15% discount at Good Sam Parks

Hello,

I am closing this topic due to lack of activity. Thank you for your time and participating. Please feel free to open a new thread on this topic in the future if you wish.

Thank you,
Ella
Good Sam Care Team

Westernrvparkowner, Thanks for the clarity.

Geobiker wrote:
Point taken, westernrvparkowner, and it does make sense. One final question, if I go into a park and they offer both the 10% GS and 15% on another club, are you saying the rate the RV park charges me will be different depending on which discount I choose? Anyway, thanks for sharing.

No, that is not what I am saying. there are unscrupulous operators in all businesses, so there is always the possibility you have run into one. But at honest operations (almost all businesses, RV parks included) the discounts are going to be taken off the published rates.
That being said, Parks can choose to offer different discounts for different groups for any number of reasons. There are no rules, no laws, and often no visible logic for different discounts. To be listed as a Good Sam park, we are required to offer a 10% discount off the daily rate. We can still offer other discounts if we so choose. If I wanted to, I could offer a discount for people named Norman, a discount for red RVs, a discount for people with or without dogs and on and on. The only discount I cannot offer is one that is based on race, religion or another protected class being I am a public accommodation.

Point taken, westernrvparkowner, and it does make sense. One final question, if I go into a park and they offer both the 10% GS and 15% on another club, are you saying the rate the RV park charges me will be different depending on which discount I choose? Anyway, thanks for sharing.

Geobiker wrote:
Westernparkowner. Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I have stayed at several parks offering the 15% discount as well as 10% discounts but haven't noticed the rate being higher than other parks in the area.

Discounts are just juggling numbers to appeal to different people. There is absolutely no difference in offering a 10% discount on a $50.00 rate or a 25% discount on a $60.00 rate. Some people jump on a high discount thinking they are getting some kind of great deal. Some people search for the lowest price so the park with the $50.00 rate appears first in that search. Most people just judge by the final price in which case the $50.00 and $60.00 rate parks tie after the discount.
I tend to gravitate to offering smaller discounts. I don't want people to think my park is trying to be the bargain bin or that the only way I can rent sites is by offering big discounts. My plan is to price fair, offer good services and move on to the next issue. Trickery in pricing, to me, is a fool's errand.

Good Sam Care Team. Care to comment on "westernrvparkowner's" response on moving the GS discount from 10% to 15%. Is this how the discount really works?

Thanks.

Westernparkowner. Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I have stayed at several parks offering the 15% discount as well as 10% discounts but haven't noticed the rate being higher than other parks in the area.

K Charles wrote:
I have been told in the past that they give everyone the 10% if they ask. No need to show a membership card

Not everywhere. We only offer three discount possibilities. 10% for Good Sam members and active Military. 5% for AARP. We require proof on all discounts. If you claim Good Sam and don't have a card, we check for your membership in Good Sam's system. No membership, either buy one or pay full price.

Kinda reminds me of all of those coupons...Must be presented before getting quote.

We always ask what the price is then say we have goodsam. We have been told several times in our travels, "we no longer offer a goodsam discount" even though they are in the book. We just find another campground.

Ken

rr2254545 wrote:

sammytoo wrote:
Most parks just set their price 10% over market value anyway. They have to do that to make the GS membership pay for itself. If you change the discount to 15% they'll raise to 20%

How did you determine that

That is how every business works, RV parks included. While I won't necessarily agree that prices will rise 20%, they will have to raise in excess of 15% to maintain the exact same revenue. Simple example: I want to net $45.00 per night. I set the rate at $50 and with a current 10 % discount, I get my $45.00 If the discount rises to 15% I don't raise my rate 5% to $52.50, but I have to go to $52.94 to get the exact same $45.00 after discount. That is near a 6% increase in rates to offset a 5% jump in the discount rate.
Good Sam doesn't negotiate anything with the Good Sam Parks. They don't reimburse the parks for the discounts. They could make the discount 99% if they wanted to. The final decision is up to the parks, and that decision is whether or not to remain in the system. I know I would probably opt out if the discount increased. I don't want to have to raise prices and not put any additional money into my greedy little palms.