Just experienced our first Non-refundable campground

[randot]

We finally had to face the sad facts and cancel our trip to Lake Almanor (burning up right now in the Dixie fire). I had made several reservations on the way to our final destination and had to start the process of cancelling those reservations. I came across a NO-REFUNDS policy at one of these campgrounds (credit card charged in full once reservation is made and no-refunds for any reason). Full disclosure, it does say this on the website when you make the reservation, but of course, at the time I had no reason to cancel. Also, just because it is in writing, that doesn’t negate the fact it is a crappy policy.
I understand a cancellation fee for late cancellations, but I cancelled this reservation more than three weeks out. Obviously, we all know that the campground will be able to re-book this site and not be out any money – did I mention it was for Labor Day weekend? I would really rather donate $100 to a firefighter charity than just let this campground take it.
Has anyone else run across such a crappy policy?

[Walaby]

wapiticountry wrote:

time2roll wrote:
Next time you encounter a no refund policy reservation...... ask if you could an extra 10% in advance to have the possibility of a refund.

To an owner that would scream we want to stay at a different park but can’t get a reservation. Therefore we are booking with you as a backup, But we will be checking with the other park daily to see if they have a cancellation and then we will exercise that cancellation clause, you will refund our 10% larger deposit and you will be collecting 10% more of ZERO. (Less the credit card fees for both the deposit and the refund)

Yup... and if I were the owner and had a no refund policy, I'd say "sure, you can add 10% and I will give you the option to cancel and get a 10% refund.

Mike

[valhalla360]

Crowe wrote:
Can anyone get a refund from an airline, cruise ship, state park? NO.

Yes. Buy refundable tickets on an airline, no issue.

Sure but the cost of the tickets is so much higher, you could cancel and lose your money on 50% of non-refundable tickets and still come out ahead.

[wapiticountry]

time2roll wrote:
Next time you encounter a no refund policy reservation...... ask if you could an extra 10% in advance to have the possibility of a refund.

To an owner that would scream we want to stay at a different park but can’t get a reservation. Therefore we are booking with you as a backup, But we will be checking with the other park daily to see if they have a cancellation and then we will exercise that cancellation clause, you will refund our 10% larger deposit and you will be collecting 10% more of ZERO. (Less the credit card fees for both the deposit and the refund)

[Crowe]

Can anyone get a refund from an airline, cruise ship, state park? NO.

Yes. Buy refundable tickets on an airline, no issue. Non-refundable tickets get put into a ticket bank for future use-you generally have a year. Due to COVID some airlines are giving/gave 2 years. Cruise ships refund as well, as long as you aren't within a certain time frame, usually minus an administrative fee. It's not a "no refund at all" policy. State parks I can't comment on.

Trip insurance doesn't even come into play here. It doesn't cover "Acts of God" such as wildfires or "I just don't want to go". Some policies, however, are now covering cancellations due to COVID.

Another suggestion is to ask to put the deposit towards a future reservation. Some will be more than happy to do that.

[time2roll]

Next time you encounter a no refund policy reservation...... ask if you could pay an extra 10% in advance to have the possibility of a refund.

[JoeH]

Just a week ago, I was making reservations and the CG I wanted to stay at had me sign an online form stating that I was aware and would abide by their no refund policy. I did sign it.

[wapiticountry]

SDcampowneroperator wrote:

We are so glad to have sold our park.

It’s been nearly three years since we began the get out of jail process. My smile gets bigger as the parks grow smaller in the rear view mirror. It is even possible that someday I will stop hating the general public.

On second though: Naaaah

[SDcampowneroper]

RealtorRick had the best way yet of calling a deposit what it is, a partial payment, not a deposit.
When we had our park - by the way, near Mt. Rushmore, so theres no drive in traffic, it was all by reservation months in advance. it took us years to find the best way to both serve changing plans for guests and protect our business.
In the end, a 1 night deposit served fine in shoulder seasons with cancellation fee refund for any reason up to 48 hrs. before arrival, less a $10 fee to cover our labor time phone and card fees.
As the season progressed and occupancy peaked deposit amount increased to 2 days , cancellation with refund to 7 days, 25% fee ( cabins to tent s are varied pricing) which gave us a chance of rebooking except during special events like the big 3 holiday weekends and Sturgis Rally week which required 30 days prior for some refund
We established that policy based on our margins, likelyhood of rebooking, guest satisfaction our loyalty to them and they to us.
Many times guests would want a refund because they chose to leave early. Never could we refill that short term vacancy. When they threatened a poor review, our resolve became a solid wall. I even offered to escort them out.
We had poor reviews of our policy, which when mixed in with the other reviews made the sour grapes of the dissatisfied look complimentary

I have to point out, why is this industry so chosen for this topic?
Can anyone get a refund from an airline, cruise ship, state park? NO.
We are so glad to have sold our park.

[lbrjet]

I have made reservations in around 200 campgrounds, for around 800 nights, mostly 5-9 months in advance. Never once did I get there and not get a spot. If that happened it would make me mad. I have had to eat the cost of non-refundables for a few nights due to my schedule changing slightly now and then. If you choose that campground, knowing the policy and have to cancel then I don't understand why anyone would complain about it.

[Crowe]

I thank everyone for their responses. I didn't really want this to be a "you booked it and knew it so eat it" post, I simply wanted to know what others think about such 'a rigid policy and if it is that common.

The policy stinks but it is what it is and is completely understandable. If these places want to stay in business they must protect themselves. It is very common in resort and heavily traveled areas as well as those with short seasons.

[randot]

I thank everyone for their responses. I didn't really want this to be a "you booked it and knew it so eat it" post, I simply wanted to know what others think about such a rigid policy and if it is that common. Luckily, I have not had to cancel a lot of reservations (which I prefer to have so there is no stress and I have a place to park my RV), but I had never run into this policy. I understand the standard within 14 days pay penalty policy, just thought this one was a little over-kill. Of course, live and learn and I will not book another nonrefundable campground which might be hard as more and more campgrounds are booked solid which is why I made these reservations more than 6 months out.

[FWC]

It is funny how these contracts are seen as a one way street. Folks are indignant when a park has a clearly stated no-cancelation policy, and expect that the park should accommodate their change in plans. Yet the same folks would be apoplectic if the same park cancelled their reservation (say because someone else were willing to pay more for the same spot).

You knew the policy, the reason you are cancelling doesn't matter at all, it is not on the park to eat the cost of your change.

[toedtoes]

12th Man Fan wrote:
I understand why parks have to have these policies but I also believe if they are able to rent that space on the day or days in question they should provide a refund minus a reasonable cancellation fee.

I will not make a reservation at a no refund park until I am 99.9% sure I will make it to that destination, however I nearly go burned this year when all of the parks at my scheduled stop were all booked.

It really comes down to the parks' choice. If they find the polict doesn't affect their bottom line, then they're not going to change. All we can do is choose not to do business with them. We can't demand they change or ignore their rules because we disagree with them.

[RetiredRealtorR]

Non-refundable = Non-refundable

That being said, years ago when I was in the automobile business, we never took "deposits" on anything -- we took "partial payments" to hold a vehicle. Of course, they were non-refundable, and it made it easier for buyers to understand we weren't just 'holding' a vehicle for them, but they were in fact buying it, and the partial payment made it theirs until all their ducks were in a row to finalize the purchase. Worked great for many decades, and legally but us in a much better position than taking a 'non-refundable deposit'

[toedtoes]

wapiticountry wrote:

Lantley wrote:
We all make our plans and commit to reservations based on our personnel iteneraries however when outside forces such as covid closures or a wild fire, which was not anticipated/expected by anyone at the time the reservations were made impact our plans consideration shoud be made.
If the bridge leading to the CG collapses should I be charged a cancellation fee?
What if the collapsed bridge causes me to take a 500 mile detour? Must I drive aound to avoid cancellation? If the government shuts down my event due to covid should I have to eat my resrvation.
At some point the CG needs to be reasonable in their expectations of the customer.

If the Campground is in Wyoming and the bridge that collapsed causing your detour is in Ohio then yes, you should eat your reservation. Having owned parks for many years, we have heard every excuse imaginable as to why we should waive cancellation fees. When someone's parents have died for the third time you get suspicious. When they tell you they are hospitalized and cannot travel the 1000 miles to the park and then when you call them to ask where you need forward a package that arrived they tell you they will stop by to pick it up in a couple of hours you realize people LIE. We therefore took the position that we are not the judge and jury of excuses. No Exceptions.

Exactly.

If I make a reservation at a campground so I can attend a wedding nearby and that wedding gets cancelled should the campground make an exception to their policy because my event got cancelled?

If I make a one night reservation in Bakersfield for a trip to Arizona, should they make an exception because Arizona's weather was too hot that week?

If I make a reservation at a campground in BC so I can go on an Alaskan cruise, should they make an exception because the cruise was cancelled?

If each reservation was made knowing they had a no cancellation policy, then I made a contract to that effect. Just because MY plans change doesn't make the contract null and void.

Now, if the campground called and said "sorry, we have a sewer problem and will be closed", then I would expect a refund.

If the OP had a reservation at Lake Almanor with a no refund policy, then I would expect them to refund the money because THEY can't meet the terms of the contract. But that's not the case here. The OP is choosing to not meet the terms of the contract and therefore is not due a refund.