the problems with the CC booking system is routed in attitudes quite clearly shown by one poster. That is ,, they openly admit to booking sited knowing full well that they will cancel some of them.. this is clearly unfair and unsatisfactory.
The other issue is the day the booking open, on a working day. great if you dont work or work weekends or have access to PC during the day.
On Black Wednesday this time over 66000 pitches were booked between 9.0am and midnight with 80% of the more popular sites and bank holiday weekends booked before 6.0pm. ( figures from the CC , you only have to ask). I aksed what the pitch booking rate was for the folllowing Saturday but sadly the CC declined to offer this information, as i believe it clearly shows a massive to the opening booking day.
What t do about it ?
The CC asked a very weighted question in the survey " do you want to pay deposits" .Well the answer was hardly surprising was it.
No one wants to pay deposits for lots of weekends booked months in advance.
Whats the alternative ? Monitoring no shows and cancellors is one, but this clearly holds no fears for one poster who has already said they will cancel a number of pitches, but have justified this by stating they cancel in good time, or no less than 72 hours. Thats okay for you but still leaves the rest of the membership having to try fit trips away around you.
One poster suggested using commercial sites, but thats a bit silly when you pay a membership to use the CC sites and network.
Members should really think about wether they want to book the pitch if they know they may cancel later. I think that repeat cancellors should be either banned from booking more than 2 or 3 sites more than 2 months in advance or made to pay a heafty deposit.
Another poster suggested phoning the site the day before, but again this is not entirely satisfactory, as with young children and caravans in storage its not always possbile to wait, amd wait , and wait in the vain hope a pitch may be available.
I believe the season opening day should be on a weekend when its more fair for more members to have access to the booking site and not the priveledged few.
I woud like to ask members too show a little restraint when making mass bookings.
On the up side , i now enjoy the CLs, more than the CC sites and fine a much friendler camper on the CL's.
I also have just got a great car insurance deal through the CC.