Not moving with the times
This club could be fantastic, if only it was to listen to its members, some reasons below;
1. Very slow website, cannot find a website as slow as this one, even ones you do not have to pay for!
2. Inability to search for fully serviced pitches (perhaps because they do not have many)
3. Being superseded by free forums such as Adults only caravan sites on Facebook
4. Wasting money, why does the club not ask all members if they need a magazine, I would have been happy to have an electronic version, also helping the environment
5. With all my posts asking for reasons for these issues not being addressed and approaching the site directly no action has been taken, or even reasons why they cannot
I have enjoyed the discussions on the site and interestingly my concerns have been covered several times by others. Note the times I go on the website has to be on off peak times due to the slow website.
It is sad that I will not be renewing my membership, as I do not intend to pay for membership where there is no official feedback from the club when issues are raised.
Hopefully I will rejoin when basic issues are sorted out.
Kind Regards
Derek
Comments
-
1. Very slow website, cannot find a website as slow as this one, even ones you do not have to pay for!
2. Inability to search for fully serviced pitches (perhaps because they do not have many)
3. Being superseded by free forums such as Adults only caravan sites on Facebook
4. Wasting money, why does the club not ask all members if they need a magazine, I would have been happy to have an electronic version, also helping the environment
5. With all my posts asking for reasons for these issues not being addressed and approaching the site directly no action has been taken, or even reasons why they cannot
Can't see anything above to trouble me personally.
1 Never have a problem booking sites.
2. If I want a site I want a particular site. Most sites with toilet facilities seem to have serviced pitches.
3. Don't enjoy facebook and so rarely would I use it as a forum. For me the format does not appeal at all.
4. You can cancel magazine and use an app if desired. I believe that the magazine finances itself through paid advertisements.
4 -
3. Being superseded by free forums such as Adults only caravan sites on Facebook
I have no wish to use Facebook. However, the CC forum is free, you don't need to be a member.
As to service pitches, we may use them if available at a site we want to use. We certainly don't look at which ones have service pitches and use that as a decider on visiting an area.
Yes the site is the pits, especially at the moment. However, as long as it lets me book sites, I can put up with the vagaries of CT.
1 -
The Club sites are obviously fine for old people with or without dogs, but whether the Club is moving with the times in attracting younger families is a much bigger question.
I have four grown up children and nine grandchildren, and their interests and activities are many and various, but so far not one of them has ever spent a night on a Club site. They have visited us on sites and looked for themselves ....but they see the Club and its sites as old, boring and fuddy duddy, certainly not in tune with any of their lives. They say there's a lot more moving with the times needed before they would come on board.
2 -
The Club sites are obviously fine for old people with or without dogs, but whether the Club is moving with the times in attracting younger families is a much bigger question.
for some maybe, i am old with a dog, but we
see the Club and its sites as old, boring and fuddy duddy, certainly not in tune with our lives.
and very rarely use
1 -
The rare times we have ventured to sites at peak holiday times, I have not noticed an absence of younger folk with kids. The same can be said of weekends at most sites much of the year.
However, personally if I was younger with kids, I wouldn't be taking them to a CC site. Not because of any lack of pools, clubs and activities but more because they are restricting. When we went with ours we were tenting and although we occasionally went to ones with lots of facilities, they much preferred the basic big field type, where they were able to fly kites etc.
2 -
1. In terms of a website for a commercial enterprise of this size it is truly dreadful.
2. The search functions for available features, pitch type, facilities etc. are like using a 1960s travel brochure, they have no idea how to do this properly.
3. There are a number of site finding sites that have sprung up and are a delight to use. They will suck all the affiliate sites and then the CLs, this is already happening. They have excellent digital platforms.
4 As said above you can cancel it.
5. It is as it is, as it ever was, and will ever be. The club does not understand the market place they are now in and has no compulsion to change.
3 -
Hi Derek. Just to try to help with some of these things.
1. I agree. The website is sometimes slow and CT could, indeed, do with improved functionality.
2. The Club does have a list of Serviced pitches HERE, had there is a thread on CT with a list of Serviced Pitches HERE.
3. Club Together is, indeed, also a free forum and open for non-members to join. Many here are members of different forums, each which provide something different.
4. From what I understand, the magazine is, by and large, paid for by advertising at little or no cost to the Club. Members are able to opt out of receiving the magazine, if they so wish.
5. I hope I have been able to help by addressing some of your points.
By being a Club member, not only do we have access to 200+ Club and Affilliated Sites, but also opens up the use of an extensive CL network and for those who wish, members can also take part in Rallies. Members also have access to Caravan Cover, car and caravan breakdown service (MayDay). Continental travel facilities and Insurance, House Insurance (which covers your home being left vacant for a longer period of time than most other insurance companies), etc. (Many of these things are available elsewhere, but always check the level of cover as it is generally not as extensive).
If the CAMC doesn't suit your needs, it may well be worth you looking at the Caravan and Camping Club. Many of us are members of both. Personally, I prefer CAMC sites, but I know there are those who have the opposite view.
Whatever you decide, you are welcome to continue as a member of Club Together and hope that you will continue to make positive contributions.
David
4 -
The rare times we have ventured to sites at peak holiday times, I have not noticed an absence of younger folk with kids. The same can be said of weekends at most sites much of the year.
Much why we avoid most school holiday periods on sites. Some popular family sites we also avoid weekends.
When my wife and I had young children we used a lot of CLs but did not shun club sites as we spent little time actually on the site
1 -
I think the club management are doing a a fantastic job of ruining what was a really good business I see that the c&cc have managed to negotiate a new lease at the braithwaite fold site for 25 yrs which they now have renamed.. well done C.M.C
1 -
Every year, while the kids were of school age we visited a site close to Hawes. The site did accept caravans and campervans, but was primarily for tents. There was a very large field which you camped around the outside of, pitches well spaced and the open centre area was available for kids to play in.
When we visited the Hawes CAMC site the week before lock down we took a walk through it, (its on a public right of way) as we had heard they had been doing a lot of work. What a transformation, gone are the few odd statics, replaced with nice new ones, lodges and cabins, some with jacuzzis. Whilst the large field now has gravel roads and hardstanding pitches with EHU. Very much a sign of the times, if they can get through Covid, they should do very well. We would definitely be interested, although it would be a last minute booking. Unlike the CAMC they want all your money upfront, non returnable.
1 -
We don't use CAMC sites that often but when we do its the peace and quiet that we like. We don't want pools, club houses, entertainment for the kids etc. There are plenty of other sites out there that folk/families can go to if they want that kind of thing.
The website really can send you mad at times though.
2 -
Obviously entirely up to the OP on whether he gives up his membership but if the decision is based on his five points I don't see how this has impacted on his enjoyment of using Club sites. He might not like Club sites but he didn't list that as one of his reasons. I think we would all agree about the speed of the forum and I just hope that somebody in senior management actually grasps the nettle on this as I suspect it will take serious money to sort out. There have always been alternatives to this forum, many of them much better and have also been around much longer than this one. Many things are changing and one of them is social media which seems to serve those that do everything on their smartphone and probably who wouldn't sit down for the evening in front of a PC looking at this sort of forum. We don't yet know whether COVID will have a greater impact than it has already has but we are still in a state of flux on that.
David
1 -
Peace & quiet is a good point. I haven’t used CMC sites so far this year because they’ve been full (I’m not organised enough to plan in advance). Instead I’ve used CCC and commercial sites and they generally allow tents. Tents in high season are often used by families and frequently big family groups cluster together in several tents. Nothing wrong with that per se, but generally not peaceful if you’re pitched near them. In that respect CMC offers something I value and would pay a premium to enjoy.
2 -
They are indeed. Very usefill it has been too, allowing our sons to stay on the same site. I noted that Bridport Bingham Grange has 29, all but 6 with EHU. They are still the poor relations though, being furthest from the facilities although most in need. Lower Wensleydale took the gold medal for this, with a 100 metre walk and a very steep hill between pitches and block. I can't help feeling as far as the CC is concerned it's generally a token gesture. The only site We have visited, which provided really good tenting facilities was Morvich and in that case it was catering for the back packing market.
1 -
I think, historically, you may be right in feeling that 'tents' have been a token gesture. I don't have the evidence, but I might even guess that, historically, the sites that accept tents often do so because of local authority regulations making it part of the deal.
I think looking to the future, perhaps things might be different? The Club are already branching out into 'pods' and even sites with Airstream vans to hire. With the projected trend towards 'electric cars', will technology advance quickly enough for us to continue to tow large caravans and motorhomes, or does the future lie with smaller units and tents.....? Yet, motorhome sales are increasing?? Perhaps we are looking at a period with greater diversity of units on CAMC (and other) sites.....
David
1 -
Can’t help thinking that diversification isn’t a good thing for lovers of peace & quiet. Tents seen on CMC sites are generally small occupied by a couple or solo cyclist etc. However, the trend on commercial sites is towards huge inflatable ‘aircraft hanger’ style tents for large families and all the their toys. Ready erected tents and glamping options fall into the same category and attract weekend party groups who are not always respectful of the campsite environment.
3 -
However, the trend on commercial sites is towards huge inflatable ‘aircraft hanger’ style tents for large families and all the their toys.
Not sure the pitches are big enough for an aircraft hanger type.😂However, family rather than back pack would appear to be the way the Bridport site is going, with so many of the tent pitches having acces to EHU.
2 -
Bingham Grange was a great site before the club bought it, if they have so many tents I hope the club have upgraded the facilities blocks, as the original facilities would not be that great for so many users , last i heard the club had put on hold the upgrade and were rxing many complaints from members as facilites not up to scratch.
Used site many times when it was commercial with no problems, bit quirky, not what you would expect on a club site.
P.S. i wonder if the club are using what used to be caravan/mh pitches as tenting pitches, some pitches were a little small and close together perhaps better suited to your average tent ?
1 -
You are not the only person who has suggested that this site has been ruined by being taken over by the Club! The strange thing is if you read the reviews, by Club members granted, they just feel it is not up to standard, small pitches, poor facilities. So what does this mean, that Club members are more discerning and are used to a better quality of site? It's not a site I would probably use because it's a bit remote and there are sites nearer the coast which would suit me better. I am waiting to make a return visit to Cayton Village to see how the refurbishment has gone there. I appreciate that CMC sites are a bit formulaic but no one can deny their popularity?
David
1 -
You are not the only person who has suggested that this site has been ruined by being taken over by the Club! The strange thing is if you read the reviews, by Club members granted, they just feel it is not up to standard, small pitches, poor facilities. So what does this mean, that Club members are more discerning and are used to a better quality of site?
Most club member i have met expect to role onto a site and for that site to be almost identical to the one they were on previously, and previously and previously etc.
As i said Bingham Grange was Quirky, totally different to what you would expect from a club site, but all the better for this, IMO, perhaps that is why we do not use club sites much.
2 -
Most club member i have met expect to role onto a site and for that site to be almost identical to the one they were on previously, and previously and previously etc.
Strangely not a conversation that I have ever had and I visit a number of CMC sites each year
1 -
Sorry Ruffs but not what you originally said,
Most club member i have met... this indicated a meeting and an exchange of thoughts by some process, now you're just saying it is a given? Which is it?
Anyway I think you'r right, the club knows what sells well and what club members want, and indeed does this very well indeed if all the threads about how difficult it is to get pitches at the moments while others report lots of pitches on non club sites.
What is so wrong with the offering what it does and how it does it? It has occupancy rates other sites can only envy I would think.
1 -
Can't say I've ever found that on club sites with pods and the like that this 'dis-respectfulness' you talk about, just people enjoying themselves in the same way as other happy camper and adhering to club site rules. What direct experiences have you had on club sites like you mention?
also no reviews ever mention any problems?
1 -
Most club member i have met... this indicated a meeting and an exchange of thoughts by some process, now you're just saying it is a given? Which is it?
Both really, being a sociable chappy normally pass the time of day with others on site, especially when walking the dog, and of course it is often said "nice site this isn't it" not really a conversation just an acknowledgement of the given, and yes we used club sites quite often when we lived in Scotland, but find now that much better choice of commercial sites down south especially with swimming facilites which i very much like and prepared to pay a little more for.
But you can see the mind set of a lot of club members when you see the comments re Bingham Grange , not sure of occupancy rates just now but was always well supported when we visited, but lots of people love club sites, so nothing wrong with that, as Oscar Wilde once said "you can't please all of the people all of the time"
1 -
Not a given for this member. I visit (normally) about 22 sites a year whilst on tour. At least 50% are non CMC. I presume that you re going solely on your personal perceptions of what you think that others think without any knowledge of their thoughts.
1
