Bye Bye CAMC

[billym]

We attended the Blackpool temporary site last year, when Adolf was waving his arms about showing us where to pitch, I manoeuvred to reverse in.
He went bonkers, shouting and gesticulating, EVERYONE HAS TO PITCH FACING THE SAME WAY! COVID RULES! he shouted.
I though for God's sake we're 6 metres away from the next van and we wanted to face our friends van next door, 5 minutes later we were in their van drinking tea anyway

Was that AKS school at St Anne's in the summer?

 

[Cookieboy68]

The difference being,if you had been out for the day, you would know where your pitch is. Where as being a new arrival you wouldn't .

 

[Gellyneck]

.............How would a new arrival in a motorhome be any different to one arriving back on site from a day out ?

Would guess the main difference would be a new arrival having to drive around looking for an available acceptable (to them) specific pitch which when found necessitates a return to the office to collect gate fob \ facilities key, etc whereas a returning motorhome would be straight onto their pitch.
Agreed, the alleged Club response could be better.

 

[Swifter]

So really it has nothing whatsoever to do with the noise or disturbing campers and comes down to their complete and utter lack of flexibility as a club providing a service for its members . As suggested previously, if the wardens owned the sites that they ran , they would be much more helpful and polite in order to retain paying customers . There is absolutely so incentive to make them “ go the extra mile “.

 

[TDub49]

As long as you're 6m apart I don't see why they would care, unless they just enjoy it. Some people like a fuss.

Too right - I think "some people like a fuss" works both ways and if two such people meet up on opposing sides, the results aren't always pretty.

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[Dorset Diver]

The difference being,if you had been out for the day, you would know where your pitch is. Where as being a new arrival you wouldn't .

Its not hard to find a patch of gravel or be directed to one for the night with a polite request to "please check in tomorrow".

 

[Gellyneck]

As suggested previously, it the wardens owned the site they would be much more helpful and polite .

I've been on a couple of independent sites where late arrivals have been refused entry until the following morning so not restricted to the clubs.

I think the key question is how much flexibility should a supplier have to provide versus how realistic a customer needs to be.

 

[Gellyneck]

Its not hard to find a patch of gravel or be directed to one for the night with a polite request to "please check in tomorrow".

Or pitch up overnight in the late arrivals area?

 

[Swifter]

I think the key question is how much flexibility should a supplier have to provide versus how realistic a customer needs to be.

Certainly more flexibility than shown in this particular example if running a customer service oriented business . We clearly have vastly different opinions on what is a good level of customer service

 

[Gellyneck]

Certainly more flexibility than shown in this particular example if running a customer service oriented business . We clearly have vastly different opinions on what is a good level of customer service

and probably what level of customer realism there should in relation to respect for others personal time.

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[Bailey58]

But the camc statement mentioned that the reason they wouldn’t allow the customer in was because this could disturb other campers on the site . Forgetting the wardens for a minute and concentrating on this point , don’t you think it’s an strange thing to say ? How would a new arrival in a motorhome be any different to one arriving back on site from a day out ?

Yes, a strange thing to say, perhaps that's all they could come up with if it was a spur of the moment answer. But perhaps their thinking was as I said, a new arrival may make a greater disturbance than one already set up even if that was a motorhome.

 

[Catpirate]

Personally I do not use the official CMC sites, I find them far too regimented. I do use the CS and CL sites much more informal and the owners have a interest in keeping customers happy and are usually keen to help with the local area and in lots of cases like visitors to show an interest in their farm or business.

I refer to my first post. I do find the staff very inflexible in most cases, they are not a customer faced business. The reasons may be varied and as pointed out they were originally focused on caravans and in the beginning on a select section of caravanning. This attitude seems to persist in the management of the company and is the reason I rarely use their official sites.

 

[The Wino]

and probably what level of customer realism there should in relation to respect for others personal time.

I think a lot would expect people to hang around because they're late would they do the same in their job presumably without any extra pay? Try ringing up Sainsbury's and asking them to hang around for a couple of hours as you're late getting there. Maybe there are a few on here who do stay behind or open late but I bet not many

 

[WoldsSunlight]

Wow! I've obviously just renewed my membership with a totally different CAMC than the one that is being portrayed here by a majority of posters. Only my second year of CAMC Membership, and - crucially - if I had witnessed or been personally subjected to the alleged behaviour on this thread, I would not have renewed, (and, no I have no affiliation with the CAMC in any form other than being a 100% satisfied member..)
I have just spent 5 nights at the Coniston site, and the wardens I met there were without exception friendly, helpful and engaging. In my first 12 months membership, I have stayed on at least 10 different CAMC sites and never had a problem - am I just lucky? Perhaps some people cannot accept that membership (of any organisation) comes with rules that members are required to comply with as part and parcel of being a member?
Arriving after the well-publicised last arrival time?.... quite simply, go to the LNA area, hook up (if required) and check in properly the following morning. Is that too much to ask?

 

[Bluemooner]

We have been using CAMC sites for years never had a problem (touch wood)

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[WoldsSunlight]

Can never understand that, you rent a pitch park how you like that's what we do on the rare occasion we use a site.

Please let us all know how you get on when the MoHo that's parked < 2 metres upwind of you bursts into flames...

 

[Coolcats]

CAMC have just lost two long time members. We have just been treatered to the most horrendous treatment by the Wardens at the Norfolk Broads site. Our friends travelling down from Newcastle experience problems on their Journey and telephoned to warn they will be late. I popped into the reception to also notify them they were running very late. When our friends called me to tell me they were three minutes way I walked up to the reception and was met by Mrs Angry barking "What do you want". I told her our friends were just arriving and she Said "Oh no they are not". I said they will be here in a few minutes. She went on to say they were not informed and called me and our friends liars. Then Mr Slightly Angry came out and said they were not going to book them in tonight. They were happy to stand there and argue with me but not to book them in. I said they were going to come in anyway as they had just travelled all the way down from Newcastle. The man eventually told us they could park in front of the reception but they would not book them in until 1pm the next day!

Bye bye CAMC.

Feel free to message me if you want to know more.

Just a question did your friends ring the site? And did they request a late arrival pitch ?

The rules state:

On your arrival day if you are delayed for any reason during your journey and think you may arrive after 8pm, please call the site to inform them, otherwise your booking may be cancelled. If you want to pitch in a late night arrival area, you must discuss this with the Site Staff in advance of arrival. Late night arrivals areas canonly be used if you have a booking for the same day, and you will be charged per person.

 

[Coolcats]

Just thought I would add if you place a cat or dog in a cattery or kennel you have pick up and drop off times the owners in the main will not allow pick up or drop off outside these times it’s just the terms of business.

 

[Spriddler]

I have a DIL who's never anywhere on time for anything. Drives me potty, she does.

 

[138go]

So really it has nothing whatsoever to do with the noise or disturbing campers and comes down to their complete and utter lack of flexibility as a club providing a service for its members . As suggested previously, if the wardens owned the sites that they ran , they would be much more helpful and polite in order to retain paying customers . There is absolutely so incentive to make them “ go the extra mile “.

The CAMC sites we go to, seem to have very helpful and polite staff. Our motorhome once broke down, just as we arrived back to a site. It was after 8pm yet the site manager couldn't have been more helpful. He helped us inch over to the late arrivals and made sure we had EHU. This was the same man I saw first thing in the morning, when I walked the dog. He had bid me a cheery good morning, as he went about emptying the dog bin.

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[Swifter]

The CAMC sites we go to, seem to have very helpful and polite staff. Our motorhome once broke down, just as we arrived back to a site. It was after 8pm yet the site manager couldn't have been more helpful. He helped us inch over to the late arrivals and made sure we had EHU. This was the same man I saw first thing in the morning, when I walked the dog. He had bid me a cheery good morning, as he went about emptying the dog bin.

Sounds like absolutely fantastic customer service on this occasion.

 

[Gellyneck]

Arrived at our next C&MC site, early!

No problem, we'll get you checked in so away and find a pitch and let me know the number.

As we were pitching up the warden cutting the grass noticed we were lining up to the peg and wanders over to say given the size of the pitches if you want to be off the peg no problems (within reason!). Think he probably heard about me clattering the back of the van a while back and was just protecting his picnic bench on the pitch!

First time here and we like it so think we'll see if we can extend (absolutely nothing to do with there being a bar on site, the fish and chip van here tonight and the pizza van on Sunday!). So, extended which means we need to reshuffle a few others.

Call to next site (independent) and yeh no probs we'll shuffle you back.

Call to next C&MC (Dulverton) site, yip I'll change your booking but no space on your revised last night!I'll keep an eye on availability and if a pitch frees up I'll let you know but as a contingency I'll book you into Exebridge (15 minutes away).

I see you've got Minehead booked, do you want me to cancel? Yip. Done.

Couldn't have asked for better service. Must remember to stick a packet of bikkies on the shopping list!

 

[billym]

Was that AKS school at St Anne's in the summer?

We attended the Blackpool temporary site last year, when Adolf was waving his arms about showing us where to pitch, I manoeuvred to reverse in.
He went bonkers, shouting and gesticulating, EVERYONE HAS TO PITCH FACING THE SAME WAY! COVID RULES! he shouted.
I though for God's sake we're 6 metres away from the next van and we wanted to face our friends van next door, 5 minutes later we were in their van drinking tea anyway

I only asked as we stewarded the Lytham THS at the school.
It was a very busy site averaging 96 units a night over 17 nights.

We stepped in to do it the day before it was to be cancelled due to lack of stewards.
We made big pitches and followed CCC covid rules about no ' facing doors'
We got a few moans but most people understood. Those that didn't were given the option of leaving.
The was no going bonkers , shouting or gesticulating just a firm " like it or leave it."

Of course I don't know if I am the Adolf you are referring to( I see you've been posting since I asked) but if you are and you are coming this year please do come over to the stewards and ask for Adolf .You will be made most welcome

 

[Richard n Ann]

I only asked as we stewarded the Lytham THS at the school.
It was a very busy site averaging 96 units a night over 17 nights.

We stepped in to do it the day before it was to be cancelled due to lack of stewards.
We made big pitches and followed CCC covid rules about no ' facing doors'
We got a few moans but most people understood. Those that didn't were given the option of leaving.
The was no going bonkers , shouting or gesticulating just a firm " like it or leave it."

Of course I don't know if I am the Adolf you are referring to( I see you've been posting since I asked) but if you are and you are coming this year please do come over to the stewards and ask for Adolf .You will be made most welcome

Sorry for calling you Adolf . But the door facing rule (because of covid) is ridiculous when the van's are 6m apart don't you think?

 

[billym]

Sorry for calling you Adolf . But the door facing rule (because of covid) is ridiculous when the van's are 6m apart don't you think?

You painted a picture of something that just didn't happen . I don't know why you would do that.
I don't agree it was ridiculous. Many people were very happy not to have strangers ' in their face' during covid times and it worked well .

By the way, the vans were 10m apart.
Apology accepted

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[Richard n Ann]

You painted a picture of something that just didn't happen . I don't know why you would do that.
I don't agree it was ridiculous. Many people were very happy not to have strangers ' in their face' during covid times and it worked well .

By the way, the vans were 10m apart.
Apology accepted

Well I'm not going to argue about it, (I didn't at the time, just muttered Oh Please! under my breath ) but that's how the person came across, why would I make it up? maybe it wasn't you after all

Oh also we were with the people next to us not strangers at all, so wanted to face them. Same as I said earlier we were sat in their van 5 mins later.

 

[TDub49]

Arrived at our next C&MC site, early!

No problem, we'll get you checked in so away and find a pitch and let me know the number.

As we were pitching up the warden cutting the grass noticed we were lining up to the peg and wanders over to say given the size of the pitches if you want to be off the peg no problems (within reason!). Think he probably heard about me clattering the back of the van a while back and was just protecting his picnic bench on the pitch!

First time here and we like it so think we'll see if we can extend (absolutely nothing to do with there being a bar on site, the fish and chip van here tonight and the pizza van on Sunday!). So, extended which means we need to reshuffle a few others.

Call to next site (independent) and yeh no probs we'll shuffle you back.

Call to next C&MC (Dulverton) site, yip I'll change your booking but no space on your revised last night!I'll keep an eye on availability and if a pitch frees up I'll let you know but as a contingency I'll book you into Exebridge (15 minutes away).

I see you've got Minehead booked, do you want me to cancel? Yip. Done.

Couldn't have asked for better service. Must remember to stick a packet of bikkies on the shopping list!

Yeah, but apart from that, what has the C&MC ever done for you . . . .

 

[Gellyneck]

Yeah, but apart from that, what has the C&MC ever done for you . . . .

Yeh, I know.

I'm thinking of complaining to head office as I seem to be missing out on the live action replay of World War 2 that others refer to!

 

[John n Jinny]

The latest arrival time is 8pm , so if your past that why should you expect preferential treatment just because your late .
They (the wardens) have to draw the line somewhere or you would get members trying to come on at all hours .
Never had a problem or met any hostility in over 20 years membership from C&MC staff .

In fairness I dont think anyone of us who have had bad experiences ,want to diss all CAMC staff at all .I have had 2 bad exchanges ,in all the sites I have used .I actually took the time to e mail head office and complain .I promise you the male member of staff was absolutely horrid ,and not interested in being there .I had 2 run ins with him ,and on both occasions he should have been sacked for gross missconduct .

 

[grumpyman]

CAMC have just lost two long time members. We have just been treatered to the most horrendous treatment by the Wardens at the Norfolk Broads site. Our friends travelling down from Newcastle experience problems on their Journey and telephoned to warn they will be late. I popped into the reception to also notify them they were running very late. When our friends called me to tell me they were three minutes way I walked up to the reception and was met by Mrs Angry barking "What do you want". I told her our friends were just arriving and she Said "Oh no they are not". I said they will be here in a few minutes. She went on to say they were not informed and called me and our friends liars. Then Mr Slightly Angry came out and said they were not going to book them in tonight. They were happy to stand there and argue with me but not to book them in. I said they were going to come in anyway as they had just travelled all the way down from Newcastle. The man eventually told us they could park in front of the reception but they would not book them in until 1pm the next day!

Bye bye CAMC.

Feel free to message me if you want to know more.

Some years ago staying at the Killin site after coming back from eating out about 8.30 pm it was hammering down with rain and quite dark being autumn . I in by mistake drove the wrong way down the road system. next thing we knoow is a banging on the door with the warden telling us what we had done. He must have put his wet gear on and jumped on his pop-pop motorbike to tell us off. when we told other wardens about this he was well known for being a A......e.

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