Shop around

We have been members of the C &CC over the years, on and off.  We join sometimes as we like a couple of their sites, but don't make enough use of them to justify the membership fee really. And I would qualify for the age discount. But discounting a flawed product doesn't really make it an attractive product.

For us the minimum of two, three or even 5 nights minimum stay is too restrictive. I far prefer the CAMC policy of no minimum night stay.  Then there is the extremely poor C &CC website where I can never find a simple availability chart so you have to keep putting slightly different dates in time after time to see if you find availability.  We also dislike being shown to a pitch and the "encouragement" to accept the pitch they choose for you. And finally we have found some pitches to be too small for an awning.   

I appreciate that others will feel completely differently and might have had different experiences with C &CC but for us it is not at all the Shangri La sometimes portrayed on here. But if it is for you, great stuff, enjoy your stay there....!!

A lot of what you say, I would agree with, especially their IT. However I think, with what for some, are major changes I imagine previously stalwart CMC members have been widening there choice, some of them by joining the C&CC. There are quite a few C&CC sites I would not use if the were a similar price to CMC sites simply because, personal view, they don't match the quality of CMC sites. But if price is important and you find you get a decent discount because you are over 60 that just adds to the disparity between the two Clubs as far as price is concerned and it will influence where some people decide to go. 

David

There’srecently been a large amount of emails hitting my inbox from the club offering discounts.  Some look quite attractive but as I like planning ahead, I’ve already booked non club sites.  If the CAMC prices were a bit more attractive to start with, it could have been a different story.  We’ve been members for many years and have stayed on over 60 sites in the past, many on several occasions.  Afraid at the moment, the attraction is no longer there. 😢

Alan, prices are set a year ahead (for each batch released) at a percentage higher than the corresponding period in the preceding year. These prices also got 'adjusted' by an 'electricity loading' which pushed them on even further.

if you book early, as you do, you'll probably get the 'benefit' of CAMC prices before the 'dynamic pricing' effect....these are adjustments which are made (upwards) as we get closer to the departure dates.

however, as you say, with those early prices being already too high for you, you've gone to other providers where, presumably, you get better VFM or you've gone to a CL etc?

this means you're not in the game for one time offer from the club...their loss? Your loss? both? How many early bookers will feel the same way, they've lost a potential saving?

OTOH, those who wait far longer than you and book much closer to the time (for many reasons) have the extra cost of DP pushing up the price...however, they can then take advantage of 'offers', provided that they are happy with the (sometimes constraining) T/Cs.

how much saving you get with an 'offer' pitch over one whose price might have been pushed up by DP and then lowered by the 'offer' is a moot point.

Alan

What is unexplained by this deluge of Club emails is the reasoning for the need. I assume that site occupation rates are not what the Club expected, hence all the offers. What ever the reasoning be that the new booking system, sites being expensive or just a general down turn in people actually going away this year I don't know. Currently on a four site trip, two commercial sites, one CMC site and one C&CC site. Guess which one is the most expensive!!!

David

I don't think it has anything to do with the new booking system or it shouldn't be, after all the terms are better than any commercial site I have stayed on. I suppose some may have turned to CLs who don't take deposits but I cannot imagine it will be that many.  A general downturn in people going away and prices are in my view are interlinked with the price being the key. If it is too expensive, then either people with stay at home or look for a cheaper alternative. The latter is increasingly easier to find because of the price the Club is charging which added to it the membership fee, makes them look expensive for what in the majority of cases is just a basic site.

peedee

The terms may be better than commercial sites. However the Club having lost its USP of no deposits, easily cancelled, together with a really difficult and chaotic start to the new booking system resulted in a lot of disgruntled members. A proportion of those will have the started to look for alternatives. Maybe just for some of their trips away. Doesn’t take that many to reduce bookings below what the club anticipated.  But of course the cost of living crisis will also have had an effect. I can well imagine that people might go away on fewer occasions, for example.

Nor would I read to much into disgruntled members leaving being a reason for any perceived downturn in bookings, as these are being replaced by new members who have no knowledge of the previous booking system and will see the current prices being reasonable, otherwise they will not have joined. I think the Club, as is most of the leisure industry, seeing a downturn due to the pressure on most peoples finances.

Also don't forget these offers apply to what, maybe 15 to 20% of all club sites so if there is a need due to booking being less than anticipated then it may only perhaps applies to those sites? So are the other 80+% doing well?

I perhaps thinks that with deposits the club has a much clearer view of booking, what did it say the cancellation rate was down by - 70%? So it now has a pretty good idea of what certain sites projected occupancy is really like and which sites to target and  to apply offers to. 

The club did have MWD in the past but this is perhaps also much fairer and maybe more effective in my view as the offers can be used at the weekend.

However the Club having lost its USP of no deposits, easily cancelled,

So where else would they expect to find the same terms? If they left because of this, its out of the frying pan into the fire for them. The introduction of the new system was not well done at all but I don't see it as being a bad move or one the Club is liable to do a U turn on. Poor IT systems will lose them money but I don't see it as a reason to leave the Club, such things can be remedied over time given the money is available to make the corrections.

peedee