Disgruntled CAMC Warden Joining Here!

[Barryh]

The three pitches weren't available as the site didn't know that the people weren't going to turn up. So it wouldn't have helped you. We don't know why the three parties didn't turn up and one or more have them may well have intended to get there but didn't make it for valid reasons - Covid, breakdown, illness etc.

The loss to the Club is pretty small. There are 95 pitches. At say £31.50 per night (pitch + 2 adults) that's total takings on 92 pitches of £2900 for one night. If deposits were £25 (as per CCC) then they might have recovered £75. Return one or two for valid reasons and you could be looking at £25. It doesn't sound to me like such a small amount would justify the change to taking deposits. Any additional income would be very quickly swallowed up in additional Admin costs. So I think your example actually demonstrates why deposits are not worthwhile.

It’s amazing how £25 doesn’t sound much when it’s not your money, but think of this. An average season is about 235 nights and there are around 200 sites in network. So to spin it around, if this happened just once per night, every night, across every site then £25x235x200 equals £1,175,000. That suddenly sounds like quite a lot.

 

[gus-lopez]

Any reasonable commercial site would refund the deposit with a cancellation that far in advance or at least allow you to carry it over for a later booking.

There are also major businesses who allow neither.

 

[Reallyretired]

Try parking across the back of the pitch, much nicer if you want to sit out under the awning.

If the pitch is hedged as many French and Spanish site pitches are, we like to park across the open side of the pitch with the hab door inwards. It gives us an enclosed back garden ideal for the dogs. As our van is nearly 8m it can be interesting getting it onto the pitch. Photo at El Berro, only a narrow gap at each end but a great view from the terrace.

 

[Ronny]

I've been pitching either way around since September 2014 and never been "challenged" once.

I’ve yet to come out about which way I pitch!

 

[NorthernSoul]

It’s amazing how £25 doesn’t sound much when it’s not your money, but think of this. An average season is about 235 nights and there are around 200 sites in network. So to spin it around, if this happened just once per night, every night, across every site then £25x235x200 equals £1,175,000. That suddenly sounds like quite a lot.

Or to spin it around, it would be 35p per pitch on a site of 92 pitches. Take out the Admin costs and you're probably looking at a loss.

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[Barryh]

Or to spin it around, it would be 35p per pitch on a site of 92 pitches. Take out the Admin costs and you're probably looking at a loss.

Sorry but that doesn’t make sense. You can spin it whichever way you like but £25 is still £25.

 

[NorthernSoul]

Sorry but that doesn’t make sense. You can spin it whichever way you like but £25 is still £25.

You're adding more complexity to the whole process by taking deposits. Unless the administration of that costs on average less than 35p per booking they're making a loss.

 

[Barryh]

You're adding more complexity to the whole process by taking deposits. Unless the administration of that costs on average less than 35p per booking they're making a loss.

Administration will be done centrally and automatically. It’s just a computer calculation at booking and at check-in. Or indeed non-check-in. Honestly it’s not complex, it’s how 99% of business works.

 

[Ronny]

If the pitch is hedged as many French and Spanish site pitches are, we like to park across the open side of the pitch with the hab door inwards. It gives us an enclosed back garden ideal for the dogs. As our van is nearly 8m it can be interesting getting it onto the pitch. Photo at El Berro, only a narrow gap at each end but a great view from the terrace.View attachment 529173

We like the door on the opposite side. We’ve met some brilliant people walking by

 

[Reallyretired]

We like the door on the opposite side. We’ve met some brilliant people walking by

Ours is a compromise. Swmbo can still meet people while I can avoid them.

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[Ronny]

Ours is a compromise. Swmbo can still meet people while I can avoid them.

 

[Ronny]

Ours is a compromise. Swmbo can still meet people while I can avoid them.

You like Rallies then?

 

[JockandRita]

I must admit that since the growth of the likes of searchforsites, Britstops etc we have found that they suit our type of touring much better.

As is ours too Glenn.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Mrsambulancekidd]

I wish an ex mason would post telling us all about the frog licking and one legged handshakes.

Be much more interesting than campsite gossip.


Cmon theres bound to be one or two on here.....we won't tell anyone

I am an ex-Mason.

 

[Winger]

Why did you leave?

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[Northernraider]

I am an ex-Mason.

Good reveal thy secrets

 

[Dorset Diver]

Yes but was Hazel a Freemason . I think not as Free Masonry does not admit women although they do have a women's equivalent. Maybe her maiden name . Of course the Freemasons do now allow women to be members but only if they were men at the time of joining . Now there is a question that needs answering Mrsambulancekidd .

 

[Northernraider]

Yes but was Hazel a Freemason . I think not as Free Masonry does not admit women although they do have a women's equivalent. Maybe her maiden name . Of course the Freemasons do now allow women to be members but only if they were men at the time of joining . Now there is a question that needs answering Mrsambulancekidd .

I did wonder if she meant maiden name.

 

[EzeeRider]

Even if it is refundable I'd still be outlaying (potentially) >£1,000 in advance.

Simpley answer would be not to book so many sites in advance then.
ezee

 

[Mr porky]

We tried to book a few sites with ccc but the website is just too awkward. So the majority of our bookings this year have been with CAMC. Would I have been put off by deposits if I managed to use the clunky booking web site , not at all.

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[tomm]

We were members of C&MC for a couple of years simply because it suited us to use just one of their sites on a regular basis ,for no other reason than for the convenience of it being in an area we need to be in . Total use of site averaging around 10 nights a year....... Fine you would say , yes so would we , but the downside was the sheer hassle of getting a pitch on that particular site.

We couldnt book way ahead as we didnt have exact dates , so it really had to be quite short notice . In that case it was then never a chance of a pitch , always apparently fully booked . We just did not want to join the book every date available brigade then cancel at the last moment , keeping only the booking period that suited us .

We got to the point of phoning the site direct say the day before arriving in their area and we would invariably get told , yes fully booked . However after nearly all these phone calls we would get a call back saying they now had pitch vacancies . How that happened we just guessed it was because of no shows from pre booked slots . That happened time and again so to us , be we right or wrong , pointed towards the no show brigade at its best , ie abusing the booking system for selfish reasons . As it surely couldnt be sheer coincidence of cancellations at such very short notice , time after time on a not particularly large site.

We actually found grief free alternatives for staying in the MH in that area , so have ditched the C&MC , as their booking system is just too awkward , time consuming and open to abuse by a selfish element of members.

 

[Mrsambulancekidd]

Good reveal thy secrets

By all means, I am more than happy to do that.
He was my ex-husband and he was an arse......my surname was Mason.
Dorset Diver

 

[Gellyneck]

Simpley answer would be not to book so many sites in advance then.
ezee

As said twice before for personal reasons we have \ like to. I could also say the same to yourself if you struggle to get bookings simple answer is book earlier.

 

[Gellyneck]

It would appear we are both unprepared to see the other ones style of motorhoming.
I don’t tend to plan or book very much. Just go where we fancy on the day, usually decided over morning coffee.
We do have a tunnel booking next month and for the first time a return as we have an event to be back for. Normally we don’t have a clue when we’re coming back.

Oh I can definitely see and understand your style of motorhoming and have absolutely no issue on that as can be shown by my efforts to seek a solution that could work for both.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Well Oldwarden ( the OP) less than a week, over 400 posts and 14 pages ! Bet you didn't expect that welcome C'mon admin that has to be a record.

There was the infamous 596 or whatever the number was!

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[68c]

By all means, I am more than happy to do that.
He was my ex-husband and he was an arse......my surname was Mason.

Whenever my girlfriend speaks of her ex husband she always uses his full title 'The Ex Bastard Husband'. I wonder what she has lined up for me?

 

[Gellyneck]

This is a perennial issue on the Club Together CAMC Forum, with for and against being split roughly down the middle. I have in the past, suggested a number of tweaks.
1. Weekend bookings being limited to a month in advance. (This was countered by some who said that a week+ could be booked and reduced later by the unscrupulous)
2. Increase the cancellation period to a more realistic 5 days giving a greater opportunity for late availability to be taken up.
3. Members Credit Card details to be held with a signed agreement that any fee due will be taken if booking regulations not complied with.

It has gained no traction.

That to me is the approach that should be taken, seek a solution that meets "all" members needs and "punish" those who contravene rather than the sledgehammer of charge everyone a deposit to the detriment of those who don't abuse the system.

 

[sueandjohn]

This is a perennial issue on the Club Together CAMC Forum, with for and against being split roughly down the middle. I have in the past, suggested a number of tweaks.
1. Weekend bookings being limited to a month in advance. (This was countered by some who said that a week+ could be booked and reduced later by the unscrupulous)
2. Increase the cancellation period to a more realistic 5 days giving a greater opportunity for late availability to be taken up.
3. Members Credit Card details to be held with a signed agreement that any fee due will be taken if booking regulations not complied with.

It has gained no traction.

I like this option “Increase the cancellation period to a more realistic 5 days giving a greater opportunity for late availability to be taken up.”

 

[Gellyneck]

I like this option “Increase the cancellation period to a more realistic 5 days giving a greater opportunity for late availability to be taken up.”

I think they should also look at "beefing up" the late cancellation and \ or no show penalty to a financial impact of, say first nights pitch fee.

 

[EzeeRider]

I think they should also look at "beefing up" the late cancellation and \ or no show penalty to a financial impact of, say first nights pitch fee.

That could equate to deposits otherwise how else could they impose a financial impact?
ezee

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