Lost my fee

[Itchn2go]

I booked a site at Endless Caverns Capground in September to arrive on October 22nd.
I added insurance so that if I cancelled I could get a cash refund. Nothing was mentioned about a 48 hour rule as I recall.
As it turned out we could leave early and we changed our arrival to October 20th 2015.
i suffer from back pain and my right hip has been giving me trouble. When I awoke this am I had severe pain and I went to my orthopedic doctor and after X-rays determined it was indeed coming from my back. Needless to say we could not make our planned trip.
The Moho was packed, perishables in the fridge and this was to be our first extended trip. We were terribly disappointed and called the campground to let them know we could not be there and asked for our refund of 208.25.
Because it was not 48 hours before our arrival, NO we could not get our money back.
In fairness they offered to move us to any time before Nov 16' their closing date.
Because of my medical condition, I could not guarantee that I could do that. Even though the situation was a act of God and no ones fault, they could not deviate from their policy, so I lost my 208.25' they lost. A customer and caused a PR nightmare. If you ever need to cancel at this campground, be sure it's 48 hours before your arrival.

[answerswillvary]

The OP wrote:
Now after 5 pages of replies and many views on the matter, I suggest we let this situation die a happy death.

I agree. It's time to put this topic to rest.

Sandi (Moderator)

[Lantley]

Roy&Lynne wrote:

Lantley wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I hope some of you guys remember all your comments if/when you`re ever in the same situation!

I've been in that situation although not to the tune of $200.00 bucks it was more like $75.00.
Nevertheless The situation was on my end not the CG's. I had to pay
the consequences which I was not happy about but I understood
How would camper feel if the CG called 48 hours out to say your reservation was cancelled by the CG due to illness?
I don't think most would find it acceptable. It is a 2 way street

Sorry, but that has happened here is WA when our fires burned campgrounds and campers were told to stay away. And if an owner called me and said they had to close becaues they were sick, I would hope that I was big enough to understand and make other plans

I'm not talking a fire or natural phenomenon. Obviously you can't go camping if there is a forest fire.:S
I may also understand how illness can effect a mom & pop operation.
However most CG I frequent are not Mom and Pop places. If Frontier town in OC,MD. or Pirateland in MB, or Raystown Lake Resort in PA called me at the last minute to cancel due to illness on their part I'd be highly upset.
Some of the larger CG's require reservations 3,6, 9 months to a year out during peak season. 48 hours is simply too short of notice to cancel. Much in the way the OP was penalized. I'd want double my deposit if a mega CG tried to cancel my reservation on short notice.
Some of us are still naive enough to believe the customer is always right.....I've been in business long enough to know better.

[SDcampowneroper]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

Itchn2go wrote:
toedtoes and others who have made assumptions about me. As i have stated i was in a family retail florist business for over 45 years. I am over the situation now and its a beautiful day outside.
This has never been about ME. As i have stated before, its about a business doing the right thing no matter what their policy is. A medical emergency, a death, a rv wreck certainly bespeaks of a deviation from the norm. As long as these folks can or be willing to prove their situation they all deserve special consideration.
I was not and am not looking for a exemption just for me, but its my feeling a policy should be flexible enough to show consideration in extreme circumstances.
Many times in our business we went beyond what is expected in unusual conditions. In business its always best to practice the golden rule. Yes, I do feel that campgrounds should have cancellation policy but it should also be tempered with compassion.
Now after 5 pages of replies and many views on the matter, I suggest we let this situation die a happy death.

Being in the retail flower business, I assume you required major orders to be paid for in advance. I seriously doubt you would order and prepare a few thousand dollars of arrangements for a wedding and just eat those costs of for some reason that wedding got cancelled or moved at the last minute. If you built an arbor of flowers for an outdoor wedding, would you just say "Oh Well" if the day of the wedding it rained and they moved the wedding inside and didn't really want or need that arbor anymore? Would you take that loss if the wedding was cancelled, not because of weather, but because the bride broke her ankle and wanted to reschedule the wedding for a few months later so she could walk down the aisle but you didn't find this out until 48 hours before the wedding and you had already bought and had special flowers delivered from your supplier? The reason someone cancelled really didn't make a difference to your situation. Those flowers will wilt and you will lose your investment if they cancel due to weather or health. Fact of the matter is your health situation really shouldn't become a financial cost to others.

Thank you for this excellent analogy. No doubt left that the OP and those who have not been in business fail to see the flip side.
From what I read, the OP requested a long term site with no defined arrival or departure dates. For that, a one month deposit with forfiture for cancellation is not punitive, conversely, lenient.
I am intrigued how no shows or late cancellations consider the rare occurance of filling a spot for its entire reserved time with a drive in as double dipping. In our experience, even during high season recently cancelled or no show sites will not be filled for the entirety, resulting in lost net income which must be passed on in higher fees or more restrictive reservation policies.
How about those wilted wedding flowers. Is there a funeral they can be used for?

[Roy_Lynne]

Lantley wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I hope some of you guys remember all your comments if/when you`re ever in the same situation!

I've been in that situation although not to the tune of $200.00 bucks it was more like $75.00.
Nevertheless The situation was on my end not the CG's. I had to pay
the consequences which I was not happy about but I understood
How would camper feel if the CG called 48 hours out to say your reservation was cancelled by the CG due to illness?
I don't think most would find it acceptable. It is a 2 way street

Sorry, but that has happened here is WA when our fires burned campgrounds and campers were told to stay away. And if an owner called me and said they had to close becaues they were sick, I would hope that I was big enough to understand and make other plans

[colliehauler]

I would like to go to Blue Water Key RV resort but they have a 2 dog limit and I have 3 Collies. I will simply have to wait until I'm down to 2 dogs.

If I went with 3 Collies and got in it might make someone else mad that they could not do so as well.

If people did not take advantage of liberal policies they would not have to impose rules to prevent that type of behavior.

I hope your back gets better soon and you can enjoy camping.

[westernrvparkow]

Itchn2go wrote:
toedtoes and others who have made assumptions about me. As i have stated i was in a family retail florist business for over 45 years. I am over the situation now and its a beautiful day outside.
This has never been about ME. As i have stated before, its about a business doing the right thing no matter what their policy is. A medical emergency, a death, a rv wreck certainly bespeaks of a deviation from the norm. As long as these folks can or be willing to prove their situation they all deserve special consideration.
I was not and am not looking for a exemption just for me, but its my feeling a policy should be flexible enough to show consideration in extreme circumstances.
Many times in our business we went beyond what is expected in unusual conditions. In business its always best to practice the golden rule. Yes, I do feel that campgrounds should have cancellation policy but it should also be tempered with compassion.
Now after 5 pages of replies and many views on the matter, I suggest we let this situation die a happy death.

Being in the retail flower business, I assume you required major orders to be paid for in advance. I seriously doubt you would order and prepare a few thousand dollars of arrangements for a wedding and just eat those costs of for some reason that wedding got cancelled or moved at the last minute. If you built an arbor of flowers for an outdoor wedding, would you just say "Oh Well" if the day of the wedding it rained and they moved the wedding inside and didn't really want or need that arbor anymore? Would you take that loss if the wedding was cancelled, not because of weather, but because the bride broke her ankle and wanted to reschedule the wedding for a few months later so she could walk down the aisle but you didn't find this out until 48 hours before the wedding and you had already bought and had special flowers delivered from your supplier? The reason someone cancelled really didn't make a difference to your situation. Those flowers will wilt and you will lose your investment if they cancel due to weather or health. Fact of the matter is your health situation really shouldn't become a financial cost to others.

[toedtoes]

I haven't made any assumptions about you. I have simply pointed out why a business may choose not to make an exception to their rules and policies.

Sure, it's great that a business makes that exception for you. But that's what it is - an exception.

What makes your exceptions better than mine? You have 2 1/4 dogs - no, you have 3 dogs. Why should you be allowed to stay with 3 dogs, when good neighbor Joe was denied for having 3 dogs? Should everyone with 3 dogs be allowed? If so, then why have a rule against 3 dogs?

The more often a business makes exceptions to a policy, the more that policy loses its potency. What's the point of establishing standards if you constantly veer from those standards.

If you get an exception from a business, that's great. Enjoy it. But, a business that chooses not to veer from their stated policies isn't evil or greedy - they are being consistent. If you don't like their policy then don't go there.

[fj12ryder]

I'm sure since you were in retail that you never asked for ID when accepting a personal check since you, and everyone else by extension, is honest, and above cheating a business or individual. 🙂

The campground has no way of knowing you're an honest and above board individual except your word for it. Shoot, I could gin up a "doctor's excuse" for why I couldn't show up at some place. It's a shame you lost your deposit, but they were completely open about their policy and you went into it with your eyes open. C'est la vie.

[Itchn2go]

Executive...
I feel I must reply to your question about Florida. I will not mention the name of the park or the area, but their website stated 2 dog limit. This is our first trip to Florida and in contacting the CG, I told them we had 2 1/4 dogs as we inherited my MIL poodle on her demise.
I also stated that I was not sure of our arrival date and was told just to give them a call a couple of days ahead of time. Also told them didn't know how long we wanted to stay but it would be a month or more. I also stated that I read on the website that there would be no refunds and all of our plans were iffy because of our first time. was told to send 1 months fee and if we decided not to come it would be refunded. that the no refund policy was for the bad guys.
Cerainly unusual actions on the part of the CG, but all true.
Just the difference between a independent owned CG and a Corporate Owned one.
Had to tell someone about my experience with a CG in Florida. Way beyond the norm for which I am greatful.

[Itchn2go]

toedtoes and others who have made assumptions about me. As i have stated i was in a family retail florist business for over 45 years. I am over the situation now and its a beautiful day outside.
This has never been about ME. As i have stated before, its about a business doing the right thing no matter what their policy is. A medical emergency, a death, a rv wreck certainly bespeaks of a deviation from the norm. As long as these folks can or be willing to prove their situation they all deserve special consideration.
I was not and am not looking for a exemption just for me, but its my feeling a policy should be flexible enough to show consideration in extreme circumstances.
Many times in our business we went beyond what is expected in unusual conditions. In business its always best to practice the golden rule. Yes, I do feel that campgrounds should have cancellation policy but it should also be tempered with compassion.
Now after 5 pages of replies and many views on the matter, I suggest we let this situation die a happy death.

[Executive45]

Ever tried to get a reservation at a Florida State Park? Many book every weekend through the summer, then cancel those they can't sell or don't want to go...:S.

To the OP, hope your medical issues get better. I don't think anyone doubts your situation, but as evidenced by several postings, as well as the situation mentioned above, there are those that continue to cheat/game the reservation system. THAT is the reason for the cancellation policies...which, I am sure, you'll read completely from now on.....Dennis

[toedtoes]

Itchn2go - I totally understand your frustration. But, I also understand a business holding to their policies.

The reason for cancellation policies is: 1) so that customers understand up front what they can expect; and 2) so staff doesn't have to make judgement calls every time someone wants out of the deal.

If they give you the exception, then what about the person whose mother just died. What about the person whose RV was in an accident. What about the person whose daughter just won the regional spelling bee. What about the person whose toilet clogged up. And so on.

What makes your situation different from the next guy's? And if the business is expected to make all these exceptions, the why have a policy.

[Itchn2go]

Many of you have missed the cause of the frustration. this was a medical situation a severe pain in my right hip that precluded me from walking. I offered to send proof, but they told me they did not have a fax machine.
A cancellation fee of some sort would have been acceptable. a credit for 2016 would have been acceptable also, but a credit until November 16th was not acceptable as I don't know the extent of my medical procedures. I do have a MRI scheduled for 10/21 and a follow up on 10/29. Have to go thru my Cardio Dr. so I can give up my blood thinner leading up to a Epidural. Here i was in great pain, upset because we had to cancell our trip and was told my money would not be refunded. As someone else said I hope none of you face this situation. having been in retail for 45 years, I know how far a little kindness goes in tough situations. I have accepted their policy and I feel enough has been said on the subject. The diversified answers shows the different natures of our RV community. thanks all.

[westernrvparkow]

4X4Dodger wrote:
There are a few misconceptions going on here. One poster said that it is up to the customer to ask about the cancellation policy.

While this is a wise course of action it is actually up to the Business to inform you...it's called informed consent. In other words they cannot keep your money without first informing you of the rules.

Second is this: The vast majority of businesses usually keep one nights fee for a cancellation made on short notice. Some ask as much as 50%. Keeping the entire amount is a bit greedy and a good reason not to do business with them again.

Having owned and operated my own hotel in a resort area I am well aware of the disastrous effects a short notice cancellation can have. I have turned away many people who wanted a room when we were fully booked, just to have a short notice cancellation or a no-show happpen. I could have given some very nice folks a room. So it's not just the Business that suffers it is also those that are being turned away from a place they want to stay and cannot because it is full.

Cancellation fees are a must for hospitality businesses. But they should be reasonable for both parties. This one strikes me as needlessly greedy.

Exactly!!! And while the cancellation policy does sound very severe, we don't know the exact circumstances of the park. Using a hotel as an example, if the hotel was in a major city they is a good chance walk in traffic will fill some rooms. If it was in Tahiti, there is a good chance there is never any walk in traffic. Many people drive into the San Francisco area without reservations, I doubt anyone gets on a plane and flies to an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean without a room already reserved. Someone said that this particular park and reservation was made in the middle of leaf viewing season. Maybe local knowledge is if you don't have a reservation, don't go, everything is full. Kind of like you can generally count on finding a room in New Orleans, but don't travel there without reservations during Mardi Gras or the Superbowl.