Re: Caravan & Motorhome Club Website

by rgermain Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:19 pm

Geoff57 wrote:
Paulmold wrote:At the bottom of the map screen you should see 'show list' , click that and you get another screen where you can search by site name or location. Unfortunately you get worldwide place names, so if you want eg Chester you need to put Chester UK. You only get 20 sites per search so you may then have to search another close town such as Wrexham to get a further 20 etc . Certainly not ready to ditch the sites book yet.
Thanks as always Paul.
What a palaver...what is wrong with simply putting a search box on the first page ?
Obviously some IT wizzkid getting paid a shed load of money to complicate things and probably thinks he has done a terrific job.

Seems to be the trend these days, to complicate things. I know things have to move on, but why not for the better?
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Richard

by Paulmold Thu Nov 03, 2022 10:26 pm

Working on website and app, let's hope its something to look forward to....

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by Tinwheeler Thu Nov 03, 2022 10:34 pm

Yeah but they did that last night as well. In fact they’ve been doing it a couple of times a week for ages and look what it’s achieved shrugg

by Paulmold Thu Nov 03, 2022 10:41 pm

Tinwheeler wrote:Yeah but they did that last night as well. In fact they’ve been doing it a couple of times a week for ages and look what it’s achieved

I actually found the map more responsive today.

by Tinwheeler Thu Nov 03, 2022 10:58 pm

Paulmold wrote:
Tinwheeler wrote:Yeah but they did that last night as well. In fact they’ve been doing it a couple of times a week for ages and look what it’s achieved
I actually found the map more responsive today.

Wow! Progress at last, perhaps.

by Askit Fri Nov 04, 2022 8:42 am

Following the DG opening comments in the last magazine, I read on (yes I read it, yes it's rubbish but I paid for it and I am Scottish hugegrins

) to the bit about the new system. It says the old/current version of the booking system will no longer be supported so we have no choice about downloading the new app if (a) we remain membership and (b) we want to book anything. There us no chance if me arranging trips until the new year so I'm leaving it as long as possible before downloading the app. My renewal date is in June, so we'll see what transpires shrugg

by Slow-Lane Fri Nov 04, 2022 9:00 am

Geoff57 wrote:

What a palaver...what is wrong with simply putting a search box on the first page ?
Obviously some IT wizzkid getting paid a shed load of money to complicate things and probably thinks he has done a terrific job.

It's unbelievably bad! I used to work in the IT/web publishing world and anyone in our organisation producing such a mess would have been taken out and shot. I can only assume they've either gone for an incredibly cheap quote for the work or, worse, someone on the board says, 'My nephew's a whizz at that website stuff, he'll knock up a new website for you.'

by Paulmold Fri Nov 04, 2022 9:16 am

I've read in several different sources that they purchased an old P & O ferry booking platform, no idea if that's true.

by Bilbobaggins Fri Nov 04, 2022 9:48 am

Thats what I heard Paul, last site I stayed on site manager said to me that we are listed on their system as passengers, our arrival date is labelled departure and our departure date labelled disembarkation shrugg

They were not impressed with new system.

by Slow-Lane Fri Nov 04, 2022 10:21 am

Paulmold wrote:I've read in several different sources that they purchased an old P & O ferry booking platform, no idea if that's true.

OMG! that's worse than my 'incredibly cheap' category! I've come across this before: take an IT system and try and adapt it to a new purpose. It always takes far longer and costs much more than anticipated, and the end result is always a horrible bastardisation that's a pig to maintain. It's actually cheaper to start out from scratch. I speak from experience.

by Paulmold Sat Nov 05, 2022 11:38 am

Following reviews on the Apple Store regarding the app, the developers have started responding. Apparently its our fault if we don't have good mobile Internet speed (most sites are in remote areas) and we should use the website instead of the app or a desktop (do you really want to take your desktop away with you). Surely Internet speed affects that as well. Here's the standard response....

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by Cymro Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:32 pm

It's a pity that no named, senior officer of the Club has the integrity to confess that they screwed this up woefully. Instead, we continue to be palmed off with (usually unattributable) platitudes.

We deserve a full explanation from the Chief Executive of how the Club is in this mess; of the technical problems now still being encountered; of the steps, and timetable, to be followed to remedy the mess; and of the estimated financial cost and losses from the debacle. A letter to all members is the least we deserve.

I am sick of their continual fobbing off, as if we are not worth being treated like the critical friends of the Club which we are. It's not our fault!

Cymro

by Paulmold Sat Nov 05, 2022 4:00 pm

You can always tell the boss [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] but you'll probably only get a reply from his secretary.
Thats the trouble with secretaries, they stop their bosses having to deal with such trivial matters with the general public, so they continue to think all is well.

by HJA Sat Nov 05, 2022 7:22 pm

Bilbobaggins wrote:Thats what I heard Paul, last site I stayed on site manager said to me that we are listed on their system as passengers, our arrival date is labelled departure and our departure date labelled disembarkation

They were not impressed with new system.

Probably because the new UK booking site is bolted onto the overseas booking site. Explains "passenger" and all the nonsense about wanting dates of birth of all people and length of towing vehicle.

by v8oholic Sat Nov 05, 2022 7:26 pm

I was going to suggest that this would be something to bring up at an AGM to force them to respond, however it seems they've just had one, and the next one is nearly a year away. That's convenient, for them.

by Tinwheeler Sat Nov 05, 2022 7:33 pm

Plenty of questions were asked about the booking system at the AGM, V8. I can’t really say the answers resolved anything.

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by v8oholic Sat Nov 05, 2022 7:45 pm

Tinwheeler wrote:Plenty of questions were asked about the booking system at the AGM, V8. I can’t really say the answers resolved anything.

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Basically, just fobbed off. I don't know why I let it auto-renew this year.

by Tinwheeler Sat Nov 05, 2022 7:48 pm

v8oholic wrote:
Tinwheeler wrote:Plenty of questions were asked about the booking system at the AGM, V8. I can’t really say the answers resolved anything.

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Basically, just fobbed off. I don't know why I let it auto-renew this year.

I stopped auto renew years ago and this year I didn’t renew at all. up!

by Bobskate Sat Nov 05, 2022 9:11 pm

Well I agree it’s all a bit of a faff but eventually managed to book a site….Chatsworth in June…..but a little under £40.00 per night for a couple. Wow!! Maybe I’ll look for some CLs for the rest of my trip up north. Sorry if I’m drifting off subject.

by Kemerton-bath Sat Nov 05, 2022 9:36 pm

It’s the CLs I feel sorry for. They’re not being served well by this mess. I imagine the booking system for club sites gets the priority in resolving the snagging list. I emailed the club last week with my list of points on how the CL search part of the website falls well short of what existed previously.

Whether I get a response within the 10 days the auto-reply promised remains to be seen. I don’t have high expectations, given this situation should never got as far as it has. Frankly I’m fast losing interest in the organisation, particularly given the denial and the patronising nature of the CEO downwards in response to this mess.

It’s only the CLs we have any interest in, so my current workaround is to find them using Search4sites. When I click on the website button for a specific CL it takes me to the page from the previous CMHC website for that site. That has all the information I need, unlike the new version. Furthermore, Search4sites has a straightforward link to the full functionality of Google mapping, enabling us to navigate our way to the site.

It’s only a matter of time until these links to the old website pages cease to function but by then maybe the new website and even the apps will have been sorted.

Tim

by ferguson700 Sun Nov 06, 2022 9:55 pm

We tend to only use CL's now and under the old system it was so easy to search and view. Since the revamp I have found it almost impossible to search for a CL. How the club can be happy with the new system is beyond me.

If it ain't broke don't fix it never rang more true.

by Paulmold Sun Nov 06, 2022 10:18 pm

I've been reading today that apple users can reload the old app but unfortunately not Google play users.
Apple users should go to the app store, click on today and check their 'purchase ' list and find the old app there.

Today I found the app doesn't show in landscape but the website does. In landscape you can get the map together with list of sites side by side on the screen.

by ScribesWtr Mon Nov 07, 2022 1:40 pm

Tinwheeler wrote:I opted out of receiving it. You can do that in My Profile / preferences.

The C&CC offer digital membership for a reduction of £5 per year membership fee. I’ve written to the CAMC suggesting that a reduction for paperless membership would save both paper and help a little in these financially difficult times. Guess what, have heard nothing! shrugg

by Tinwheeler Mon Nov 07, 2022 1:58 pm

ScribesWtr wrote:
Tinwheeler wrote:I opted out of receiving it. You can do that in My Profile / preferences.
The C&CC offer digital membership for a reduction of £5 per year membership fee. I’ve written to the CAMC suggesting that a reduction for paperless membership would save both paper and help a little in these financially difficult times. Guess what, have heard nothing!

No surprise there. You are not alone in making that suggestion but it falls on deaf ears.

by Paulmold Mon Nov 07, 2022 3:53 pm

Paulmold wrote:I've been reading today that apple users can reload the old app but unfortunately not Google play users.
Apple users should go to the app store, click on today and check their 'purchase ' list and find the old app there.

Today I found the app doesn't show in landscape but the website does. In landscape you can get the map together with list of sites side by side on the screen.

Found a way to reinstall the old app on my Android devices. So once again I can search for sites within a specified mileage of whatever I enter and get directions.