cc bookings

[sbarltrop]

trying to book 2 weeks away in june/july everywhere i try is booked on the sat in the middle (26th june)!!!!!!

when are the cc going to sort out deposit taking?

frustrating or what!

dont think i'll renew cc this year

yes i do realise everyone else has the right to be there and ive left it too late but it is very frustrating

 

[machighlander]

yawn,

ye should have posted this on one of the other hundred threads re the same thing.

 

[DavidKlyne]

James

Members had the opportunity to fill in a survey about the booking system last month and I am sure many did. Some of the questions referred to some of the questions you pose in your post. Waiting the result with baited breath!

David

 

[RogerL]

Deposits won't solve it.

The deposit issue (yes/no) won't get over the basic problem that Friday and Saturday night pitches are needed for both "weekenders" and "holidaymakers". It's not a case of "us vs them" as virtually all of use fall into both camps at different times.

 

[machighlander]

zzzzzz, this is discussed at length on other threads, nearly beaten to death.

 

[Parksy]

So is PIR inspections but it didn't stop you from trying to start another thread on it to wind members up.

 

[Alan Partridge]

The need to book popular CC sites well in advance or take a chance on late availability is in my opinion going to be fact of life for the foreseeable future, regardless of any changes to the booking system, taking of deposits or whatever.

Popular destinations and weeks fill up early whether it's caravan sites or specific package holiday locations.

All of the blaming weekenders/block bookers is a red herring (not aimed at you James, I realise you're just expressing frustration). Arguably the CC has more members than it has facilities for. Maybe the membership needs to be limited, either by a higher membership fee, joining fee, or simple capping, with priority in booking for members over non-members.

If a golf club sold unlimited memberships, and you couldn't get a game for other members and even non-members let on to the course, there'd soon be changes ;-)

 

[Dustydog]

James

Mr Crichton Faquhar is right. This subject gets done to death annually. BUT, you need to know that in the first place!!

I gave up worrying about CC bookings some years ago. Consequently I discovered some wonderful commercial sites in fantastic locations, often better equipped and cheaper than a CC one.

Ok the reality is, only places like Chatsworth , Rowntree Park and Hillhead are going to be mega booked.

Wy not try some of the Certificated Locations? I was very pleasantly surprised and was amazed at the low cost and views etc.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[slimseydy]

at the end of the day its pot luck & book well in advance,last year only managed 1 cc site,this year I have 7 booked over the year.

 

[Bernard2]

I always come round to the same question which the CC will not answer! Why are they spending

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

It's like anything else that's popular - those items will sell out first, leaving plenty of other options.

Examples:

Tickets for a popular concert

Football/Rugby Internationals

The 'must have' toy at Christmas

etc.

If you are unlucky - go for another choice. There must be plenty of other spare pitches around. Why go with the masses? There's no need to cancel your membership.

 

[xtrailman]

Perhaps you know who will give up some of her's?

 

[Chrisbee]

It's like anything else that's popular - those items will sell out first, leaving plenty of other options.

Examples:

Tickets for a popular concert

Football/Rugby Internationals

The 'must have' toy at Christmas

etc.

If you are unlucky - go for another choice. There must be plenty of other spare pitches around. Why go with the masses? There's no need to cancel your membership.

The difference being not many people book a concert for every week end of the year then don't bother going to most of them.

 

[Guest]

As others have mentioned it will be interesting to see what action, if any, the CC take as a result of their survey, For them to actually initiate one means they do recognise they have a problem. As also others have mentioned for the majority of the time there is not a big problem getting most of the sites, it is only on Saturdays that a 'splurge' of visitors arrive, and if you want to stay over that time, and have not booked months ahead, then you are likely to be disappointed.

There are various suggestions to answer the problem, and it is also clear the C&CC does not have the same problem, so we will all wait and see what happens.

 

[Parksy]

There is a readers letters special in the April issue of Practical Caravan magazine in which letters about the perceived problems with CC bookings appear.

The Caravan Clubs head of sites marketing Emma Cosby stated that instances of 'no shows' where pitches are pre booked and not taken up have not increased since the deposit scheme was dropped.

She added that instances of reported problems such as those described in the readers letters are 'isolated cases'

She added that nevertheless these instances were 'a concern' which is why the caravan Club is seeking feedback from it's members via it's website.

She went on to "urge all club members to be considerate to fellow members with regard to ensuring that they cancel bookings in a timely manner"

She also stated that 'the club monitors no shows and cancellations, and contacts those who fail to show up for three bookings at any site in the network without cancelling'

As I have mentioned I'm not a CC member but it looks to me as though Ms Cosby is missing the point.

The 'no shows' may well be due to a relatively small number of people who may not carry out selfish practices at just one site thus coming to the clubs attention because of the three consecutive 'no shows' but perhaps they pre book a number of sites so that if they fail to show up on two occasions on three separate sites they would still have been responsible for six 'no shows' overall.

Full sites can occur for the C&CC at busy times during spells of good weather.

Herself wanted to visit the Cotswolds last year, the schools were on holiday and the weather was dry.

I rang several suitable C&CC certified sites (We always use CS)but there were no vacancies. Admittedly this was only three days before we wanted to go so I shouldn't have been surprised.

I didn't become annoyed or upset but had a look on the C&CC website for Certified Sites within a 100 mile radius which from the West Midlands takes in many scenic areas and we ended up going to the Derbyshire Peak District instead.

We hadn't visited this area before and we enjoyed it so it pays to keep an open mind and be flexible.

 

[machighlander]

So is PIR inspections but it didn't stop you from trying to start another thread on it to wind members up.

ah parksy, it was in the chit chat threads, the one that jokes and trivia are allowed my friend

ps. thanks for the link on thatposting buddy.

 

[Guest]

I sent the CC a strong worded email on this subject two months ago.

They actually responded to my e mail in a far more courteous manner than maybe my e mail deserved.

The jest of there reply was they are constantly observing how there system works, and whilst not fool proof, the "non shows" were of such a small proportion, as not to justifying the need of deposits.And with regards to the same people making numerous bookings of all the more popular dates, that too didn't show a significant amount of users doing it to bring in a system of limiting bookings to say 3 or 4 dates per member.

 

[Guest]

I think the lady from the CC is indeed missing the point. No shows are one issue, but not the main concern. She only needs to look into their system and see how many people just book a Friday/Saturday night, to see that this is where the 'blockage' is occurring. Maybe she should have a look at their own webpage for many sites and see the 'Full' signs. Trying to book a week, or even more and having to leave just for 1 night in order to allow someone to have that particular night is very frustrating. At the very least they could retain a certain number of pitches to the last minute for telephone bookings, or for people already on site. This would also allow those who wish just the one night to book on that day as well. Then it is fair to all. Some mention that if you contact the wardens on the Friday you can often get a late place, but this is not a formal approach, and so is risky. Nobody is asking for priority, merely an even playing field.

As has been mentioned by others the C&CC does not seem to suffer the same problem to the same extent, so there is a solution out there.

 

[DavidKlyne]

For those of you that don't read the Club Council Reports in the CC Magazine there was an interesting mention of the new computer system. It seems it has been designed to allow much more monitoring of members booking habits. So the Club will have to hand exactly how many people cancel, how long before the booking they cancel and how frequently individuals cancel. Obviously they need a full year of operaion to build up a reliable picture but this information could prove useful in either disproving many of the thoughts expressed on newsgroups/forums or perhaps confirming some of these views. So I suppose you could see someone who cancels a booking 3 times in a year coming under the sae pressure as no shows. Watch this space!

David

 

[MrsMothy]

Deposits won't solve it.

The deposit issue (yes/no) won't get over the basic problem that Friday and Saturday night pitches are needed for both "weekenders" and "holidaymakers". It's not a case of "us vs them" as virtually all of use fall into both camps at different times.

I don't think its weekenders and holiday makers so much as members and none members.

 

[MowCopKen]

There will always be a good reason for some no shows, but for other bookings eg flights etc there is a penalty. This won't stop late cancellation or no shows but it would act as to deter people from block booking and then cancelling nearer the time.

The Club could use the new computer system to monitor then charge for late cancellation and no shows, perhaps with a penalty that more then one no shows in a period, or non payment of a penalty for late cancellation would result in all bookings by that member being cancelled?

 

[Dustydog]

Ken said:-

"The Club could use the new computer system to monitor then charge for late cancellation and no shows, perhaps with a penalty that more then one no shows in a period, or non payment of a penalty for late cancellation would result in all bookings by that member being cancelled?"

I think that is a fair way forward. In fact it is extremely reasonable and will stop the "Gets my goat" syndrome.

Anyone seen the goats?

Ray ,

You naughty boy. Have you seen Valerie's goat? Ken's suggestion would fix the problem you raised. Now if only the CC monitor this forum??

As ever unless someone writes to the CC they wont appreciate the perceived problems this end.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[JohnKS]

It is interesting that some private sites are now only taking weekend bookings that extend to 4 days. That would stop the weekenders blocking the system as they would have to pay for 4 days although not possibly using them.

 

[slimseydy]

it swings in roundabouts,last year I hated the system as I was tied up & all my breaks were last minute,hence only 1 cc site in 14 outings.this year right before Christmas I was glad of the system as I have booked my summer holiday touring of the east coast without any outlay.I am happy to stay the way it is ,I do think though ,there should be a system in place were you are only allowed to visit the likes of rowntree park about 4 times a year,save all the pensioners booking 30 weekends a year there.

 

[xtrailman]

I really resent that term "week enders, blocking up the system", what's that all about?

It makes as much sense as "those bloody caravans on the road, you can tell its summer"

Its time to wake up dumpling, i am lucky and retired, time was when my self and the wife, both had to arrange time off to caravan, one rota i worked only gave me one weekend of in four, a long weekend, friday sat,sun ,back to work for monday, the wife worked mon to fri, guess when we had our short break?

If some want to use there van week ends only, so what?, do they have less "rights" than me, and you?