Honesty pay-per-stay stopover

[VandM]

Hi funsters.

As we're nearing the point of opening our new motorhome stopover/Aire we're looking at a fair pricing for per night stays (regardless of the number of people in a motorhome).
Facilities will be black and grey water disposal, fresh water, level hardstanding, food waste composting.
We're a micro farm on a small island within the Orkney archipelago with stunning south facing sea and island views.
The entire site infrastructure, simple as it is, has been created from our own funds but we're considering using a "pay what you feel it's worth" pricing structure.
We'd give visitors an envelope for them put in money to the value of what they feel is fair for their one or two night stay.

Has anyone heard of this kind of charging scheme and what are your thoughts on it's viability?

VandM

 

[Tombola]

I think its a great idea in principle and tbh Id probably "overpay" just for the effort etc you put in.

BUT , i fear the majority who will take the p**s or are unaware how much should be paid, will outweigh those that know what should be paid

 

[Madcaravanner]

We pay on sites with honesty boxes usually the amount the site "Suggests" the payment should be
What we don't do is stay at those that ask for amounts that you'd find advertised at campsites giving facilities we never use

 

[DerryW]

There's a very similar set up to what you're proposing, just a mile or so from the Isle of sky bridge, they have an honesty box with clear charges displayed. £5 to use the black and grey waste along with fresh water top up, or £10 if you stop overnight. They had approximately 25 all hardstanding bays, each bay separated by timer logs. A very simple set up but all that one needs.

 

[Grianan]

I think an honesty box is fine but I would display charges. I’d certainly be happy with £5 for waste or £10 overnight, if there’s a bit of space with hard standing you may find people will pay £15.

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[Googlebot]

I would specify or you will get people take the mickey.

An isolated spot on an island I would probably pay £10 to £15. Let’s be honest, you can’t be in it for the money so you need to at least break even.

Love the Orkney’s, can’t wait to go back.

 

[Crazylegs]

I think its a great idea in principle and tbh Id probably "overpay" just for the effort etc you put in.

BUT , i fear the majority who will take the p**s or are unaware how much should be paid, will outweigh those that know what should be paid

Because of the location I would hope your fears would be unfounded, surely the considerable costs involved in getting to Orkney would deter the I’m not paying brigade. On a trip in north west Africa some years ago we stopped at the renowned Zebra bar who operate an honestly bar and kitchen. People can take ingredients from the fridges/freezers and cook a meal, washed down with several beers, then chuck what you think it’s worth in the tin.

Zebrabar

Hotel, Camping 25 Km südlich von St. Louis

zebrabar-camping-campement.business.site

They told me the takings went up after they removed the prices.

 

[Jamesh]

You could put a suggested charge of £5 per service with a series of boxes they can tick for services used.

Pitch £5

Waste £5

Electric £5???

£15 is cheap for a fully serviced pitch?

But not stopping those away for a weekend or on a tight budget.

 

[Skyway]

To many FLT

 

[VandM]

To many FLT

Not helpful or warranted.

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[Skyway]

Not helpful or warranted.

Why ?

 

[Skyway]

Its a fact of life you will learn I am afraid

 

[ManTheVan]

Sounds like a labour of love and if we ever get to Orkney we‘ll be sure to look you up. Like many others here, I’d say the honesty box might be abused by a small number, but the majority will respect it and pay up. I’d suggest that you set out some guidelines on charges though.

 

[Arnside037]

Been looking tonight at a possible Scottish route and some harbour stops seem to suggest £10 in an honesty box for an overnight was a reasonable request. We always s carry envelopes with us to make deposits in homesty boxes.

 

[VandM]

Its a fact of life you will learn I am afraid

You assume that we are naïve or gullible? If someone leaves after two nights stay after using onsite facilities and only puts a tenner in the honesty box (or nothing at all) we may be disappointed but we'll not chase them round the island or block them from boarding the ferry back to Mainland.
In life we cannot insulate ourselves from the greedy or selfish but we can have faith in the majority of humanity.

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[Skyway]

Indeed I agree but it a fact of life so my comment was fair

 

[VandM]

Why ?

Because "Too many" infers that the number of visitors who don't pay anything should dictates that the vast majority lose out.
As a previous post suggests, the relative remoteness of our location and the effort needed to get here is (possibly) likely to deter the type of person you refer to.
We do understand your sentiment but don't want to live our lives stressing over the tiny number of disagreeable types walking the earth.
But it is good to hear a spectrum of views, so thank you.

 

[Gaston aires]

I agree with skyway on this point. V and M you sound very trusting and I commend you for it. But a fact of life is that not all people can be trusted, ask Jim about their eggs at Jasmine.
I think a quoted price is better for you and your would be customers
Phil

 

[VandM]

I agree with skyway on this point. V and M you sound very trusting and I commend you for it. But a fact of life is that not all people can be trusted, ask Jim about their eggs at Jasmine.
I think a quoted price is better for you and your would be customers
Phil

We agree, not "all" people can be trusted but the untrustworthy types are in the minority and we will not have our lives jaded by that type of person.
Having an honesty or quoted structure was the point of our original post and we are grateful for all comments (even if we don't agree with them all).

 

[mofurt]

It sounds like low risk to try the different variants; I'd personally prefer a suggested minimum. However, if you were to try for a couple of weeks with pure pay what you feel, count how many use and what you get, then with a pay what you feel with suggestion, then with a menu of prices and work out what your average take per overnighter is.

That way you'll understand on average if you are better off with pay-what-you-feel or not. Obviously some nights you'll be taken advantage of, others you may do quite well to offset that, and I'd hope that overall it works as per Zebrabar. Until you actually try it, and risk a few tens of pounds, everything is speculation.

But whatever you end up doing, you will be on my list of places to stay when we make it up there (hopefully next year), and think what you are trying is great

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[Langtoftlad]

Seeing how Brits get themselves into a tizzy over something as simple as tipping...
...I suggest it will be a lot less stressful for your guests to have a guide or suggested prices.

 

[Ivory55]

I would think that most people are honest but shop with a supermarket mind. They don’t haggle etc and pay the price on the tag. If it’s what they can afford then they buy. No prices would make me think of those posh shops where if you have to ask you cannot afford it so probably would not use it.

 

[L' Hobo]

Seeing how Brits get themselves into a tizzy over something as simple as tipping...
...I suggest it will be a lot less stressful for your guests to have a guide or suggested prices.

I was in the travel business for a long time and the reason why the package holiday is/was so popular is that the punter have a structure that they can take advantage of, without thinking, IF they wanted too. (It also give them something to grumble about, we like a good grumble )
As has been mentioned, a minimum suggested price is the way to go, sadly, (as was found by a farm around here who's vegetable/egg stall was raided 3times, and the money taken until they installed CCTV) even then, some people, especially the ones that could easily afford it, are the ones that will abuse it and look upon you kindness as a weakness.

Do us all a favour, suggest at least £10 a night or £5 just for service, you have to cover your cost or you will be out of business and we will all suffer! Good Luck!

 

[dazandandrea]

As most others have suggested, have a specific charge displayed.
It will be worth it in the long run .
All the best

 

[Gellyneck]

VandM
Perhaps a brief outline of what your ambitions for provision of services for motorhomers and what time \ effort \ expense you have put in to achieve these would be enlightening for your visitors along with a "suggested" support sum from them to maintain these going forward would be the way to go rather than leaving it "open ended" or just a "suggested" cost?

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[Pausim]

Hopefully an honesty box would work but I think you need to specify a price to make it clear you are not providing a free public facility.

 

[irnbru]

If I was taking the van to Orkney, factoring in fuel costs and ferry fare, a high price to stop over would deter me from using any stopovers as much as possible.

I'd be willing to pay up to £10 with dump/fill services. A "suggested" price per night might be useful.
Good luck with the new business.

 

[Shrimp]

The idea is good but flawed as some will take the peeeeeee and some will not have a clue so a price guide is needed and the £5 for services and £10 for overnight is fine.

 

[cyberyacht]

I may be missing something here but, from looking at GoogleEarth, there appears to be no vehicular access to Rousay.

 

[dazandandrea]

you better tell these then .