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.

Sounds like Endless Greed CG to me. They certainly made out like bandits at your expense.

From their website:"For cancellations less than 48 hours before check-in, deposit will be forfeited."

Live and learn. The policy appears to be clearly posted.While not quite as hefty as the OP's I have had to forfeit my deposit due to cancellations myself. Nevertheless I support and understand the policy

Well today is the 20 of Oct., you should call today and cancel again.That would be 48 hours before your arrival?Or am I getting something backwards?Good Luck & Drive Safe!

Lost my fee | Good Sam Community

answerswillvary
Explorer
Oct 22, 2015
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
Nomad
Oct 22, 2015
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
Explorer
Oct 22, 2015
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
Explorer
Oct 22, 2015
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
Explorer III
Oct 21, 2015
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
Explorer
Oct 21, 2015
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
Explorer III
Oct 21, 2015
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
Explorer III
Oct 21, 2015
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
Explorer
Oct 21, 2015
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
Explorer
Oct 21, 2015
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.

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