A VERY unfriendly welcome!
Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 18:38
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14
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lizzyb74
Thank you I'm a bit fed up tonight. We have just arrived at a caravan park outside
Townsville.
We had been quoted $25 per night for a powered site for our family of four. When we got here we saw a sign saying "Come in and find a site and we will catch up with you later", so found a site and started setting up.
A bit later an older lady came up and said the price was $35 a night. I politely said that we were quoted $25 on the phone and she got quite uppity and said that (worker name) told me wrong, it was $35 - $25 for 2 plus $5 each for our kids. This went on a bit and my (very friendly) husband came over and confirmed what I had said about the quote.
I said that the $25 for the 4 of us was the reason we came here and she said, very huffily, "
Well all right then, if it's that much of a problem, I'll make it $25 just for tonight". So I went to pay and said (trying to make friendly conversation!) that the park is pretty busy and she replied "
Well it's a retirees only park, (worker name) should have told you that too."
This was not the idea I had of a friendly park owner/manager. Those of you who remember my previous posts would know that we are on a budget on our 6 month trip so $10 extra a night does make a difference. This park was in the Camps book, and all the surrounding free camps had a 24 or 48 hour limit so we weren't able to go there as we were planning on staying in
Townsville for around 3 nights.
I'm not sure why I'm posting except to let off steam. We have come across so many wonderful park owners and people at free camps - I was just really taken aback by this rude woman.
Reply By: kidsandall - Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 19:56
Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 19:56
We had a similar expirience. We booked a site at a park for 5 weeks as we were woking near by. Told them we had 2 kids and a campertrailer. When we arrived they complained about the trailer as it kills the grass. After we set up we got a visit from the old lady across the road complaining about how much noise kids make and it's so annoying. The next day the manager (who we hadn't seen yet) came down and asked us not to leave anything around the site ie. bikes leaning against the trailer as the old people use our site to walk across to the laundry. I told him this is our site which we paid for so they can go around. He told us this was a retirees park and we shouldn't even be there. My reply was
well give us a refund and we'll leave. They refused the refund and we spent 5 weeks there and hated it. Made sure we told everyone not to go there.
Parks are usually built on reputation so I don't understand why they treat people so crap, maybe cause they seems to be a never ending supply of people.
Glad you stood up for yourself. I think sometimes the people employed are backpackers or people travelling so if they get it wrong they don't really care.
Josh
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 21:07
Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 21:07
not being silly but if you hated it what was it that made you stay 5 weeks, that is a long time in a camper with kids
Cheers
Joe
FollowupID:
734781
Follow Up By: kidsandall - Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 21:43
Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 21:43
Hi Joe, It was school holidays and hard to find accom so we had paid for the full 5 weeks as I was working there. They refused to refund our money so if we moved it was going to cost us about $1400 dollars. It was a great location and central to what we were doing so we just didn't spend much time at the park. We were suppa duppa nice to the old lady who complained which really bleep her off. The girls waved to her every day and she didn't know what to do. We would like to have just walked out but we learnt a lesson, never pay for more than you need to.
Josh
FollowupID:
734786
Follow Up By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 18:03
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 18:03
man that sux, you are so right about being "nice", it really BUGS grumpy old farts when you insist on being nice .... hahaha
Cheers
Joe
FollowupID:
734872
Reply By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 19:59
Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 19:59
Hi lizzyb. I feel your pain. I feel there is nothing worse that being let down by business people no matter what they are selling. The best thing is to settle down for the night, put it behind you( I know that's easier said) pack up tomorrow and find another place to stay. You and your family will enjoy the rest of your stay more that way. I'm sure it will get better. Cheers,Bob
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 00:05
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 00:05
Totally agree with Bob
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Reply By: Member - Derek Jones - Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 20:00
Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 20:00
Name and shame them - word of mouth is such a powerful medium.
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Reply By: TerraFirma - Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 20:17
Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 20:17
This sort of thing happens all the time in life, you just got to stick to your guns. At the end of the day I'm not afraid to tell people that their business will end up on the forums and within a short time they'll be wondering why business is down. You are the buyer and have a choice, unfortunately when your down at the cheapest possible end of the market sometimes your choices are limited and the red carpet isn't always there to welcome you. Hope you enyoyed your stay nevertheless.
AnswerID:
461101
Reply By: Member - Jack - Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 20:19
Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 20:19
Badgers Caravan Park Report Link
You can record your experience on Badgers Caravan Park report site (above). It is widely read, and a good source of info. I use it all the time when I am travelling and have found it to be pretty much on the mark.
Jack
AnswerID:
461102
Follow Up By: Motherhen - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 00:08
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 00:08
I also use Badgers as
well as report all parks we visit there. Remember if you have a bad experience and want to shame a park with a one off report, by site rules the report may not be accepted.
Motherhen
FollowupID:
734797
Follow Up By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 08:58
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 08:58
Badgers is a good site & recommended. You can post a report indicating what was
good & what was not. A straight out bad report may not be accepted, as Motherhen points out. Her updates are invaluable, as even a change of ownership can vastly
affect the ambience of a park........oldbaz.
FollowupID:
734819
Reply By: Motherhen - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 00:13
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 00:13
Hi Lizzy, good that you stuck to your rights and got it at the price quoted for tonight. I hope you can find somewhere more accommodating for tomorrow and the next night; otherwise leave town. If it is listed in Camps Australia Wide 6 as low cost, email them through their website and let them know of the price rise and the statement about it being for retirees only.
Motherhen
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Neil & Pauline - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 05:46
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 05:46
I rang a caravan park in Tassie to book a site for a 9m motor
home. They said no problem sort it out when you get here, will be $25 per night. Was about an hour away (that is as far as I plan). When I arrive the boss has a look at our motor
home which is 3.7m high and said " you need to pay double for that height". No amount of discussion would change his mind so I said OK. Went across the road to a
parking area and "parked" for the night. I was too tired to drive further that day and told him so.
Some people will cut their nose off in spite their face.
Neil
AnswerID:
461121
Reply By: The Landy - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 10:29
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 10:29
I can never understand why people in service industries respond this way, especially in an electronic age of information dispersal whereby one indiscretion can affect your business for a long time.
A case in point on our recent trip north. We were speaking with a couple at
Winton and mentioned we had a great night at the Blue Heeler in
Kynuna, and he was surprised and said never stops there anymore because they were ‘rude’ a couple of years ago. Evidently the ownership has changed, but you wonder how many people he has told that have simply bypassed it...
If you are in a service industry, the customer is always right (within reason) and if you can’t put on a smiling face each and every time then you are in the wrong business... Fortunately most that we come across are generally great!
Hope your experience improves!
AnswerID:
461137
Reply By: Members Pa & Ma. - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 12:51
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 12:51
Hi Lizzyb74.,
This happened to us in
Kununurra back in 2002.
I didn't have a computer then butt have passed on the story by word of mouth.
our fridge had ceased to function due to a dual battery system fault.
We had to return to Kunnunurra for repairs. We had seen a carravan Park a way out of town & it looked lovely and almost empty !wow but it was September.
In we went in a huge hurry so we could catch the Auto Electrician as it was a Friday. ( Long story, but had to get back to work.)
It seems that the woman at reception had different ideas to the Manager & we were shifted from 3 different spots until we were pushed in between Two others.
We hate that.
Anyway the other
camp on the corner were out & didn't get
home until late.
In the morning they packed up & went & complained .
Hubby was up in town but I stayed. Next thing the reception woman was there saying it was our fault.
After listening to what they had to say. I was furious, the hole Park heard the Arguement. Some people came over & said the same was done to them.
I'm telling you this because we don't like being suashed in either & it was a matter of neccessity to get to town quickly & leaving the next day!!!! I ask that next time this happens or something simmilar just speak to the person & ask why they are so close.
It was a beautiful Park but later as we passed the word along, many people had the same story about this Park
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Members Pa & Ma. - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 13:01
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 13:01
Sorry,
I hit Submit instead of spell
check. The Big 4 there was terrific. The people were,very helpful & understand of yet another problem we had in Kununura.
Take care, safe travels.
Bye for now , Ma.
AnswerID:
461147
Reply By: Fatso - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 21:46
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 21:46
The lower the budget, the lower the profits & the lower the service provided.
The standards of the clientele can tend to diminish as the price goes down as
well. This is nowhere more obvious than in the caravan parks.
I would have paid the $35 for the simple reason that I doubt she was lying & an error had more than likely been made in the quote.
AnswerID:
461194
Reply By: have a go - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 23:33
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 23:33
We have stayed in many parks and the only ones we look for now is big4. We
free camp as much as we can to even up the costs. Our last trip up to
Mission Beach was fantastic at the rebuilt Big4 then on our way
home we stayed at Rollingstone just north of
Townsville again rebuilt. Friendly, clean and beautiful.
Last year we were at
Yeppoon for 8 months. Just before the winter season we were negotiating work contracts in Rocky until we were told how much our site was going to increase by due to the
grey Victorians coming up. Permanent residents told us our kids wont be welcome in
the pool the old buggers will winge if the kids even walked around. They had to keep their only child away we have three.It would have been cheaper to rent a 4 bedroom house but didn't want to be locked in so we dropped the contract and went
home. One of the friendliest spots where the nomads welcome families is Burdekin
Dam and the
free camp on the Burdekin R near Charters Towers. They came up to us in both
places offering the best spots and that's after the rug rats jumped out of the car after a days driving.
Cheers
Sharon
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Follow Up By: Fatso - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 09:58
Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 09:58
Hey that's funny you mention how the
grey nomads welcomed you at the Burdekin R. We had the same experience there 10 or 12 years ago when our kids were small.
We stopped to use the
toilet & someone actually came over & recommended we fill a spot between 2 vans on the bank overlooking the river. We intended to stay in town & they talked us in to staying there.
I have often thought they must have assessed us as being suitable neighbours & rather than take the lucky dip with whoever turned up next they encouraged us.
FollowupID:
734907
Reply By: Phillipn - Saturday, Jul 30, 2011 at 11:51
Saturday, Jul 30, 2011 at 11:51
From your description of the place, would the c/van park be about 20 odd K`s north and 7 K`s west of the highway? And they lock the gates at night.
[No 41 in camps 6]
And the old dear drives around on a golf buggy.
We stopped their 12 months ago when the V-8`s were in
Townsville and she was jacking the price up because of the car races.
It`s a good place to stay except for her .
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461328
Reply By: Member - Tricky Dicky (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 02, 2011 at 07:49
Tuesday, Aug 02, 2011 at 07:49
Hi All
As Derek said earlier name and shame these people. They don't deserve the business and we can all advoid their caravan parks like the plague
Cheers
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