Service Pitches

SolarPanels replied on 16/01/2017 21:40

Posted on 16/01/2017 21:40

Dear Caravan Club,

We have been enjoying my retirement by spending many extended stays on club sites, usually the bigger ones. While this has been most enjoyable, we have noticed something that is a cause of irritation to both us and many other members that we have spoken with on the subject. This is the usual inability to obtain a service pitch on site. Although we book most of our stays via the online facility, (in the main many months in advance) which we find most convenient, we never seem to be able to obtain a service pitch. We have just returned from a 21-night stay at Hunters Moon, from 26-12-16 to 16-01-17. We did try and book a service pitch way back June 2016, but with no luck. So, we settled for a standard pitch. Imagine our surprise, when by the 3-01-17, 98% of the service pitches had been vacated, and they remained empty all bar the odd member popping on for the odd night until we departed the site on the 16th of January. In the case of Hunters Moon, every service pitch has already been booked out for the 2017 Christmas Break, this before the 5th of January. (we know this as we have already booked our stay for the 2017 Christmas break with the warden whilst on site) Now we fully accept that each member has the right to book the nights that they desire. However, it is quite clear that the present system is being grossly unfair to a great number of members whose desire to have an extended stay on such a pitch, but can never get one. It appears that the club are more than willing to allow these premium pitches to be booked out for very short periods, at a severe cost to both other members and more importantly, club finances. Surely a more logical approach should be adopted? Why does the club not restrict the booking of such pitches to say 30% of short term stays, 30% for one to two week stays and the remaining 30% for those wishing to use the 21-night maximum stay? The club could, if this is not found to be a workable proposition, greatly increase the number of service pitches on each site, this would alleviate some of the problem. But if the present system stays in place, then it’s quite clear that an even greater number of service pitches would perhaps sit idle, costing all concerned both money and inconvenience. Many feel, that with some constraints put in place, the club will have a greater number of contented members, while enjoying a greater revenue stream. With all this new found extra income, perhaps the club would put in place some dog washing facilities on each site, hot and cold water please!

Tony Gardham 

Moderator Comment

This has been moved from the story section as its unlikely to reach the intended audience in that place. As an individual complaint it should have perhaps been sent direct to the Club via post or e-mail to the Sites Department.

replied on 18/01/2017 08:55

Posted on 17/01/2017 13:27 by mbee1

If possible we always book a service pitch if they're available and we don't always get one.  I always ring the site to see if any become available and sometimes we're lucky sometimes we're not.  

It's more annoying when you're told you can't have one because they're all booked up to the extent that there still aren't any when you check in but, in reality, due to no shows you find when on site you could have had one!

Even more annoying are the units that have one but then don't use them by not connecting to the water or waste!!

Posted on 18/01/2017 08:55

I find it annoying that anybody should criticise how others make use of serviced pitches. It simply smacks of sour grapes to me.

I don't desire to pay the extra on a CC site for such a pitch although I have on two occasions. I am often on AS sites however which include serviced pitches and would not consider carrying extra gear or faffing around when I can easily top the aquaroll using a 5 gallon container.

JVB66 replied on 18/01/2017 08:57

Posted on 17/01/2017 16:25 by mbee1

No I don't because there are so few non electric pitches on Club sites. I appreciate members pay extra for a service pitch but I just don't understand why pay extra and not use them when I want to pay extra but can't use them because I can't get one!

Posted on 18/01/2017 08:57

If we use a vacant available service pitch, which after doing the numerous circuitswink,is in a better position than others,we never connect to either water or waste but they are much closer to the c/van to accesslaughing,and whats moneycool

 

Ps the last time was over Xmas at Seacroft

young thomas replied on 18/01/2017 12:40

Posted on 17/01/2017 16:34 by SteveL

Possibly they just want to guarantee a hardstanding on a mixed surface site.

Posted on 18/01/2017 12:40

...and this may well be true, Steve....

however, it shows a failing in the system where a customer has to ask for one thing in order to get another.....especially as the 'one thing' has a charge when the 'other thing' that you really wanted, doesn'twink

similarly, by booking the 'one thing' when you really wanted 'the other', it may have deprived another customer of the 'one thing' that they really wantedundecided

surely the way to go (especially if it's true that folk book a SP in order to get a HS) is to provide a system that allows customers to book what they really want, a HS...

Of course, the club has been there, done that, and told us we dont really want this after all, despite myriad threads asking for this flexibility.

i wonder how many folk on SPs were asked if they were on an SP really so that they could guarantee a HS.

None, i suspect, especially when the club can sell all the SPs it has, at a premium price, to folk who dont really want themwink

The Ovaltineys replied on 18/01/2017 13:18

Posted on 18/01/2017 13:18

when I can easily top the aquaroll using a 5 gallon container.

I am assuming the 5 gallon is a typo ( 5 gallon of water weighs 25 kgs/50 lbs, more than enough to put your back out)

Why would anyone  frequently carry  small amounts of water when they can simply roll the aquaroll - isn't that the whole point of an aquaroll?

mickysf replied on 18/01/2017 13:18

Posted on 18/01/2017 12:40 by young thomas

...and this may well be true, Steve....

however, it shows a failing in the system where a customer has to ask for one thing in order to get another.....especially as the 'one thing' has a charge when the 'other thing' that you really wanted, doesn'twink

similarly, by booking the 'one thing' when you really wanted 'the other', it may have deprived another customer of the 'one thing' that they really wantedundecided

surely the way to go (especially if it's true that folk book a SP in order to get a HS) is to provide a system that allows customers to book what they really want, a HS...

Of course, the club has been there, done that, and told us we dont really want this after all, despite myriad threads asking for this flexibility.

i wonder how many folk on SPs were asked if they were on an SP really so that they could guarantee a HS.

None, i suspect, especially when the club can sell all the SPs it has, at a premium price, to folk who dont really want themwink

Posted on 18/01/2017 13:18

The issue to consider here is the personal priorities involved in planning. For us it is, in this order,  the location, then the site, then hard standing in inclement conditions, then awning if really needed for that specific visit. Now, having chosen the location and the site, if awning pitches are not available and grass is out of the question and there are only SPs left then SP it will be, despite no real need for such a facility. I could do with out an SP but I can't do without my holiday. For my few days on the SP mind I might just enjoy being what some may call me being lazy mind!

What I ask myself now is should they only be booked by those that have a very 'real' need for them or is it alright for me ( and others) to book and utilise, in our own way, such a facility?

Cornersteady replied on 18/01/2017 13:21

Posted on 18/01/2017 13:21

 

BB, your post above applies to sites where there is a choice. There are a number of HS only sites (all of the newer ones) that also have service pitches. Again these service pitches are often booked up before the HS. On these sites it cannot be to secure a HS. 

 

Wildwood replied on 18/01/2017 15:22

Posted on 18/01/2017 15:22

The basic problem is the club have far less serviced pitches than the demand for them. It would be expensive to try and expand these too far on current sites but should be included in any redevelopment.

Possibly the club could make the additional charge a deposit nut otherwise the current system is probably as fair to everyone as they can make it.

The only site we have booked one to get a hard standing was White Water Park but that is no longer a problem since the redevelopment.

Briang replied on 18/01/2017 15:47

Posted on 18/01/2017 13:18 by The Ovaltineys

when I can easily top the aquaroll using a 5 gallon container.

I am assuming the 5 gallon is a typo ( 5 gallon of water weighs 25 kgs/50 lbs, more than enough to put your back out)

Why would anyone  frequently carry  small amounts of water when they can simply roll the aquaroll - isn't that the whole point of an aquaroll?

Posted on 18/01/2017 15:47

I've seen this almost every time on every site we have stayed on. A daily walk with a watering can Why!!!!!!

mickysf replied on 18/01/2017 15:55

Posted on 18/01/2017 15:47 by Briang

I've seen this almost every time on every site we have stayed on. A daily walk with a watering can Why!!!!!!

Posted on 18/01/2017 15:55

Every day my grandad used to walk to the corner shop for his daily paper. It was only five minutes away but he was usually gone, much to my gran's annoyance, for about half an hour. Now he didn't begrudge the extra paperboy delivery charge but he did enjoy the walk and the chats he had whilst meeting up with others doing much the same. May be there is an answer there!

NickyKnix replied on 18/01/2017 16:44

Posted on 18/01/2017 16:44

Hello everyone,

Moulesy is correct that we do have two dates when future booking dates are released.

Members can currently book UK sites up to the night of 3rd January 2018 inclusive.

Bookings for the period 4th January - 16th March 2018 can be made from around 24th August.

Bookings for 17th March 2018 – 3rd January 2019 can be made from 8am on the first Wednesday of December (Peak Booking Day).  This year those dates will be released on 7th December.

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