Slight of Hand "Head Line" Pricing
Comments
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"When we say £15 we mean £15 - no more - no less" From Someone's Gotta Pay, The Caravan Club (2019)
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This is true, but it must be an advantage to the solo caravanners/motorhomers amongst us who now don’t have to pay for an extra adult, surely?
Admittedly it wasn’t announced that it was changing from outfit + 2 to outfit + 1, and it was confusing to start with, but it is stated on the web site, so not really hidden during the booking process.
Not criticising MollysMummy, by the way. Just pointing out a fact that hasn’t been discussed.
Edit: Just realised Solo travellers has been mentioned in earlier posts....
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M, I'm sure there are many members (perhaps like your good self) who don't have to 'worry' about the relentless rise in club site prices.
luckily
, it doesn't affect me either, but for some, the ability to just up and go (spontaneous touring) even for those with the time, is now being seriously affected by that another parameter, cost.we get thread after thread about those who are either finding pricing difficult to square or see the club pricing structure as 'complicated' (being generous) or down right devious.
but behind all this smoke is the real issue of more expensive pitches, where, little by little, long standing member who don't have the means to just absorb these rises are having to cut their cloth....
yes, the club isn't a charity, but the rises are usually above inflation which is really hurting those on fixed (or fairly fixed) incomes.
comments from some along the lines of 'I just check dates and then go....blah, blah...' must stick in the craw of those who are having to reduce their touring time as a direct result of these price lifts.
fiddling the headline price to make it appear cheaper when it's actually dearer for a couple probably grates, too.
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but surely the 'solo' got the solo price...one + pitch....as now. no change in the actual charging process.
the issue above is that to reduce the headline price, it's being quoted as 'one + pitch' whereas it was always 'two + pitch' which is how the majority would tour.
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So people who would love to stay on club sites look at the from price and their hearts flutter with excitement, yes I can now afford my life's dream they say. They go thought the booking process and disappointment sets in, no that dream is still beyond me. I'll have to sell the thousands I've invested in my MH/outfit. Should have checked the prices before I bought all that.
What nonsense, who ever believes the from price in anything you want to buy?
Often we are told that there are far better and cheaper sites out there, (in fact stayers on club sites are not savvy enough to know this we have been told) so find a site to suit your budget. That is life.
You would think that by some of the posters above that club sites are the only ones out there and you are forced to use them.
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Apart from the fact that's it's discriminatory to always quote the world of coupledom the club are correct in quoting the lowest price but the thing to remember this is also a non ehu price and only available on very limited dates in the calendar. So buyer beware, the prices will inevitably seem inflated after that.
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"M, I'm sure there are many members (perhaps like your good self) who don't have to 'worry' about the relentless rise in club site prices."
I didn't say I "don't have to worry" about rising prices as I suspect you well know, BB. I decide if the price is good value and then book if so. Usually, because we tour with dog (s) the club works out at good value for us but often we will look for alternatives out of peak times. One good thing about the club price strategy is its flexibility. For instance, last week at Cirencester I was solo for the first night, Mrs M joined me for the next two nights, then I was solo again. By booking as pitch + 1 and then paying for the extra 2 adults nights we got what I considered a great deal.(6 nights for a touch over £100). I doubt other providers would be so accommodating.
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my point exactly, buyer beware.....where they didn't need to (so much) before
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I actually agree, and we do the same, all over Europe from the cheapest (nothing) to (as. special treat) the dearest....
but im sure many club members still thing 'their club' for which they pay an annual fee, is giving them the best value without them having to think too much.
i also agree, times are changing and even a members club has to make ends meet, it's the over inflation rises and 'sneakiness' that's the bit some don't 'appreciate'..
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lovely post (whatever it meant) but it doesn't address the concerns of the OP and the many other threads commenting on the Club's over inflation rises and, now, a few sneaky changes in the price presentation.
a recurring and concerning theme often dismissed out of hand by some.
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Well actually replying to you BB, not the OP, so address that to yourself. And no need to be rude or nasty is there?
Who has talked about over inflation price rises recently, must have missed that?
btw, do you still agree that people on club sites are not savvy enough to know there are better sites out there? it was you who said that (not a question), it seems you have changed your mind?
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Whatever way the price currently displayed is computed it produces a number that can be compared to other sites on the network, and used as the base line to multiply up for other times of year. I don't think more than a few will ever pay the price shown.
So why not take away the "£" sign (save valuable space) and use the numerals 1 to 9 to signify the relevant cost of the sites. To make a comparison to nearby non-Club sites one has to go through the booking process to get a "quote" anyway.
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yes, you possibly must have
just go back over the myriad prices threads, I'm sure you'll find it
(a question) why do you think there are so many 'price' threads if everything is such good value.?
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yes I have and I can't find it, you're only one to have mentioned it today. Ian used to go on about over inflation but that was years ago, how time swiftly passes in talk
so the savvy thing you managed to swerve...
sorry you post edited, again how many prices thread can you find? But a counter question how come so many sites are full (as is no pitches in the Lakes, Cotswold, East Anglia...over Easter if prices are (according to you) so high?
PS don't forget the savvy bit
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how would I know why they're full, go and ask those on site, seems the obvious answer...
often folk, some who have just been on site, post back on CT, highlighting the cost....'I've just come back from xxx and.....'
these threads are usually greeted with a 'well you knew the prices...' comment or three, yet the posters have become members probably expecting 'good value'...
those who might well be on site now (as you say) will be paying close to £40 for a nonSP and nearer £45'for a SP.
i highlighted only a couple of days ago that the £50 pitch is very close with Hillhead being around £48 for this time next year...
whether almost £350 for a week on a CC campsite in the uk is 'good value', you tell me...personally, I don't think it is....one of the reasons I wouldn't be going.
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That would make sense except some cheaper sites are like "gold" in their actual placement. So beware, an expensive site might not be the very best site, depending on your viewpoint or your enjoyment of views etc.!
I think the club does already try to help people with their choices, pointing out sites to suit various tastes and prices in the uk holidays section at the top of the page.
But it is a slight "sleight" of hand to give the non ehu solo pitch as a lead in to pricing.
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Typical marketing mist and mirrors techniques, much used by the likes of Ryan Air etc.... But as a tool to use on membership, and prospective membership? Rather below the belt. I don’t think I have ever seen such a midge-modge pricing policy before. It certainly influences whether or not we use a Club Site once we have chosen an area to tour. Hence we use very few outside of off peak periods unless we have a specific reason to be there.
At certain times of the year, a solo traveller can stay at Chatsworth, with all its amenities, for a mere 30p more than using Nunnykirk. Or a third less in price if using Exeter Racecourse rather than Nunnykirk again. Hardly fair to the solo traveller. So much for “tour for less”, great for families who need nothing, not so good for solos.🤔
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One could equally ask why the club, with only four days to the Easter weekend, traditionally the start of the season for many caravaners, find that they have to tempt me to book a pitch with an Email to fill empty places. Could it be that they are too expensive - oh perish the thought.
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I believe I posted on a thread quite recently where pitch prices were being discussed (no idea now which thread) and commented on the above inflation increases, plus the widening of the peak price periods.
Regarding the from price, I noticed recently that on the site which was being discussed at the time (not the sites mentioned in this thread) the price was for a grass non EHU pitch, but on the date in question a grass pitch could not be booked according to the availability calendar.
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those who might well be on site now (as you say) will be paying close to £40 for a nonSP and nearer £45'for a SP.
Hillhead being around £48 for this time next year.
nowhere near BB as I'm sure you well know!
Hillhead comes in at £35 per night per couple at this time, add an extra £5 for a service pitch that is still well under £48 so where does £48 come from? Even kids are only a £1 per night?
(Adult is £11.20, pitch fee £13.10, kids £1, oh and dogs free!)
Most sites come in at £30 per night per couple at present so well under your 'close to £40'
Where did you get these very misleading figures - from did you miss the 3 key and press 4 by mistake?
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again good try CY, but why are so many club sites FULL over Easter.
I think it makes good sense to fill those empty pitches though?
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but again why even consider inflation and why should the club keep to it in it's prices?
Staying on a club site is not like buying food or petrol, something you need to live on, a basic necessity. It is a choice over and above basic living, pure and simple.
If the price is not to your liking then or too expensive then that is life. Why should the club reduce it's prices as you, or one, can't afford them?
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cheap as chips, mine was £35.50 and that was on a SP
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Possibly because quite a few of the older members, which the Club seems to have a lot of, are on incomes which, if they are lucky, may just about be keeping up with inflation?
However, do not worry, quite a few of we older members are already taking your advice and looking elsewhere for sites when we consider CAMC ones to be poor value.
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but that is just (sadly) life, if you were short of money for buying bread that would be different, but you're buying a holiday. Not a necessity.
If you consider them poor value and have found better, and that is fine, why keep complaining about club sites prices?
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There are a lot of folk who want all the facilities so will probably use nothing but club sites and presumably they are happy to pay the going rate. We on the other hand use a variety of club, CLs and occasionally commercial sites which over the year reduces our spend significantly.
Just back from Peterborough Ferry Meadows and the price was £28/night. Great site in a great location, just where we wanted to be so no complaints at all
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Many thanks for your post and comments. I have forwarded this discussion to my colleagues for their feedback.
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Down in the SW they're not full, possibly because some don't want to make the long journey for a short Easter break, namely three nights and home on the Bank Holiday Monday. However for those of us in the SW we might be tempted onto the sites if the prices were more favourable and the sites might get more bookings and longer stays?
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