cost of the refurbishment / extension.
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Please bear with me.
As I understand it, the ‘Club’ belongs to ‘us’? No shareholders to pay? In which case, all funds taken are to cover costs and investment? I have no idea if there’s a mountain of cash hidden away, but I somehow doubt it. I think what I’m trying to say is that the ‘club’ has to make ends meet, whilst planning for the future. I guess this entails charging what they can, when they can, to cover the leaner times. I too think that the cost is high at times, but at the end of the day, the ‘books’ have to be balanced.
Yes, I know, I’m probably naive 🙄
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I agree with Freddy that it’s all about making ends meet and balancing the books.
Take a look around the high street and consider those businesses which tried to run on a shoe string and offer cheap prices. Some have vanished into the ether and others are struggling. We don’t want to see the club follow suit.
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I believe the Club has quite a large cash reserve, you can check the accounts.
Some of the spending can seem a bit strange, such as buying sites near existing ones, or refurbishing sites which did not seem to have much wrong with them while others have much poorer facilities.
The offering of mid week discounts also can be puzzling, with only limited sites and limited months even in the low season.
The main problem for those of us who are on fixed incomes which are not keeping up with inflation, never mind CAMC price increases, is the widening of peak periods and additional higher price bands rather than the usual "off peak, shoulder and peak"
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Good post 👍
I guess it makes good business sense to have a cash reserve. I did say “hidden away” though 😉
I don’t follow what is and isn’t being invested, but for all we know, there may well be good (business) reasons why the ‘club’ invests in some, but not others. On that point, it would be good if the ‘club’ laid out their strategy on investment, or lack of. Maybe they do, I’ve not seen it.
As for pricing, again, there are probably very good reasons why they price the way they do. That said, as with all things, stick a ‘human’ in the mix, and it’s bound to go pear-shaped 😀
I’ll be on a fairly fixed income myself shortly, and planning on doing a lot more touring, so CL’s will have to be the ‘norm’. I don’t think ‘club’sites are a “rip-off”, but they are getting more expensive, so more consideration is needed these days.
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"We are about to leave our current site, far better than either CC site so far this year,,free WiFi and only seventeen pounds per night . Good old camping club.. "
Is that on a C&CC site or a "listed" site, Justus2? I ask because we have a couple of bookings for their sites on our tour in May and I hadn't realised there was free wifi. Is that general?
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Correct ET, there are a few franchised type CC&C sites where it doesn't apply but generally it is free..
What is it like ? Hmm.. when you have everyone logged on to it pretty poor really just like most club sites.I was getting less than 2Mbs via wifi and over 60Mbs via 4G during our recent stay at St Neots which has just had a full refurbishment.
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I am not sure if that was his point as 21 nights for £540 is £26 which does not sound that extortionate of itself but he does not state where or when or how many in his party and so his post is really of little use in considering whether the price is over the top.
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It would have been nice if the OP had returned and taken part in the discussion and elaborated on his post.
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On the face of it SteveL's comment that Brid was £33.60 last year and £35.50 this year doesn't sound like a big increase, yet by my reckoning that is getting on for a 6% price rise or around double the inflation rate depending on which inflation indicator you use.
Yes, electricity may have gone up way beyond the inflation rate, but that is only a part of the equation. Other costs must surely be near to or below inflation levels. And on the subject of electricity costs, I'm sure the club is a big enough customer and has enough clout to negotiate an advantageous deal from the energy companies. Or does each site still take its electricity from the local supplier, as in the days of the local electricity board?
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I send head office an email this week regarding these issue such as above inflation price increases including the extension of holiday week increases and the fact that we are supposed to be a club run for the benefit of its members who now have to pay £52 to join.
no reply so far I also pointed out the clubs cosy relationships with manufacturers instead of fighting for its members was also wrong
no response, no response, no response
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