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At risk of being shot down in flames,  can I just point out that there is always another side to the story.  We have invested nearly £3/4m into our touring park over the last 4 -5 years.  This money does not grow on trees.  In our experience customers are demanding higher and higher quality facilities.  I do not have a problem with this, but the bottom line is that the investment has to come from somewhere.  If all you want is a patch of grass and a portaloo then thats fine, there are plenty of places that can and will provide this at very low prices.  If however you wish to have high quality family bathrooms, with free hot water and showers, childrens play areas etc. Tarmac roads, hardstandings for caravans, electricity and water to your pitch.  Larger and larger tents so much so that the park cannot accomodate as many units........ I could go on.....then I'm afraid that there is a going rate to pay for these facilities.
On a slightly different note, I would not begrudge any park owner their income.  Contrary to, somewhat popular, opinion, running a holiday park business involves very long hours and a huge amount of sacrifice of your personal life.  My wife and I work about 80hrs a week each.  We very rarely have any time off in the season, beyond the odd hour here or there.  We are on call 24hrs a day and as anyone who is in business dealing with the general public will appreciate that this is not always a pleasant experience.  Having said all this.  I love my job and would not change it, even if given the chance. 99.9% of our guests are lovely people who appreciate the effort that goes into our park. 
One final point - the single most important thing to us and our hardworking staff is that everyone who stays on our park goes home having had a good time.  We are not in the business of ripping anyone off!.

Quote: Originally posted by girlwomble on 17/6/2010

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Quote: Someone mentioned a site charging £8.00 more than five years ago, which I presume was £8.00 per night.(if i'm wrong, sorry!)

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This works out as an 80% increase which I class as excessive. Inflation has never reached this over the time scale. The site has had no major improvements, has not changed owners and nothing to justify the huge increase

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Refuse disposal - This is on top of any taxes a site pays our 1100 ltr bin if emptied only once costs us £31.75p thats one bin one empty, this doesn't include for recycling which costs us 98p per bag of recycling, above inflation and to us unjustified increase, but we have to pay it otherwise we don't get our bins emptied = unhappy customers.

Electricity Standing Charges - normally per day for a site, even when they are closed! Above inflation, but we have to pay it otherwise we can't operate!

Insurances - goes up for everyone, above inflation this year must have been lots of claims on public liability nationally....... has to be paid to cover our bottoms!

Fuel Prices - if the site has grass that has to be cut which normally means filling a mower with petrol or diesel - everyone know this is well above the rate of inflation, we are ALL having to pay it!

Business Rates - this is just a tax really, sites, as with any other business get nowt for it, for our rates this year that means a 504% increase (over 1 Yr Not 5 Yrs) - make me cry as if it continues you are looking at one park that will not be operating this time next year!

Bottled Gas/oil increases well above the rate of inflation over the last 10 years let alone 1 yr.

Unforeseen maintenance charges - I know it sounds daft maybe, but things like mowers, strimers, boilers, hedge cutters, pipes, taps, toilet seats, shower heads, hookup boxes, site vehicles etc breakdown, which admittidly tends to be at  the most inconvienient of times and normally on a part that is not easily replaced.

So on the face of it if the park you speak of has done 'nothing' their running costs are at an all time high and if like us the increases are all well above the rate of inflation and they are possibly not being able to 'take it on the chin' and having to pass it onto you the customer maybe?

Quote: Originally posted by camperclan on 17/6/2010

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Hi Jakers,

thanks for taking the time out to reply...much appreciated.

I can certainly see where you are coming from with the car bit, though in my defence, once I had arrived on site we only went out in our campervan. There was no carpark to maintain or lack of room. Having said that, I understand you can't make exceptions, and if that's the site rules, then that's the way it is..you just have to except it.

Again can see your point with regard to teens using more water/electric than younger ones, but if you're on a basic site with no electric, I would guess they'd use about the same.

Probably just boils down to personal choice. If you don't like the prices/rules etc, take your business elsewhere, just as we did in half term.

Thanks again for your reply

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Quote: Originally posted by girlwomble on 17/6/2010

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Quote: Someone mentioned a site charging £8.00 more than five years ago, which I presume was £8.00 per night.(if i'm wrong, sorry!)

---

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This works out as an 80% increase which I class as excessive. Inflation has never reached this over the time scale. The site has had no major improvements, has not changed owners and nothing to justify the huge increase

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If it's the site I'm guessing, then they did have extensive improvements as their website states, and this would justify an increase. Any site investing that amount would want to review their prices and price structure when they re-open. Also, they charge per pitch, which, yes, would make it more expensive just for two.

Quote: Originally posted by Richard Stamper on 17/6/2010

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At risk of being shot down in flames,  can I just point out that there is always another side to the story.  We have invested nearly £3/4m into our touring park over the last 4 -5 years.  This money does not grow on trees.  In our experience customers are demanding higher and higher quality facilities.  I do not have a problem with this, but the bottom line is that the investment has to come from somewhere.  If all you want is a patch of grass and a portaloo then thats fine, there are plenty of places that can and will provide this at very low prices.  If however you wish to have high quality family bathrooms, with free hot water and showers, childrens play areas etc. Tarmac roads, hardstandings for caravans, electricity and water to your pitch.  Larger and larger tents so much so that the park cannot accomodate as many units........ I could go on.....then I'm afraid that there is a going rate to pay for these facilities.
On a slightly different note, I would not begrudge any park owner their income.  Contrary to, somewhat popular, opinion, running a holiday park business involves very long hours and a huge amount of sacrifice of your personal life.  My wife and I work about 80hrs a week each.  We very rarely have any time off in the season, beyond the odd hour here or there.  We are on call 24hrs a day and as anyone who is in business dealing with the general public will appreciate that this is not always a pleasant experience.  Having said all this.  I love my job and would not change it, even if given the chance. 99.9% of our guests are lovely people who appreciate the effort that goes into our park. 
One final point - the single most important thing to us and our hardworking staff is that everyone who stays on our park goes home having had a good time.  We are not in the business of ripping anyone off!.

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I don't wish to shoot you down in flames, Richard but I have been to your site a few times in the past (I am sure some of that 3/4m must have been mine) and have always recommended it (except bank holidays when it gets too busy for my liking). However, I have just seen your tariff for this year and it seems I can now only go in the low season. You have priced me out of the mid and high seasons. I am sure there are many pensioners and/or low income earners in the same boat.

To make matters worse, I am a lone camper but would still have to pay a high price.

On the other hand I note that West Fleet (although I can't afford high season there either) give a concession for solo campers which makes low and mid season more affordable.

I am not sure from where you get the impression that campers are demanding higher and higher quality facilites. Most campers I know simply want a nice pitch and clean and serviceable loos.  There's only so much higher quality you can do with a loo unless you now have fur lined seats, gold plated taps and piped music. I think free hot water and childrens play areas are pretty standard even on low price campsites. Although I must admit, having recently gone electric, EHU would be nice, for which I am willing to pay (well I will need a heater in low season won't I).

As for larger tents I agree with you on this but then your site has always encouraged them and advertised large pitches. The size of the pitches and even the size of the tents campers may have is under your control.

Glad to hear you now have tarmac roads. I once spent an awful weekend on a pitch at the junction of two gravelled paths, and car tyres on gravel on a site as busy as yours is like a chinese water torture...unfortunately I can't now afford to sample the delights of peaceful rubber on tarmac except in low season.

I agree, money to improve campsites doesn't grow on trees...it comes out of my pocket and the pockets of others like me...but unfortunately only in low season now  

Yes, your wife, your staff, and yourself work very long hours and do a grand job under difficult conditions sometimes and deserve to earn a good standard of living. Unfortunately I can't afford to contribute any more but there are plenty of others who can.

Quote: Originally posted by splendidisolation on 17/6/2010

Quote: Originally posted by girlwomble on 17/6/2010

Quote: Someone mentioned a site charging £8.00 more than five years ago, which I presume was £8.00 per night.(if i'm wrong, sorry!)

---

This works out as an 80% increase which I class as excessive. Inflation has never reached this over the time scale. The site has had no major improvements, has not changed owners and nothing to justify the huge increase

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If it's the site I'm guessing, then they did have extensive improvements as their website states, and this would justify an increase. Any site investing that amount would want to review their prices and price structure when they re-open. Also, they charge per pitch, which, yes, would make it more expensive just for two.

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Richard

I couldn't afford your site  as for us it works out at £41 per night high season, and we do have to go high season due the school years the children are in.

Jakers couldn't afford you either at £28, which is a shame as I have a yearning to visit Wales having never been.

Should add while I'm moaning I can't visit the above sites, I do fully respect their choices in pricing structures. It's just that those particular structures don't work for us as a family, in the same way that a one pitch price suits us better it wouldn;t suit some one like Bob61.

As the saying goes, you can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people  some of the time, but NEVER all of the people all of the time

Quote: Originally posted by shelldean on 18/6/2010

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Richard

I couldn't afford your site  as for us it works out at £41 per night high season, and we do have to go high season due the school years the children are in.

Jakers couldn't afford you either at £28, which is a shame as I have a yearning to visit Wales having never been.

 

Should add while I'm moaning I can't visit the above sites, I do fully respect their choices in pricing structures. It's just that those particular structures don't work for us as a family, in the same way that a one pitch price suits us better it wouldn;t suit some one like Bob61.

As the saying goes, you can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people  some of the time, but NEVER all of the people all of the time

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Whats your set up? 2 adults 4 children? ehu? or no ehu 5 children?? my guess is your tent wouldn't fit onto our biggest pitch, we have to limit pitch size as we are only small   Would be interested to know.......

You are so right that you can't please everyone and where prices are concerned what suits one doesn't suit another........

Jakers

we're 2 adult and four children, however 3 of the kids are older so classed as adults.

And we'd want EHU which I don;t think I'd added to my orginal calculation?

Our main holiday tent is 7.5 x 3.5 so we might be ok on your pitch ( my brain won't work) so can;t work out if we'd fit on to your pitch size or not. think we'd be ok as we're a tunnel rather than a pod???

i really wasn't moaning just highlighting how people want and need differing things

I have never mentioned the site I'm thinking of or even what country it's in so how can you even guess where I'm talking about? It's not even one I've reviewed as I haven't stayed since the price increases!

Hi Girlwomble,

Ooops! Sorry, I did have a nosey at your sites as you are in a similar situation to myself  camping with just a child and appear to have similar tastes. Thought I might pick up a site gem from you but you live miles away! Just presumed it was the one where you mentioned the price. I stand corrected.....still don't think it's too bad an increase over five years though....I've seen worse!!!

Quote: Originally posted by splendidisolation on 18/6/2010

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I have never mentioned the site I'm thinking of or even what country it's in so how can you even guess where I'm talking about? It's not even one I've reviewed as I haven't stayed since the price increases!

Hi Girlwomble,

Ooops! Sorry, I did have a nosey at your sites as you are in a similar situation to myself  camping with just a child and appear to have similar tastes. Thought I might pick up a site gem from you but you live miles away! Just presumed it was the one where you mentioned the price. I stand corrected.....still don't think it's too bad an increase over five years though....I've seen worse!!!

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Quote: Originally posted by shelldean on 18/6/2010

Richard

I couldn't afford your site  as for us it works out at £41 per night high season, and we do have to go high season due the school years the children are in.

Jakers couldn't afford you either at £28, which is a shame as I have a yearning to visit Wales having never been.

 

Should add while I'm moaning I can't visit the above sites, I do fully respect their choices in pricing structures. It's just that those particular structures don't work for us as a family, in the same way that a one pitch price suits us better it wouldn;t suit some one like Bob61.

As the saying goes, you can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people  some of the time, but NEVER all of the people all of the time

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