New booking system with deposits

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  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #452

    Sounds an utter shambles to me to be honest.

    The Club’s mindset is still very much all about caravan users wanting to stay for long periods, on hardstanding, hooked up to as much as possible, paying as much as the Club can squeeze out of them, and now taking money up front as a nice little bonus, thank you very much. 🤷‍♀️

  • Arch
    Arch Forum Participant Posts: 347
    edited August 2022 #453

    I would think the caravan users staying for long periods are the clubs bread and butter and most will want to stay on a hardstanding if possible.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited August 2022 #454

    Withdrawal of grass pitches due to inclement weather seems to be somewhat akin to cancelled flights where the airline has a responsibility to fly you on the same day to the same destination even if having to use an alternative airline. That principle might present CAMC with a few issues.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #455

    Going to apply to awning and non awning pitches I suspect as well. Charging differentials are under review for these as well, by the sound of things.

    So a small mud bath might be a a couple of pounds cheaper than a larger pile of horrible limestone chippings……..decisions, decisions🤔🤨

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited August 2022 #456

    We are using Option 3 for 4 nights, complete with adjacent wildlife and strolling distance to coastal town..£10 a night. Between a third and a quarter of typical CAMC pitch price. 

    Agreed, no choice on pitch surface but didn't need to book, so no deposits either. Stay as long (or as short) as you wish while site remains open.

    however, first class shower and toilet facilities...our van😉

    the 'difficult' roll out of the new system, added to all sorts of price hikes (and a few other reasons) have meant we won't be using club sites going forward.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #457

    Yes and with sites charging as much as £10p.n. for EHU, (its going to get worse) off grid is looking very attractive.

    peedee

     

     
  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #458

    Not club sites though? Which non club sites are charging those prices?

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #459

    I noticed this for the Warners Show sites but just compare off grid CLs with those suppling EHU or the Club's Pandy site with Blossum Touring Park in the same locality, Pandy £32,90p.n. Blossum £23p.n. if you chose not to hook up and use the meter.

    I have just come back from 4 nights off grid.

    peedee

     
  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #460

    Right, but that's not the same as a particular site adding £10 for EHU as your post read?

    You're just comparing two sites close to each other with one charging more than the other? You can't know if that extra is all down to EHU? Without looking one could have more facilities?

    Good to know you went off grid after all those club sites on your last tour, it's good to mix and match to suit what you want?

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2022 #461
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  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #462

    We are currently researching all sorts of options for our NE/Borders trip. Options range from off grid, hidden away legal park up areas, to free off grid, but wifi and meals if we want them to off grid CLs at around £10 per night, to one we might just treat ourselves to in a walled garden, estate and house included, wifi, showers, hook up for £25 per night. That last one could be good as it’s a short cycle up to watch Borders stage of Tour of Britain, and our favourite NE wild swim spot is a short drive away. We have plenty of options along our tour, some old favourites, some new to us possibles.

    Each place we choose will suit our needs, be legal, and if the whole trip comes in at under £15 per night, we will be very happy. But even at under £20 per night, we won’t complain. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2022 #463

    Unless CLs/CSs have disabled facilities then we shall bight the bullet and go for sites that have , without a lot of research its CC and CCC sites for us probably CCC sites until thus clubs system eventually gets going and setters down?

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #464

    Opinions are subjective, looking at the photos from both sites in my view there's everything to choose between them. The pitches at Blossum look threadbare and mostly worn down to the ground while the club's pitches look far neater, the whole site looks nicer and with real hardstandings. Interestingly enough the non club site has all outfit in a row (very car park) while the club's pitches are at least on some curves. 

    Two photos out of many on their respective webpages and people can look if they wish to get a better idea. 

    Also of course non refundable deposits at Blossum which I would avoid entirely. Also 50p per shower for 5 minutes! Bookings only by telephone and worryingly (if I was to go there) last review was 2017. Also two night minimum over BH. Children (of any age) charged at £5.

    Just based on all that the club site is far better  in my view but each to their own and good to have a choice, those that want free showers go to one, those that want otherwise go there. Best to have the choice.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2022 #465

    You have to phone to book a shower?😏👍

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #466

    For us it’s more about doing what we enjoy rather than being to focused on cost.  The introduction of deposits will have an affect on what we book but that is more to to with the fact the CAMC will have lost its unique selling point rather than cost alone. For the first time ever, just out of interest and a bit of spreadsheet practice I have calculated costs this year. For just sites alone, our over there tour was £16.67 per night including some sites over here and £13.64 for just over there. Where as our up and coming UK your will work out at £26.70 a night.  However, it doesn’t really matter it’s all about doing what we like, while we are able to do it.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #467

    Also PD off peak the prices are far closer, you've just chosen peak for some reason but off peak it's £23 v a low of £27.50 ie £4.5 extra, so not really an extra £10 all the time.

    Take into account all the stuff I posted above the club site would be a better option especially in early season where you would need EHu for heating (or use gas)

    It's not always as black and white as you made out?

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #468

    LOl, and yes there's a special offer book three weeks in advance and it's 10% off or two can use the same shower time!

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #469

    Quite a few CLs and small private sites have excellent disabled shower/loo provision. I can give you a few options, and I am sure Nellie and Wherenext will be able to as well, all depends on where you might want to tour. I am not so good in SE region, it’s not somewhere we go. Better to have recommendations though, and as you say, needs a bit of research.

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2022 #470
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  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #471

    Not all, probably not any, or only a very few, club sites have mould covered cubicles it should be said in the manner described. The odd spot of mould but mould covered? The club sites I use certainly don't. 

    And really mould covered? All covered? You often say you use your own facilities so I'm lost?

    It must have been done as the mould covered cubicles are not mentioned in any review going back to well over a year (unlike the only three reviews 2015-17, one of which was unintelligible from Blossum, so we have no idea what the site is like from them) and while they do say the showers could do with a refurb they all say the are clean, immaculate even and many are extremely complementary and five stars for facilities  and cleanliness out of 240 reviews, so you won't have to make a choice between 50p for a five minute shower and mould covered cubicles again.

    I think people have enough information to make their own minds up now? So back to the OP for me.

     

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #472

    Anyway another day has passed and nothing from the club on the new system? undecided

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #473

    I think people have enough information to make their own minds up now? So back to the OP for me.

    I agree which is why I have not responded further. smile

    peedee

     

     
  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2022 #474

    Is it every site that grass pitches and motor caravans are a problem or  just those that have wet pitches that would not cope with the weight at certain times of the year?

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #475

    I would hope every site will vary with when it makes grass pitches available for booking. Currently it is possible to book grass at Clumber Park but availability closes on the 30th October and doesn’t reopen until the 28th March. Probably a fairly safe bet at Clumber due to the exceptionally sandy well drained soil. However, if you tried those dates at other sites they could well end up with having to cancel folk.

    It will be interesting to see when pitch type booking is shown for other sites wether any science has been used, or they just plump for the same dates everywhere. Although if we move onto a C&CC type booking system, it will be a lot more difficult to find out.

     

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #476

    Indeed, they don’t seem to be doing much to honour the pledge they made.☹️

    “We'll continue to share our progress”😂

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2022 #477
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    edited August 2022 #478
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  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #479

    Perhaps they are embarrassed that they don't seem capable of introducing a new booking system six months after it was originally planned? No doubt when it does arrive it will do so to a big fanfare but whether it is ever explained why it has run into so many problems we will have to wait and see. Another question for the AGM perhaps?

    David

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #480

    Perhaps it’s all on hold. See how many folks can still afford Membership and outfit ownership by January. Lots of folks will have more important things to worry about, such as keeping warm, cooking food, paying bills🤔 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,141 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2022 #481

    It’s been said before that the current economic situation will achieve what the club wants in curbing speculative bookings and cancellations without the need for deposits.

    However, the one thing this situation won’t achieve is getting money to flow through the tills by way of advance deposits which may be the raison d’etre of the scheme.