New booking system with deposits
Comments
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I suppose if things had gone to plan we probably wouldn't be talking about this now as it would have been up and running for some months? Obviously when the club started to plan for this they couldn't have predicted the current crisis in both inflation and energy prices although i don't think they would have changed course? Unfortunately there will be those in the membership, as in all walks of life,who will struggle financially as a result of the crisis we now find ourselves in. If the future figures for energy prices become a fact those feeling the pinch could be even more widespread when it all becomes a reality. Having said that the Club has been an outlier in not asking for deposits and for many sites outside of Club networks it's fairly usual to pay a deposit and full payment weeks before arrival. Obviously we need to wait and see how the system pans out but in the future if may mean that there is not so much need to book so far ahead which will allow people to judge their financial situation much near to when they want to go on holiday?
David
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David I've been involved in the implementation planning of many a large IT project and, for me, the impact on my then many customers.
Some projects do overrun (for various reasons) and for the largest, most complex ones affecting key business areas (anything to do with sales, delivery or money) Go Live dates got pushed back to quieter times as the company did not want to implement something key during peak business trading so why take the risk?
having said that, my Director was all over keeping other Board members aware of the situation through revised plans, taking them with the IT Department not railing against it.
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That, of course, will be another chapter? The Club will not be immuned from rising prices so I imagine they will have to recoup that in some way. The other side of the coin is that if the new system works on the basis the Club wanted, to increase availability, will that mean there will be a lot more empty pitches as less people will be willing to commit for so long in advance? Couple that with the squeeze on all household budgets, even with Government support, where perhaps members cut back on their annual holiday spend, then the Club could find itself with a big problem. It hasn't happened yet but you could see that as a possible scenario. The trouble is, I think discounts would have to be substantial to make an impact so the Club could find themselves in a Catch 22 situation. Maybe we are being unduly pessimistic?
David
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If this site is going to be the norm over the next few years there already is plenty of availability we are on the west side in the height of school holidays and in the area we are on there are12 empty pitches at least that I can count sitting outside our PVC
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Everyone should get this email.
JK
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I've just received my email.
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I have no bookings, no email either. I wonder if they are 'personally' targeting only those whose bookings are in the system and are about to be transferred?
also, as this is happening in a few days, and any amendment beyond then customers will need to know more about the new system fairly quickly.
perhaps that info is behind one of the links...?
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I’m sure the terms of reference for allocation of existing bookings to a pitch type have changed. I don’t recall anything about length of stay. As we only tend to stay 1 / 3 nights now we have a MH looks like we are more likely to end up on grass at sites with limited hardstanding.☹️
From top questions on the new booking system:-
When existing bookings for our standard pitch type are moved over to the new system, they will be allocated to hardstanding or grass pitches with or without awning space as per your original booking. As hardstanding pitches are the most preferable pitch type, those with the longest length of stay will be allocated these first.After this has been done, if you wish to change your pitch surface type you can do so online using the new system (subject to availability).
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Unless other than the expected glitches arise the 15th is definitely the start date?
But as said what company in their right mind would introduce a complete new booking system at the hight of the busiest period of the year
Ps no email from club again
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So where was my vote for these changes? Did we have a vote that I missed?
This club is shooting itself in the foot. No discount for the two years of covid. Now a deposit system, and although they say it is under review, a new pricing structure for a pitch with or without awnings.
We are due on a site on Sunday for three nights so I guess we'll be chucked on a grass pitch under the new rules. Not what I booked at all. 🙄
Also, this three night stay is just £50 cheaper than our next site in Cornwall, which is a far nicer site and 11 nights long, AND I've just had to renew our caravan club membership on top of the three nights pitch fees.
Sites are already fairly empty at the height of the school holidays so all these new rules seem even more ridiculous.
I guess I can understand the deposit system to stop people booking without any intentions of actually turning up, but for many of us we can hardly afford to go away let alone pay a deposit and then pay club prices for a pitch.
Couple the new rules with the cost of living going through the roof, hardly any new cars that can tow a caravan, and the advent of electric cars that simple cannot tow a caravan, the club should be doing all it can to bring people in, not make new rules and pricing structures to keep people away.
This club, and indeed caravanning as a whole, is seriously under threat of extinction in the modern world. New rules to make things harder and more expensive are not going to help.
Time to sell our caravan and keep renting houses with a pool on mainland Europe. Far easier, and far less stress and anxiety than lugging a caravan around. And getting the caravan ready in this heat is more like torture than a holiday.
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I would think that it only needs to go to people with existing booking as those are the only ones impacted at the moment. This is the link in the email . Made a change for this communication to be clear and concise
David
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I've just had an email regarding my future bookings and the new system. It looks as though those who have booked longer stays will get priority with transfers to hardstandings. Check your e mails if you have forward bookings, the new system is about to roll forward.
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When existing bookings for our standard pitch type are moved over to the new system, they will be allocated to hardstanding or grass pitches with or without awning space as per your original booking. As hardstanding pitches are the most preferable pitch type, those with the longest length of stay will be allocated these first.
To paraphrase, "All members are equal but some members are more equal than others".
This is not a good condition for many reasons.
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I can see the logic WN, those who've booked lots of short breaks on the "off chance" will now be faced with a reality check, do they firm up their bookings with a deposit and choose a hardstanding etc. I believe everyone will get the opportunity to change advance bookings, for a fee...?!
This is quite an undertaking I don't envy this stage of the roll out for all concerned.
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Personally feel that deposits are a good idea. It must be really frustrating for both the Club & site staff to have 'no shows' without any communications from a booked member
Such people who lack basic courtesy deserve to lose their deposit !
Anyone genuine would be more than happy to pay a deposit. If you're definitely going to that site on the dates booked then if anything you're spreading the cost
I don't see it as any big deal3 -
So if I book a 4 night stay as part of a tour next year giving the club 9 months notice and someone books for a week just 10 days beforhand they get priority if my booking happens to be the shortest.
What happened to the fairness in that booking situation? In addition I think this actually prejudices Motorhomers who like to book whilst on tour etc.
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Perhaps the club thinks those staying longest are most likely to plough up the grass in wet conditions (remember them?) so are allocating those bookings to HS. If so, they’re completely overlooking the fact that several short stayers on grass are likely to cause as much, or more, damage.
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