Warner Shows is next company to join the rip off culture

[RichardB]

We hate to be the next company to announce a price increase, but sadly, we find ourselves with no choice.



Back in the summer of 2020, a temporary VAT relief was introduced to help tourism, hospitality and holiday accommodation businesses severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This has been gradually transitioning back to the standard rate and from 1st April 2022 VAT will revert back to 20%.



This coupled with huge cost increases and an industry still struggling for stock will therefore see the cost of a camping pitch increase by £5 on all Warners Shows from the same date. We need to do this to ensure we can continue to deliver the quality you expect from Warners Shows.



If you're yet to finalise making your summer plans, then make sure you've booked your pitches with us by Thursday 31st March - every little helps!

 

[The general]

 

[frogijock]

We hate to be the next company to announce a price increase, but sadly, we find ourselves with no choice.



Back in the summer of 2020, a temporary VAT relief was introduced to help tourism, hospitality and holiday accommodation businesses severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This has been gradually transitioning back to the standard rate and from 1st April 2022 VAT will revert back to 20%.



This coupled with huge cost increases and an industry still struggling for stock will therefore see the cost of a camping pitch increase by £5 on all Warners Shows from the same date. We need to do this to ensure we can continue to deliver the quality you expect from Warners Shows.



If you're yet to finalise making your summer plans, then make sure you've booked your pitches with us by Thursday 31st March - every little helps!

So what Warners are saying is we have to increase the fee by £5 because the motor home industry is struggling to get sufficient stock

 

[gus-lopez]

I really fail to see what the bit about the vat means to them? they don't pay it just collect it.
If the tourists/customers are still coming with vat back as it was it has nothing to do with them increasing prices.
just put in as flannel to muddy the water.

 

[Bleau’s]

Vat on site fees paid by them to the government prior to 1st April will be at the lower rate after April1st it will be at 20 % so they have more to pay to the government and like most business there running costs will have gone up greatly in the last few weeks . I am not involved with warners.

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[royandsharont]

I was under the impression, possibly wrong, that the VAT discount given by the Gov was to help the industry and whilst it was expected by us all, the companies did not have to pass on the relief to the customers.

So the CAMC passed it all on but I think they could have collected it and was allowed, under ther scheme, to keep it to help them, not us.

I know this sounds to be not correct, as it is a tax payable by us and only collected by them, but that is how I thought it to was able to work as I queried how the scheme was to help the industry, and I must admit I’ve not seen hotels, pubs etc advertising passing the savings on to customers like the CAMC did and I did query how it would help the industry when it was our payable tax. I did consider it attracting more customers but understand that was not the theory of the scheme

Perhaps someone here knows for certain?

 

[DuxDeluxe]

So what Warners are saying is we have to increase the fee by £5 because the motor home industry is struggling to get sufficient stock

Oooh….. how cynical….. love it

They will get no money out of me this year

 

[bigtwin]

Why do you feel that it is a rip off?

Presumably, they feel that their operating costs have increased and, in order to remain a viable business (and keep however many employees they have in employment), it’s necessary to seek an increase in their revenue. If that’s what’s required to enable them to be able to continue to offer their service (MH shows, free entertainment, cheap weekend away, etc), then so be it.

From my recollection, most folks have always considered their shows to be good value, so much so that they’re happy to consider them simply an opportunity to meet other Funsters (well, apart from this year ) irrespective of the extent of the retailers there.

Did you/your employer never increase charge rates? Might ‘your’ customers have considered that a rip off?

Ian

 

[Sapper520]

Done our shows when we were researching for our van…..got our van. Would never buy a van or anything else at shows as I’ve found everything cheaper elsewhere.

However, we have purchased a tea or coffee when needed.

 

[pappajohn]

I fell out of love with Warner's years ago.
So long ago in fact I can't remember why, but it must have been a good reason at the time because I've had nothing to do with them ever since .

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[Two on Tour]

So what's the £5, per night ?

 

[The Wino]

I doubt if there will be much that won't go up this year in cost motorhome related or not.

 

[Minxy]

Other than going as day visitors to Lincoln show if we're so inclined I can't think of any we're likely to be going to now. The cost to stay over is way too high especially with a reduction in trade stands which just doesn't make them appealing, the last one we stayed over at cost us a fortune due to buying a new MH we had no intention of doing!

 

[Sapper520]

If like us, you are new to this game, visit as many shows or dealerships as possible. Then find everything cheaper elsewhere.

 

[Ivory55]

Who ever it was who puts a price up unless it was them , it would be posted as a rip off on here

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[Gaston aires]

We go to Warners shows for the entertainment and meeting friends mainly. The trade shows are secondary to us. A fiver extra is no big deal.
Phil

 

[Spriddler]

So what Warners are saying is we have to increase the fee by £5 because the motor home industry is struggling to get sufficient stock

Yes, I also fail to see the relevance of that in respect of the need to increase pitch fees.
If anything their customer base has grown significantly during the pandemic.

 

[Harrogate motorhomer]

Just another bunch who think they can further exploit the increased interest in motor homes. I suggest we send them a message and vote with our wallets.

 

[Mr porky]

As a company we paid vat at 12.5%, this enabled us to keep our prices keen even though costs went up.
Different company's applied different methods of the tax relief to there own situation.
With the vat going up to 20% we will have to revaluate same as everyone else.

Just applying a different viewpoint.

 

[mitzimad]

Other than going as day visitors to Lincoln show if we're so inclined I can't think of any we're likely to be going to now. The cost to stay over is way too high especially with a reduction in trade stands which just doesn't make them appealing, the last one we stayed over at cost us a fortune due to buying a new MH we had no intention of doing!

that must have been one tough salesman bye the time youd run through the various discount schemes club card points and discount for being from hull i bet he was tearing his hair out

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[stewartwebr]

I don't think the fiver increase shall put many off. However, over the years I must say how amazed I always am at the way in which they make money, I'm sure it is not as easy as it looks but from the outside it looks like a win win for a simple bit of organisation.

They rent a showground and advertise to the motorhome community via there well established magazines, so very little cost there. Then sell off pitches for people to come and camp over the four nights at a reasonable cost. Then they do the same to the traders charging them huge fees to come and sell there goods. Then they have the Warners Marshalls who peg out the fields, collect the entry tickets and a lot of other stuff free of charge, or for a few nights free camping. Then the sideline of booking a has-been act and charge a reasonable price to fill a barn allowing catering and bar teams (I assume at a cost) to attend to water and feed the masses. It seems a very very easy bit of business. I say this tongue in cheek as I am sure a lot more is involved but it does feel that everyone associated with it is making a payment to Warners other than the actual showground charge. Would love to know what the profit per show is?

 

[jongood]

So would anyone rather that Warners sacked all their staff by a pre recorded zoom call and then hire the cheapest people they can find to run it regardless of ability or communication skills?

The fact is that the last 2 years of turmoil caused by on/off lockdowns, travel bans etc etc have had a massive effect on hospitality and travel businesses. It always was inevitable that it would lead to price rises and the only folk that couldnt see it are the ones that don't associate "Government Money" as having to originate from their taxes.

IMHO its only a matter of time before we see fuel surcharges reappear for flights and cruises caused by us basically banning Russian Gas and Oil ( an action I think we should have taken long ago btw)

 

[Ambilkate]

Well it's £5 of our money they won't be getting or any of our money .
When we first started out with our motor home the shows suited our needs. Used to love going to the shows for the latest gear and ware on sale. Loved looking at vans way out of our price range but for us the novelty soon wore of once we were back at our van within the funsters camping section. We are more content with what we have and enjoy going to Fun rallies.
Our last show was a few years ago now it was at the Malvern October one .We personally made a decision there & then that we didn't like the way Warner's treated Motorhomefun Funsters & others at the venue at that time .

 

[bobnick]

Never been on a Warners site or to one of their shows so wouldn't know if it's value for money or not, with or without the £5 increase.

 

[Jim]

Accusing a company of ripping the public off is easy to do. But it's often claimed when people have no idea about the company's overhead? Only when we know those numbers, could we claim to be being ripped off.

When the costs of provision rise; prices to the public will go up, but the company might actually earn less, is that a rip-off?
What if prices need to rise just to keep earning the same or a modest rise? Is that a rip-off?

Yes, we can moan about show price rises, but are we being ripped off? The way things are going with prices rising everywhere, I doubt it.

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[funflair]

So would anyone rather that Warners sacked all their staff by a pre recorded zoom call and then hire the cheapest people they can find to run it regardless of ability or communication skills?

The fact is that the last 2 years of turmoil caused by on/off lockdowns, travel bans etc etc have had a massive effect on hospitality and travel businesses. It always was inevitable that it would lead to price rises and the only folk that couldnt see it are the ones that don't associate "Government Money" as having to originate from their taxes.

IMHO its only a matter of time before we see fuel surcharges reappear for flights and cruises caused by us basically banning Russian Gas and Oil ( an action I think we should have taken long ago btw)

That thought did cross my mind Jon we can't have it all ways and I have always thought that Warners shows were good value and still will be.

 

[ray63]

If like us, you are new to this game, visit as many shows or dealerships as possible. Then find everything cheaper elsewhere.

have a day at the shows..look aroud the site to see the van you like and talk to the real people who own there vans and get the real info on it,we visited lots of shows and dealers and made notes.took photos etc and then went looking elsewhere..,,we got a hymer s700....loved her then after 2 years sold her,,,noe were on the hunt again...same game and loving it

 

[StanandShirley]

Have wrote to Warners three times saying they are killing off the shows, the cost to the smaller stall holders have stopped them from coming. Meeting friends from the different clubs is a big thing for us but I’m afraid no more shows for us. For those who are going to the shows we wish them well

 

[phase3begins]

It seems that the conventional definition of ‘rip off’ has evolved into ‘any price increase that I don’t like is due to greed from the supplier, even if I don’t know the business drivers behind the increase’

 

[gus-lopez]

basically banning Russian Gas and Oil ( an action I think we should have taken long ago btw)

No good if you Don't do the same withanything made in China.

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