Loss of Site Shops on remote rural sites
Both last year and this ,several sites that boasted well used site shops have closed them, they now only sell Toilet fluid ! Even that essential 6kg Calor Gas is no longer sold ! (That is VERY inconvenient and 'unfriendly'). If the Sites were in the outskirts of large towns or even Villages that would be acceptable and reasonable, giving trade to local suppliers, but Borrowdale in Cumbria and New England Bay in Dumfies and Galloway ,both many miles from shops selling milk ,newspapers or even Ice Creams , let alone exchanging 6kg Calor Gas cylinders. Makes life very difficult for the Member on Holiday, Both Sites previously had shops , Borrowdale especially sold lovely fresh Cakes from Brysons in Keswick. And Red Squirrel food to feed the 'locals'.
If the Site Managers find supplying Gas and other essentials to Members too much trouble ? Perhaps they might consider whether they are in the job that suits them, and their Customers Best?
It's certainly made me Wonder if the Club is still 'right' for me ? After 20 years being happy with it ?
Comments
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I don’t think the club actually managed or run many, if any, of the shops on sites. I was told that many rural newsagents were now not delivering papers to sites as few folk these days bought them preferring to get their news online. Too many rural shops have also closed for similar reasons, they are just not viable! One site shop we saw recently had a very limited stock indeed and members were complaining about it being too expensive. I guess, if they are run by the managers independently from the club, there will be time constraints to consider as well as the financial burdens to cover. May be the whole idea is just not feasible any more and breaking even is too challenging in these times. There are also tax implications and hygiene certificates to obtain. The world has changed.
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Ray, are you aware that stock in site shops was funded by the wardens themselves? CAMC did not operate the shops (with one or two exceptions). H&S made it impractical for site staff to continue.
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Perhaps The Club should be running site shops as a service to members.
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I’d bet the economics of that too are impractical, finding and paying staff, stocking, insurances and the like would drive site and membership fees up even further I’d think. The club I’m sure is trying to be more financially efficient in these difficult times, not less.
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Spend three nights at New England Bay earlier this month. I bought ice cream from reception. They had a very small shop selling a few things, can’t remember what. Milk maybe? Possibly pasta. Can’t comment on gas because we have refillable cylinders. It was good to have ice cream because it was the Galloway local ice cream, wouldn’t have bought it otherwise. There are shops in villages just a few miles to the north and south of the site, we know because we used one at Sandhead. We don’t go to sites expecting a shop.
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From our experience last year and the one site we used earlier in the year I thought an increasing number of sites were getting back to where they were before Covid. I think the Club provide certain items for sale which probably come from their tie up with Prima Leisure so that is why you see toilet chemicals. Gas, I suspect, is down to whether a site can find a wholesaler willing to deliver to remote campsites. Other than the things mentioned the site staff have to finance the purchase of stock and of course they will be paying top wholesale prices because of the limited amount they buy and stock. I am not sure its up to the site staff to provide a service which only breaks even if they are lucky. I always found it useful, especially the more remote sites, that they sold milk. However not much incentive if people are upset at paying more money than they would in their local Aldi when the site is probably buying at what Aldi sell it for? I am sure there is a willingness to have site shops but only if they give a reasonable return and don't take up a disproportionate amount of time to organise?
David
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When we were at NYM site, near Whitby last year (or was it the year before??) the Wardens told us that they were no longer allowed to run their own shop because of the dangers posed by food allergies. This in turn, meant taking out their own insurance and the whole exercise had become unviable. For whatever reasons - mainly because these were private enterprises outside of the Club - the Club were not prepared to support them and accept the risk.
Although I found this stance disappointing, I suppose I could understand it.
So imagine my surprise when we arrived at the Sandringham site last week to find a very well-stocked little shop in reception, selling bread, other basics - and ice cream, of course.
Something doesn't quite add up.
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I agree, not talking about a large store, just the basics, Milk , bread, perhaps biscuits, and 'forget' things like toothpaste, shower gel, and Ice creams for those rare hot days ! And I expect to pay top prices for them, after all the convenience of not having to leave site, is worth the extra.
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No, I don't go to a site 'expecting a shop' but if you have been to the same site for several years and then suddenly its gone, because of a change of Site Warden it comes as a shock, especially if you come unprepared. It's like going to hotel with a pool for several years, then going and finding it closed because the hotel manager, thought it was too much work to carry it on ?
That's how I felt about the Gas and the shop.
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Come and live here Ray. I have just driven 15 miles from home and back to the butcher in town and to pick up groceries from stores which don’t deliver.
Do motorhomers need special treatment? Or can they do as local residents do?Go and get your supplies as we do. Or have you bought an inconvenient vehicle?
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Perhaps some wardens have taken out the necessary insurance while others feel it’s not worthwhile? 🤷🏻♂️
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If we run out of things, or forget to purchase certain items, we consider it our fault. There is no substitute for a bit of planning and no real reason to run out of gas unexpectedly, carry two cylinders, as we did in our caravan or use refillables as we do in our MH. When we have the granddaughter with us ice creams are nice but not essential.
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The "Friendly Club" seem to have small retail outlets on site for the "essentials". They also seem to be well staffed. The last site we used had seven (7) staff which meant none were overwork, stressed and grumpy. I was most impressed. Shop prices were high but not eye wateringly so.
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I do know that selling flammable gas cylinders carries regulations regarding both storage and insurances. I understand the convenience issue of selling this to members but I’m sure the club would cover those associated issues., Now finding the sizes of bottles and a wholesaler willing to deliver to some sites may be more of an issue.
With regard to staffing/manning shops, where do the staff come from and who pays their hours? It would have to a contract with contracted working hours and all those add on employment requirements I guess.0 -
But is it the change of warden that is the primary change agent in the loss of site shops? I’d bet it’s more to do with the now recognised corporate legalities and the need to be ‘squeaky clean’ in the delivery of such services to us, the general public! The world has changed since those ‘easy’ years of old.
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Richard
I suspect the Club took the action of withdrawing insurance cover as they had no knowledge of what was being sold. If sites were selling local artisan products the Club would have no way of judging whether they met all the food allergy regulations. I don't think they said sites couldn't have shops. If the site staff have to arrange their own insurance they will want to make sure they are meeting all their obligations in a way the Club can't. Once staff became reconciled with the new approach they probably realised it was not as big a problem as first thought?
David
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I don't think that members would be impressed with the financial loss of their money in supporting site shops.
There's lots of comments on CT about units being self sufficient and not needing EHU and facility blocks on site. It's not differcult to take enough food and drink with you for your trip.
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From what I recall from a then serving warden the club's policy is that it is totally up to the wardens to decide if they want to run a shop which has to be set up (items to be sold and fridges, seprate tills...) using their own money and stocked/restocked in their own time .
Also I seem to recall that gas and toilets fluids are always sold but these are provided by the club and not by wardens.
If a shop is there I'll use it but we don't expect or plan for one to be provided.
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You can get Green toilet fluid and odd things like steel tent pegs, but not always gas ? For some obscure reason ? It's very 'hit and miss' depending on the site Warden. From now on ,one of the questions I will ask, when I ring to book a site which is in a rural area will be : you had a shop last year, Do you still have a shop ? Do you sell milk or 6kg Propane ? If not, I will look elsewhere. I don't like having to pack up to go offside for shopping too often, my problem as I chose a motorhome, but it never used to be a problem, until the past couple of years.
Wardens seem to be grumpier too ? Or is that just my imagination ? 🤔 lol 😆
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Gas should be there but there are supply problems as been discussed many times so not all to do with wardens?
Not noticed any difference with wardens.
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For information, Burrs has a small shop in the reception, Clumber has something a bit bigger. Both run by site staff. Burrs did not have any gas, not sure about Clumber.
We get organised when planning a tour. We carry two mid size gas canisters, and one is replaced as we put the spare on, as soon as we find an outlet. We always have a couple of cartons of long life milk, if on a long trip, we carry some of those bake at home bread sticks for emergency, they have a long storage life. Eggs are a good standby, particularly if very fresh from farms, bit of tinned stuff.
Running a shop will take more effort than maybe some appreciate. It has to be stocked, inventoried, cash reconciled, and that’s extra duties outside of work rota. I wouldn’t expect a small site with just a couple and reliefs to give up their time off from CAMC duties, not unless the profit margins were attractive enough. If your MH stays on site for long periods, without going out at all, then good planning is needed, or arrange a small supermarket delivery outside the Site gates.
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I have met British motor homers all over Western Europe. . Campsites don’t have shops and Aires don’t have shops.Those motorhomers drive everywhere. They buy food where everyone else buys food. They are self reliant and independent.
What’s with Club members who want to park their motorhome on a Club site and leave it there - and then moan on here because the warden isn’t running a shop for them. Do they really need things done for them?
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It's a bit different being on holiday and living in a place, I live in a rural area myself, Fishguard, Wales. At home I have a small car and a Bus pass, in the Lakes and in Scotland I have neither just my Motorhome . Which we can take into supermarket car parks but not always if its busy. So an 'inconvenient vehicle' No, it suits us fine, its just a nuisance when 'Health and Safety' gets the blame for a drop in Service Quality. A sign of the times ? Maybe, but no less annoying. Ray
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A site shop is only ever going to stock a few essentials, therefore you are still going to have to visit the supermarket or other shops. We only tend to stop a maximum of four days and shop on route and avoid busy times. For instance we knew the carpark at the Kyle of Lochalsh Coop was small, so got away early from Morvich. Mostly it’s not an issue. If we were stopping longer we would take the MH of site when we dumped water, then fill up again on return. It just takes a bit of planning.
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I agree with Steve, Ray. All it takes is a little bit of thought and you can organise your days and your needs easily. If I recall correctly, you have a PVC and I know from personal experience that’s it’s no big deal to park that at a supermarket. Even a larger MH presents no problems if you avoid busy times.
Tbh, I think you’re making an issue out of something that’s really only a small part of staying on sites. Relax, you’re on holiday. 😎
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I think this mainly effects motor homers, and as we always carry s spare gas bottle in case we run out we do not have that problem.
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Most MHs either carry 2 bottles or have a gas tank so I can’t see it affects them any more than caravanners. It’s all down to organising yourself really.
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