New Site Booking System
The Club have released more details of the new Booking System here
There are still finer details still to be arrived but the link (thanks Harry) sets out how the new system will work.
I have closed the previous thread on when we will get details of the new booking system and opened this one to allow comments specifically on the new system rather than discussing what they might be.
David
Comments
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As the deposits are going to be refundable people will still book speculatively a year ahead and will still cancel when they change their plans. Is that progress?
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A lot of bold statements in the detail without any factual information to back them up. The most glaring being that, in effect, deposits will stop speculative booking.
More like, people who want a booking at a site that shows as full on the booking system will now have to start their hourly check for a pitch having become available at least three weeks before the date they need. If speculative booking is as big a problem as they claim, will the booking system be able to cope with the, apparently, huge number of people who will be sitting connected waiting to see when the pitch availablity changes?
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One section from your last post on the closed thread caught my attention...
Grass pitches are going to be a £1 less than hardstandings but they are still discussing whether there should be a difference in price between awning and non awning pitches
Does the Club think that £1 per night is enough of an incentive for anyone to consider booking a grass pitch months in advance given the vagaries of UK weather? It risks
a) Club taking grass pitches out of use (has happened to us)
b) Turning up and spending your entire holiday in a mudbath.
Dont forget, you don’t turn up, you might lose your deposit. Given that Sites like Nunnykirk, Marazion are all grass, a quarter of the pitches at Ferry Meadows are grass, lots of other Sites with a similar percentage of grass to HS pitches, I forsee one heck of a scramble to book less pitches🤷♀️ Will Motorhomes risk the grass pitches months ahead🤷♀️
It might be good for those who are happy to take a grass pitch once they have an inkling of what the weather is going to do, but that won’t be much beyond the 7-10 day forecast.
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I’d wait and see what the T&Cs are on refunds. Having just taken out insurance on a holiday cottage, it is quite prescriptive. The Club can be very hard nosed when it comes to retaining money, despite what they say. I doubt “bad weather” or “the cat was ill” will cut the mustard. Most holiday insurance policies give a detail list of what is or isn’t included. Covid interestingly is separate, Test positive and the let’s don’t want you anywhere near.
The devil is definitely going to be in the detail, and I think a good few of those who saw deposits as some sort of nirvana, are destined to be disappointed.3 -
As i posted on the last thread ,an answer to the question of extending a booking ,was to cancel it and rebook
Given what you say and how difficult it is to get on the many busy sites on the club network ,woh is going to chance cancelling what they have, to extend their booking? with many that would be looking for a pitch on that site
we were looking on several occasions this year for a pitch to be available
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Thanks for the link DK. Not much that was not already known but at least the Club has now given more information in black and white. (depending how your browser is set up)
If speculative booking is as big a problem as they claim, will the booking system be able to cope with the, apparently, huge number of people who will be sitting connected waiting to see when the pitch availablity changes?
Speculative booking is unlikely to continue, it will almost certainly cost members to do so . From what I see of the C&CC bookings it is not a problem they have.
If the advance booking of grass pitches proves unpopular, that could be an advantage for those who want last minute bookings. I don't mind grass in fine weather.
peedee
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No idea JV. It wants me to log into Google for some reason when I try it🤷♀️ Whatever happened to a simple link from Club🤷♀️
There’s money to be made though, providing holiday insurance, that’s for sure.
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I've had a look and it's very bland and not much detail like what the deposit will be or the cancellation period although JVB mentioned 21 days?
I'm glad the deposit will be refundable personally but I think it won't stop speculative booking. I have always (well 97.5%
) honoured my bookings but what is is to stop me booking a year in advance now and cancelling at or just before 21 days? Three weeks isn't enough in my view. Also the price of the deposit will have an affect, someone mentioned 25% or £25 min. Again 25% for a longer stay, one or two weeks, will probably work (but then are longer stay speculative?) but £25 for a weekend doesn't sound that much to lose?As TDA alluded it's not going to make that much difference.
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It's a shame the club are giving up their USP but, given it's a done deal, the terms so far don't sound draconian and the system seems quite sophisticated.
The details are yet to come but the (suggested) 21 day cut off for refunds of deposits seems acceptable.
I look forward to future posts complaining about speculative bookers cancelling 21 days ahead😆😆
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The detail is mostly there, Corners, but you need to hit the 'more' link which lurks beneath the floating 'top' button. Well, it is CT🙄
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I've had a look and it's very bland and not much detail like what the deposit will be or the cancellation period although JVB mentioned 21 days?
If you read the FAQ fully you will see the deposit is to be 20 percent with a min of £25. Hopefully the latter will be tied to inflation.If site fee are less than £25, payment is due in full.
peedee
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ahh yes. Sorry!1 -
Thanks TW yes some interesting points I've noticed, so 20% or £25.
And some very interesting points, payment by instalments, and current bookings will not be subject to any deposits - which was a subject of discussion on the old thread, nor any deposits taken till the new system is up and running.
No, deposits will not apply until the new UK booking experience is launched and will only affect new bookings made after the launch
So best to get all those speculative bookings done before then?
But prepayment will not be available on current booking? Which is a shame.
Existing bookings will be migrated onto the new system, meaning no deposit is payable and payment before arrival will not be an option.
My earlier post still stands, it's not going to make much difference.
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JVB
The old thread is not going anywhere, its just closed to avoid "I wonder what would happen as compared to what we know will actually happen". Don't forget you are always free to add a link into your own posts. But if you have issues adding links, its here https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/discussions/sites-touring/uk-sites-touring/no-news-yet-on-the-new-booking-system/
David
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Yes, look out for those from when it's launched
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I do understand the concern about people making block booking and we have been frustrated by this when we are looking for a site and can’t get a weekend pitch but For us deposits takes a way a bit of flexibility. We tend to book in advance for bank holidays etc but plans can change so it’s good to be able to change a site booking without the hassle of deposits also many a time a pitch has come up at a site we wanted at short notice and we have been able to cancel our original or 2nd choice site and go to our preferred location. We rarely cancel though and if we do we always do it at the earliest opportunity. We will see how it all pans out but the main attraction of this club for us is the flexibility to change bookings at short notice that is why we rarely use C&CV sites it’s a hassle paying a deposit and it means that we are tied to having to go to that place even if circumstances change
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So the way to minimise the deposit is to only book for the caravan/MH plus one person and pay for the extra people when you arrive!!
I wonder if the new system will allow you to change pitch types without cancelling the booking and starting again as you have to now.
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Nothing in the new system will make weekends any more available.
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I saw the following
Will you be charging different prices for grass, hardstanding and pitches with awnings?
Grass pitches will be £1 less per night than hardstanding pitches. Charging different fees for awning and non-awning pitches is currently under review.Question is will grass pitches be reduced or hard standing increased to pay for the booking system???
Answers on a postcard please.4 -
Pre-payment
"When our new online booking experience goes live, you’ll be able to pay for your stay prior to arrival. So you'll be able to set up on your pitch more quickly and start enjoying your holiday even sooner!"
I just love the spin on the last sentence.
So you arrive at the site (at 1pm opening time
) expecting to get straight in but there's a queue in front of you, pre-paid or not, who have been queuing for 1/2hr or more. Then you get through the barrier and spend 5 or 10 mins driving around looking for a suitable pitch. So much for starting your holiday sooner.7
