Pre-arrival texts
Comments
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Basically the instructions to turn people away before 1pm is open to misinterpretation and is a poor customer care decision. It should, if used, relate to sites only where there is a safety issue involved. I don't know who made this decision but I see nothing wrong with a few arrivals waiting. These problems stem from letting people in too early previously. There is no reason to open the office until 1pm to new arrivals.
Reading through comments on here and also reviews some inappropriate actions are taking place eg sending vans down to the Dart ferry at Hillhead. This is a management decision (not on site) and I think it needs reviewing. Taking it to extremes if there is a roundabout outside a site entrance I presume vans could be directed on a circular course for ten minutes or so?!
If we arrive at a site five minutes early and there is room to wait we would expect to do just that as previously. If we arrive half an hour early, which we have done by mistake in the past I would expect the same. If I understood there would be no admittance till 1pm I would wait accordingly. There should be no need for site managers to engage further until 1pm unless there is an unforseen problem.
CAMC needs to get across the no admittance till 1pm in a customer friendly way on site without resorting to the present tactics.
If a site has no waiting or queuing room this must be clearly stated on booking. General arrival details just won't do, site specifics are very important.
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My wife is going to the hairdresser tomorrow but hasn’t had a pre arrival text. She thinks she can risk getting there without one but I have warned her that they might send her away if she arrives early. She says not and says one of the staff will bring her a coffee. Is it any wonder we both gave up Club sites years ago for being so rule bound and time restricted? In 50 years I sometimes had to wait, but I never found another campsite anywhere where the staff sent me away to drive around the district.
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We joined this Club nigh on three decades ago, and it only took us a couple of stays to realise that it was a very rules and regulations, everything in its place and a place for everything type of set up. Not particularly our thing at all, especially as we were adventurous mid 20’s at the time. But, it had certain things we needed, and over time we have adapted to all the you must do this, you must do that regime, as in the whole picture, most of it is designed for the general comfort of all users. I, like I presume many others, do wonder what is at the root of some of the changes, but, you either accept and go with them, occasionally gritting one’s teeth, or you find alternatives. Our alternatives have been mainly CLs, which is why we have remained Members.
What is bad management is the muddle of communications these last few months around the decision to make all arrivals 1pm, and the confirmation emails still stating 12-2pm. That’s catching out a few innocent travellers, and the poor staff are bearing the brunt.
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Again in allowing owners to wait at the entrance untill 1p.m. where do you draw the line, 10 mins, 30 mins, 120 mins, 180 mins. think you get my drift. There has to be decision at some point as to when to tell early arrivals to go away and come back after 1pm. There will always be those who want to be first in the queue.
peedee.
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A standard approach is needed as people will not distinguish between sites with waiting space and those without. There would be the excuse of the warden at the last site allowing them to park and wait and bad feeling ensuing when the warden at the current site says "not on this one".
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I strongly feel that CAMC is a customer based service industry and that the majority of site users behave in a reasonable way. Therefore a blanket approach will deter some who behave reasonably. Those that don't will always need "guidance " but the rest of us should not be on the receiving end of stringent and inappropriate measures.
It's up to CAMC to offer training guidance on very early arrivals but for the most part it shouldn't affect ordinary considerate customers.
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That’s a strange post, Brue. 🤷🏻♂️
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It’s a hard one at the moment, any situation that results in unhappy customers and irate/abused staff isn’t good for anyone. Unless I am mistaken, I think the Club gave a bit of a leeway period where things were managed in a less draconian manner, and that’s now clearly ended, but is still catching out a few, either innocently or in a few cases by design.
Whilst the hullabaloo is probably creating a stir on social media and review sites, eventually things will calm down and the penny will drop for the few, whilst the innocent few will simply set off half an hour later and arrive half an hour later. The many, it won’t affect as the urgency isn’t there.I have been stuck trying to leave a Site close to the old arrivals time, and found myself shocked at the behaviour of some desperate to get onto Site. Human behaviour can be very strange, and make devils at times of ordinarily very nice people.
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Its a sad fact that in many areas the few spoil things for the many. We wouldn't need so many rules if they didn't. I am under the impression that prior to the current measures, early arrivals were getting out of control and presumable dangerous at sites without lengthy access roads or parking areas.
peedee
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Has the Club ever asked the membership which departure/arrival times they prefer, whether that is 11.00am/12.00pm or 12.00pm/1.00pm.
It seems to me if a vast majority prefer the earlier time then that should be the one chosen. You have to accept that you can't please everyone but it would make sense to please the majority.
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You could equally ask whether the club has consulted the membership about any day to day site operational matter. They don’t need to. We empower the club to make those decisions on our behalf. Perhaps you should read about the operation and governance of CAMC, Mikey👍🏻
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We have our Club Together forum with over 400k registered users, our social platforms are a great way for members and future members to interact with us, we carry out regular research and surveys with our members to hear from them – first-hand – about their views.
The above is a quotation made by the Head of Communications to a journalist. Strange but I can't remember participating in any research about opening and closing times, something which affects every member who wishes to visit a club site. I do think fundamental changes to operation of sites should have membership input.
There are many areas of the club that decisions should just be made solely by the council, refurbishment and purchase of sites for example, but this change of time is a fundamental issue so I think MikeyA has posed a legitimate question.
It is quite possible that the membership may well have said leave the time alone but impose stricter sanctions against early arrivees or they may have said leave at 11.00 and arrive at 13.00 or whatever but we weren't given an opportunity and as far as I'm concerned the above quote is just pie in the sky.
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.... It's actually still better than most non club(s) sites where it is often 2pm or later (and off at 11).
But as these are none club sites you're not paying a membership fee .... you'd think you'd have some say in matters for your £50-odd club fees.
And I'll be staying at a 'better site' next week ... IMHO ... that doesn't have rows of pegs ....
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Well I've stayed at quite a few commercial sites and they manage. 🤷♂️
Just had 2 nights at Knaresborough, at the cost of £92.40 (standard pitch). At these prices someone should be available to check you in when you roll up.
I honestly can't believe people think it's a good thing. It's not.
Further more, at no point did they contact us to say the club house was closed, no discount, no apology, just a note on the toilet wall. Caravan club never give a penny back. COVID was is more evidence of that. Camping club extended the membership by 3 months and banged in free WiFi.
I've only been a member for 11 years, but in that time it's got more and more regimented and money grabbing.
Anyway, I'll just use the CLs more and say no more.
Cheers
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Have people said it’s a good thing? I think all we're doing is rationalising the pros and cons of the situation we find ourselves in and I started the thread in an attempt to establish if the club was taking more steps to notify folk of the new arrival time. It's not about prices, facilities or what other operators do.
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You're making it sound as if one is forced to join the club and forced to pay the membership fee. I assume that before joining people will look at the various rules and procedures and decide for themselves if they want to join? If they paid up over £50 without checking then it's their own fault. Or after a year of being treated like they are they wouldn't rejoin? Yet I appear to recall we're in one of the highest rate of people rejoining including your good self.
Does paying a membership fee mean there should be an input? Not for me. Does joining a gym mean that you do. Does joining the AA? Paying a subscription for Netflix? No one simply looks at what is on offer and decide.
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But you knew the price and the arrival time before you turned up, so why complain now?
Do commercial do better? Any examples? I have looked at a few and they appear worse.
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Evening
Just a point, it took me 15 seconds on the Knaresborough site page to see that the Wanderer bar & kitchen would be closed and what dates. The information is there if you care to look.
The site prices are also there before you book, if you think it's too expensive it's really quite simple, don't book. There are no surprises.
In reality if you think that the club are too regimented and money grabbing then there are other providers.
JK
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Ah, why does that not surprise me!
What's your view of the club's efforts to advise members of the new arrival time then?
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My view is those members who turn up early are either sticking their fingers up at the club and doing their own thing ,or they are just plain thick and don’t understand what 1pm means
I don’t need advising as I know not to arrive before 1pm , we usually arrive around 2pm at most sites
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Thanks for the relevant reply.
I tend to agree which is why I believe the club needs to make a concerted effort to advise all members in person. You and I can bin the letters🙂
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+1
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