New Site Booking System

Actually i did take your advice ,and re read both articles ,  one in the  magazine and the other  on clubs web site ,
You post
You have continually said that the 25% of bookings which are cancelled are speculative. They are not. 25% of bookings were often cancelled. That is not the same as saying they were all speculative. Nobody knows how many were speculative. 

Never posted ALL ,but 25% is a huge figure 
Also your comment 
They are not. 25% of bookings were often cancelled.

The club says the article you told me to read,  this has become a growing problem 
Maybe you should take your own advice 

The Clubs comments
As you can imagine, a lot of members all cancelling a few times a year soon adds up! After reviewing the market, speaking to members and looking at other campsite providers the best solution to reduce speculative bookings is to introduce a deposit system. This will reduce the number of speculative bookings and create more availability for members. 

Read ,The  club specifically states speculative bookings.

Please read 

In a normal year, we often see over 25% of all bookings being cancelled (that’s over 950,000 cancelled nights...every year!)

Of those cancelled nights, over 25% are made within four days of arrival, so it’s very difficult for other members to take advantage of the newly vacant pitches.

And it’s not just a small minority of ‘block bookers’ who are cancelling, almost half of all members who make a booking each year make at least one amendment or cancellation too. As you can imagine, a lot of members all cancelling a few times a year soon adds up! After reviewing the market, speaking to members and looking at other campsite providers the best solution to reduce speculative bookings is to introduce a deposit system. This will reduce the number of speculative bookings and create more availability for members.

As ‘appy-ippy’👍🏻

I wonder if the Club could tell us how many of the the cancelled 25% of bookings were later taken up by those like us who book either a couple of days in advance, actually while on the road travelling, or extending a stay if a late cancellation happens? We have done this dozens of times, and that us, just one couple. So be interesting how many others do the same. All three stays at YRP we have extended our stays, last year we got the only pitch going on a Friday night at Marazion. That will make inroads into the 25% of cancelled pitches, but by how much we are unlikely ever to find out.

Figures and statistics can be made to fit almost any point of view if change is in the offing. I know because it was part of my job for 25 years. I am not opposed to the Club bringing in deposits, or only giving folks more than three weeks to cancel. Couldn’t care less to be honest as it will affect our touring style and choice of Site not at all. If the Club gets easy income in via this, then I suppose the Club is joining the many other businesses who operate the same, as has been said before, it’s a business that needs to survive. It is going to affect some negatively, maybe others positively. Only time will tell.

Hi question if you have booked already for this year when you turn up on site will you just be put on grass not out to grass as later bookings have had the choice  on the new system to book hard standing 

The weather is going to provide interesting feedback in terms of payback parameters for deposits. Forecasts some 5 days in advance are usually 90 odd% accurate. This drops to below 50% ten days in advance, so having to make a decision to honour a booking three weeks in advance, or lose the deposit, isn’t going to be very accurate weather wise. High winds and storms are an ever present concern for most folks that either drag a big box, or drive a high sided box, so I for one do wonder what the Club’s stance will be on this. Go and risk an accident, or don’t go and forfeit deposit loss? Clarity required I think.

It’s been explained that all old style bookings will be transferred to the new system before it goes live. As far as possible old bookings will be allocated HS pitches within their choice of awning/non-awning/serviced pitch choices. Therefore, new bookers will only have the choice of what’s left.

Edit: sorry, hja, it’s the time lag.

I don’t disagree Brue, I don’t think they could fill that many either. But it would make inroads into the potential losses, and that’s why quoting the 25% figures to stand alone is actually flawed. 25% of 25% get cancelled, but how many get rebooked/reused is what I am wondering?

One of the reasons I ask is because the Club has never used the tool of discounting close to date of sell pricing. It’s a policy used by many many holiday providers to entice folks into taking up a late booking, and the policy of getting some money in rather than no money does work. Cottage agencies use it, hotels use it, etc…. So it got me wondering, why doesn’t this Club?🤔 If it’s got that many pitches going begging three days before sell by date, why isn’t it doing anything about it before now, when it’s opted to impose a deposit scheme instead? Or is it simply that the Sites are in fact so busy, and that late take up is so good that they don’t need to🤔 I am of course only wondering, not party to any statistics, but it is intriguing.

Not quite sure what you mean about the 25% being cancelled out TDA, I just see it as a quarter of the total quoted. As for discounts CAMC will perhaps be freer to offer some generally in the future if they've secured bookings on a stronger basis?

I meant 25% of the 25% are cancelled in the last four days Brue, not cancelled out by being refilled🙂

I hope it means a bit more creativity on the discounting side might happen. They are certainly creative around upping the prices for school holiday periods😂 (But that’s another thread😂)

The answer (in relation to why I 'did it') is 'no'...as I've now been to the 'impossible to book' site 😉

You could well be right about the perception. Certainly going to be interesting, but like most changes, it is going ahead, and after the initial getting used to things period, will no doubt settle down. It’s certainly created some interesting points of view. 😁

It would have to be exceptionally high wind to dissuade me. Think 'nationwide amber warnings' on TV. How common are they in the main touring season? On the odd occasion that I actually book ahead, it would only rarely be more than three weeks, so the new system may be favourable for me.

The current 'three day window' must only be helpful the the real last-minuters. I would imagine that the new timeframe and consequent penalties instead of a 'slap on the hand' will solve the non take-p of pitches at a stroke.

If they(high winds) can blow a fully laden articulated Truck over they can blow over a Moho easily. Followed by the insurance claiming the driver showed negligence flying in the face of warnings-you have a very, very big bill to foot, & your own recovery. I’d rather lose a deposit than my LV. I may not be the sharpest tool in the box but I’m gifted with common sense👍🏻