Is it a rip off?

I doubt it too, TW, hence my post...

its just that many longer term members feel they really are 'in a club' and, as such, feel a bit peeved that prices are moving away from their reach.

Clubs have never been there to cater for all people BB. Any club generally is there to cater for those of a like mind. 

I have only ever looked on it as a membership fee. Same as Go Outdoors. The CAMC like any other business is out to get as much for its services as it can, without scaring those customers away. Although there are a few anomalies, in the main I think they have pricing about right. A lot of CAMC customers are holidaying for much shorter periods than us retired folk. When you are away for 6 weeks or so, the site costs are perhaps more of an issue than if it's only odd weekends and maybe your main 2 week holiday.

I suppose once you really retire and are really on a fixed income then as prices rise for everything there will come a time when eventually club prices may not be an option, a sad fact of life but there it is. Might even happen to me.

What should the club do? reduce it's prices, lose standards, sites and being competitive and become a charity for retired folk?

We are not talking people not being able to afford bread, butter, heating... here but staying on a club site.How many times are we told there are better and cheaper sites out there if only people are savvy enough to know that? 

And if things are that bad, how did you buy that expensive outfit? Or pay for it's insurance? 

A lot of CAMC customers are holidaying for much shorter periods than us retired folk. When you are away for 6 weeks or so, the site costs are perhaps more of an issue than if it's only odd weekends and maybe your main 2 week holiday.

many working folk are away 6 weeks plus odd weekends. 

Well put CS, A business will put its prices according to where they want to be in the market ,and that's it ,if you cant afford it look else where . I don't suppose the boss's at Ferrari would think to lower the price of their cars, so the low income can buy on !!!

We are retired and have been fully retired( drawing state pension) since 2008 and have only rarely used other than club sites in all the years we have been members(50 this year) and have noted how most of the sites have evolved to cater for the ever more increase in use and demanding membership and when taken in context with the majority of leisure industry prices find site prices to be on a par with most and cheaper than some,but there will always be some  comercial sites that some think give "better value?"but in conversations on the many sites we use(it pays to talk) the younger members do not see the club prices as ott ,and they are who the club need to attract some who post on here say are not joining,

we are away for two months from the 15th of next month all  9 are club sites 

Hmm, a bit of an I'm alright Jack attitude seems to be emerging....

On a limited fixed income, (and its not a larger final salary pension as some might have) , and with one of us yet to get any state pension due to the pension age being raised, yes we have to be mindful of site prices and budget accordingly.

Do we expect site prices to reduce to suit us ? No that would be beyond ridiculous. But I feel the need, and perhaps right to say, that for us, much of the time, they are beyond what we are prepared to pay and that cheaper alternatives exist which we often use.  For the same reason we seldom , if ever, eat out, it is simply beyond our means.

Another reason we are tighter on budget is that we have of course paid for the servicing, road tax and yes, the insurance on our van, which we afforded, for those who are curious, by trading in our previous car, our caravan and by adding a sum of money which I inherited.

But as the Caravan Club's site prices continue to increase, we will I am sure be using them less and less as time goes by. 

I do not see it as i am alright jack,,midweek discounts help ,and when not at home those cost are also less,(our duel fuel dd is £22 a month and also water is £12 per month and we are not on a high pension,our house is paid for and council tax is biggest monthly cost,we put money away per month to cover our 0ne car and caravan costs plus house insurance

Hmm, a bit of an I'm alright Jack attitude seems to be emerging.

I don't think so Justus. Simply the facts of life. I would not blame you Justus in seeking cheaper site options. Why would I, why would any right thinking person.