Search For Sites Sold

[G7UXG]

I’ve just renewed my subscription. £7.49 for 12 months to use the app version. I’m happy with that provided it remains useable. It’s an excellent resource and I hope they keep it that way.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it !

 

[Langtoftlad]

It's not me who sold it, I was just reporting it

I'd like some clarity @michaelit
Are you the ex owner or just reporting the news S4S has been sold

 

[Proudfeet]

Is it possible to remove all my reviews on S4S? I don’t want HH using my reviews.

 

[bigtwin]

I'd like some clarity @michaelit
Are you the ex owner or just reporting the news S4S has been sold

The latter. I thought it was clear enough in the OP but a number of folks seem to be misinterpreting the post.

Ian

 

[Langtoftlad]

The latter. I thought it was clear enough in the OP but a number of folks seem to be misinterpreting the post.

Ian

Indeed
Think some obscurification has been going on.

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[MichaelT]

Indeed
Think some obscurification has been going on.

Not sure how as I started the post with this, followed by the FB post. But to be clear I have nothing to do with SFS never have done except as a subscriber

Just seen this on FB, hope it doesn't mean price rises but I'm guessing it will.

 

[Markman]

Indeed
Think some obscurification has been going on.

Unfair accusation I think.

 

[LesW]

Indeed
Think some obscurification has been going on.

I think it's crystal clear.. S4S has been sold.

 

[Bill-H]

All the best for your retirement.
I’ve just looked at Harvest hosts, An American company they charge between £84 and £152 to join, Wow, I won’t be part of them.

I understood that once you paid the fee, all the sites and stops were free to use

 

[Bill-H]

Used Sfs for several years in a dozen different countries, always good value. I've added quite a few sites to their database over the years and modified a few which were out of date, added photos and reviews. It only remains current and up to date because subscribers take the time to do it, that I always assumed was why it was so cheap to subscribe. If the new owners hike the price too much they will be in danger of losing the membership's interacton and it may become of less use.
I also have ACSI and Park4night subscriptions but find both of these databases of much less use to me. Park4night seems to have some very small' dodgy places listed - behind factories, laybys in housing estates, poor access, room for one small camper etc. ACSI sitrs are listed on Sfs anyway, along with several others - France Passion for one.
I like the way Sfs links to google earth/street view where I can zoom in to a site to see it's location and the all important ease of access.
I hope it still remains relevent.

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[BrochMike]

Finally received some direct communication from searchforsites about updated T&Cs & Privacy policy (ie for Harvest Hosts).

Surprised the email doesn't say anything explicit about the change of ownership - maybe that's on its way...

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

Cue the inevitable revised subscription costs courtesy of our new American hosts…

 

[MichaelT]

Cue the inevitable revised subscription costs courtesy of our new American hosts…

And probably an end to free web version?

 

[chaser]

Cue the inevitable revised subscription costs courtesy of our new American hosts…

I have had that one and never paid anything and havnt used it for getting on for ten years.

 

[Bill-H]

I have had that one and never paid anything and havnt used it for getting on for ten years.

The free web version has a lot less features than the paid for app, you can't use it off-line for instance

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[Bill-H]

Cue the inevitable revised subscription costs courtesy of our new American hosts…

The subscription went up to £7.49 last year, whether that was after negociations with the new owners had started and to preempt any further raise for a while I know not, but SfS will stand or fall on the willingness of subscribers to keep it up to date. After all, it is only the paid subscribers who add, modify and review the listed sites to keep it current and expanding. Any great hike in fees will make me, for one, question the business model which gets the subscibers to do all the work while paying for the privilege.

 

[bigtwin]

SfS will stand or fall on the willingness of subscribers to keep it up to date. After all, it is only the paid subscribers who add, modify and review the listed sites to keep it current and expanding. Any great hike in fees will make me, for one, question the business model which gets the subscibers to do all the work while paying for the privilege.

SfS is not unique that respect, all the Apps rely on users to add sites/reviews.

Ian

 

[Zoshee]

As an app and system developer it would be pretty straightforward to replicate the app to be honest. No offence but it is. The value is in the data and that's freely available to a large extent. Anyway my point is I can't see them being able to start charging too much for this so I shouldn't worry about it.

 

[Jim]

As an app and system developer it would be pretty straightforward to replicate the app to be honest.

What does it cost to produce an app similar to that? Not to copy it, but build an app with a similar functionality. What are the on costs of keeping it updated? I ask because it seems like it would be a good idea to develop one. One that is free to Funsters and cheaper to the wider public than SfS might become. Get back to me publicly or privately, I don't mind which.

 

[MichaelT]

What does it cost to produce an app similar to that? What are the on costs of keeping it updated? I ask because it seems like it would be a good idea to develop one. One that is free to Funsters and cheaper to the wider public than SfS might become. Get back to me publicly or privately, I don't mind which.

It's not just developing but testing on all the different versions of each platform and devices, then fixing bugs. I know there have been lots of iterations to get to the state it is now which is mature and stable but of course people are always asking for improvement and change.

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[Jim]

It's not just developing but testing on all the different versions of each platform and devices, then fixing bugs. I know there have been lots of iterations to get to the state it is now which is mature and stable but of course people are always asking for improvement and change.

Yes, I have produced simple apps on the three main stores, but nothing as complex as SfS

 

[Zoshee]

I'm not trying to diss the app or say anything about the investment in money or time spent to do any of the SRS app. I think it's great, simple to use and does what you want with minimal effort. Perfect app.

Don't misunderstand me, if you asked me off the bat for a quote it's not cheap because it's time and skill based to develop it. It's not difficult to me or the guys who work for me but I've been an app developer since the iPhone came out and a software developer much longer than that so when I say it's straightforward there's nothing new or special here. It's just a DB, Web services and app(s) hosted somewhere. I've actually written similar stuff like this for customers (not campsite related of course) which is a search --> list -> map -> detail type thing.

True costs as mentioned is the upkeep/support, hosting, support etc. There's the maps aspect here as well you need to consider. Google Maps is a rip off and Mapbox, used in SRS, I'm not sure about on costs but there will be something similar which will grow as the app base grows. Personally I'd use Apple maps on iOS because it's free. SRS might be a webapp looking at it but nevertheless the owners will have invested a fair bit I assume to do this.

Just today I'm sorting out Google compliance issues out with privacy etc. for a client. It all takes time which as the old say goes = money.

 

[Bill-H]

SfS is not unique that respect, all the Apps rely on users to add sites/reviews.

Ian

Agreed. The cost p.a. for park4night is £10 and is user lead for their 'reviews', whilst ACSI is about double that a year you do get discounts out of season on any participating site you visit, which can easily cover the subscription costs by only staying at two or three of the listed sites, plus each site gets an annual visit from an ASCI inspector who rates each facility and talks with campers to further assess their standards. I've been approached by ACSI inspectors on two occasions to ask my views.
I'm unsure how ACSI sites get added to their database, but don't think they can be added 'ad hoc' by subscribers like new listings on SfS and park4night.
I have no knowledge of how other camping apps or databases operate.

 

[hja]

The subscription went up to £7.49 last year, whether that was after negociations with the new owners had started and to preempt any further raise for a while I know not, but SfS will stand or fall on the willingness of subscribers to keep it up to date. After all, it is only the paid subscribers who add, modify and review the listed sites to keep it current and expanding. Any great hike in fees will make me, for one, question the business model which gets the subscibers to do all the work while paying for the privilege.

you dont have to be a paid subscriber to leave reviews.

 

[Bill-H]

you dont have to be a paid subscriber to leave reviews.

You can only use the app three times after downloading without paying

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[Solwaybuggier]

I understood that once you paid the fee, all the sites and stops were free to use

Think you’re mistaken there - there is an “expected minimum spend”of $30 per vehicle, and bear in mind:
1. Some of the Hosts have nothing to sell, eg churches, so this is a donation pure & simple. (One HH User Farcebook page mentions a host spelling out that a spend of $100 in the host’s store was expected- alternatively a donation of $25 was required!)
2. Many/most hosts require advance booking
3. Hosts can leave reviews of visitors, so if you don’t spend an appropriate amount you may not get bookings accepted!

 

[MichaelT]

I'm not trying to diss the app or say anything about the investment in money or time spent to do any of the SRS app. I think it's great, simple to use and does what you want with minimal effort. Perfect app.

Don't misunderstand me, if you asked me off the bat for a quote it's not cheap because it's time and skill based to develop it. It's not difficult to me or the guys who work for me but I've been an app developer since the iPhone came out and a software developer much longer than that so when I say it's straightforward there's nothing new or special here. It's just a DB, Web services and app(s) hosted somewhere. I've actually written similar stuff like this for customers (not campsite related of course) which is a search --> list -> map -> detail type thing.

True costs as mentioned is the upkeep/support, hosting, support etc. There's the maps aspect here as well you need to consider. Google Maps is a rip off and Mapbox, used in SRS, I'm not sure about on costs but there will be something similar which will grow as the app base grows. Personally I'd use Apple maps on iOS because it's free. SRS might be a webapp looking at it but nevertheless the owners will have invested a fair bit I assume to do this.

Just today I'm sorting out Google compliance issues out with privacy etc. for a client. It all takes time which as the old say goes = money.

they used to use google maps but it got too expensive so changed to map box, not sure about IOS but like i said it ahs to work the same on all platforms whatever version and all devices.

 

[MichaelT]

Think you’re mistaken there - there is an “expected minimum spend”of $30 per vehicle, and bear in mind:
1. Some of the Hosts have nothing to sell, eg churches, so this is a donation pure & simple. (One HH User Farcebook page mentions a host spelling out that a spend of $100 in the host’s store was expected- alternatively a donation of $25 was required!)
2. Many/most hosts require advance booking
3. Hosts can leave reviews of visitors, so if you don’t spend an appropriate amount you may not get bookings accepted!

on SFS there is no cost apart from if you want to pay for the app at £7.49 a year

 

[125BEER]

Hope it continues without too much change as its good fot the UK, never rated it for use abroad.

Quite right P4N in Greece recently and Camperstop but also Google maps.
All the best to OP...

Cheers

 

[bigtwin]

All the best to OP...

The OP is fine but is possibly wishing that they had founded SfS and would now be rubbing their hands with glee.

Ian

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