- Sep 7, 2017
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I know there has been a lot about the Caravan and Motorhome Club recently. There has been much about officious wardens, prices and the new booking system. I wanted to reflect changes in our practice due to the deposit system and hear the experience of others because I am sure it has lost them revenue, at least in our case.
We tend to go away most months, and apart from two European trips we traditionally we booked CMC sites, usually well in advance throughout the year. It was to be honest laziness, the rules can be a little wearing but the standard was reasonable if predictable. It was very unusual for us to cancel, rather it was just the easy way to get a few days away. The lack of deposit kept the money in our account and offset some of the negatives with their sites (all sites have their minuses). Since the change to deposits we have found we leave things later and see what else there is. Our logic being if we have to pay a deposit let's check there isn't a better site, whereas previously the lack of deposit was a positive by comparison and made them the easiest option. The result is we are using them much less. In effect the new system has motivated us to look a bit harder at where we are going, how much we are paying, the available facilities and make a comparison. In our case at least, the system has backfired and resulted in two or three weeks less bookings. Not through dissatisfaction, just because we may as well research a bit more if we are paying a deposit.
I know many dislike the CMC while others love them and I wasn't seeking to reopen that debate. I was looking to understand whether the change to the booking process has led others to alter their approach and whether that is perhaps the reason they are not as busy (reportedly). It could equally be the state of the economy, or we are unusual.
We tend to go away most months, and apart from two European trips we traditionally we booked CMC sites, usually well in advance throughout the year. It was to be honest laziness, the rules can be a little wearing but the standard was reasonable if predictable. It was very unusual for us to cancel, rather it was just the easy way to get a few days away. The lack of deposit kept the money in our account and offset some of the negatives with their sites (all sites have their minuses). Since the change to deposits we have found we leave things later and see what else there is. Our logic being if we have to pay a deposit let's check there isn't a better site, whereas previously the lack of deposit was a positive by comparison and made them the easiest option. The result is we are using them much less. In effect the new system has motivated us to look a bit harder at where we are going, how much we are paying, the available facilities and make a comparison. In our case at least, the system has backfired and resulted in two or three weeks less bookings. Not through dissatisfaction, just because we may as well research a bit more if we are paying a deposit.
I know many dislike the CMC while others love them and I wasn't seeking to reopen that debate. I was looking to understand whether the change to the booking process has led others to alter their approach and whether that is perhaps the reason they are not as busy (reportedly). It could equally be the state of the economy, or we are unusual.