Booking Fees for the Honeypots

And when paying for any such larger amounts, ie package deal, with non refundable deposits, you usually take out travel insurance to cover your outlay in case you have to cancel 

Are we talking non refundable deposits? If not you still can cancel before the designated cut off, get your deposit back and what has changed?

At the end of the day the current club rules are no deposit, and the cut off at 72 hours. Why not just go with. It works, if you believe the club, but some don't and that is their choice (but some back up evidence would be good to prove their point), to reduce no shows and late cancelations.

If you join and keep re-joining the club why do you keep wanting to change a system that works? Why not do what most of us do and pitch up (literally) and enjoy.

Truly my view Corner. If we paid a deposit on booking it would need to be substantial enough to make it a factor. Should it be per booking? If so book 14 days for say £20 for a long stay or, if moving around may be as much as £100 to cover the same period. Maybe there should be a £10 a night booking fee to be fair to all members? 

In my view the present system is not broken. Change the system and the honeypot sites will be just as difficult to book. 

Again, EasyT, that's not what I was suggesting!

I am well aware of how your tour from previous posts and the club is your best friend for that, but not the friend of families like ours. And I can fully see why you would not want anything to change, it all works to your advantage, you get your cake and are able to eat it!

The thing I find unfair is paying the same membership fees and then having to book commercial sites, because there are no pitches available in the areas we want to go to on CC sites. I get no cake and have to pick up the crumbs off the floor

Next year, I am simply going to have to book multiple weekends and certain sites, with no intent of using the pitches except for 1 or 2 weekends, just to make sure I take advantage of the membership fee. I will then cancel the bookings when I know which ones I wont use.

I guess that sounds fair.

If that is the only way that it works for you I suppose OK CJ.

Most of my bookings have little affect on members with families family. Usually there is spare capacity on any sites that I go onto. It is just occasionally that I would luck out due to events in an area or not realising the popularity of a site. If we had a deposit system I would simply book the required Fridays and Saturdays for example. The present honeypot sites hold no attraction for me.

When I was working I would have no problem getting the holidays that I wanted. I was fortunate in that I always planned my own workload programme and had done so from age 40 I guess. If I needed to hit a target date to provide a scheme for a developer for example I would, when necessary, work 70 hours a week and was able to recover my time. Because I was productive I was fortunate to be one of the few given a relatively free hand in that regard. My pass for the office gave me access from 7 am up to 10pm 7 days a week rather than 7.30am to 7.30pm as most had for weekdays only. I made full use of it. It also enabled me to effectively take 12 weeks a year leave. 

The thing I find unfair is paying the same membership fees and then having to book commercial sites, because there are no pitches available in the areas we want to go to on CC sites. I get no cake and have to pick up the crumbs off the floor

That is simply due to your work system and your particular situation. If booking was rolling and able to book three months ahead would you then be any better off. That is would you know three months ahead when you were free at weekends.

Many of those working have to book most of the main holiday periods many months ahead to reserve the required dates for weeks away. My OH did.  

Being a working family with kids, we are unable to book sites on the bun fight day, as we cannot plan that far ahead for weekends, with school activities, overtime etc

Next year, I am simply going to have to book multiple weekends and certain sites, with no intent of using the pitches except for 1 or 2 weekends, just to make sure I take advantage of the membership fee. I will then cancel the bookings when I know which ones I wont use

I guess that sounds fair.

In the past I too was in that position. I just accepted it, I certainly didn't try and twist the system to suit my own situation though. It is however totally within the rules and therefore fair and your choice CJ, so if you can live with it then do it.

Next year, I am simply going to have to book multiple weekends and certain sites, with no intent of using the pitches except for 1 or 2 weekends, just to make sure I take advantage of the membership fee. I will then cancel the bookings when I know which ones I wont use.

I guess that sounds fair.

Doesn't sound very fair to me CJ. 

When I was working I just accepted I could not book when I wanted and put up with it. Now I am retired and there are other constraints, which is why incidentally I like the CC's booking cancellation policy. However, I would never book something without the intention of using it.

sorry meant to have fair in quotes, as in 'fair' as it applies to all

I agree the current frenzy day is unfair to working families.  I have 3 suggestions;

1 A limit to the number of nights you can have booked at any one time (say) 21 nights, or

2 A rolling booking period as already suggested

3 A transferable deposit when you book of (say) 25% of the total cost and extend the cancellation period to (say) one month when you have to pay the balance in full.  Failure to pay the balance would leave the booking being cancelled but you retain the deposit as a credit for the next booking you make.If you cancel after you've paid the balance you get your balance as a credit but forfeit the deposit.

None of these are rocket science and wouldn't be a problem as far as IT is concerned.

Just some thoughts.

Let me first say , I'm completely in favour of no deposits what's so ever , but your post does actually show just how in a common sense approch booking with deposits could work.

It would certainly put an end to the wild , no facts speculation regarding members making numerous booking & then just cancelling on a wimp .

Certainly it would free up pitches that wouldn't have been available until later & that's got to be good for everyone..........👍