Am I alone in being increasingly annoyed by some campsites that charge for dogs. I was looking at one site that charged £2.50 per night per dog!! I have 2 dogs and cannot understand the need to charge, it's not as if they use anything. Perhaps I'll take them to the showers!!!! Come on campsites, stop being so greedy!
I can understand a small charge for upkeep of dog walking area, emptying poo bins etc. but we stayed on a site where the kids were £2.50 per night each and the dog was £5 per night.
Market forces, if you don't want to pay for dogs then don't stay on a site that charges. If the sites stay in business without dog owners it proves there is a demand for dog free sites, much as there is a demand for sites that take dogs free of charge or adults only sites. I'm all for charges being dependent on demand such as with most airlines (Ryanair excepted!). Big demand equals higher charges and profits therefore more competitors enter the specific market sector and create more choice for the demand. Low demand equals lower charges to attract customers and therefore lower profits and the sector shrinks but get the charging balance right and utilise fluid pricing to manage demand and utilisation goes up and there is a lower cost for all. Maybe sites should adopt a fluid pricing system and charge less at off peak times and maybe allow dogs free of charge at such times, but when busy charge more and maybe charge extra for dogs at that time.
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
The sites can't really win, why should a camper who arrives with just a small tent pay the same as campers that turn up with dogs/awnings/extra tents etc?
I think its also fair to say that non dog owning campers, even if they don't object to well behaved dogs would prefer less dogs on the site rather than more so if charging keeps the dog numbers down then all good.
Dog lovers & I am one, often find it difficult to understand why the whole of the rest of the world dosen't love dogs as much as themselves & a charge for camper's dogs brings home the point that dogs are actually just tolerated on the site, not loved & welcomed & that it is absolutely the responsibility of the owner that the dog is on a lead at all times & does not impinge on the space of other campers.
Good post Tentz, especially the last paragraph, but if we transplanted the word dog for say children, it would be equally true. Particularly the "not impinge on the space of other campers".
But there will always be campsites that charge extra for things that other campsites do not charge for or have a higher main charge to cover facilities that are not required by the majority of campsite users. IE Play areas, picnic seating areas, fancy toilets, etc.
Thankfully the vast majority of sites are the small, no frills, CL's, CS's and 5 van sites with a one charge fits all policy and they will be here for a long time because that is what the majority of campers want.
Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 29/8/2012
There are SO many threads on this subject. If you don't want to pay it don't book it. Personally we are happy to pay it where requested.
Agree, a quick search would have found them all too.
Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 29/8/2012
Good post Tentz, especially the last paragraph, but if we transplanted the word dog for say children, it would be equally true. Particularly the "not impinge on the space of other campers".
That's why there is a market for adult only sites too.
I totally understand why they do it, I also think it helps by charging to limit the number of dogs that someone might bring ( if there's a no dog limit) and I'm a huge dog lover, you have choices, pay it or go somewhere else, or leave your dog in kennels, ( its still cheaper than kennel fees) I'm happy to pay to take my dogs with me, wouldn't be the same without them.
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
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Topic: Paying for a Dog gripe! (
Topic Closed)
Particularly the "not impinge on the space of other campers".
