Exploiting the members
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Weather patterns and seasons seem to have changed so much since my youth? ,and it has been really brought home with Winter Watch. with the amount of birds that are now in this country (Three types of Egrett )and those that now do not fly to warmer climes or go much later and arrive here much earlier in the year
The temperatures that are now very high in some countries ,in the high summer ,certainly does not give me any incentive to travel long distances to get some warmth now
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I think what you suggest is highly unlikely because for one thing it would be commercially sensitive. In a way you can work it out as obviously those sites which are very secure not only have high occupancy but usually higher prices? Tenure is another possible "at risk indicator" as many sites are held on leases which does always put a question mark over their longevity as Club sites but also limits the amount of investment which might make them less attractive to members? If you reduce charges on the most popular sites that puts a limit on the amount of subsidy less well used sites can take. I have no doubt the Site team know this inside out.
David
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You need to read what I've written Bill, not what you think I've written. Our holidays have always been activity based and you'll note (or maybe you didn't) that I said local families "outside of holiday season".
We visit Cardinham Woods quite often, at all times of the year but, to me anyway, it's a place to spend a happy day, walking or cycling, not somewhere to return to day after day on a family holiday. Definitely not a "Centre Parcs" set up. Doubtless some will enjoy it though.
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"There’s nothing better than sitting outside in shorts/ T shirt "
do it all year round even in the UK & when riding my bike, last time i wore trousers was when MIL passed.
This week although very cold it has been glorious sat in the sunshine, but not overly keen at being away in the caravan, have much of what i want on my doorstep so nothing to be gained from paying to sit in a caravan in an area that may only have 7 hours of daylight.
Not that i use a lot of club sites, last year i used Malvern Hills and York Beeches, mainly because we were seeing friends/family in those areas, have to say both sites were excellent, ok quite expensive, but the facilities block at YB is spendid and more than a match for anything i have experienced over here or over there and it is very convenient for York city and surrounding area, so of course it is going to demand a premium price.
There is a lot of hype re comparing camping businesses over here over there etc, but in my experience over there sites in the main have a totally different business model to those overhere and the same can be said for sites in the UK dependant upon area, overthere e.g. many sites are full Oct thru May with people overwintering, whereas many of the club sites overhere are closed during this period, mainly because there are no punters, but even when closed there are still bills to be paid, so some of these losses, and my guess is, if you have no punters but bills to pay then you loose money during this period, so these have to be offset and the clubs business model is not doubt set out to do just that.
for me, i will use what i can pay for, if i cant afford it then i dont use it and look elsewhere,
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Afternoon
As a member DD, you vote to elect a committee to make all those informed decisions, just in case you weren't aware.
JK
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TDA wrote "The Otters loved the mud though."
Great, CAMC can also corner the hippopotamus market.
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Perhaps they read this forum.
I'm sure DSB will be able to tell us.
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Well this thread has wandered all over from over there (once again
) and club committees but as several posters have said it isn't the club just doing this, the vast majority of holiday companies do it and how can it be exploitation? No one is forced or has to take out membership? No one has to re-join either. If one feels this way don't join, re-join, or site pay the prices?That's the price and they clearly displayed before one presses book, you can pay it or use/find something cheaper, actually or more expensive.
None of the definitions of exploitation I've seen fits with a seller setting a price for something non essential or where there is no alternative and people having a choice to buy it or not? This isn't bread or petrol here but a campsite.
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If that is aimed at me, although off topic but I agree, but at least get one's 'facts' right and use the right words? Perhaps even keep on topic, although it's easy to drift? There is no 'exploitation'? One can say club prices are too high for them, but that is completely different to being exploited?
Or do you think the club (and all other holiday companies, ferries, airlines...) who put up prices at peak times or even hours of the day are exploiting people? I know you say you can't 'afford' club prices and there is membership fee to pay but really is that exploitation K? Do you personally feel exploited? As you posted on it do you feel exploited that your views are not know to committee members? And if you and others do why keep re-joining the club and still use club sites?
I certainly wouldn't and can't understand those that do.
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Absolutely, we’re all entitled to an opinion rather than a brick wall characterised by ‘like it or lump it’.
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except one doesn't have to lump it? There are alternatives? Club sites only account for about 10% of sites in the UK
Unless of course one simply has to use a club site.
What's your solution to this exploitation then Bill?
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It’s the schools that are at the root of the issue. They chase Ofsted ratings, any child who is absent, for whatever reason, affects those ratings via attendance monitoring. Parents cannot take children away outside of school holidays, (at risk of a fine or worse), ergo, the holiday businesses cash in on this period. Market forces and modern day living. Part of having children nowadays sadly.
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No skin off my nose, since price of club sites (or any others) no longer affects me, but I'm confused by your frequent reference to "CC Ltd" followed by criticism that it's not acting as "a club" DD?
Which do you consider it to be - a business, making business decisions or a club with member benefits?
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...and those that have little choice but to use them
I can't get my head around that at all DD, could you explain further?
Why does anyone have little choice but to use them? Are you saying that because of membership there are no other providers? never mind the CL's? These people are tied to using club sites in some manner I can't fathom?
Are people forced to join the club? They do so voluntarily and know the the club works and prices, if not (which I doubt) they soon find out and if prices are too high then surely will go elsewhere rather than have little choice but to use them?
But as described elsewhere perhaps the higher prices in peak subsidise the times when sites are emptier and not in profit.
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I find it quaint that some folk actually hark back to a previous century by invoking the word ‘club’ i’m putting it out there now-I reckon the word club bears no resemblance to its original meaning from over a century ago👍🏻😂😂
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But what exactly are you suggesting? Is it your view that prices should be the same across all seasons? Clearly if you lower prices at the time of peak demand it means you have to raise them at quieter times of year?
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yes you're right and more so nowadays but it was always thus even before 'everyday counts' reared its head.
According to my 1999 site handbook this is nothing new, but interestingly enough summer peak now is actually smaller than then. Now its 22nd July to 31st August while back then peak was 9th July to 4th September. The Easter peak lasted 11 days, now it has crept up to 16.
In those days while kids did have the occasional week(s) I don't recall any that were for caravanning holidays, they were mainly for cheaper abroad holidays.
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I wrote a reasoned reply to this, but then realised there was no point in doing so, as those who have plenty of money, e.g. a good working income, or 2 pensions and no problem with paying CAMC prices, have no regard for older pensioners, or those who have spouses who have not been able to earn a pension.
On our travels, we have often chatted with members who have older vans, and disabled spouses, and are still trying to tour using CAMC sites as that is all they have known. Many have said they cannot afford to go away as often as they used to.
But of course, even in a members club, this apparently does not matter.
Personally, we could afford CAMC peak prices, though it would cut down on our nights away, and we do not consider them good value, so we will not pay them.
We will stay members, but use CLs, and also make more use of CCC sites....what is not to like about them Corners?
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Perhaps the benefits are excellent sites (that you appear to use quite a bit), the standard of its wardens, the saving you can make by being a member - I still haven't paid for any membership fees due to savings on products? Use of CLs?
I know that excellent can be debated but the truth of the matter is people use and then re-use club sites a lot, there are plenty of threads about not getting pitches or getting a weekend at any time of year on some sites, so unless people are sing clubs sites because, as you put it, those that have little choice but to use them, the club appears to be giving members a great deal of benefits?
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It must suit you seeing you rejoined after a break so what does the name matter as long as folk are happy and want to use it’s products?
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It's not a matter of having no regard but I'm sorry to tell you that the club is not a charity and nor should it be.
If someone cannot afford something then that is, sadly, life. I'd like a newer Jag but the sales people have no regard for me being an older pensioner so a KIA it will have to be.
As to CCC sites, too variable in standards in my experience.
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