Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 26/3/2008
Quote: Originally posted by Galley Wench on 26/3/2008
I am a member of the caravan club for a number of reasons (no deposit not being one of them I am happy to pay a deposit) and as a member have a right to disagree with some of their policies. Just because I join does not mean that I have to agree with everything they say or do.
I am happy to accept that you can agree to disagree but posting on here will not change anything. You need to take that argument to the Club itself. As I have said before, on caravan forums you tend to get a verciferous minority in favour of having booking deposits. The Club judge, correctly in my view, that its something the vast majority of members don't want. I would encourage you to pass your views directly to the Club if you have not already done so.
David
For what it's worth, the CC has said (a) that since they stopped taking deposits, the proportion of no-shows or cancellations has not increased significantly; and (b) they are satisfied from their own enquiries and research that the proportion of cancellations and no-shows on CC sites is not out of line with that of C&CC sites where deposits are required.
Quote: Originally posted by Galley Wench on 26/3/2008
This is nothing to do with rules this is people taking advantage of the rules and booking weather or not they intend to go just in case the weather is nice or they can get the time off work. I did read the rules and accepted that no deposit was required but at the time did not realise that selfish people who have the time to sit on the phone or internet for hours on the 6th December booking up all the weekend slots would do that without having 100% intention to fullfill their booking. I understand that there will always be cancellations due to perfectly valid reasons but I do not accept that these sites are booked up due to 'genuine' bookings. I do suspect that to take a deposit would probably not free up more places but genuine bookings would replace the ones made by people who may or may not intend to fullfill their booking. The cash lost through cancelled bookings must over a couple of years = a 6 figure number. I am a member of the caravan club for a number of reasons (no deposit not being one of them I am happy to pay a deposit) and as a member have a right to disagree with some of their policies. Just because I join does not mean that I have to agree with everything they say or do.
The main problem with the booking system is that there are just not enough pitches at the most popular times to accomodate all the members who want to go to particular sites. There are something like 50000 pitches and 250000 members. Putting deposits on would have no effect upon this problem. Times like easter and all the other bank holidays have always been very difficult to book unless you book early. I doubt that there are many people who book lots and lots of weekend slots without having the intention to use them, in any case the CC has stated in it's magazine that it is monitoring members who book and do not show up and is prepared to expel people who do this from the club. I don't see how anything better than this could be done.
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Quote: Originally posted by Bill the Bus on 26/3/2008
Main reason why we refuse to join CC. I would love to visit some of their sites but i cannot officialy book my holidays till around Feb, used to be start of financial year, so i have no chance when all the sites are booked up start of December
This is just not true, I did not book any sites at all until late february and then booked 70 nights ( 5 forthnight holidays spread from March to October ) getting all my first choices with no problems at all.
Agreed Janus,my post above confirms that. This subject always pops up when someone cannot get on one site when they want and refuses to be flexible in their choice. Some sites are very popular and are booked early, first come first served. Ferry Meadows, Rowntree Park etc.
Quote: Originally posted by Jerry+Tina on 29/3/2008
Agreed Janus,my post above confirms that. This subject always pops up when someone cannot get on one site when they want and refuses to be flexible in their choice. Some sites are very popular and are booked early, first come first served. Ferry Meadows, Rowntree Park etc.
Actually this did not pop up because I could not get on a site but because I was on a site that I wanted to be on and was aware that others had tried to book and were unable to get a pitch as all pitches were booked and then I noticed when on site that not all pitches were full. Please do not make assumptions regarding weather or not I am flexible in my bookings. I personally accept that some sites will always be full and am perfectly happy to book elsewhere. I would have liked to have been able to go to LooseHill the last weekend in April but as it is full I have booked to go to Green Hills. Perhaps as this appears to be attracting personal jibes it might be better to let the matter drop and close off this topic.
------------- Galley Wench
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Easter weekends weather was atrocious and people cancelling has probably nothing whatsoever to do with block booking but more in line with driving conditions on the Thursday and Friday. Mind you, I am making an assumption there.