August magazine
Whilst we have got used to the amount of advertising in the monthly magazine,I was dumbstruck when I came upon 8 full pages of Adria adverts fixed into the centre of the magazine.Compare that with the 4 pages given over to a tour of s.w.scotland.The magazine is not fit for purpose and together with other issues has made my decision about membership renewal for me.
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Not renewing membership because the magazine is rubbish, crikey that's a new one on me!
What's wrong with south west Scotland?
JK
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It’s where the OP lives 🤷🏻♂️
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There is nothing wrong with s.w.scotland.........the comment was about 8 pages of Adria adverts fixed into the monthly rag so that they cannot be filed in the correct recycling bin without loosing articles of potential interest.As for not renewing membership this is just the last straw in the transition from club to advertising/tour operator!
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I must admit I was not happy to see the magazine dominated by advertising by one manufacturer. It should have been a supplement rather than part of the magazine. Obviously it helps the Club save money but not so good for those trying the read the magazine.
David
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But not worth chucking your membership over though?
JK
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Of course it isn't worth chucking in your Membership for, however, you must be very aware from the job that you do and reading some of the comments on CT, that there are a lot of people who are very, very petty! You only have to read a few site reviews to realise that some Members seem to think that the Club is run for their sole benefit.
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You only have to read a few site reviews to realise that some Members seem to think that the Club is run for their sole benefit.
You take notice of C&MC site reviews?
What is there to review about sites all conforming to the same build standard.peedee
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Hmmm...Well lets see now..
Theres the pitch size, access road, peace and quiet (or not), the local facilities, places of interest worth visiting in the locality, the cleanliness or modernity of the shower block, the dog walk, the support of the wardens, has it got a shop, does a chip van visit....
I always read them before visiting.
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TimboC, Let me help;
pitch size, minimum
access road, on site it will be one way racetrack design. Access to it will vary but thousands before you have managed
peace and quiet (or not) - valid point, many are noisy
the cleanliness of the shower block, - should be a given.
the dog walk, probably small but will not used by all dog owners anyway.
the support of the wardens, - hardly important as most people are independent
has it got a shop, Not these days
does a chip van visit.... Do you honestly choose on a site based on this??
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But things might have changed since you were a member using club sites. It’s been a few years now.
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Why would they decrease?
Tbh, neither you nor I are in a position to know what sites are like these days which is why I’m careful about the subjects I comment on. Or maybe you pay the non-member supplement to use club sites? 🤔
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Well, a few years back pitch numbers on some sites were reduced in order to give more space per pitch. Units are getting bigger so reducing pitch size is unlikely but you have your own opinions.
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I do see, and yes they have got bigger over my years of membership, especially after a site refurbishment, pitch surface conversion, or on a completely new build.
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There are often threads on the club magazine but I can't work out why?
I believe you can opt out of receiving it, you can not bother to even read it, and you can put it straight into recycling. Once upon a time they used to make their way into various waiting rooms. Probably the first option is best?
I also believe it pays for itself so why worry.
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Perhaps some of those that do opt in to the magazine feel that, if it's worth printing, it should have something worthy in it?🤷🏻♂️
id say 'anodyne' describes the thing pretty well....
any sort of test seems to bull up any (partner?) manufacturer. Who's going to say anything untoward about a Bailey product when the DG is off on a jolly with them in the desert🐪 and they provide the caravans for the tow car testing 🤷🏻♂️
all nice and cosy....and no apple carts ever upset.
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MikeyA, Let me respond,
pitch size, minimum Some are, so aren't. Thats why I read reviews
access road, on site it will be one way racetrack design. Access to it will vary but thousands before you have managed Perhaps I'm not as confident as the thousands who have preceded me. Thats why I read reviews
peace and quiet (or not) - valid point, many are noisy I prefer the quiet ones. Thats why I read reviews
the cleanliness of the shower block, - should be a given. I also said modernity. Moderns ones have better disabled access and I might be disabled. Thats why I read reviews
the dog walk, probably small but will not used by all dog owners anyway. Many are huge (Hillhead, Rookesbury etc etc) I use them, and thats why I read reviews
the support of the wardens, - hardly important as most people are independent But it might be if I need help pitching or have specific needs. Thats why I read reviews
has it got a shop, Not these days But some do, and thats why I read reviews
does a chip van visit.... Do you honestly choose on a site based on this?? Some people do. Personally, I hate chips and don't want to be pitched close to where they park. Thats why I read reviews.
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Part of post by YT:
any sort of test seems to bull up any (partner?) manufacturer. Who's going to say anything untoward about a Bailey product when the DG is off on a jolly with them in the desert🐪 and they provide the caravans for the tow car testing 🤷🏻♂️
all nice and cosy....and no apple carts ever upset.
Quite appropriate for the article about the review for the Elddis Encore motorhome. The heading sounded promising "Round of Applause". It comes with a price tag of £90,000+.
However after reading through the review and noting the overall score of only 73% I wondered why it commanded such an effusive heading. The final comments ended with "....a few detail upgrades would make it an even more compelling package".
I don't know about other members views but my own is that any unit costing that much where a reviewer doesn't give any of the individual ratings a mark in the 80%+ isn't worth the plaudit and that the reviewer seems content to accept what appears to be a mediocre product. I don't see anything compelling in it at all.
I come back to YT's comment which seems to back up my own view.
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The site I currently run has been a club site for 56 years. It was increased in size in 2009 but the number of pitches were reduced to increase pitch space. The smallest pitch here is 81 square meters and the largest 280 square meters. Proper squeeze
Just reading through the magazine, I quite fancy an Adria.
JK
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Who'd have thought four years ago, it would cost between 90 and 100 grand for an elddis??
A 7 1/2 meter coachbuilt is never going to be a viable proposition for a family van. Add in the passenger at 75 kg, two lightweight teenagers at 50 kg each and a tank of water 100 kg and you haven't got enough payload left for anything else, no bedding, no pots and pans no awning no outdoor equipment, no chairs or table. No bikes, no barbecue etc etc.
I've seen reviews on vans like this where buried in the text you see the comment payload might be a little tight yet in the verdict panel no mention of the fact that you're probably going be running illegally if you fill up all that space you've just bought.
magazine objective? never👎🤷♂️
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Club Magazine isn’t an aspect I would base retaining my Membership on, it’s just an advertising medium paid for primarily through company advertising with the odd article cobbled together by a journalistic team who possibly may or may not be familiar with the inside and usability of an outfit, and only a basic grounding in UK geography.
Now, base your Membership upon the the business ethos and business decision making, and you might just have a better basis for deciding if you like the model on offer………wholeheartedly embrace, grit your teeth and stay on for the CL network, or tell them to shove their shiny new model of hope and happiness, and cancel the direct debit. 🤔 All viable options.
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Without the specs on I thought you said some members are very pretty!!
It's been a long day
JK
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To put things into perspective a little
I had a long wait in a reception area this morning, and flicked through a copy of Country Life.
Out of 146 pages, 58 were full page adverts or promotions. The first 20 pages were just adverts. It costs £4.75 a copy
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🤣 Country Life v Club Mag. One is for Hooray Henry’s to show off the their latest Hunt Ball/Raising money for the poor outfits, while the Club Mag is…..
🤔 Touring ideas, for those who don’t have touring ideas of their own, and enticements to buy poorly constructed touring outfits.
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Ok then.
Latest Practical Caravan mag that I have. 116 pages. 33 full page adverts including an 8 page advertising feature (non removable) on Raleigh bicycles.
It costs £5.75 a copy
The point that I'm making is that advertising in magazines is a fact of life. The club mag costs nowt, and you have the choice of putting it straight into the recycling or, better still, tick the box that stops it being sent in the first place.
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