Marina visitor rate policy

[awol]

Of course there's always an exception, try Mallaig!

.... and there was Port Edgar - now under new management but I somehow doubt if the office attitude has changed, though I hope it has.

 

[Tranona]

I did not get the impression that the OP's marina was full and the offence was caused not by the price regime but by the mean-spirited application of the day rate following on from a longer term stay. It's an attitude thing and the south is emotionally poorer for it. The surprising thing to me is that some posters find it acceptable.

The marina owner's objective is to maximise his return on his investment, and if he is going to allocate some of his resource (ie berths) to casual and short term occupants, it is inevitable that it will rarely be "full". So he sets out a charging policy that gives a lower cost for those who commit to longer fixed periods and higher cost to short term and particularly those who just turn up.

It is difficult to have any coherent policy that meets everybodys' needs, worse still that leaves its application to the discretion of the individual in charge at the time. Clearly each marina's management has its own view as to what charging strategy will best achieve its objectives, which is why you end up with a whole range of different tariffs and and incentives, some of which might seem more favourable than others.

Somewhat naive to think that a commercial operation should have any different objective from maximisation. However, not all berthing facilities are owned by commercial organisations, nor are some blessed with a level of demand that equals or exceeds supply, so it is not surprising that other charging strategies exist that result in lower cost to users.

 

[Uricanejack]

The OP was charged according to his contract or agreement with the Marina. Why complain? Unless he was misled.

On occasions I have visited and paid the price in some marinas.
Others have waived some or even all of the charge. I appreciate the ones who give me a break and often return.

 

[Pavalijo]

The OP was charged according to his contract or agreement with the Marina. Why complain? Unless he was misled.

On occasions I have visited and paid the price in some marinas.
Others have waived some or even all of the charge. I appreciate the ones who give me a break and often return.

As OP and a newcomer to staying in "away" marinas for more than a day or two I was surprised that having committed to a month in return for a discount that the cost should near on double if I stayed longer. I simply wanted to find out if this was the norm. Certainly if I agreed a quantum discount with a supplier of goods I would not expect to pay RRP for a few extra units tagged on to the order last minute - unless that created additional cost to the supplier - and in this case there was no extra cost, and no loss of earnings from someone turned away due to lack of space.

As stated above, on more than one occasion we have enjoyed a weekly rate with additional days charged pro rata, not being bumped up to full day rate.

Today I voted with my feet and moved across to Sutton Harbour, and if we come back next year we will avoid the last place. They did nothing outside of the stated terms of business, but as someone else above stated, if we all treated customers this way then we would lose customers.

They lost only one night of my stay (and sale of 70 litres of diesel) as it was 4 nights before I discovered this policy. Otherwise I would have left immediately.

My lesson learned is simply that when booking into to a marina for a weekly or monthly rate I will ask whether it runs on pro rata at the end of that period. There is obviously no industry standard policy in this matter, and so yet again this forum has provided an interesting insight.

Next question
Tomorrow we visit Salcombe for the first time - can I expect to share the mooring ball cost with those rafted against me?? (no - I'm not serious before I get attacked for being a tight Yorkshireman!!)

 

[steveeasy]

Why not ?. He had paid a rate sold to him for the benefit of both parties. A rate offered for a period of a Month. I suspect any similar busineses offer day rates and more reasonable rates for longer temp stays. I'm sure they offered the monthly rate as that is what they thought was the correct rate for the period of time the customer was intending to stay. Therefore I see no logic to increase the rate other than to make a quick financial gain as the customer was leaving shortly.

I understand some people see the monthly rate as that, offered for a set period of time. At the end of that(the contract) a new rate can be applied without notice. But does this not rely on the contract being specific, outlining the 30 day period only. Of course the only contract might have been verbal, if so then its open to interpretation and question as indeed is a written contract.

Just to clarify though, he paid the full price offered to him. he did not get a deal, he merely questioned why the last few days(or additional days) the price increased by nearly 100%. I also would not assume it is a policy that is set in stone, it has a bad taste to it in my opinion, one similar to were not going to get much more from this one so lets charge the full rate, nothing to loose. Really!!!.

Steveeasy

Steveeasy

 

[l'escargot]

I am sure if the OP wished to enter into another monthly contract, he would've got it at the same rate. He chose not to and elected to go onto the daily rate. Where is there any grounds for complaint?

 

[steveeasy]

I am sure if the OP wished to enter into another monthly contract, he would've got it at the same rate. He chose not to and elected to go onto the daily rate. Where is there any grounds for complaint?

Yes that is a logical argument from another perspective. I'm not sure he chose not to enter in to a second monthly contract, nor did he want another one. nor did he elect to go on the daily rate. It sounds like he was told that was what was happening. was the contract for a month ?, or was it a rate for a minimum period ?. it all comes down to the contract and its interpretation.
ive found similar charging policies in other business transactions. they are applied at the end of contracts or transactions, I wonder why ? I don't challenge them, I dislike them, I don't go back.

Steveeasy

 

[Pavalijo]

Why not ?. He had paid a rate sold to him for the benefit of both parties. A rate offered for a period of a Month. I suspect any similar busineses offer day rates and more reasonable rates for longer temp stays. I'm sure they offered the monthly rate as that is what they thought was the correct rate for the period of time the customer was intending to stay. Therefore I see no logic to increase the rate other than to make a quick financial gain as the customer was leaving shortly.

I understand some people see the monthly rate as that, offered for a set period of time. At the end of that(the contract) a new rate can be applied without notice. But does this not rely on the contract being specific, outlining the 30 day period only. Of course the only contract might have been verbal, if so then its open to interpretation and question as indeed is a written contract.

Steveeasy

Note that when we arrived I said that we would be leaving as soon after the firework displays as weather permitted. That meant that we would overrun by at least 2 extra days.
They could have mentioned then that the price would increase.

I have stated more than once on here that I am not accusing the marina of failing to comply with any contractual agreement. It just seems that some marinas apply fair (and to me good and logical) business practice, whereas others are clearly unconcerned with screwing what they can out of their customers.

 

[Resolution]

It just seems that some marinas apply fair (and to me good and logical) business practice, whereas others are clearly unconcerned with screwing what they can out of their customers.

It seems that some forumites are fair and take time to read and understand their berthing contract T&Cs, whilst others are concerned with screwing what they can out of the marina.

It all depends on your point of view.

 

[JumbleDuck]

It seems that some forumites are fair and take time to read and understand their berthing contract T&Cs, whilst others are concerned with screwing what they can out of the marina.

How many of us actually read through the contract before deciding to visit a particular marina? I don;t think I ever have, but perhaps that's because away from the Solent we can expect sensible treatment from marinas.

 

[shan]

It seems that some forumites are fair and take time to read and understand their berthing contract T&Cs, whilst others are concerned with screwing what they can out of the marina.

It all depends on your point of view.

I don't think it's about screwing the Marina at all. The marina benefits from having a longer term customer, which is why they offer a discount for longer stays. To double the price for the last few days is distasteful and one sided.

 

[dylanwinter]

How many of us actually read through the contract before deciding to visit a particular marina? I don;t think I ever have, but perhaps that's because away from the Solent we can expect sensible treatment from marinas.

not been to Dunstaffnage then?

top dollar for everyone - even those with a saltire flying from their sterns - as I undersstand from speaking to my fellow pontoon users

D

 

[capnsensible]

I'm gonna move to a marina in The Canaries that gives a 60% discount for wongaring up six months in advance.

 

[awol]

not been to Dunstaffnage then?

To paraphrase Tranona "Inevitable. Simple greed. High demand, limited supply equals screw the customer." Dunstaffnage provides the contrast that allows us to really appreciate the other providers.

 

[Resolution]

I don't think it's about screwing the Marina at all. The marina benefits from having a longer term customer, which is why they offer a discount for longer stays. To double the price for the last few days is distasteful and one sided.

That is a bit simplistic. A marina benefits most from maximising its revenue (subject to marginal costs of course, but in an asset-based business these are usually relatively small compared to fixed costs.) Just how it is to maximise revenue will depend on the type of potential berth users as well as a few other factors. Each marina operator is at liberty to structure their pricing model as they feel best. If they get it right, then they will make more money, good for them. If they get it wrong, tough, and if they learn from their mistakes they will change for next season. It's called the free market and it's very two-sided.

 

[Resolution]

How many of us actually read through the contract before deciding to visit a particular marina? I don;t think I ever have, but perhaps that's because away from the Solent we can expect sensible treatment from marinas.

Not read the contract??????? I cannot believe that statement is coming from Scotland. How else can you seek out the best deal for yourself?

 

[shan]

That is a bit simplistic. A marina benefits most from maximising its revenue (subject to marginal costs of course, but in an asset-based business these are usually relatively small compared to fixed costs.) Just how it is to maximise revenue will depend on the type of potential berth users as well as a few other factors. Each marina operator is at liberty to structure their pricing model as they feel best. If they get it right, then they will make more money, good for them. If they get it wrong, tough, and if they learn from their mistakes they will change for next season. It's called the free market and it's very two-sided.

As a result, they have lost the possibility of repeat business for the cost of a discount for a few days after they have had a month of mooring. Clever? I think not.

 

[Tranona]

To paraphrase Tranona "Inevitable. Simple greed. High demand, limited supply equals screw the customer." Dunstaffnage provides the contrast that allows us to really appreciate the other providers.

Nothing to do with greed. Simple economics. The marina has something the boater wants and sets out the terms. You would do exactly the same thing if you owned the marina.

 

[Tranona]

As a result, they have lost the possibility of repeat business for the cost of a discount for a few days after they have had a month of mooring. Clever? I think not.

If the policy did indeed result in nobody using the marina it would be changed. Naive to think that marinas (or any other business) would deliberately set a pricing policy that deterred users.

 

[bbg]

Therefore I see no logic to increase the rate other than to make a quick financial gain as the customer was leaving shortly.

I can see both sides of this.
The marina's side is that they are prepared to give the visitor a flat fee for a month if you commit and pay in advance for that month. The visitor is not paying a reduced daily rate every day for a month - they are paying a flat rate for a full month. So in a sense there is no "pro-rata" daily rate - there is just a monthly rate.
If you want more flexibility, with the ability to depart (and stop paying) at any time, your demand for flexibility will cost you the full daily rate.
Having said that, a lot of businesses would probably see the advantage in reducing the rate somewhat for the extra days, in light of the time that had been spent there.