Quote: Originally posted by bev+jon on 19/12/2012
nothing wrong with the system imo , you will never please all the people all the time , it works for us ,got what we wanted including new year 2013/14 and didnt bother logging on until evening.
if you want a deposit system join the c&cc
Most people do not particularly want a deposit system, but neither do they wish to retain the present bun fight, which has led to the situation where "Most of the popular BH dates for the popular sites are already booked up"
There has been plenty of quite reasonable suggestion on numerous sites about altering the system, which would spread the demand out more evenly, and give the Club an increased guaranteed revenue.
Just because "it works for some people" does not mean that it cannot be changed to make it more equitable to more members. Camping out all night before a New Year's sale works for some people, but it is hardly the way to run a club.
Oh, and by the way, I am already a member of the C&CC.
and just how would a deposit system stop the bun fight for popular sites and bank holidays ??
it wouldnt , the folk who can afford to pay up front for each bank holiday or weekend on a popular site would still book and the sites would still be booked solid well in advance. it just means those who are on a limited budget would miss out while those who arent can book what they want when they want.
What amazes me is why so many people are obsessed with booking CC sites? Yes they are clean and you know what you are getting, but, there are alot of commercial sites out there much better than CC sites and cheaper, and the CC dont have many fully serviced pitches which nowadays is becoming the norm. I am a member for the CLs and insurance, not the club sites. They are also becoming very expensive for not much on them! It is just annoying when you want to stay on certain site and every year the booking fiasco happens, yes agreed it was better this year but I still think that introducing deposits would deter block bookings of sites and the 72hr cancellation is no deterrent. And I am a member of both clubs, I have always managed to book onto the C&CC sites whenever I have tried and dont mind paying £25 dep, they also refund it back if you cancel within a certain timescale. If you are on a limited budget you would avoid club sites as they are overpriced.
Quote: Originally posted by bev+jon on 19/12/2012
and just how would a deposit system stop the bun fight for popular sites and bank holidays ??
it wouldnt , the folk who can afford to pay up front for each bank holiday or weekend on a popular site would still book and the sites would still be booked solid well in advance. it just means those who are on a limited budget would miss out while those who arent can book what they want when they want.
Please read my opening sentence.
"Most people do not particularly want a deposit system, but neither do they wish to retain the present bun fight, which has led to the situation where "Most of the popular BH dates for the popular sites are already booked up"
Leaving Credit Card details, and levying a one day's fee for cancellations less than seven days has been suggested. This could be increased for a second late cancellation. Other suggestions have included restricting the number of advance bookings that may be made.
Not everyone can plan a year in advance, irrespective of what some people claim, but the above suggestions would go some way to even out demand, reduce speculative booking, (it can be done, but these changes would reduce it), and increase revenue for the club by allowing more time for cancellations to be taken up by other members.
How many times is a site fully booked and then there are empty plots lying unused, and I do not mean for planned emergencies, or maintenance.
Sadly you are never going to please all of the people all of the time.
The current system works for me, but as a Teacher I know when my holidays will be for years in advance so forward planning is easy for me. I am happy to embrace change if it is for the greater good.
Deposits have been tried in the past by the CC, look at the club magazine from the time and you will see the same complaints were made so PROBABLY not the answer.
The oft discussed block booker I've yet to meet in a lifetimes use of CC sites.
As for better value/quality non CC sites being available, maybe but not in my experience, when we looked at a couple of commercial sites earlier in the year for friends the standard of presentation was poor and the cost shockingly high.
Horses for courses!
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Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 19/12/2012
From anecdotal evidence from various forums, including the Club forum, where contributors have expressed the view that the booking process went reasonably well. The positive posts outnumber the negative a as far as I can tell.
David
Hmm ok, I wondered if you had heard more statistically based evidence, I certainly didn't and much of it was down to a slow operating website at the time despite the control on numbers - very frustrating to see what you want there but lose it half way through completing the booking system because the pages will not load fast enough.
went on cc website after 6pm on the big day , no issues at all , 6 trips booked - first choice site on all but one occasion ( new year ) done and dusted in under 10 minutes.
Quote: Originally posted by Just do it on 19/12/2012
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 19/12/2012
From anecdotal evidence from various forums, including the Club forum, where contributors have expressed the view that the booking process went reasonably well. The positive posts outnumber the negative a as far as I can tell.
David
Hmm ok, I wondered if you had heard more statistically based evidence, I certainly didn't and much of it was down to a slow operating website at the time despite the control on numbers - very frustrating to see what you want there but lose it half way through completing the booking system because the pages will not load fast enough.
I think there were some figures on the CC website about the first day of bookings but can't remember the figures except it surprised me that the total number of booking only accounted for what I thought was a relatively small percentage by which I mean far less than 50% so after the first day there was still a massive amount of capacity left to be booked. You can do a search of their forum to find the figures. Personally not booked any sites yet and will probably wait until much nearer the time.
Yes I don't doubt the is a lot of capacity on the network still for sites that aren't so popular on dates that aren't so popular.. I personally got very frustrated trying to book a site on certain dates, had the availability and had started the booking process only to be told at the end the availability had changed.. To me the minute you select to book the space it should withdraw the pitch from inventory until you can complete the booking details whereas it seems to only do this at the very end of the booking process IF the space is still there
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Topic: 2013 caravan club booking day
