Why do campgrounds not post rates on their own websites

[rr2254545]

Looking at campground in Nashville and Montgomery to stay this week,
what makes some campgrounds not post rates - had to call or e-mail them to get rates.

Venting

[ependydad]

Lantley wrote:

ependydad wrote:
Funny enough, I used to feel like most here- but I recently stayed at a campground that didn't even have a website. I went off of RV Park Reviews for a ballpark expectation for what it would cost. We had a fantastic 4 nights over New Year's. I'd happily go back, but I'm still mesmerized that they don't have a web site.

Not every business wants as many customers as possible. As long as they are profitable some prefer to be more exclusive with fewer crowds and chaos. More is not always better.
However society has become so profit driven that we believe anything that produces profit is good. Apparently the CG owner you posted of disagrees yet he appears to run a decent operation.
I believe avoiding a CG simply because they don't post prices is more my loss than their's. I understand the exclusive hidden gem mentality

Reflecting on my stay, that's very likely the case. Great place and people, though.

[Veebyes]

No matter how small you are, you really do need a web presence getting started. You also need the search engines to find you. Maybe after time, & being that good at doing what you do, you can rely on repeat business & word of mouth referrals.

Been there. Done that. Single guy boat tour operation. Small & somewhat for the discerning client. What I compare to getting an off the beaten tourist track tour in a SUV, but on the water. Not cheap, but it was not a cheap service to produce starting with a $150,000 boat. It took time to get going but grew to where referrals & repeats were almost half the business. No advertising & no published pricing really needed for them.

[Lantley]

ependydad wrote:
Funny enough, I used to feel like most here- but I recently stayed at a campground that didn't even have a website. I went off of RV Park Reviews for a ballpark expectation for what it would cost. We had a fantastic 4 nights over New Year's. I'd happily go back, but I'm still mesmerized that they don't have a web site.

Not every business wants as many customers as possible. As long as they are profitable some prefer to be more exclusive with fewer crowds and chaos. More is not always better.
However society has become so profit driven that we believe anything that produces profit is good. Apparently the CG owner you posted of disagrees yet he appears to run a decent operation.
I believe avoiding a CG simply because they don't post prices is more my loss than their's. I understand the exclusive hidden gem mentality

[Lantley]

bukhrn wrote:

goducks10 wrote:

the bear II wrote:
"Stupid is as Stupid Does" ~Forest Gump

I skip past the RV Parks that fail to show the rates on their website. By showing the rates it saves them from having to answer extra phone calls. I feel I should be able to not only see the rates but also make a reservation on the website.

x2

x-3

Consider the CG maybe deliberately by passing you as well.
They apply the if you must ask you can't afford it theory.
The feeling maybe mutual. They may not want you as guest.
If a business can get away with word of mouth exposure there is little need to advertise pricing or anything else.

[ependydad]

Funny enough, I used to feel like most here- but I recently stayed at a campground that didn't even have a website. I went off of RV Park Reviews for a ballpark expectation for what it would cost. We had a fantastic 4 nights over New Year's. I'd happily go back, but I'm still mesmerized that they don't have a web site.

[bukhrn]

goducks10 wrote:

the bear II wrote:
"Stupid is as Stupid Does" ~Forest Gump

I skip past the RV Parks that fail to show the rates on their website. By showing the rates it saves them from having to answer extra phone calls. I feel I should be able to not only see the rates but also make a reservation on the website.

x2

x-3

[Veebyes]

It is not just rates that don't get posted. Some organisations don't even want to talk to you. For some it is just an email address & even that may not get a response. Gotta love this connected world.

[rver1997]

I don't know but it drives me crazy. Sure, rates change but it isn't hard to update the website from time to time with some new numbers.

[mdcamping]

jplante4 wrote:
There are other ways to find the price, for instance rvparkreviews.com. When you submit a review, the price you paid is one of the data points. You just need to be aware that if they stayed off season, then you're seeing the off season price. Most reviewers will mention if the price reflected a PA or GS discount.

X2

I was researching a KOA in NY that didn't have the posted rates, after seeing $80+ per night for WES on RVPR I decided to data enter date & length of stay on the KOA web site. I found some basic WES sites with a more manageable price of $55 per night. The reviews didn't mention the sites reserved were deluxe sites... there will always be situations were research is needed.

Mike

[westernrvparkow]

tsetsaf wrote:
Some campgrounds don't even answer the phone! Let alone post rates. It is an old school business run by old school people.

Try getting a "new school" person to answer the phone at one of those "New School" businesses. Do you really want your site fees to reflect the cost of have 24/7/365 live telephone support? At $15.00 an hour (which is too low, operator salary, plus benefits, unemployment insurance, workman's comp and employer taxes would exceed that much) a single full time operator would cost $131,000 a year. A medium size park (100 sites) would probably have 10,000 camper nights, so your operator will cost you $13.00 a night in additional site fees. Not worth it to me.

[tsetsaf]

Some campgrounds don't even answer the phone! Let alone post rates. It is an old school business run by old school people.

[jplante4]

There are other ways to find the price, for instance rvparkreviews.com. When you submit a review, the price you paid is one of the data points. You just need to be aware that if they stayed off season, then you're seeing the off season price. Most reviewers will mention if the price reflected a PA or GS discount.

[westernrvparkow]

Many parks are moving to "dynamic" pricing. Prices change depending upon many conditions. Day of the week, time of the year, holidays, length of stay, type and location of site etc. Often the pricing is embedded in the site, but you need to enter information regarding your stay before that pricing appears.

[2oldman]

beemerphile1 wrote:
They operate under the mantra, "If you have to ask - you can't afford it". :B

That too!