The major caravan parks have had it themselves and are operating as groups to dictate prices and whims at their fancy , is it time for us as "grey nomads "to introduce, a similar card to the major system that entitles us to real discounts s a group ,not just advertised promotions with strings or don't exit.
Any IDEA"S
Roving-Dutchy said
02:11 PM Nov 21, 2014
Haven't we already got a discount card , it's called Seniors Card.
Cheers
David
tezza said
02:52 PM Nov 21, 2014
great idea but need someone with the energy and drive to organise such
Golddetectornomad said
03:00 PM Nov 21, 2014
We tried to set one up years ago in S.A. Real Estate Industry..the support base must be massive to appeal to Business.....costs in time and money were enormous ...it flopped big time....Grey Nomads?..who?....and you want a discount for what? and why?......and you do what?.....and you do it full time?....<likely Business reply> ..well if you travel full time you obviously need us more than we need you so why give you a discount....especially when our Industry is hell bent in restricting your alternative options all over Australia....Hoo Roo
Gerty Dancer said
03:12 PM Nov 21, 2014
We've had discounts because of membership of NRMA, and seniors card and occasionally a pension card. I reckon most Grey Nomads would have a seniors and/or pension card or Automobile Club membership.
As GDN said, businesses have to believe they will benefit before giving discounts, they don't just give them from the kindness of their hearts!
Caravan-Park memberships work well for some, we have a Top Tourist membership, and it has saved us a lot more than it cost.
wasn_me said
03:15 PM Nov 21, 2014
There is businesses, caravan parks, etc out there that will give discount for RACQ, Seniors, Pension, whatever cards. Seek them out. Avoid the ones that don't.
Cheers Pete
wkilby said
02:16 PM Nov 22, 2014
Thanks for your replies and I agree with all your comments and we all know we seem to be overwhelmed by cards of all shorts. But it appears to me that caravan parks need our patronage in the "off" periods to make ends meet , this is backed up by the noise they generate when a free camp is located within their vicinity, personally we prefer a caravan park and don't mind the charge. However when push comes to shove it seems that the "Grey Nomad " who has supported them thru their leaner period is the one to be "shoved ".
I have just posted this as I feel we provide an major part of the caravanning industries income and should be respected for it and have a voice of some kind. Thanks .
Bruce and Bev said
03:14 PM Nov 23, 2014
Many caravan park owners are either filthy rich or poor business people!!
We have been staying in Kalgoorlie, WA, for the past week. They have 4 parks here, plus 2 free city 24 hour stops, dump points, water etc provided by the Council as well as a long term free camp about 10-15 mins out of the city.
We looked on-line before we came here and the Acclaim Group (who own 2 parks) where doing off season prices - we stayed a week and saved ourselves 2 nights.
We are about to return to Perth for Xmas and inquired with the Merriden C/P. $35 a night - no discount for off season or holding a seniors card or whatever. The only thing they do all year round is the 7th night is free. Heres the rub - when I asked about site availability, the email reply was "we're nearly empty so youre welcome to choose your own site". Dumb, huh??
If they discounted to say $15-$20 in their quiet time (as most C/Ps have), then Grey Nomads would make a point of going there. Surely that sort of discount will still cover the power and water we leave as well as help pay their other costs like council rates, the ATO, maintenance etc rather than just having an empty Park
aussie_paul said
03:21 PM Nov 23, 2014
Bruce and Bev wrote:
If they discounted to say $15-$20 in their quiet time (as most C/Ps have), then Grey Nomads would make a point of going there. Surely that sort of discount will still cover the power and water we leave as well as help pay their other costs like council rates, the ATO, maintenance etc rather than just having an empty Park
Bruce and Bev, they only have to cover costs at the off peak times as the best form of advertising is satisfied customers and word of mouth on forums like this.
Aussie Paul.
hako said
09:12 PM Nov 23, 2014
I'm going to be the odd man out here - I do not like discounts. Someone has to pay for the discounts offered by various groups and the someone is generally the easygoing take it as it comes grey nomad.
I do not see why belonging to a certain group deserves a discount. Nothing bugs me more than being at a counter - chemist/spare parts/Bunnings, and the person in front of me has a special card that magically allows them to buy the same product as I do for 20% or whatever less.
The other problem with a discount card for grey nomads is that who do caravan park operators associate with "free camping"?, why grey nomads of course. Why give a discount to the enemy.
Good Luck.
wkilby said
07:55 PM Nov 24, 2014
This is what was is happening on the Sunshine and Gold Coast at present some are charging for a site the same price as Motel per night and they would only have 20-30 % occupancy ,
where the Tweed area parks charges are near full.
Baz421 said
09:28 PM Nov 24, 2014
Waste of time IMHO, as we can't agree on anything it seems. About 5 years ago (or thereabouts + or - a couple years - yep I have the seniors card,,lol) there was a push to unite caravan owners, motorhome groups and camper groups before I was on grey nomads. No one could agree on ANYTHING and self interest groups, led by (IMHO only) the motorhome group(s) appeared to sabotage it.
Anyway I have a 2nd wallet full of discount cards, all are about 100% useless and anyone can get the discount offered if you ask.
Just my humble opinion and it's worth at least 5 cents now.
hako said
09:38 PM Nov 24, 2014
Baz421 wrote:
SNIP
Anyway I have a 2nd wallet full of discount cards, all are about 100% useless and anyone can get the discount offered if you ask.
Just my humble opinion and it's worth at least 5 cents now.
Baz - I sometimes ask if there is a discount - seniors, concession card, RACQ etc but never get one, so I don't know how you do it.
Regards
Baz421 said
09:51 PM Nov 24, 2014
hako wrote:
Baz421 wrote:
SNIP
Anyway I have a 2nd wallet full of discount cards, all are about 100% useless and anyone can get the discount offered if you ask.
Just my humble opinion and it's worth at least 5 cents now.
Baz - I sometimes ask if there is a discount - seniors, concession card, RACQ etc but never get one, so I don't know how you do it.
Regards
If you know what discount is offered and to who, just brazenly ask, other do.... I don't bother usually as the discounts/products are not good overall IMHO.
Santa said
09:55 AM Nov 25, 2014
Not sure that politely asking for a discount is a brazen act, depending on the store I'm shopping in I will often ask, sometimes the answer is no, however I am frequently pleasantly surprised.
Do I feel we need a GN discount card? no, if a business is prepared to offer a discount they will do so regardless, don't need another card in my wallet.
03_Troopy said
01:52 PM Nov 25, 2014
I generally ask "what is the best they can do" on bigger ticket items or multiple purchases, and quite often get a better deal than the ticketed price. When my old man was a salesman, selling everything from carpet to caravans, he'd always "see if we can do a better deal" to persuade an undecided customer to make the purchase. In fact they always had a little bit of leeway built into the ticket price back then.
<<The major caravan parks have had it themselves and are operating as groups to dictate prices and whims at their fancy , is it time for us as "grey nomads "to introduce, a similar card to the major system that entitles us to real discounts s a group ,not just advertised promotions with strings or don't exit.
Any IDEA"S >>
No I dont think we need one but it is always interesting to read the comments by others
03_Troopy said
06:20 PM Nov 26, 2014
elliemike wrote:
Henry Ford Supposedly said !
"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH".
That's true, but you don't need to pay for a 4 course banquet if all you want is a steak sanga
The major caravan parks have had it themselves and are operating as groups to dictate prices and whims at their fancy , is it time for us as "grey nomads "to introduce, a similar card to the major system that entitles us to real discounts s a group ,not just advertised promotions with strings or don't exit.
Any IDEA"S
Haven't we already got a discount card , it's called Seniors Card.
Cheers
David
As GDN said, businesses have to believe they will benefit before giving discounts, they don't just give them from the kindness of their hearts!
Caravan-Park memberships work well for some, we have a Top Tourist membership, and it has saved us a lot more than it cost.
There is businesses, caravan parks, etc out there that will give discount for RACQ, Seniors, Pension, whatever cards. Seek them out. Avoid the ones that don't.
Cheers Pete
I have just posted this as I feel we provide an major part of the caravanning industries income and should be respected for it and have a voice of some kind. Thanks .
We have been staying in Kalgoorlie, WA, for the past week. They have 4 parks here, plus 2 free city 24 hour stops, dump points, water etc provided by the Council as well as a long term free camp about 10-15 mins out of the city.
We looked on-line before we came here and the Acclaim Group (who own 2 parks) where doing off season prices - we stayed a week and saved ourselves 2 nights.
We are about to return to Perth for Xmas and inquired with the Merriden C/P. $35 a night - no discount for off season or holding a seniors card or whatever. The only thing they do all year round is the 7th night is free. Heres the rub - when I asked about site availability, the email reply was "we're nearly empty so youre welcome to choose your own site". Dumb, huh??
If they discounted to say $15-$20 in their quiet time (as most C/Ps have), then Grey Nomads would make a point of going there. Surely that sort of discount will still cover the power and water we leave as well as help pay their other costs like council rates, the ATO, maintenance etc rather than just having an empty Park
Bruce and Bev, they only have to cover costs at the off peak times as the best form of advertising is satisfied customers and word of mouth on forums like this.
Aussie Paul.
I do not see why belonging to a certain group deserves a discount. Nothing bugs me more than being at a counter - chemist/spare parts/Bunnings, and the person in front of me has a special card that magically allows them to buy the same product as I do for 20% or whatever less.
The other problem with a discount card for grey nomads is that who do caravan park operators associate with "free camping"?, why grey nomads of course. Why give a discount to the enemy.
Good Luck.
This is what was is happening on the Sunshine and Gold Coast at present some are charging for a site the same price as Motel per night and they would only have 20-30 % occupancy ,
where the Tweed area parks charges are near full.
Waste of time IMHO, as we can't agree on anything it seems. About 5 years ago (or thereabouts + or - a couple years - yep I have the seniors card,,lol) there was a push to unite caravan owners, motorhome groups and camper groups before I was on grey nomads. No one could agree on ANYTHING and self interest groups, led by (IMHO only) the motorhome group(s) appeared to sabotage it.
Anyway I have a 2nd wallet full of discount cards, all are about 100% useless and anyone can get the discount offered if you ask.
Just my humble opinion and it's worth at least 5 cents now.
Baz - I sometimes ask if there is a discount - seniors, concession card, RACQ etc but never get one, so I don't know how you do it.
Regards
If you know what discount is offered and to who, just brazenly ask, other do.... I don't bother usually as the discounts/products are not good overall IMHO.
Not sure that politely asking for a discount is a brazen act, depending on the store I'm shopping in I will often ask, sometimes the answer is no, however I am frequently pleasantly surprised.
Do I feel we need a GN discount card? no, if a business is prepared to offer a discount they will do so regardless, don't need another card in my wallet.
Henry Ford Supposedly said !
"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH".
<<The major caravan parks have had it themselves and are operating as groups to dictate prices and whims at their fancy , is it time for us as "grey nomads "to introduce, a similar card to the major system that entitles us to real discounts s a group ,not just advertised promotions with strings or don't exit.
Any IDEA"S >>
No I dont think we need one but it is always interesting to read the comments by others
That's true, but you don't need to pay for a 4 course banquet if all you want is a steak sanga
And I said that....