Camping-Car Park

[Rumour]

I use whatever facilities that suit my agenda. OK, so free Aires may close that are near a CCP site, but that doesn't happen without the agreement of the local Marie. Like every other service he is charged with getting best value for the residents. Rather like the total ban on parking in many hotspots. Bit like the UK perhaps.
I like CCP, their app has been fairly slick in the past, the services almost always work and mostly there is electric and limited WiFi.
So compare that to a carpark that is free and may or may not have working services and may have the audacity to charge for water. I certainly use plenty of those. On one as we speak at Arguedas in N. Spain, no problem, it all averages out in the end.
What I find interesting about this thread is that no one is critical of the other big player who does exactly the same, without a slick website and with non existent customer services. The sites they control have no continuity or development or investment that I can see.
Who are they ?
Why, Aire park services, of course. Let's hear what you critics think of this outfit.
One final thought, given the closures of so many municipal sites, I think CCP are doing a good job in maintaining and growing the brand of camping dans ma village by running an increasing number of these sites.

Davy

Yep, I am with you. Horses for courses. We have used possibly 30 different sites from CCP and have no complaints about any of them or the service we receive. I understand that some just want freebies and we do sometimes, but criticising a business model that works very well as a " monopoly" Or "restrictive practices"? Don't like them, don't use them. As I said, we like freebies, but would much rather be where we want to be and pay our way!

 

[alcam]

Yep, I am with you. Horses for courses. We have used possibly 30 different sites from CCP and have no complaints about any of them or the service we receive. I understand that some just want freebies and we do sometimes, but criticising a business model that works very well as a " monopoly" Or "restrictive practices"? Don't like them, don't use them. As I said, we like freebies, but would much rather be where we want to be and pay our way!

Yes they can be useful but I think the criticism of the model is more than justified

 

[Jo001]

One of the ones they are claiming is in le Crotoy - I was there on Tuesday night, and it was just the normal aire, not this group and none of the three ticket stuff - just number plate recognition.

 

[Jo001]

This squad

https://www.aireparkreservation.com/

Sorry, meant to quote this in my reply above

 

[TJBi]

<Snip>
What I find interesting about this thread is that no one is critical of the other big player who does exactly the same, without a slick website and with non existent customer services. The sites they control have no continuity or development or investment that I can see.
Who are they ?
Why, Aire park services, of course. Let's hear what you critics think of this outfit.
One final thought, given the closures of so many municipal sites, I think CCP are doing a good job in maintaining and growing the brand of camping dans ma village by running an increasing number of these sites.

Davy

To the best of my knowledge, Aire Park Services is a supplier of service points, which may include entry control systems. It is my understanding that they provide these to municipalities and commercial organisations, and while they may provide booking/payment services, I believe this to be on behalf of the owners. They do not operate these facilities themselves.

 

[Rumour]

Yes they can be useful but I think the criticism of the model is more than justified

Why? Their business model is only building the company and stopovers. The locals are the ones selling or transferring the Aires to CCP. Show me any business that wouldn't take the opportunity to grow.

I guess the main gripe is from those who just want freebies! As has been said, by those who are complaining, there are thousands of Aires that are free all over France, use them! Your moaning will change nothing.

 

[TeamRienza]

I think I may have quoted the wrong name. You are absolutely correct that they make barrier controls and service posts. There are even one or two here in N. Ireland.
I think I read some years ago that they decided to grow by using the Aire management model. Can't recall when or where, but here is the company I intended to link to,
Airepark reservations.

https://www.aireparkreservation.com/aires-camping-car

Very similar as far as I can understand to what CCP do.

Davy

 

[TJBi]

I think I may have quoted the wrong name. You are absolutely correct that they make barrier controls and service posts. There are even one or two here in N. Ireland.
I think I read some years ago that they decided to grow by using the Aire management model. Can't recall when or where, but here is the company I intended to link to,
Airepark reservations.

https://www.aireparkreservation.com/aires-camping-car

Very similar as far as I can understand to what CCP do.

Davy

I have used your link to do a search for two aires: Hagetmau and Maury.
Each appears through the site's search facility. I have used the service point on each and the receipt produced bears not the name of AirePark Réservations but the name of the relevant commune (specifically "Commune d'Hagetmau" and "Mairie de Maury") with in each case the address of the relevant mairie. Each receipt also bears a (different) SIRET that, on Googling, indicates that it relates to the relevant commune/mairie. One can deduce from this that the payment is received not by AirePark Réservations but by the relevant commune.

 

[TeamRienza]

I have done a limited amount of research into them online. Difficult to pin down the exact modes of operation. I understand what you say about the receipt refering to the commune. I reckon the commune then pays the airepark people to maintain the services on their sites. It seems to me that the CCP managed sites for the commune and presumably take a fee for that. Six of one etc.
Anyway, it will be interesting to see how both schemes evolve over the coming years.

Davy

 

[TJBi]

I have done a limited amount of research into them online. Difficult to pin down the exact modes of operation. I understand what you say about the receipt refering to the commune. I reckon the commune then pays the airepark people to maintain the services on their sites. It seems to me that the CCP managed sites for the commune and presumably take a fee for that. Six of one etc.
Anyway, it will be interesting to see how both schemes evolve over the coming years.

Davy

That sounds about right, but I believe that CCP may pay the commune a fee for the right to manage the aire and then retain all income. The commune may have to commit to ongoing general maintenance. Of course, the CCP model means that they want a monopoly, unlike AirePark.

 

[alcam]

Why? Their business model is only building the company and stopovers. The locals are the ones selling or transferring the Aires to CCP. Show me any business that wouldn't take the opportunity to grow.

I guess the main gripe is from those who just want freebies! As has been said, by those who are complaining, there are thousands of Aires that are free all over France, use them! Your moaning will change nothing.

No it's not about freebies (though always nice) .
Their restrictive practices are a concern for many of us.
Of course they want to grow their company . I neither condemn or criticise that . But any business, council etc which has a detrimental effect on what we do deserves to be criticised .

 

[Rumour]

No it's not about freebies (though always nice) .
Their restrictive practices are a concern for many of us.
Of course they want to grow their company . I neither condemn or criticise that . But any business, council etc which has a detrimental effect on what we do deserves to be criticised .

You are not criticising the business model as you said. You are criticising the company because they are affecting you! So, what "restrictive practices" are there? There arn't! As I said, the gripes on here are just because those using them would have to pay. So it is about the freebies!

 

[alcam]

You are not criticising the business model as you said. You are criticising the company because they are affecting you! So, what "restrictive practices" are there? There arn't! As I said, the gripes on here are just because those using them would have to pay. So it is about the freebies!

There are restrictive practices . I have explained that and your comment about freebies.
I'll say no more , wouldn't want to bring down the value of your CCP shares

 

[Rumour]

There are restrictive practices . I have explained that and your comment about freebies.
I'll say no more , wouldn't want to bring down the value of your CCP shares

Can you point me to where you outlined the restrictive practices? I can't find it! All I can find is you and others are not happy about having to pay! It comes across loud and clear.

 

[Canalsman]

Can you point me to where you outlined the restrictive practices? I can't find it! All I can find is you and others are not happy about having to pay! It comes across loud and clear.

The restrictive practices have been outlined earlier.

CCP take on the aire but apparently on the basis that the mairie prohibits motorhome parking elsewhere in the town.

I have seen this occur. Locations on our POI where free parking used to be available have signs appear prohibiting overnight parking by motorhomes. The signs appeared at about the time that the aire came under the control of CCP.

That to me is a restrictive practice. The option for free parking which is readily available in the form of unrestricted roadside parking throughout France disappears in a specific area.

 

[Rumour]

The restrictive practices have been outlined earlier.

CCP take on the aire but apparently on the basis that the mairie prohibits motorhome parking elsewhere in the town.

I have seen this occur. Locations on our POI where free parking used to be available have signs appear prohibiting overnight parking by motorhomes. The signs appeared at about the time that the aire came under the control of CCP.

That to me is a restrictive practice. The option for free parking which is readily available in the form of unrestricted roadside parking throughout France disappears in a specific area.

I can't find any explanation of their restrictive practices. I see a company taking advantage of local area officials not wanting to pay for Aires! It is they who are allowing this, it is nothing to do with CCP, other than they take them over. It is the local politicians who make the decision to ban parking in other areas. But have you stopped to consider this? We as a group are not actually a good revenue stream for the local area, otherwise they wouldn't have had to receive the payments from CCP and others. AND... The more those that don't like them post, the more it looks like having to pay is the real gripe. That is the one theme running through this.

Of course, you could just not use them? I'd be happy with that, more spaces for me in places I want to go.

 

[korky]

I can't find any explanation of their restrictive practices. I see a company taking advantage of local area officials not wanting to pay for Aires! It is they who are allowing this, it is nothing to do with CCP, other than they take them over. It is the local politicians who make the decision to ban parking in other areas. But have you stopped to consider this? We as a group are not actually a good revenue stream for the local area, otherwise they wouldn't have had to receive the payments from CCP and others. AND... The more those that don't like them post, the more it looks like having to pay is the real gripe. That is the one theme running through this.

Of course, you could just not use them? I'd be happy with that, more spaces for me in places I want to go.

Well the French Camping Caristes were pretty sure there were restrictive practices taking place and took it to Government. Whether that stopped it I don't remember. I don't know why I'm repeating this for the hard of hearing.

 

[alcam]

Can you point me to where you outlined the restrictive practices? I can't find it! All I can find is you and others are not happy about having to pay! It comes across loud and clear.

Well the French Camping Caristes were pretty sure there were restrictive practices taking place and took it to Government. Whether that stopped it I don't remember. I don't know why I'm repeating this for the hard of hearing.

You're wasting your time .

 

[Canalsman]

You're wasting your time .

I've ceased wasting mine.

 

[TeamRienza]

And yet you keep looking and commenting. Better direct your ire at UK councils. Now there really is 'restrictive practice'.

I think the thread has now run it's course.

Davy