Incremental cancellation penalty
This looks interesting. I really hope it works to discourage folks who are gaming the reservation system. Michigan State Parks New Policy
Forum Discussion
westernrvparkowner wrote:Spoken by the guy who has never owned or managed a State Park.4x4van wrote:Spoken by the guy who has never owned or managed a park.
Charging an outrageous cancellation fee 3 months in advance of the camping date has nothing to do with trying to reduce people who are "gaming" the system; it is instead a way to make more money where it isn't warranted. Those sites WILL be filled up quickly.
Simply instituting a $10-$15 non-refundable reservation fee along with the additional requirement that refunds for cancellations will only be given if it is more than 15 (or 30) days prior to arrival date would solve the problem. Anything more than 15-30 days is plenty of time to fill those sites.
I've already agreed that no refunds if cancelled in 15 (or 30) days prior, so after that point, you have not lost a dime; the site is paid in full, occupied or not (I've never been to a park that didn't require full payment up front when the reservations were made). So are you claiming that you cannot fill a space in more than 30 days? Considering the fact that state campgrounds are nearly filled 6 months in advance, I don't buy that. Unless perhaps you are talking about some out of the way, run down, POS, unpopular private park, but otherwise...or does that indeed describe your private park?
