Who Stays In Caravan Parks?

[d2dave]

I will preface this post for those that do not know. SWMBO (Sharon) and myself own and operate a small caravan park.

Today we had a very interesting experience.

Two days ago we took a booking for a powered site. When they arrived they were very put out that we did not take credit cards.(we forgot to tell them when they rang and booked)
They did have the $44 that was needed, but the poor things were having kittens about the frequent flyer points that they were missing out on.

Anyway today is check out. Our check out time is 10.00 AM. It is on their receipt and also a sign at the check in counter.
If a customer wants a late check out, if they ask, in most cases we will oblige, with about 12.00 midday the cut off.

If they want the whole day to do things we will offer for them to pack up and move their van to a storage spot at no charge.

Well today at 10.45 we go to see them to remind them that they should be moving on, or paying another night and they were not home.

Sharon rang them to find out their intentions, reminding them about 10.00am check out.
They were most put out saying that every other park that they have stayed at does not have this rule. They said that they would be back after lunch to leave.

Well they got back at 3 pm and Sharon went straight over to see them.
She told them that they had to pay for half a day.(really should be another full night as we could have lost business on the site for that night)
He arced up and was not going to pay. After an argument his wife took off to the toilets in tears.

At this point I was oblivious to what had happened until Sharon came and told me and got me to park my Disco in front of their car to block them in.

15 minutes latter the wife came in, still with tears, apologised for her husband's behavior and paid the half day, a whole eleven dollars.

Am I the only park to have a check out time? I thought this was fairly normal, although times would vary.

[Larry]

When I was young, my family would go touring each Christmas holidays in our caravan, staying a couple of days at a time in parks in different towns.
Back then it was the same all over, 10am check out.

Even in recent years when we've stayed over nighters, it's still the same, whether it's a tent site or a cabin, 10am check out.

Sounds like they were trying to call your bluff, or they really had no idea how all parks work.

[Graeme]

Blocking them in may not have been a good idea as that has the potential to trigger other legal complications. It may also have been prudent for PR reasons to just let them go.

[BMKal]

I stay in caravan parks regularly, both when we're travelling and these days, whenever I go down to Perth for meetings, medical stuff etc (book a cabin when I go to Perth).

I have never come across a caravan park anywhere that does NOT have a 10:00am checkout. ;)

(Though I should also say that I have never come across a caravan park where I have been unable to pay with a credit card).

[d2dave]

Blocking them in may not have been a good idea as that has the potential to trigger other legal complications. It may also have been prudent for PR reasons to just let them go.

What sort of legal issues? As for the $11, we could not care less. It was the principle and their attitude that forced this.

I forgot to mention in my OP, they drove a Landcruiser:angel:

We have a database for bad tenants which is usually used for bad long term residents, same as real estate agents have for rental properties.

In 15 years I have never had to add a tourist to this. I have now.

[Mick_Marsh]

If you do that to Landcruiser drivers, I'm never towing my van there with the Commodore.

[V8Ian]

If you do that to Landcruiser drivers, I'm never towing my van there with the Commodore.

Dave might appreciate that. ;)

[DoubleChevron]

It's a bit of a strange one. I've never been to any park that doesn't have a 10:00am checkout. I'd say the majority couldn't care if you were running late .... if they can see your still packing up at 10:30 .... no worries at all. It's obviously different if your in cabins and you need to give the cleaning staff a chance to clean them before the next check in.

We have always stayed in caravan parks .... we are trying to plan 3months away in a 1.5years time ..... And dragged out the old caravan book that's 9years old.... and were horified to find with 3 young kids a lot of parks were $5->15 a night for each child and close and $40->$50 a night.... so we'd be looking at $40 a night for the dead patch of grass to park on and $45 a night for the kids.... average price in the 9year old caravan book was $70bucks a night :eek: Now I understand why everyone is dead keen on setting up for free camping :eek: Caravaning used to be a cheap family holiday. Not any longer it's not. Maybe those caravan park books only list the most expensive parks around?

I don't blame the parks, look at the resources there expected to suplly for everyone these days.... the poor buggers that run them are working 7 days a week 12hours a day ... and sure aren't all living in mansions and driving rolls royces from what I can see.

seeya,
Shane L.

[stealth]

Your place, your rules Dave. If I lived in a park and I think you mentioned (another time) that you do have quite a few permanents, then I would prefer my landlord to be a person who ran a tight ship and didn't tolerate crap from anyone. Legal issues from blocking someone in? That's drawing a long bow. One that no one would be interested in unless you escalated in to a drawn out stand off. And we know for $11 that wouldn't happen.

[EastFreo]

Besides caravan parks that sort of time (maybe 11am) is standard for hotels as well.

Everyone knows that.

Sounds like one of those pains in the proverbial.

Not worth worrying anymore about. Have a beer, glass of wine or whiskey, relax and remind yourself of all the rewarding experiences I am sure you have had over the last 15 years and forget about it.

[d2dave]

If you do that to Landcruiser drivers, I'm never towing my van there with the Commodore.

It will never happen.

A/It couldn't pull a van and B/ if it could it would probably get stolen before you made it.:p

No Cookies | Herald Sun (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/holden-commodore-in-melbournes-western-suburbs-is-car-most-likely-to-be-stolen/story-fni0fit3-1227393649891)

[justinc]

Dave i keep thinking "the poor wife..." 😕😕😕
When we are travelling too and from a destination or staying in a major centre for a few days we'll use parks. Mostly unpowered unless weather is too hot or too cold and then powered so we can run heater/ac. 10am is normal in every place we have ever been since i can remember.
We hope to see you at some time ☺.

Jc

[alien]

As others have said 10Am is the usual check out at 95% of accommodation places we stay at unless arranged earlier.


A few years ago a group of us stayed at a park near the Vic/Nsw border.
The managers lived off site and did the rounds around 4Pm for the nights payments.
No sooner had they left and a couple of vans turned up for the night.
They used the shower and looked at the washing machines we where using.
Just before daylight they fired up the Nisota's and left without making a payment :angry:
The managers returned @8ish to clean the facilities etc. and said it was a grey nomad thing.
They where close to doing keys for the ablution block to discourage the :censored:

[weeds]

It's a bit of a strange one. I've never been to any park that doesn't have a 10:00am checkout. I'd say the majority couldn't care if you were running late .... if they can see your still packing up at 10:30 .... no worries at all. It's obviously different if your in cabins and you need to give the cleaning staff a chance to clean them before the next check in.

We have always stayed in caravan parks .... we are trying to plan 3months away in a 1.5years time ..... And dragged out the old caravan book that's 9years old.... and were horified to find with 3 young kids a lot of parks were $5->15 a night for each child and close and $40->$50 a night.... so we'd be looking at $40 a night for the dead patch of grass to park on and $45 a night for the kids.... average price in the 9year old caravan book was $70bucks a night :eek: Now I understand why everyone is dead keen on setting up for free camping :eek: Caravaning used to be a cheap family holiday. Not any longer it's not. Maybe those caravan park books only list the most expensive parks around?

I don't blame the parks, look at the resources there expected to suplly for everyone these days.... the poor buggers that run them are working 7 days a week 12hours a day ... and sure aren't all living in mansions and driving rolls royces from what I can see.

seeya,
Shane L.


Gotta agree.....caravan parks adds up when traveling with three kids......on the way back from a trip the other year we made a last minute decision to stop overnight at a popular caravan park $105 for a non powered site

Free camping is not the greatest either when traveling with kids anytime really, most are on the hi-way, no facilities and there is no restriction on generators.

[d2dave]

Dave i keep thinking "the poor wife..." 😕😕😕


Someone said to me that they felt sorry for his wife. I didn't. She has had plenty of years to ditch the arsehole, but has decided not to, so deserves what he dishes out.

[Homestar]

Yep, every park has a 10am checkout that I've ever been to. Not sure what this couple were on but if they act like that at every park they stay at, they're going to have a very bad caravanning experience.

[d2dave]

When this couple arrived it was 12.05 pm. At this time we only had two sites left.
I can imagine how ****ty he would have been had these sites still been occupied from the previous night
and the conversation went something like this.

Me. "you will have to wait out the front as last nights guests have not left yet"
Them. "When are they going".
Me "Not sure, when they feel like it"
Them. "What sort of business do you run here?"

[Pedro_The_Swift]

staying at local showgrounds is much less stressfull,, but then all the caravan park owners hate you---:angel::wasntme:

[Rok_Dr]

Yep in all my years travelling it's always 10-11 check out, regardless of country, caravan park, 5 star hotel etc.

I've never had a problem with being an hour or 2 late at caravan parks. Some hotels I've had to ask for a late check out but I've never been charged for this from memory.

Cheers

Steve

[PhilipA]

Some caravan parks are their own worst enemies.
I was staying in one near Rockhampton and they didn't have a boom gate or locking amenities.
A woman in a Coaster bus arrived next to me at about 8PM and left about 7AM the next morning, and the managers were none the wiser.

It leaves a bit of a bad taste when you have paid lots and that happens.
I bet there is a list within the itinerant community.

Don't get me started on backpackers who arrive in National Parks at 8PM take over your fire and sing and dance until late and leave next morning before the Ranger is up and about.
Regards Philip A

[jonesfam]

We don't have van sites but we do have 5 units, they are 10:00am check-out & 1:00pm check in unless otherwise arranged in advance.
If they are not out by 10 that is another 1/2 nights fee, if they cancel with less than 5 days notice they still pay full price for the entire period booked.


I don't know your set up but I would respectfully suggest that you get EFTPOS with credit card facilities, we get their card number when they book or turn up so if they do a runner or don't arrive we can still process the sale.
There is a cost to run EFTPOS but I have found that if you shop around you can get good deals & if your bank isn't helpful go see the others & then go back to yours to see if they will match the best deal.


It is a bit different for us as most of our stayers are Public Servants or similar & if they cancel & we charge them anyway they just accept that.


Jonesfam

[p38arover]

I never stay at caravan parks. I'll always book into a motel or pub - but I don't tow a van. I'll pay for the convenience of air con and my own bathroom or one close by the room if in a pub.

I might consider a caravan park if I was staying for several days and it was close by where I wanted to spend time.

The only reason I wanted to book a cabin/van at your place Dave was so that if we got to drinking :angel: , I wouldn't have had to drive back into town.

[alien]

What ever happened to customer service?
What's the saying...The customer is always right!


I'd suggest if you don't like what happened it may be time to sell up and move on:twisted:
:angel::wasntme:

[Ausfree]

I used to tow a van many years ago, couldn't be bothered with the hassles now in my grumpy old years. When travelling I stay at a hotel or motel.:)

[bob10]

Don't forget to read the fine print when you settle in. Stayed at 1770 Capt Cook village park, in a cabin. In the welcome to park book, a fee of $45 would be charged to your card if the dishes were not washed up, & left in the sink. Fair enough, we always treat those places like our own home, but it brings to home the value of park operators having a pay by card system . BTW, the extra charge was not displayed in the on line speil. Bob

[rangieman]

Dave mate honestly they were driving a yota what did you expect:p
I feel for your pain you were right in your actions and 10 am is a given:cool:

[Cobber]

Not that I tow a van but the times I've stayed in caravan parks - usually because I'm towing a car trailer or something awkward - the checkout is 10am. I've found though that if you ask for a late departure (lunchtime) or even a late entry (after 6pm say) the people running and/or owning the place are more than happy to oblige. I guess you're much the same at your park? I checked into a place once at 11pm and departed at 6am ... I didn't walk into the office once - but because I showed some courtesy and rang in advance to advise that my journey wasn't going to plan they went out of their way to make arrangements for me :BigThumb:

At the end of the day it's the old thing we (most!) learn as children - 'manners cost nothing' :)

[Pocket Rocket]

Blocking them in may not have been a good idea as that has the potential to trigger other legal complications. It may also have been prudent for PR reasons to just let them go.

Why should he let them go? This is basically stealing.

They have taken a bay which they were refusing to pay for at the expense of Dave's business in being able to attract other clients to the site.

I think the legal issues would have been in Dave's favour.

As for a 10am checkout - that's just standard. Never heard of it being any other way.

Why should Dave allow people to steal from his business? Also if he did it would set a precedent for anyone else wanting a late checkout when those people went around telling all their friends.

[loneranger]

It's always a 10 am checkout with most places being an afternoon check in. This way all the outgoing vans leave before the incoming vans and the traffic flows work better. For accommodation it allows the cleaners to go in and do their thing.

It appears like they were trying it on and possibly even had plans to pull over on the side of the road that night and didn't want to drag their van around all day. I don't see that you did anything wrong.

[Bob Harding]

Stopped staying in CPs when the owners Assc

Started lobbying the local councils and Government

To ban free camping

[cafe latte]

My missus and myself went round Aus twice and 10am is normal. Like others have said if people were packing up and it was 10.30am they wont make a problem, but your situation was different they were taking the P.
Re blocking them in yes why not if they have been to ANY other van parks before they no the rules and they were being difficult on purpose.
I only ever has one issue on a caravan park in Aus and the owner kept walking in between our car and the van (right past our door) across the cement and looking in the van as he went. My missus was naked getting dressed and he has been doing it again and again and I lost the plot and told him that he should not be short cutting across our site and I was not happy he was looking in our van especially at my naked missus. He said he owned the park and he could do what he wanted, so we left, with a refund
We ended up leaving and going to another park down the road.
In this case the owner was in the wrong, but in your case you are not.
Chris

[goingbush]

Im totally self contained and set up for remote outback travel, but when we go to Towns, as you have to occasionally to stock up etc, we ALWAYS stay in caravan parks . I hate freeloading cheap arse bastards that squash themselves into free sites just out of town . I could not believe all the tight wads that were camped out at the free spot on the way into Kununurra - more tightly packed in there than Big4 (I hate Big4 too) Im not a people person - I need my space.

I love the areas we go to and am happy to put money into the communites by shopping / cafes / caravan parks etc . So yes we stay at caravan parks a lot, infact if we are within 50km of a town prefer to caravan park than free camp.

I have only come across two other parks that don't take card, I don't give a rats about loyalty points, its just convenient . And yes 95% if parks are 10.00 eviction, The only time I had someone knock on my door because we overstayed was Alice Springs, - actually we told them we were staying a few weeks , but I forgot it was the last day of the first week and just forgot to pay, my bad. We ALWAYS leave by 10.00 and are constantly amazed when we see people packing up an leaving around lunchtime.

Another park in Adelaide had NO DOGS on 2 big signs and NO DOGS on the rules, yet there were 3 dogs in the park, Im not usually a dobber but I do usually have respect for rules so asked at the office & the said No Dogs, I told them about the 3 dogs & pointed them out , .. Nothing , Next day (the trouble maker that I am) I took a photo of dog going into van & emailed to the office , then the office manager went over to them & struck up a great conversation patting the dog etc , she has a piece of paper in her hand & pointing over to my direction - I nearly fell over. For the next few days I had to put up with hostility of those people , Not that I give a rats , its just the principle. - I am a dog lover , just ****ed that we could not bring our dogs.


The park we are in now I was talking to the ,manager who I was watching put a padlock & hasp on an onsite van to lock the tenant out because the bloke was a week overdue !!

We have been offered the management of this park for 12 months, thinking about it , but its probably a bit big, prefer to start with something about 50 sites (or less) . nah , think I'll just keep taking it easy instead.

Your park only $22 a day - I can't believe people are so tight, put up the fees and enforce the bloody rules ... good on you I say

[steane]

Yep...tight wads :angry:. They are everywhere and $11 is a serious amount of coin. It's like 110 empty drink cans or double what you can save by driving to the Safeway and using your shopper vouchers when you fill up.

A sum of money not to be taken lightly :p

As long as they are on the black list and not allowed in again all is well ;)

[bob10]

Well, the only annoying thing about 1770 park, was the scrub turkey knocking on the door at day light , looking for a handout. Lucky for us, we are up at 5.00 am every day. Bob

[Disco Muppet]

Nothing wrong with free camping, however I do agree that when I travel somewhere I support the local community as much as my budget allows ;)

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[Chops]

Besides caravan parks that sort of time (maybe 11am) is standard for hotels as well.

Everyone knows that.

Sounds like one of those pains in the proverbial.

Not worth worrying anymore about. Have a beer, glass of wine or whiskey, relax and remind yourself of all the rewarding experiences I am sure you have had over the last 15 years and forget about it.

He cant, he's on a diet, and looking all the better for it too I must say :D . Sorry we broke your diet rules last weekend too dude ;) (ok, no I'm not, I had a blast :angel:)

Your well and truly in the right though Dave, don't stress.
I've been running late to get into a park, rang the owners, and when we rolled in at just after 9pm, it was raining, I needed to set up three tents etc etc. Was greeted by the owner, who consistently apologised for the rain. He had set up for us a little gazebo thing, with a kettle, toaster, had some towels there for us. I was so amazed at his effort to do as much for us as possible,,, just blown away.
So much for sunny QLD, but I must say, it was quite pleasant working in the "warm rain" :D

[cafe latte]

Nothing wrong with free camping, however I do agree that when I travel somewhere I support the local community as much as my budget allows ;)

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I agree,
Ravenshoe has free camping and a caravan park. Some want hot showers and a bit more comfort and they go to the caravan park, the rest go to the free camping, BOTH are supporting the town. They BOTH buy in our supermarket and other shops, are hardware store and they BOTH eat and drink in our pubs.
Actually when the free camping was closed a while back some did not stop here at all and the town lost out.
Also we have a dog, who is very well behaved. My parents live abroad and my missus are very old so we dont have anyone to dog sit for us. Pluto our dog is a bit of a winger too if we put him in a kennel he would go nuts so we must take him with us to parks. It is really hard to find parks that accept dogs, which is sad as Pluto is always tied to the van and is always well behaved. We take him for his walk and pick up his poop so he has no impact on the park so it is a shame we cant take him more places.
I dont take Pluto where he might not be welcome, but all the same I cant imagine why anyone would dob someone in for a dog just because it was against the rules. Life is just too short. If the dog is a nuisance constantly barking ok, but just because it is against the rules, hmm.
Chris

[justinc]

Nothing wrong with free camping, however I do agree that when I travel somewhere I support the local community as much as my budget allows ;)

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Hmmm there's more to the local community than the bottle shop young Muppet. .. 😛

[Pedro_The_Swift]

As Guiness travels with us we only stay where he can.
And every park owner we talked to always said the dogs were less trouble than kids.

I think it all depends on how busy the Park is,, obviously if the site is prebooked for the next day,, you have to move on.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Hmmm there's more to the local community than the bottle shop young Muppet. .. 😛

Pot--Kettle
?????
:p

[Pedro_The_Swift]

. I hate freeloading cheap arse bastards that squash themselves into free sites just out of town .

Your park only $22 a day - I can't believe people are so tight,

Is it my duty to support every caravan park owner in Australia??

just because I bought a caravan???

That $22 ( and more like 35-40 in Vic)I just saved would probably be spent on a Parma at the Pub,, or fuel at the servo,, or a six-pack from the Local,,

But of course NO-ONE should go caravaning on a budget,,,

[85 county]

10 am is normal, but you are dealing with the public so unfortunately not all public are nice peaple.

as for the visa card. this is easy as well now days, anz have a free app for your phone, dumps the money into your account. sill not to have this now days, i suspect this set the tone for every thing that followed.

in fact i would say not havering visa facility is silly in today's world.

https://www.anz.com.au/small-business/products-services/merchant-services/fastpay/?ANZ%20FastPay

[Disco Muppet]

Hmmm there's more to the local community than the bottle shop young Muppet. .. 😛

I'm 22 with a td5, do you really think I can afford booze? :D

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[cafe latte]

As Guiness travels with us we only stay where he can.
And every park owner we talked to always said the dogs were less trouble than kids.

I think it all depends on how busy the Park is,, obviously if the site is prebooked for the next day,, you have to move on.

My feeling is the three dog on the site mentioned probably had special permission. We have asked if a site will take dogs. They often say, not normally, but if you keep the dog quite and on a lead or some other conditions they can stay. Which is why I was against the guy complaining just because of a sign.
Chris

[DiscoMick]

Ten am is standard. The bloke is just a jerk.
Do recmmend you get EFTPOS though, as its just normal everywhere now. Surely your bank can look after you? Just add the charge to the fees - no-one will care.

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[cafe latte]

Ten am is standard. The bloke is just a jerk.
Do recmmend you get EFTPOS though, as its just normal everywhere now. Surely your bank can look after you? Just add the charge to the fees - no-one will care.

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I have not seen it, but dad has some app or something so he can take credit cards using his mobile phone for his business back in the UK.
Chris

[jonesfam]

What ever happened to customer service?
What's the saying...The customer is always right!


I'd suggest if you don't like what happened it may be time to sell up and move on:twisted:
:angel::wasntme:



Customer service is what it's all about, but hopefully you have more than 1 customer so the rules have to be set to be to the benefit of the majority. If we need a few hours to get a unit cleaned (& some are left disgusting) then folks have to accept that, it's only fair to the next bloke.
As for charging fees for whatever, we constantly knock back bookings because we are full, if some one cancels or makes us pay 2 staff to clean because they left late they can pay for the privilege.
Jonesfam

[justinc]

I'm 22 with a td5, do you really think I can afford booze? :D

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I should think it would be a necessity because you own a td5...:wasntme:

[bob10]

I'm 22 with a td5, do you really think I can afford booze? :D

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22? And a mod? really. Bob

[Disco Muppet]

22 in September actually Bob. But what's 3 months between friends ;)
Consider me a youthful perspective.

And JC, I'll remind you you're aiming to make a td5 P38a. You'll be moving onto harder drugs by the time you're done :p

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[bob10]

22 in September actually Bob. But what's 3 months between friends ;)
Consider me a youthful perspective.

And JC, I'll remind you you're aiming to make a td5 P38a. You'll be moving onto harder drugs by the time you're done :p

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I'm 67 in September. Doubt you have very much perspective on my age group at all. But, good for you. Just one piece of advice. Knowledge does not come from schooling alone. Sometimes you have to live life, to learn about life. And I'm sure you will. Bob

[Chops]

22? And a mod? really. Bob

haha,,, well I'll be stuffed, I've not noticed that before, thanks for bringing it to my attention Bob :D

Good move Muppet, you must be held with much respect. :D (well, I guess that's Dave's doing, good stuff Dave :cool:)

[MR LR]

I'm 67 in September. Doubt you have very much perspective on my age group at all. But, good for you. Just one piece of advice. Knowledge does not come from schooling alone. Sometimes you have to live life, to learn about life. And I'm sure you will. Bob
Can you please elaborate on this statement, Bob? I am having trouble finding its relevance to the thread topic.

To actually add to the topic... I stay in caravan parks occasionally, but I tend to avoid the places if I can. Personal preference, is all.

[Tombie]

I'm 67 in September. Doubt you have very much perspective on my age group at all. But, good for you. Just one piece of advice. Knowledge does not come from schooling alone. Sometimes you have to live life, to learn about life. And I'm sure you will. Bob

I know some very youthful 60 something's and then there's Grumpy old bastards!!!


Which one are you? :D


Remember: you can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep reading the last one!

[Homestar]

haha,,, well I'll be stuffed, I've not noticed that before, thanks for bringing it to my attention Bob :D

Good move Muppet, you must be held with much respect. :D (well, I guess that's Dave's doing, good stuff Dave :cool:)

The door was accidentally left open and he wandered in. Everyone was too nice to ask him to leave. :D :wasntme:

[Stuck]

haha,,, well I'll be stuffed, I've not noticed that before, thanks for bringing it to my attention Bob :D

Good move Muppet, you must be held with much respect. :D (well, I guess that's Dave's doing, good stuff Dave :cool:)
Maybe the other Mods are just keeping him where they can see him. :D

[DiscoMick]

I have not seen it, but dad has some app or something so he can take credit cards using his mobile phone for his business back in the UK.
Chris

Yeah, I've seen tradies do that on their smartphones, but I don't have any details. Sure a bank could organise it.

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[85 county]

Yeah, I've seen tradies do that on their smartphones, but I don't have any details. Sure a bank could organise it.

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i even posted a link.

i dumped my west pack wireless hand held machine that always could not get reception in the hills and chewed up the paper or run out of paper etc, now its all on the phone and email. saves me about 200 a month. if there is the possablity of ongoing charges i just take a pic of the card

[Tombie]

The door was accidentally left open and he wandered in. Everyone was too nice to ask him to leave. :D :wasntme:


Nah.. I gave up my Spot so the young fella could get some life experience in dealing with Bob :D

[85 county]

Remember: you can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep reading the last one!

so true, reminds me of a some thing i was told in the army.

some people have 20 years experience.
other people have 1 years experience 20 times over.

[d2dave]

but then all the caravan park owners hate you---:angel::wasntme:

Not all.

[d2dave]

I don't know your set up but I would respectfully suggest that you get EFTPOS with credit card facilities, we get their card number when they book or turn up so if they do a runner or don't arrive we can still process the sale.
There is a cost to run EFTPOS but I have found that if you shop around you can get good deals & if your bank isn't helpful go see the others & then go back to yours to see if they will match the best deal.
Jonesfam

We have looked into credit card facilities a number of times over the 15 years we have been here.
During this period we have lost three customers because of this.

Because the bank fees saved we are miles ahead.

[d2dave]

The only reason I wanted to book a cabin/van at your place Dave was so that if we got to drinking :angel: , I wouldn't have had to drive back into town.

Not likely:twisted:, and as I said, there is a free spare room in the house.

[p38arover]

Not likely:twisted:, and as I said, there is a free spare room in the house.

Yes, but as I explained, I don't like to stay with people as it puts them out.

[Tombie]

What ever happened to customer service?
What's the saying...The customer is always right!


I'd suggest if you don't like what happened it may be time to sell up and move on:twisted:
:angel::wasntme:


Unfortunately that phrase was coined when a high percentage of customers weren't total dicks!

:D

[Tombie]

Referring to the post about blocking them in..
Whilst I agree with the action...

There is a law against it and it can back fire very quickly.

[d2dave]

He cant, he's on a diet, and looking all the better for it too I must say :D . Sorry we broke your diet rules last weekend too dude ;) (ok, no I'm not, I had a blast :angel:)

I'm not. It was well worth it.:beer:

[Pocket Rocket]

Referring to the post about blocking them in..
Whilst I agree with the action...

There is a law against it and it can back fire very quickly.

Also a law against stealing which is what the client was doing by refusing to leave on time and refusing to pay until he was blocked in. A caravan park is private property. Unlawfully trespassing on private property...

[Chops]

Yes, but as I explained, I don't like to stay with people as it puts them out.

That doesn't count with some of us Ron :D

[d2dave]

as for the visa card. this is easy as well now days, anz have a free app for your phone, dumps the money into your account. sill not to have this now days, i suspect this set the tone for every thing that followed.

in fact i would say not havering visa facility is silly in today's world.

https://www.anz.com.au/small-business/products-services/merchant-services/fastpay/?ANZ%20FastPay

Don't like smart phones so don't have one and have no intentions of getting one.

[LandyAndy]

haha,,, well I'll be stuffed, I've not noticed that before, thanks for bringing it to my attention Bob :D

Good move Muppet, you must be held with much respect. :D (well, I guess that's Dave's doing, good stuff Dave :cool:)

Kermit as we call him was aproached to be an moderator,he didnt ask for it.Bloody good prospect too;)
;);););)
Andrew

[DiscoMick]

We have looked into credit card facilities a number of times over the 15 years we have been here.
During this period we have lost three customers because of this.

Because the bank fees saved we are miles ahead.

Wouldn't you just build the fee into your charges? Isn't the Visa merchant fee usually only about 2% anyway or have I got that wrong?
Personally, I rarely carry more than $20 in cash because I just use my Visa debit card all the time to draw it straight from my bank balance, so I would have a problem staying with you.
Most places just swipe you on arrival and then process any alterations afterwards, so they know they can always get paid. In this case, you could have simply billed the customer for an extra half day because he was late to leave and no confrontation involved. He probably wouldn't have even noticed it until much later.
Suggest, if you haven't already, you also put a statement on your booking paperwork that departure after 10am will incur an extra fee unless they vacate the site.
We've often arranged to move off the site, but park in the park parking area for a few hours if we want to hang around.

EDIT: Just reread your OP and see you've already covered a question I asked above. Sorry.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

[LandyAndy]

I know some very youthful 60 something's and then there's Grumpy old bastards!!!


Which one are you? :D


Remember: you can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep reading the last one!

We have a 69yo GOB at work Tombie,you wouldnt believe it he gives everybody the ****s,not joking;)
;););)
Need cumpulsory retirement!!!!
Andrew

[DiscoMick]

We have a 69yo GOB at work Tombie,you wouldnt believe it he gives everybody the ****s,not joking;)
;););)
Need cumpulsory retirement!!!!
Andrew

I have a Grumpy Old Man t-shirt which I wear proudly, to my wife's disgust. I'd like a dollar for every old bloke who has asked me where he can buy one (Logan Hyperdome).


Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

[d2dave]

Wouldn't you just build the fee into your charges? Personally, I rarely carry more than $20 in cash because I just use my Visa debit card all the time to draw it straight from my bank balance, so I would have a problem staying with you.
Most places just swipe you on arrival and then process any alterations afterwards, so they know they can always get paid. In this case, you could have simply billed the customer for an extra half day because he was late to leave and no confrontation involved. He probably wouldn't have even noticed it until much later.
Suggest you also put a statement on your booking paperwork that departure after 10am will incur an extra fee unless they vacate the site.
We've often arranged to move off the site, but park in the park parking area for a few hours if we want to hang around.


Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

Most of my clientele are permanent residents. They are usually recipients of centerlink, so we need to keep our charges to a minimum.

The reason I have no problems with no credit card facilities is that all my non regular customers stay a minimum of one night.
Most of these go to town after setting up camp where we have a hole in the wall and two supermarkets where cash out is available.

I just tell them to set up and pay me later.

[p38arover]

That doesn't count with some of us Ron :D

Thanks, Marcus, but once I get to my hotel/motel room and have had my shower, I don't get dressed again until it's time to leave. I doubt I can do that at someone else's place! :D

[Chops]

Thanks, Marcus, but once I get to my hotel/motel room and have had my shower, I don't get dressed again until it's time to leave. I doubt I can do that at someone else's place! :D

:eek2:

[Mick_Marsh]

Thanks, Marcus, but once I get to my hotel/motel room and have had my shower, I don't get dressed again until it's time to leave. I doubt I can do that at someone else's place! :D
Double



:eek2:

[Tombie]

Also a law against stealing which is what the client was doing by refusing to leave on time and refusing to pay until he was blocked in. A caravan park is private property. Unlawfully trespassing on private property...


Doesn't work that way...

Ungated, unsecured property - a request to leave that is ignored will render trespass...

But breaking a law (illegal detain) to claim theft will have both parties in trouble..

The party detained could also claim intent to pay another night.

See how it can get messy quickly!?

[d2dave]

Doesn't work that way...

Ungated, unsecured property - a request to leave that is ignored will render trespass...

But breaking a law (illegal detain) to claim theft will have both parties in trouble..

The party detained could also claim intent to pay another night.

See how it can get messy quickly!?

This bloke threatened to call the police. Sharon offered to call them for him.

We are in a small town where I know the police well. I know whose side they would take.

[Homestar]

Doesn't work that way...

Ungated, unsecured property - a request to leave that is ignored will render trespass...

But breaking a law (illegal detain) to claim theft will have both parties in trouble..

The party detained could also claim intent to pay another night.

See how it can get messy quickly!?

Over $11? As Dave said - the Police would laugh it off and side with the locals. If it went any furth and they took civil action, then it would need to go to mediation which would cost each party $165 plus whatever outcome was decided upon.

[donh54]

When I encounter a place with no eftpos, I ask for a discount at least equal to the bank fee. If not forthcoming, I go elsewhere. The way I see it, I am expected to pay bank fees for a withdrawal so you don't have to. Obviously, remote areas with a lack of communication infrastructure are a different kettle of fish, and in those areas I carry sufficient cash.

[85 county]

you say you have only losed 3 customers that you know of though not having card facilitys.

so that's 44 X3 less 2% so you are actually 130 worse off,

marketing people say 1 in 10. word of mouth.

so that's actually $ 1300.00 worse off

then there is the bad press from having 1 customer ****ed off and any other customers who witnessed the event.

imagination if this customer was a member of a club or forum, like this and posted like you have done. the numbers get greater.

if you work with the public you just have to suck it up. remember the public pay you for the pain they make

[d2dave]

When I encounter a place with no eftpos, I ask for a discount at least equal to the bank fee. If not forthcoming, I go elsewhere. The way I see it, I am expected to pay bank fees for a withdrawal so you don't have to. Obviously, remote areas with a lack of communication infrastructure are a different kettle of fish, and in those areas I carry sufficient cash.

At $22 a night the discount is already there. I can assure you if you go elsewhere the extra you pay will far outweigh your bank fees.

[85 county]

When I encounter a place with no eftpos, I ask for a discount at least equal to the bank fee. If not forthcoming, I go elsewhere. The way I see it, I am expected to pay bank fees for a withdrawal so you don't have to. Obviously, remote areas with a lack of communication infrastructure are a different kettle of fish, and in those areas I carry sufficient cash.

WHAT? planet are you from? is not the fees cheaper than paying for your time to muck about getting the cash?? how many service suppliers have told you to go take a running jump. give you a discount because you are to lazy to get the cash?

[p38arover]

I'm sure a number of businesses only accept cash because it's easier to skim off a few dollars before doing the day's books. I didn't bother when we had a florist shop - I think one our employees did it. We never made enough money to run two sets of books.

[incisor]

When I encounter a place with no eftpos, I ask for a discount at least equal to the bank fee.

pray tell, how much do you think the bank fee would be?

[MR LR]

When I encounter a place with no eftpos, I ask for a discount at least equal to the bank fee. If not forthcoming, I go elsewhere. The way I see it, I am expected to pay bank fees for a withdrawal so you don't have to. Obviously, remote areas with a lack of communication infrastructure are a different kettle of fish, and in those areas I carry sufficient cash.
That's just a wee bit silly.

I'd tell you where to go :)

[Tombie]

Over $11? As Dave said - the Police would laugh it off and side with the locals. If it went any further and they took civil action, then it would need to go to mediation which would cost each party $165 plus whatever outcome was decided upon.

I understand where you're coming from and I agree whole heartedly...

And most times the local Officer will calmly point this towards a resolution.

I have personally been in the situation though, where the Officer was placed in a position by the opposing party, that the answer was if he was charged, I too would have to be charged with an offence.

This scenario - no charge was levelled at either of us... And the matter was resolved using alternative methods of mediation :angel:


For the record - I agree whole heartedly with Daves actions and that the other individual was being an enormous phallus - people like that are the ones who ruin it for the rest of us...

[DoubleChevron]

Your park only $22 a day - I can't believe people are so tight, put up the fees and enforce the bloody rules ... good on you I say

Wow ... what caravan park is only $22 a night ?? That is very cheap compared to everywhere we have looked. $70 -> $110 a night seems almost "standard" with 3 young kids ( which forces you into peak holiday seasons)...

Which is obviously insanity. Who can afford $100 a night just for a dead patch of grass :( I think we'll buy a generator and shower/****ter and try and free camp and just stay in a park every 3rd or 4th night.

It would probably work out cheaper to fly to Bali for a 2week family holiday that to stay at a caravan park in Australia if you include the fuel costs of towing etc.... absolute insanity.

seeya,
Shane L.

[cafe latte]

Wow ... what caravan park is only $22 a night ?? That is very cheap compared to everywhere we have looked. $70 -> $110 a night seems almost "standard" with 3 young kids ( which forces you into peak holiday seasons)...

Which is obviously insanity. Who can afford $100 a night just for a dead patch of grass :( I think we'll buy a generator and shower/****ter and try and free camp and just stay in a park every 3rd or 4th night.

It would probably work out cheaper to fly to Bali for a 2week family holiday that to stay at a caravan park in Australia if you include the fuel costs of towing etc.... absolute insanity.

seeya,
Shane L.

I agree, we only have a Caravan as we shoot F class and travel to rifle ranges. Good thing is most ranges you stay on for about 5 buck with the van so it is cheap camping :D
Chris

[Tombie]

Wow ... what caravan park is only $22 a night ?? That is very cheap compared to everywhere we have looked. $70 -> $110 a night seems almost "standard" with 3 young kids ( which forces you into peak holiday seasons)...

Which is obviously insanity. Who can afford $100 a night just for a dead patch of grass :( I think we'll buy a generator and shower/****ter and try and free camp and just stay in a park every 3rd or 4th night.

It would probably work out cheaper to fly to Bali for a 2week family holiday that to stay at a caravan park in Australia if you include the fuel costs of towing etc.... absolute insanity.

seeya,
Shane L.

Of course it is cheaper to go to a low cost country...

People running parks etc here have the same desire you do..

They want a decent income
Power is now ridiculous
Water is now ridiculous
They have insurance overheads which are extortive
They have land costs, rates, upkeep.


The recent Aussie adage:- I want to earn lots of money, but dont want to help others do the same... (Earn 1st world income and pay 3rd world prices)

[donh54]

WHAT? planet are you from? is not the fees cheaper than paying for your time to muck about getting the cash?? how many service suppliers have told you to go take a running jump. give you a discount because you are to lazy to get the cash?

For a start, I bank on a redraw facility. My wages are paid directly onto the mortgage. I live on the credit card until the end of the month, when the card is paid up before the end of the interest free period. The downside of this system is that if I withdraw cash from the credit card, I start paying interest on the total outstanding balance of the card from that point until the card is paid out. At around 20% that can add up to way more than $22 very quickly.
As far as the "running jump" goes, if you have a business, and choose not to give me the option to purchase from you using a universally accepted method of payment, guess who loses out?

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

[donh54]

As an addendum to the above, if I was planning a trip to Dave's neck of the woods, my usual preparation is to make a few calls to ascertain facilities, prices etc. If Dave informed me of his cash only policy, all well and good, I'd make sure I had the cash. Likewise if he had a sign out front stating no eftpos, that would give me the opportunity to decide before I'd pulled into the park.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

[DoubleChevron]

Of course it is cheaper to go to a low cost country...

People running parks etc here have the same desire you do..

They want a decent income
Power is now ridiculous
Water is now ridiculous
They have insurance overheads which are extortive
They have land costs, rates, upkeep.


The recent Aussie adage:- I want to earn lots of money, but dont want to help others do the same... (Earn 1st world income and pay 3rd world prices)

As I said earlier .... ridiculous prices aside... you don't see any caravan park owners living the highlife.... living in mansions and driving flash cars. Rather people that work 12hours a day, 7days a week.

Still we have worked out we simply can't afford to stay in caravan parks. An average of $500 -> $700 a week to camp in your own caravan is simply ludicrous.

That's why I was saying, "Where is this amazingly cheap caravan park" :wasntme: Most people don't seem to understand how un-affordable caravaning suddenly is when you are expected to pay $15 per child extra. I know they supply play grounds etc.... but that's crazyness to more than double the nightly fee.

seeya,
Shane L.

[d2dave]

Of course it is cheaper to go to a low cost country...

People running parks etc here have the same desire you do..

They want a decent income
Power is now ridiculous
Water is now ridiculous
They have insurance overheads which are extortive
They have land costs, rates, upkeep.


The recent Aussie adage:- I want to earn lots of money, but dont want to help others do the same... (Earn 1st world income and pay 3rd world prices)

Plus all the other bureaucratic red tape involved in running a park.
I am sure there is someone in government who has a job (To justify his own job) to figure out new rules that cost us money and grief.

The latest is that our fire fighting that was ok ten years ago is suddenly not ok. We have to spent about 15K to now satisfy government.

This was the last straw for a park in Kyabram. They have just said enough and last month shut their doors.

Over the years Sharon and myself have discussed doing the same.
The 5 acres is very close to town and we have a nice residence.
Close down, get jobs and stay here.

When we came here 15 years ago not long after there were new rules introduced. We had to have an emergency management plan.

Our parks association formed a sub committee, which I was part of, to meet with council to find what they wanted.

They could/would not tell us. They basically said to submit something and then we will decide if it was ok.

[Tombie]

In Whyalla the Van park area is relatively cheap..

However the Caravan (Cabin) parks are more expensive than renting a holiday house... Have been for some time.

[p38arover]

As an addendum to the above, if I was planning a trip to Dave's neck of the woods, my usual preparation is to make a few calls to ascertain facilities, prices etc.

What surprised/annoyed me on my recent trip was not being able to use the 'net to find low cost accommodation. Most pubs/motels didn't have a website, those that did often didn't show tariffs or give much info at all. Booking sites like Wotif only offered the higher priced motels or hotels - not what I wanted.


Still we have worked out we simply can't afford to stay in caravan parks. An average of $500 -> $700 a week to camp in your own caravan is simply ludicrous.
<snip>
Most people don't seem to understand how un-affordable caravaning suddenly is when you are expected to pay $15 per child extra.

That's why we sold our van. It simply wasn't worth keeping when one looked at how often it was used, maintenance, rego, insurance, extra fuel, inconvenience of towing, camping costs cf. staying in a good motel or hotel

[spudboy]

We've just come back from an 8 week trip from Adelaide up the the Kimberleys and back down through the centre.

We did 50% 'free camping', 40% caravan parks and 10% luxury resorts!

Having not used a caravan park for 10 years, I was surprised at how expensive some were. General price we paid was around the $35 to $45 per night for an unpowered site, but a few like El Questro were over $50 per night (2 adults).

Free camping was our preference, as we are fully self contained, but after 3 or 4 nights it was good to check in to a caravan park and have a proper shower, go for a swim in a nice pool, and be able to do some washing etc.

At a lot of parks, we couldn't believe how they crammed everyone in, when (often) there was acres of land around and they could have spread out easily (Lake Argyle; Home Valley; El Questro; Daly Waters come to mind).

[DoubleChevron]

We've just come back from an 8 week trip from Adelaide up the the Kimberleys and back down through the centre.

We did 50% 'free camping', 40% caravan parks and 10% luxury resorts!

Having not used a caravan park for 10 years, I was surprised at how expensive some were. General price we paid was around the $35 to $45 per night for an unpowered site, but a few like El Questro were over $50 per night (2 adults).

Free camping was our preference, as we are fully self contained, but after 3 or 4 nights it was good to check in to a caravan park and have a proper shower, go for a swim in a nice pool, and be able to do some washing etc.

At a lot of parks, we couldn't believe how they crammed everyone in, when (often) there was acres of land around and they could have spread out easily (Lake Argyle; Home Valley; El Questro; Daly Waters come to mind).

Out of interest, did you spot how much extra children were per night ? I know if you don't have them, you probably didn't notice or care. The $50 a night park was probably $15 per child .... so for us would have been $95 a night. Insanity right :( All your doing is parking on a square of dirt and using the toilets.

seeya,
Shane L.

[Fluids]

pray tell, how much do you think the bank fee would be?

Hhmmmm ... lets see ... I charge 2% of the transaction price + gst for ALL plastic cards ... the premise is why should I have to pay the bank, so YOU can use your electronic money in my business ?? About 99% of customers are happy to pay the 2%. Other business owners I speak to around here just add a margin across the board and everyone pays ... even the cash paying customers ... I don't agree with that.

So, 2% of $22 is, um, oh yeah ... $0.44c ... :p

Here's the point the buying public don't realise though ... If I sell you a $1750 machine ... and my cost price is $1350 (and I've made $400 GP) ... 2% of $1750 is $35 ... and that's what the bank wants you to think it is ... 2% ... but it's actually 8.75% of my GP!! ... so if I absorb the card % it's as good as giving you a 10% discount ... and the smaller the GM% the BIGGER the % of my profit lost becomes ...

$3000 water tank ... Costs $2750 ... you pay by card ... 2% is $60 ... or 24% of my GP ... why should I give the bank a quarter of my profit so you can use your card in my business ??

At the end of the day Dave it's your business and you run it as YOU see fit ... and if you don't do the right thing you have no customers! :p

[85 county]

For a start, I bank on a redraw facility. My wages are paid directly onto the mortgage. I live on the credit card until the end of the month, when the card is paid up before the end of the interest free period. The downside of this system is that if I withdraw cash from the credit card, I start paying interest on the total outstanding balance of the card from that point until the card is paid out. At around 20% that can add up to way more than $22 very quickly.
As far as the "running jump" goes, if you have a business, and choose not to give me the option to purchase from you using a universally accepted method of payment, guess who loses out?

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

your argument is void.
1 making payments from a card do not a attract the same interest rates or fees as making a payment from a card ( depending on bank)
2 with drawing cash before using it mean you have less money in your bank for longer, better you leave your money in the bank use your card so interest is no starting until such time as you have actually used that money as opposed to paying interest while the cash is in your pocket.

[85 county]

What surprised/annoyed me on my recent trip was not being able to use the 'net to find low cost accommodation. Most pubs/motels didn't have a website, those that did often didn't show tariffs or give much info at all. Booking sites like Wotif only offered the higher priced motels or hotels - not what I wanted.



there is a big topic just n that alone. the cost of a web site is not great abut the cost of having Google place your website anywhere close to where you may see it is horrendous.

i know of one company who was spending 30K a month, when there racking dropped from first page due to goggles reprogram on how pages are ranked. thay have given up and closed the door.

so in short google only promotes the rich, even the yellow pages are a major cost, hundreds per month

[Bob Harding]

Hhmmmm ... lets see ... I charge 2% of the transaction price + gst for ALL plastic cards ... the premise is why should I have to pay the bank, so YOU can use your electronic money in my business ?? About 99% of customers are happy to pay the 2%. Other business owners I speak to around here just add a margin across the board and everyone pays ... even the cash paying customers ... I don't agree with that.

So, 2% of $22 is, um, oh yeah ... $0.44c ... :p

Here's the point the buying public don't realise though ... If I sell you a $1750 machine ... and my cost price is $1350 (and I've made $400 GP) ... 2% of $1750 is $35 ... and that's what the bank wants you to think it is ... 2% ... but it's actually 8.75% of my GP!! ... so if I absorb the card % it's as good as giving you a 10% discount ... and the smaller the GM% the BIGGER the % of my profit lost becomes ...

$3000 water tank ... Costs $2750 ... you pay by card ... 2% is $60 ... or 24% of my GP ... why should I give the bank a quarter of my profit so you can use your card in my business ??

At the end of the day Dave it's your business and you run it as YOU see fit ... and if you don't do the right thing you have no customers! :p


Aha you are making the most common mistake small business peeps make

You assumed that you are working for yourself --- A Bad Mistake you work for the Tax man first and the bank second and whats left is for you to enjoy ------

[goingbush]

Well therin lies the beauty of only taking cash

[d2dave]

then there is the bad press from having 1 customer ****ed off and any other customers who witnessed the event.

imagination if this customer was a member of a club or forum, like this and posted like you have done. the numbers get greater.


I must have impressed more of my customers than ****ed off as we do not spent one cent on advertising.

We even told the greedy AAA tourism mob where to go when they moved from a free service to charging us.
We would not have minded except that the charge was the same for all parks, be it a small one like mine or a multi million dollar big four.

In the 15 years I have been here we have increased turnover in all bar one and that one missed by not much.

You have to remember that happy customers are also members of clubs and forums.

Back to my OP. I can imagine the details he will leave out and the lies he will tell when he share this with his friends. (if he has any)

It will probably go something like:
I stayed at this park in Tatura the other day. I was a little late checking out and the owners rang me and went ape at us to the point my wife was in tears blah blah.............

[incisor]

Hhmmmm ... lets see ... I charge 2% of the

At the end of the day Dave it's your business and you run it as YOU see fit ... and if you don't do the right thing you have no customers! :p

i pay a flat fee for an eftpos transaction no matter what the amount is...

and under 2% for a via and mastercard transaction

it is a cost of business and should be factored into your pricing structure i would have thought.

if a business surcharges for a card transaction i invariably leave the goods on the counter and walk out.

i asked the question to see of the op actually had some idea of what the transaction fees really were...

i used to use american express as they had the best accounts reporting system of any of the card providers but so few places accept it now it is becoming useless.

[DiscoClax]

As a bit of a counterpoint to the original post... For the record I believe that the OP behaved quite acceptably.

Last year around this time the family and I were on a trip across the Simpson (yay!) but by the time I got to Burra (from Vic) I realised I had overheating troubles (boo). We diverted to Port Pirie for repairs (big shout-out to Centre Radiators (Thompson Auto Repairs)) for slotting me in despite being overbooked already and flat-out). I was travelling with two other vehicles (extended family) and we elected to set-up in a nearby caravan park. We advised the park owners that we'd be there for a couple of days while we made repairs and they put us waaaay down the back in an overgrown area (near shoulder height for my walking 14 month old). We had tents and set them up, no worries, and settled in after paying for two nights in advance. The park was maybe a third full, and there was no-one camped within 50 metres of us. I pulled the radiator first thing the next morning and got it to the repairer as they opened. They couldn't look at it until after-hours that night (thanks again, guys), but I'd taken the precaution of ordering a new core when we arrived to hedge my bets. That allowed us a lazy day of washing and taking it easy. They confirmed the core was clogged but also that the fins were starting to go so we elected to re-core it, which they did the next morning as one of their first jobs. We went and advised the park owners that night that we wouldn't be able to leave until around noon to 2pm at best guess the next day depending on when the radiator was ready. We offered to pay extra but were waved off as not required. Radiator was ready around 11am, great. Shot out there immediately (a few minutes away) and picked it up (still tacky) and got going dropping it in as fast as possible. The others had packed up fully by then and we'd mostly packed (we still had the RV4 up for the young 'un to play/sleep in, and I had some tools, etc out). While I was reassembling everything the others knocked up an early lunch and I had a quick bite as I warmed it up and bled the system, topped up fluids and generally checked it out. All's OK. Wallet lighter, but trip continues. So all sorted I dashed across and took a shower, while the missus started decamping. I got back from a lovely shower to find the owner full-blooded ****** and blinding at our group (three of our kids present) for still being there and threatening us with legal action and getting the police and everything under the sun. Note again we had communicated clearly and early with the owner and his wife on several occasions and most recently the previous night and were still within the time window we'd estimated. We handed him the keys to the shower block that he demanded with spittle flying and continued to pack up, leaving less than half an hour later and still well before 2pm. To say that experience left a sour taste understates it massively.

I'd like to think we did everything reasonable as customers and yet ended up feeling like criminals. Was difficult to explain what had happened to the kids, too (11 and 14).

That's the first and only time any of us had experienced anything like that. But we didn't let it could our opinion of caravan parks in general as all others we've dealt with have been very accommodating (no pun intended). There are always the 1%'ers out there that are a bit unhinged, and maybe he was having a really bad day and we just happened to cop it. Not acceptable behaviour in any case.

My two bob's...

[DiscoClax]

And we traveled with a reasonable stash of cash (each of us) so any business that didn't have EFTPOS or Credit Card facilities was no inconvenience in any way at all. I just don't see that as an issue.

[DoubleChevron]

So all sorted I dashed across and took a shower, while the missus started decamping. I got back from a lovely shower to find the owner full-blooded ****** and blinding at our group (three of our kids present) for still being there and threatening us with legal action and getting the police and everything under the sun. Note again we had communicated clearly and early with the owner and his wife on several occasions and most recently the previous night and were still within the time window we'd estimated. We handed him the keys to the shower block that he demanded with spittle flying and continued to pack up, leaving less than half an hour later and still well before 2pm. To say that experience left a sour taste understates it massively.

I'd like to think we did everything reasonable as customers and yet ended up feeling like criminals. Was difficult to explain what had happened to the kids, too (11 and 14).

That's the first and only time any of us had experienced anything like that. But we didn't let it could our opinion of caravan parks in general as all others we've dealt with have been very accommodating (no pun intended). There are always the 1%'ers out there that are a bit unhinged, and maybe he was having a really bad day and we just happened to cop it. Not acceptable behaviour in any case.

My two bob's...

I admire your restraint .... If I found someone threatening my wife and kids ....... It sure wouldn't be pretty ............. For them ........ :o :wasntme:

I can't stand bullies .... Never could... I bet if you were there at the time he'd never have acted like that. My wifes commented a few times how she's treated completely differently if I'm there :confused:

seeya,
Shane L.

[DiscoClax]

No point engaging with an idiot about to have a brain-explosion. You have to drop to their level and that's unfamiliar territory... It's the only time I've ever seen anger flash across my father-in-law's face, and I once dropped a massive rock on his foot...accidentally, I'll add. Mild-mannered gentleman that he is. Anyway, you have to take these things in your stride and let it wash off you. Resilience is one of the things we teach our kids. Not everything needs to be a battle, not everything needs a bite-back. I struggle to do that, admittedly, but at least I recognise it and I try...

[spudboy]

Out of interest, did you spot how much extra children were per night ? I know if you don't have them, you probably didn't notice or care. The $50 a night park was probably $15 per child .... so for us would have been $95 a night. Insanity right :( All your doing is parking on a square of dirt and using the toilets.

seeya,
Shane L.

We met a few couples with children, and $15 per child per night was what they mentioned. Makes it expensive if you have 3 or 4 of them!

One of the best options we entertained was a farm stay. Had a couple of acres all to ourselves, right next to a lovely wide creekbed. $10 per night. Long drop dunny. No showers. Firewood provided. (Almerta Station - Mid-north SA)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[bob10]

there is a big topic just n that alone. the cost of a web site is not great abut the cost of having Google place your website anywhere close to where you may see it is horrendous.

i know of one company who was spending 30K a month, when there racking dropped from first page due to goggles reprogram on how pages are ranked. thay have given up and closed the door.

so in short google only promotes the rich, even the yellow pages are a major cost, hundreds per month


From what I have seen with Grey Nomads, word of mouth is all important. I've never run a caravan park, but I can guess it could be very stressful. The only thing I disagree with here is parking the vehicle , blocking in the people in the van. Bob

[incisor]

imho it sounds like they were being very badly advised...


there is a big topic just n that alone. the cost of a web site is not great abut the cost of having Google place your website anywhere close to where you may see it is horrendous.

i know of one company who was spending 30K a month, when there racking dropped from first page due to goggles reprogram on how pages are ranked. thay have given up and closed the door.

so in short google only promotes the rich, even the yellow pages are a major cost, hundreds per month

[p38arover]

there is a big topic just n that alone. the cost of a web site is not great abut the cost of having Google place your website anywhere close to where you may see it is horrendous.

i know of one company who was spending 30K a month, when there racking dropped from first page due to goggles reprogram on how pages are ranked. thay have given up and closed the door.

so in short google only promotes the rich, even the yellow pages are a major cost, hundreds per month

Hmm, is that true? The website I wrote and administer for our camera club comes up as the first one in a Google search and I pay nothing. It's not even in the town I put in the search box, it's in a neighbouring suburb but I added some other suburb names in the right place in the website description. It's even ahead of the local camera club that has got this town in its name.

However, I get a lot of emails from companies who want charge me to get the club website to the top in searches. :D

Unfortunately, because the site is not optimised for mobile browsers and Google have changed some search stuff recently that does mean it may not necessarily appear at the top on mobile devices in the future.

Given that many travellers might be using mobile devices to search for places to stay, that could impact on future search results for them.

My wife watches a TV programme called Hotel Impossible and the chap in that tries to impress upon these struggling hotels and motels the importance of the internet to their business.

[loneranger]

On the topic of cash or eftpos I always make sure I carry a decent amount of cash when we go camping just in case. Over here in WA if you camp in any of the DEC sites its cash only and an honesty system so I like to have a variety of different denominations and coins.

Its all about being prepared really. You can't expect everyone in the bush to have eftpos.

[Ausfree]

On the topic of cash or eftpos I always make sure I carry a decent amount of cash when we go camping just in case. Over here in WA if you camp in any of the DEC sites its cash only and an honesty system so I like to have a variety of different denominations and coins.

Its all about being prepared really. You can't expect everyone in the bush to have eftpos.

I wouldn't make that public knowledge..........oops, you just did!!:p

[PhilipA]

Yes but do you have the correct change for when they want $17.60 in an honesty box? Grrrrr.

Regards Philip A

[Tombie]

Yes but do you have the correct change for when they want $17.60 in an honesty box? Grrrrr.

Regards Philip A

Not a problem in SA now... All parks are switching to Online payment only

[DiscoMick]

We met a few couples with children, and $15 per child per night was what they mentioned. Makes it expensive if you have 3 or 4 of them!

One of the best options we entertained was a farm stay. Had a couple of acres all to ourselves, right next to a lovely wide creekbed. $10 per night. Long drop dunny. No showers. Firewood provided. (Almerta Station - Mid-north SA)

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/general-chat/95180d1434349211-who-stays-caravan-parks-p6110003.jpg

I agree. Farmstays can be excellent.
The proliferation of Camps books shows there is a huge market for people who are self-contained and don't want to pay to park.
In our case, we are relatively self-contained so usually only go to parks every few days for a hot shower and to do washing.


Incidentally, neat looking truck - have you done a thread about it on here? Be interested to see more.

[Mick_Marsh]

Incidentally, neat looking truck - have you done a thread about it on here? Be interested to see more.
You need to get out more.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/4wd-trucks/184320-spudboys-super-sized-camper-replacement-130-no-its-not-unimog.html

[spudboy]

I agree. Farmstays can be excellent.
The proliferation of Camps books shows there is a huge market for people who are self-contained and don't want to pay to park.
In our case, we are relatively self-contained so usually only go to parks every few days for a hot shower and to do washing.


Incidentally, neat looking truck - have you done a thread about it on here? Be interested to see more.

Yeah, I have made a blog of building it. I've got a lot of stuff to post from 8 weeks away, but still catching up with work emails after 2 days back into 'normal' life again.

Check out the blog at www.daviddeere.net.au (http://www.daviddeere.net.au)

[loneranger]

I wouldn't make that public knowledge..........oops, you just did!!:p

Decent amount in reference to some posters on here claiming they wouldn't be able to stump up $22 to pay d2dave in cash. I mean seriously who goes travelling in the country with less than $20 cash. That's asking for trouble in my opinion.

$50 - $100 is a reasonable amount of cash to carry for a nights accommodation and fuel if needed.

The other thing is if you go somewhere like Shark Bay/Monkey Mia they have limited cash in the town so sometimes it's wise to carry a bit of your own as you may not always be able to withdraw it.


Yes but do you have the correct change for when they want $17.60 in an honesty box? Grrrrr.

Regards Philip A

Our National Parks over here are whole $ amounts for camping fees.

[d2dave]

I could easily scrounge $22 from my console. Went to buy a slab of beer once and I had $50 in the wallet.

It was on special at two for $80. Got the other $30 from the console.

[spudboy]

Our National Parks over here are whole $ amounts for camping fees.

We found a lot of camps in NT and WA that were $6.60.... so we usually ended up leaving them $10.

[p38arover]

$17.60 = $16 plus GST

[loneranger]

We found a lot of camps in NT and WA that were $6.60.... so we usually ended up leaving them $10.

Just had a quick look - that appears to be the concession price we normally pay $10 a night per adult so have never needed the coins. Also never needed to worry about the child fee as we always stayed either in caravan parks or free camped when the kids were under 15.

But when we don't have a definite plan on where we're staying I start collecting coins a few weeks out to make sure I have plenty of change. Once we went away with a money bag of coins as we weren't sure where we were going to stay and how much we needed so planned accordingly.

[goingbush]

I could easily scrounge $22 from my console. Went to buy a slab of beer once and I had $50 in the wallet.

It was on special at two for $80. Got the other $30 from the console.

well theres your rattle :)

I never have enough $1.00 coins for the washing machines

[Pocket Rocket]

When going away carvanning or camping some people be like:

Food - check
Water - check
Tools - check
Fuel - check
Spares - check
Maps - check
Solar Panel - check
Money - nah don't need it coz I expect everyone to have eftpos facilities for my convenience at their expense!

:wasntme:

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I could easily scrounge $22 from my console. Went to buy a slab of beer once and I had $50 in the wallet.

It was on special at two for $80. Got the other $30 from the console.

Originally my stash was the coin tray in the D2,, then after constant raiding, the coin tray on the other side of the dash, now a stubby cooler in the door trim,, I have future plans for a velcro baggy behind the fuel release panel:angel:

[DoubleChevron]

Just had a quick look - that appears to be the concession price we normally pay $10 a night per adult so have never needed the coins. Also never needed to worry about the child fee as we always stayed either in caravan parks or free camped when the kids were under 15.

But when we don't have a definite plan on where we're staying I start collecting coins a few weeks out to make sure I have plenty of change. Once we went away with a money bag of coins as we weren't sure where we were going to stay and how much we needed so planned accordingly.

Under 15 free..... In your dreams!!! Maybe for my parents generation. For Gen X'ers caravaning has always been very, very expensive holidaying. eg: head down to queenscliff, it's a council park, only has toilets/showers, no games rooms, no playgrounds, your camping around the local oval. For this in peak time (ie: any school holidays)

$61 a night
$10 per child (under 6 free)

so for a dead patch of grass and no real ammenities other than a (usually dirty) shower and toilet your paying $91 per night :eek: :eek: :eek:

try any of the caravan parks online to gets some costs with 3kids and you'll bloody near die of fright. I could rent a house for a week for much less than the cost of a tiny pathc of ground you caravan won't fit in at a caravan park.

They tried opening a free camping park in ballarat recently. You have no idea the problems the local park owners have caused. Some were down there every day taking pictures of anyone setup trying the utmost to destroy it..... You see poeple should not be paying there exorbitant fees to stay here :wasntme:

Pioneer Park freedom camping trial could be cancelled | The Courier (http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/3133526/pioneer-park-freedom-camping-trial-could-be-cancelled/)



seeya,
Shaen L.

[DiscoMick]

I don't begrudge park operators trying to make a buck - they're running a business, not a charity, and costs are rising. However, I do think some go a bit overboard.
It's fine for them to put in cabins so they can charge more to recoup their costs, but they shouldn't load that onto those who want minimal amenities. They are different markets.
I've been to towns where a smart local council and local business people have organized a free camping area which was a block of grass with a shower and toilet block - not even power provided. Word gets out and the grey nomads, who might otherwise have just driven through because there was no other reason to stop, flock there and spend their money in the shops, so everyone wins.


Incidentally, I do have a jar I fill up with gold coins and chuck in when I go camping, and the wife and I do take extra cash when travelling, so my previous comment about rarely carrying more than $20 was a bit tongue in cheek.

[donh54]

Just did Warwick to Melbourne to Sydney and back to Warwick. Left with $54.50 in cash, and got back with the same. Have eftpos receipts for all meals ready for the accountant for tax purposes. Makes life easier than cash. Safer too. As I said earlier, if I'm heading somewhere with limited facilities I'll take enough cash, otherwise I prefer to use businesses that have eftpos

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

[loneranger]

Under 15 free..... In your dreams!!! Maybe for my parents generation. For Gen X'ers caravaning has always been very, very expensive holidaying. eg: head down to queenscliff, it's a council park, only has toilets/showers, no games rooms, no playgrounds, your camping around the local oval. For this in peak time (ie: any school holidays)

$61 a night
$10 per child (under 6 free)

so for a dead patch of grass and no real ammenities other than a (usually dirty) shower and toilet your paying $91 per night :eek: :eek: :eek:

try any of the caravan parks online to gets some costs with 3kids and you'll bloody near die of fright. I could rent a house for a week for much less than the cost of a tiny pathc of ground you caravan won't fit in at a caravan park.

They tried opening a free camping park in ballarat recently. You have no idea the problems the local park owners have caused. Some were down there every day taking pictures of anyone setup trying the utmost to destroy it..... You see poeple should not be paying there exorbitant fees to stay here :wasntme:

Pioneer Park freedom camping trial could be cancelled | The Courier (http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/3133526/pioneer-park-freedom-camping-trial-could-be-cancelled/)



seeya,
Shaen L.

Re-read my post I said when the kids were under 15 we either free-camped or stayed in caravan parks. I was specifically referring to the need to have loose change to stay in DEC parks when the kids were under 15 which we never did. We always paid for the kids in caravan parks and it was generally either $7 or $10 a night. We never stayed anywhere that charged $15 for a kid.

[d2dave]

Under 15 free..... In your dreams!!! Maybe for my parents generation. For Gen X'ers caravaning has always been very, very expensive holidaying. eg: head down to queenscliff, it's a council park, only has toilets/showers, no games rooms, no playgrounds, your camping around the local oval. For this in peak time (ie: any school holidays)

$61 a night
$10 per child (under 6 free)

so for a dead patch of grass and no real ammenities other than a (usually dirty) shower and toilet your paying $91 per night :eek: :eek: :eek:

try any of the caravan parks online to gets some costs with 3kids and you'll bloody near die of fright. I could rent a house for a week for much less than the cost of a tiny pathc of ground you caravan won't fit in at a caravan park.

They tried opening a free camping park in ballarat recently. You have no idea the problems the local park owners have caused. Some were down there every day taking pictures of anyone setup trying the utmost to destroy it..... You see poeple should not be paying there exorbitant fees to stay here :wasntme:

Pioneer Park freedom camping trial could be cancelled | The Courier (http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/3133526/pioneer-park-freedom-camping-trial-could-be-cancelled/)



seeya,
Shaen L.

Here's my take on the charge for kids.

I don't have a pool in my park and neither did the other park in town.
The other park puts in a pool and I start to lose business to them.

I then have to put in a pool to claw back business. Up goes my liability insurance plus the pool maintenance. Also the 30K cost for the pool.

The other park then puts in a new flash whiz bang playground. Same scenario as above except that my liability insurance has now gone through the roof.

Then the other park puts in a jumping pillow then a tennis court.............

I used to have a kids play ground. As I am not a big tourist park it did not get used much.
I saved a small fortune in liability insurance by getting rid of it.

[DoubleChevron]

Here's my take on the charge for kids.

I don't have a pool in my park and neither did the other park in town.
The other park puts in a pool and I start to lose business to them.

I then have to put in a pool to claw back business. Up goes my liability insurance plus the pool maintenance. Also the 30K cost for the pool.

The other park then puts in a new flash whiz bang playground. Same scenario as above except that my liability insurance has now gone through the roof.

Then the other park puts in a jumping pillow then a tennis court.............

I used to have a kids play ground. As I am not a big tourist park it did not get used much.
I saved a small fortune in liability insurance by getting rid of it.

I understand where your coming from ............ Like I said, you don't see caravan park operators and owners living in mansions and driving luxury cars...... But still, we are looking about $500 -> $700 a week for a small patch of grass ..... where we are bringing everything except the toilet and shower is simply ludicrous. Families that can afford this sort of money, don't bother with caravan parks at all.

Maybe I just earn way less than everyone else, but I sure can't afford that. It's absolute crazyness.

For a weeks park fee I can buy a generator and free camp. Who pays the liability insurance for that (dont' start me on the insane "nothing is my fault" court system that allows people to sue for there own stupidity).

seeya,
Shane L.

.

[d2dave]

I understand where your coming from ............ Like I said, you don't see caravan park operators and owners living in mansions and driving luxury cars...... But still, we are looking about $500 -> $700 a week for a small patch of grass ..... where we are bringing everything except the toilet and shower is simply ludicrous. Families that can afford this sort of money, don't bother with caravan parks at all.

Maybe I just earn way less than everyone else, but I sure can't afford that. It's absolute crazyness.



seeya,
Shane L.

.

The reason they are not living in mansions is that the park usually comes with a residence.
Some of the bigger parks when they sell them could afford a mansion and a RR, not me though, I wish:(

As for your 5 to 700 per week. The reason you can't afford it is because you have kids. Sharon and myself are planning a weeks holiday for our 30th anniversary.

We will probably spend around $120 a night so this will cost $830.
We have been putting a bit away each week though for the last six months.

I can fully understand your complaint of 5 to 700 for a patch of grass. I would object to paying this also.

As for free camping. I do it myself.
What is annoying me though is fruit picking back packers, who used to camp on an unpowered site at my place for $70 bucks a week for two people, (35 each and they go to work and earn money)
are now camping along the Goulburn river.

There are hundreds of them for about 4 months over summer. No bins, no toilet facilities and the council turns a blind eye.

I am waiting for a bushfire and someone dies. Action might then be taken.
This is costing me $300 to $450 a week for four months.

[DoubleChevron]

The reason they are not living in mansions is that the park usually comes with a residence.
Some of the bigger parks when they sell them could afford a mansion and a RR, not me though, I wish:(

As for your 5 to 700 per week. The reason you can't afford it is because you have kids. Sharon and myself are planning a weeks holiday for our 30th anniversary.

We will probably spend around $120 a night so this will cost $830.
We have been putting a bit away each week though for the last six months.

I can fully understand your complaint of 5 to 700 for a patch of grass. I would object to paying this also.

As for free camping. I do it myself.
What is annoying me though is fruit picking back packers, who used to camp on an unpowered site at my place for $70 bucks a week for two people, (35 each and they go to work and earn money)
are now camping along the Goulburn river.

There are hundreds of them for about 4 months over summer. No bins, no toilet facilities and the council turns a blind eye.

I am waiting for a bushfire and someone dies. Action might then be taken.
This is costing me $300 to $450 a week for four months.

Gee's your cheap... I wouldn't even dream of free camping if I could find a park with clean toilets/showers for the prices you charge.... The problem is I have to triple your costs :(

If the council has free camping, they either need to supply toilets, or enforce people being self sufficient. You can't have people ****ting all over the place and living in tents.

seeya,
Shane L.