Why no site shop ?
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There's quite a lot than members think around running a site too Ttda.
JK
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Errr I go to a site and usually stay for a week, two sometimes even 3 , and when we stay on an attractive site (like New England Bay) We spend most of our time onsite taking in the occasional trip to Mull of Galloway or Port Logan for meals out. The surprise of finding no shop for Milk Bread or Ice Creams caused great annoyance. But didnt ruin the holiday. Luckily.
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It's been stated that gas (if available) and caravan/MH chemicals will be always sold through the club.
If you personally want a shop that sells other things then wardens have to do that in their own time and with their money so yes you are asking for wardens to give up those things. It's their choice. Just as it is yours to choose sites that will cater for what you want.
I'm in the look after myself and plan ahead camp - pun intended.
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My thoughts too. In fact, it’s never entered my head to expect a site shop to cater for my needs. We always shop en route or while out and about during the day.
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Whether site staff like it or not THEY are the interface between Club and MEMBERS we are not just 'customers' we care enough to JOIN our club
And we deserve consideration and INFORMATION when major policy changes are being implemented on sites . Perhaps the Area Managers should be present to take the flack now and again ?
Ray
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Perhaps, as I’ve suggested before, you really should take your issues up with HQ. We've heard the official line on shops from a warden and there’s nothing more anyone on here can tell you and nothing we can do about it.
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As I said up-thread we were at New England Bay last week, and we’ve just had an email with a questionnaire about the site, including our opinions of facilities etc and what improvements we would like. I’m sure your will get a similar email and have your chance to express your views - somewhere where the upper echelons of the club might see them . Plus of course - leave a review.
My answers to “how would you rate etc” were mostly 10’s. There were boxes to complete if you wanted to do more than a tick box answer.
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Hiya Ray
Not wanting to go over old ground, but you mention major policy changes on sites. If by that you are referring to a shop in reception, it's never been club policy to have one it's purely a voluntary thing by the staff if there are any changes to that provision.
You also mention the area managers being present. My regional manager often visits the site on spec. We always walk around the site and talk to anyone that would like to. He always asks if anyone has any issues be it on site level or beyond. Sometimes conversations get "interesting" but I can honestly say that the subject of site shops past and present has never been raised, not once. So no "flak"
JK
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Come to Cornwall, Ray. I can find you campsites with shops where you can buy milk, ice creams, local beers, windbreaks, buckets and spades, stuff from a freezer, and fresh baked bread every morning. People call them commercial sites but to me they are catering for what their family visitors on holidays ask for - not just providing for self contained Club members. Some even serve breakfast to people who arrive early.
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That could obviously occur at any site in any county ET, Cornwall's not that special.
JK
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https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/facilities/shops/
This is what the C&CC are planning to do, remembering that tent campers etc may not always carry the same things as van owners I'm sure it will be helpful to all users. There are also CAMC sites with tent pitches.
It will be interesting to see how this works for both clubs, no shop or a basic shop?
One thing about the CAMC is that it used to be predictable and members like to find that sites make similar provisions in general.
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Jk, You sound a mite defensive that the sites where you work provide so little tor holidaymakers.
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I can't recall in all my club site travels any standardisation or predictability at all of what site shops used to sell, well apart from Walls ice creams. I can't recall two sites selling the same things. It was always a wait and see approach. It was always important in my book to be prepared for nothing on sale.
Most had the basics, milk, butter, sliced bread, long lasting and dried foods like sugar, coffee, tea bags, juice, sometimes eggs. Others had various tins, cornflakes, others had long lasting bacon, sausages, usually from a local farm shop while others had freezers with more variety.
But I think they were not meant to be a long term shopping solution for those that never went off site (actually I don't think they existed or I never saw anyone like that apart from maybe Seacroft?) but rather for the day of arrival or when one ran out of something or a treat. From recall the food stuffs would cost far more than a local supermarket (not a criticism in any way) so it would be expensive to use all the time anyway.
As said if having a well stocked always there shop is important then make sure you choose a site, club or not, carefully.
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Well I really can't see where you got any of that that from JK's reply?
But providing little other than great well kept sites and facilities, good quality sites, good advice and practical help when needed (what did JK say about help with putting up awnings?), friendly welcomes, local advice... and someone on duty 24/7 for emergencies.
I wouldn't class that as providing so little for club site users and far outweighs being able to buy a carton of milk. But again each to their own, find a site that gives what one considers to be important and then everyone is happy?
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The definitive answer to the OPs question lies firmly with those at HQ in East Grinstead, not the staff on a specific site. Things have changed, why this is so is a sign of the times!
As davetommo eludes to that change is a result of our shopping behaviours!
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Why do you think that? If you’ve used all sorts of sites around the UK, you’ll know that there really is nothing different about Cornish site so JK speaks the truth.
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When I have spoken to site staff about newspapers they nearly all say that local newsagents are just not willing to get the newspapers together and deliver them to the site. I am not sure there are many site shops where newspapers are now sold? Also sales of daily newspapers generally are falling as many people now get their news online. Probably a good point about supermarkets.
David
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Yes, works really well. Sometimes I make soda bread but more often get a bread mix. Make up as on packet, form into a cob type loaf, put in remoska, leave to prove and cook. The fact that you havent let it come up to temperature doesnt matter. The temp is hot, but then you cook bread at a high temp. I do have a piece of foil ready to put over the top about 3/4 way through cooking to stop it burning on top.
I make all our own bread, have done for years, and find getting decent bread when we are away quite difficult, so this is a good alternative if we are on hook up.
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I would agree. Even when we first started using CAMC sites and I was still wanting a physical paper, it was often only weekends or during peak holidays periods. Newsagents just weren’t prepared to deliver unless the numbers required were sufficient. However, for the last 10 years I have been getting my newspaper on my pad. I suspect many others do similar or use the BBC news App / website or similar and that demand has fallen even further. It of course also has the advantage that I can get my newspaper when I wake up, rather than when the office opens.
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We have been baking our own bread for about 15 years now, using a bread machine, we take it with us when we go away in the caravan. Great to not have to find a shop.
We use either a bread mix, usually sour dough, or flour plus yeast etc, so white bread or wholemeal.
Since we got our first machine, we have not bought a regular loaf of bread, but we do occasionally buy a baguette or similar.ŵ
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Thats funny thats the same quote my Bank used when it shut my Branch,. I had been a customer there for 25 years. But i instantly closed all of my accounts as did my family. Did they care ? No of course not. I only kept.my -Building Society Account open to pay Direct Debits and recieve my pension. What a sad old World.
Not all changes are to our best interest.
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I am i am going to a Commercial site in September for 2 weeks in Cornwall Chacewater Park for the cost of 1 week on a club site. SO, I have taken your advice ET.
Gonna stop at Exmoor House on the way down, to see if they have managed to ruin that site too ?
Ray
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So do I and that’s why I live here but there is nothing different or special about it’s campsites. What Euro describes can be found throughout the country.
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