KM Resorts - what is going on??
We've been members of KM Resorts (dba Sound Pacific Resources) for 3 years now and recently received a letter that implies there are some sort of major changes coming up. Does anyone know what is going on? There must be something big afoot and I don't like the sounds of it. If anyone knows anything, I'd sure like to hear it.
The letter in part reads:
During the last few years, there have been significant changes in the industry. For your benefit, we will be holding meetings in your area to explain the changes taking place and how they may affect you as a member.
We thought there would be group meetings at Beachwood (in Birch Bay, Wa.) which is our home park. But a couple of days ago, we got a phone call and they have someone who wants to come to our house to talk to us in person. This is rather weird that someone from an American RV resort company would come to Canada to meet in person with members.
The letter goes on to say (in part):
The meeting agenda will cover the following subjects:
How the industry has changed in the last 2 years.
Necessary dues increase. (how much and why)
Possible changes to your membership benefits.
The new and diverse direction going forward.
Maximizing the value of your membership, users and non-users.
Variable Cost Utilities and Industry Surcharges.
The first half of the meeting will be focused on customer service and reviewing any questions and concerns you may have concerning your membership. The second half of the meeting we will talk about the new affiliations and direction that will take the industry and members.
Surely they aren't suggesting that they will unilaterally change the terms and conditions of the existing contract we have with KM Resorts? That would not be legal. Or are they going to do something sneaky?? Are they going to pump the dues way up? Or maybe start charging for as many extras as they can? There are no "standard" membership plans with KM Resorts and when you try to buy one, you have to negotiate each and every term and condition you want included. If you talk to members, they all have different agreements. For example, we had to negotiate being able to stay at all of their RV Parks including Neskowin in Oregon. If you don't do your homework in advance, you will get taken advantage of and it's almost like buying a used car when you sit down with a sales rep. Maybe part of the reason for a face to face meeting is a fishing expedition to see what member's reactions are (plus not wanting a revolt in a group setting?)? We just don't know...
We have enjoyed Beachwood and have been to all of their Parks except one. A few are really nice but a couple are dumps, and one in particular. Beachwood isn't particularly well managed and they do a very poor job of enforcing their rules and of doing maintenance. Some people leave their RVs parked in a site for days with nobody around which they're aren't supposed to do and it takes up valuable spaces. We've seen non-members there too and it's supposed to be members only. We've noticed in the past year that they seemed to have dropped doing the regular security patrols around the Park (a staff person would drive around every hour or so all day). Our dog has been attacked and a friend of ours was too and ended up in hospital to get stitches to his family jewels. I've noticed a number of pedestals have been out of service this year. Something just seems to have been changing...
Beachwood has also been very oversold and it is very difficult to get into in the summer unless you book as far in advance as possible. And if something changes at home and you can't make it at the booked time period, you can't just re-schedule for another time.
We've had enough camping nights within KM CGs to have paid off the cost of the membership. But if we don't like what they are presenting, we may just dump our membership and go elsewhere. There just *might* be a bunch of memberships available for cheap in the near future.... So far, we have enjoyed the Thousand Trails CGs that we have stayed at. But then, I've read about some issues with them in the past too.
The letter in part reads:
During the last few years, there have been significant changes in the industry. For your benefit, we will be holding meetings in your area to explain the changes taking place and how they may affect you as a member.
We thought there would be group meetings at Beachwood (in Birch Bay, Wa.) which is our home park. But a couple of days ago, we got a phone call and they have someone who wants to come to our house to talk to us in person. This is rather weird that someone from an American RV resort company would come to Canada to meet in person with members.
The letter goes on to say (in part):
The meeting agenda will cover the following subjects:
How the industry has changed in the last 2 years.
Necessary dues increase. (how much and why)
Possible changes to your membership benefits.
The new and diverse direction going forward.
Maximizing the value of your membership, users and non-users.
Variable Cost Utilities and Industry Surcharges.
The first half of the meeting will be focused on customer service and reviewing any questions and concerns you may have concerning your membership. The second half of the meeting we will talk about the new affiliations and direction that will take the industry and members.
Surely they aren't suggesting that they will unilaterally change the terms and conditions of the existing contract we have with KM Resorts? That would not be legal. Or are they going to do something sneaky?? Are they going to pump the dues way up? Or maybe start charging for as many extras as they can? There are no "standard" membership plans with KM Resorts and when you try to buy one, you have to negotiate each and every term and condition you want included. If you talk to members, they all have different agreements. For example, we had to negotiate being able to stay at all of their RV Parks including Neskowin in Oregon. If you don't do your homework in advance, you will get taken advantage of and it's almost like buying a used car when you sit down with a sales rep. Maybe part of the reason for a face to face meeting is a fishing expedition to see what member's reactions are (plus not wanting a revolt in a group setting?)? We just don't know...
We have enjoyed Beachwood and have been to all of their Parks except one. A few are really nice but a couple are dumps, and one in particular. Beachwood isn't particularly well managed and they do a very poor job of enforcing their rules and of doing maintenance. Some people leave their RVs parked in a site for days with nobody around which they're aren't supposed to do and it takes up valuable spaces. We've seen non-members there too and it's supposed to be members only. We've noticed in the past year that they seemed to have dropped doing the regular security patrols around the Park (a staff person would drive around every hour or so all day). Our dog has been attacked and a friend of ours was too and ended up in hospital to get stitches to his family jewels. I've noticed a number of pedestals have been out of service this year. Something just seems to have been changing...
Beachwood has also been very oversold and it is very difficult to get into in the summer unless you book as far in advance as possible. And if something changes at home and you can't make it at the booked time period, you can't just re-schedule for another time.
We've had enough camping nights within KM CGs to have paid off the cost of the membership. But if we don't like what they are presenting, we may just dump our membership and go elsewhere. There just *might* be a bunch of memberships available for cheap in the near future.... So far, we have enjoyed the Thousand Trails CGs that we have stayed at. But then, I've read about some issues with them in the past too.
