A VERY unfriendly welcome!
Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 at 18:38
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lizzyb74
Thank you I'm a bit fed up tonight. We have just arrived at a caravan park outside
Townsville.
We had been quoted $25 per night for a powered site for our family of four. When we got here we saw a
sign saying "Come in and find a site and we will catch up with you later", so found a site and started setting up.
A bit later an older lady came up and said the price was $35 a night. I politely said that we were quoted $25 on the phone and she got quite uppity and said that (worker name) told me wrong, it was $35 - $25 for 2 plus $5 each for our kids. This went on a bit and my (very friendly) husband came over and confirmed what I had said about the quote.
I said that the $25 for the 4 of us was the reason we came here and she said, very huffily, "
Well all right then, if it's that much of a problem, I'll make it $25 just for tonight". So I went to pay and said (trying to make friendly conversation!) that the park is pretty busy and she replied "
Well it's a retirees only park, (worker name) should have told you that too."
This was not the idea I had of a friendly park owner/manager. Those of you who remember my previous posts would know that we are on a budget on our 6 month trip so $10 extra a night does make a difference. This park was in the Camps book, and all the surrounding free camps had a 24 or 48 hour limit so we weren't able to go there as we were planning on staying in
Townsville for around 3 nights.
I'm not sure why I'm posting except to let off steam. We have come across so many wonderful park owners and people at free camps - I was just really taken aback by this rude woman.
Reply By: The Landy - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 10:29
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 10:29
I can never understand why people in service industries respond this way, especially in an electronic age of information dispersal whereby one indiscretion can affect your business for a long time.
A case in point on our recent trip north. We were speaking with a couple at
Winton and mentioned we had a great night at the Blue Heeler in
Kynuna, and he was surprised and said never stops there anymore because they were ‘rude’ a couple of years ago. Evidently the ownership has changed, but you wonder how many people he has told that have simply bypassed it...
If you are in a service industry, the customer is always right (within reason) and if you can’t put on a smiling face each and every time then you are in the wrong business... Fortunately most that we come across are generally great!
Hope your experience improves!
AnswerID:
461137
Reply By: Members Pa & Ma. - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 12:51
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 12:51
Hi Lizzyb74.,
This happened to us in
Kununurra back in 2002.
I didn't have a computer then butt have passed on the story by word of mouth.
our fridge had ceased to function due to a dual battery system fault.
We had to return to Kunnunurra for repairs. We had seen a carravan Park a way out of town & it looked lovely and almost empty !wow but it was September.
In we went in a huge hurry so we could catch the Auto Electrician as it was a Friday. ( Long story, but had to get back to work.)
It seems that the woman at reception had different ideas to the Manager & we were shifted from 3 different spots until we were pushed in between Two others.
We hate that.
Anyway the other
camp on the corner were out & didn't get
home until late.
In the morning they packed up & went & complained .
Hubby was up in town but I stayed. Next thing the reception woman was there saying it was our fault.
After listening to what they had to say. I was furious, the hole Park heard the Arguement. Some people came over & said the same was done to them.
I'm telling you this because we don't like being suashed in either & it was a matter of neccessity to get to town quickly & leaving the next day!!!! I ask that next time this happens or something simmilar just speak to the person & ask why they are so close.
It was a beautiful Park but later as we passed the word along, many people had the same story about this Park
AnswerID:
461143
Reply By: have a go - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 23:33
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 23:33
We have stayed in many parks and the only ones we look for now is big4. We
free camp as much as we can to even up the costs. Our last trip up to
Mission Beach was fantastic at the rebuilt Big4 then on our way
home we stayed at Rollingstone just north of
Townsville again rebuilt. Friendly, clean and beautiful.
Last year we were at
Yeppoon for 8 months. Just before the winter season we were negotiating work contracts in Rocky until we were told how much our site was going to increase by due to the
grey Victorians coming up. Permanent residents told us our kids wont be welcome in
the pool the old buggers will winge if the kids even walked around. They had to keep their only child away we have three.It would have been cheaper to rent a 4 bedroom house but didn't want to be locked in so we dropped the contract and went
home. One of the friendliest spots where the nomads welcome families is Burdekin
Dam and the
free camp on the Burdekin R near Charters Towers. They came up to us in both
places offering the best spots and that's after the rug rats jumped out of the car after a days driving.
Cheers
Sharon
AnswerID:
461201
Follow Up By: Fatso - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 09:58
Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 09:58
Hey that's funny you mention how the
grey nomads welcomed you at the Burdekin R. We had the same experience there 10 or 12 years ago when our kids were small.
We stopped to use the
toilet & someone actually came over & recommended we fill a spot between 2 vans on the bank overlooking the river. We intended to stay in town & they talked us in to staying there.
I have often thought they must have assessed us as being suitable neighbours & rather than take the lucky dip with whoever turned up next they encouraged us.
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