[Albion] Will the ticket exchange open? - yes it will!

[nwgull]

Yep……..but suspect it’s not done on here because it’s a bit close to circumventing the club’s processes/policy for the ‘official’ forum to be doing - even if it’s technically/contractually doable [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] can’t and shouldn’t risk souring the relationship (or worse) with the club which such a ‘service’ would probably do by being supported on here……..

Would the club have a problem with it? I can understand their problem in the early days of the Amex when they stopped people from advertising STs available on a one-off basis on here, but that was because it was technically breaking the law to pass on a football ticket via unofficial means. With this system, the ticket transfer is still done through the appropriate channels and to a known recipient.

 

[Bozza]

Yep……..but suspect it’s not done on here because it’s a bit close to circumventing the club’s processes/policy for the ‘official’ forum to be doing - even if it’s technically/contractually doable [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] can’t and shouldn’t risk souring the relationship (or worse) with the club which such a ‘service’ would probably do by being supported on here……..

I've thought about this a fair bit, and mentioned it to a couple of folk who PMed me looking to find someone to make use of their ticket.

Honestly, I can't think why a STH / MA+ "matching service" would contravene any club rules at all, since the ticket transfer would still have to be effected via the club's ticketing system, which is the club's way of authorising the transfer itself.

Actually, I can think of one reason: if people were advertising something like "I will transfer my STH for the Man City game to a valid MyAlbion+ member, in return for £30 payment" as I suspect the financial aspect of that transaction would not be welcome by the club. I suppose people may add a financial element to the transaction in their private communications, but there's nothing anyone can do about that, and I suspect that is the case for some transfers that have been made for prior games this season.

It's probably worth giving it a go for the Man City game and see if it proves worthwhile.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

As I previously stated yesterday the Club are most probably waiting for their own ticket returns before they choose to open up the Exchange.

Nope, one of those ambulant disabled tickets has popped back up for sale in the North Stand. So no longer sold out.

 

[dazzer6666]

Opening the exchange late/not at all possibly leads to fewer ticket sales as well in some circumstances…..I wanted a couple of extra tickets for the Everton game but couldn’t get any ST guest tickets in my block as it was 100% sold out. On the day, almost our entire row was empty.

 

[amexer]

Bit misleading that, Dazzer. Well massively misleading: you've more than doubled the figure to suit your argument.

I can't believe we are going over this all again, but obviously the figure you have quoted is the annual cost to the STH to make their ticket digitally transferable (£20) plus the annual £25 cost of the MyAlbion+ membership of the recipient.

I have been offered the use of a ST for every home game so far, by different STHs unable to attend themselves for one reason or another. I haven't expected the STH to pay my annual £25 membership fee. In fact, it actually makes economic sense for me to pay the STHs £20 'sharing fee' if they don't have this facility because even if I also give them £20-£25 for the cost of the ticket, it is still cheaper / less hassle than buying a one-off matchday ticket - esp for Cat A games.

Ultimately - the new scheme is whatever you want to make it. If you want to make it work for you, you can; it is easy, makes economic sense for both parties, prevents empty seats and ensures tickets go to people with an financial and emotional investment in the club. If you want to use it to criticise the club for embarking on a 'money grab' or disrupting previously cosy arrangements, well, it's good for that too.

The old method of informally passing on a ticket works well for those people who literally will only come if it is free and / or support the opposition.

You seem to be one who is going over old ground. Looks a little clearer why you are so pro the scheme Clearly not a ST holder and you are offered tickets to every game.I will go over old ground and say everybody would agree scheme is great for those that want to share costs or perhaps because of employment dont know when can attend. I have no intention of missing a game but fact is if I miss one and want to pass it on it will cost £45. Apart from not knowing any Albion members that are not ST holders I certainly do not know anybody that is sitting waiting for a free ticket. However over the years I have had pleasure of inviting several people that have interest in Albion but dont attend for health,financial and other good reasons. To be honest its not the money because I and people we sit with would prefer to do this than receiving money from ticket x.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Opening the exchange late/not at all possibly leads to fewer ticket sales as well in some circumstances…..I wanted a couple of extra tickets for the Everton game but couldn’t get any ST guest tickets in my block as it was 100% sold out. On the day, almost our entire row was empty.

I wonder how many people see it oscillating between ‘sold out’ and ‘one or two front row ambulant disabled seats available’ and make other plans. The club are shooting themselves in the foot by not opening the exchange this morning.

 

[amexer]

I've thought about this a fair bit, and mentioned it to a couple of folk who PMed me looking to find someone to make use of their ticket.

Honestly, I can't think why a STH / MA+ "matching service" would contravene any club rules at all, since the ticket transfer would still have to be effected via the club's ticketing system, which is the club's way of authorising the transfer itself.

Actually, I can think of one reason: if people were advertising something like "I will transfer my STH for the Man City game to a valid MyAlbion+ member, in return for £30 payment" as I suspect the financial aspect of that transaction would not be welcome by the club. I suppose people may add a financial element to the transaction in their private communications, but there's nothing anyone can do about that, and I suspect that is the case for some transfers that have been made for prior games this season.

It's probably worth giving it a go for the Man City game and see if it proves worthwhile.

I dont know why club to keep everybody happy cant allow ST holders to be able to pass ST for say a max of 3 times. They monitor upgrades to a certain number so must be possible.

 

[timbha]

I dont know why club to keep everybody happy cant allow ST holders to be able to pass ST for say a max of 3 times. They monitor upgrades to a certain number so must be possible.

The sentiment is fine but if the person sitting behind me “sells” his ticket to mouthy Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool fans I won’t be happy!

 

[dazzer6666]

I dont know why club to keep everybody happy cant allow ST holders to be able to pass ST for say a max of 3 times. They monitor upgrades to a certain number so must be possible.

I suggested this to Jenny in an email exchange when the scheme was launched - they still allow a concessionary ticket to be upgraded 6 times to anyone, so why not allow a non-concessionary ticket to be transferred (would be happy to pay the difference between the ST price and the general sale price to retain the seat and take someone else). Stock PB-style response of saying what they have done, pointlessly re-explaining the benefits and why they think it's fine as it is.

As suggested earlier though the discussion is going round in endless circles so we'll just have to wait until we see what happens for next season. I do wonder how many STHs won't renew on the basis that no game is selling out (until very late at least), because if you're attending home only and missing more than a tiny number of games there's little benefit in having a ST in the first place

 

[amexer]

The sentiment is fine but if the person sitting behind me “sells” his ticket to mouthy Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool fans I won’t be happy!

That really is worse case scenario . Has to be remembered ST holder is responsible for whoever uses ticket. Clearly banning order if given to opposition supporter. Tickets have been passed on for years and have never seen any bad behaviour in stand i am in.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I had to chuckle when i read the line " prevents empty seats " as the current system most obviously doesn't !
Seriously though i have read many many posts on this from both sides and my summation is that i agree with you about it being great IF you regularly share your ticket with either one person or have several friends who are my A+ members . However on the other side you must surely see that if you only miss 1 or 2 games a season and only have F and F who are fellow ST holders it is not good . In fact i , like i am sure many others , would rather use the ticket exchange than pay the extra 20 pounds but that has been shown ( even by bozza now ) not to be a viable alternative . It is almost ironic that the people who it doesn't help are the most staunch attendees !
I sincerely hope the club will take the time to reflect on this .

I'd suggest that anyone, who is genuinely only going to miss one game per season, is making a serious saving on the ST cost against 18 (or even 17) individual match tickets, and if making a big fuss about the new rules, is possibly rather hoping to have their cake and eat it.

 

[dazzer6666]

I'd suggest that anyone, who is genuinely only going to miss one game per season, is making a serious saving on the ST cost against 18 (or even 17) individual match tickets, and if making a big fuss about the new rules, is possibly rather hoping to have their cake and eat it.

Nope, just hate the seat being empty when I can’t use it. I’d even like to see maybe a ‘keyworker pool’ where we could donate unused STs game by game……

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Nope, just hate the seat being empty when I can’t use it. I’d even like to see maybe a ‘keyworker pool’ where we could donate unused STs game by game……

You are not making a big whiny fuss about it, though...

 

[Wozza]

we'll just have to wait until we see what happens for next season. I do wonder how many STHs won't renew on the basis that no game is selling out (until very late at least), because if you're attending home only and missing more than a tiny number of games there's little benefit in having a ST in the first place

You're assuming the sharing policy will be confirmed before the renewal period....

Nope, just hate the seat being empty when I can’t use it. I’d even like to see maybe a ‘keyworker pool’ where we could donate unused STs game by game……

It's pretty weird that fans are more worried about empty seats than the business owner.

Fundamentally, I don't think the club wants tickets given away regularly (and therefore devalued). That's the crux.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Nope, just hate the seat being empty when I can’t use it. I’d even like to see maybe a ‘keyworker pool’ where we could donate unused STs game by game……

Not really the same thing, but have a read of this, on the Hearts version of NSC...

https://www.hmfckickback.co.uk/index.php?/topic/120135-donate-a-ticket-to-future-jambos/page/16/

Basically (in 2012) a guy who runs a local soccer school / after school club thing, involving a few hundred kids from the rough end of Edinburgh, decided that for each home match he'd buy a pair of tickets (adult plus U13) and run a free raffle amongst all the kids.

The Hearts 'bozza' highlighted this to the forum at large, and other people got involved, either *cough* passing on tickets they couldn't use, or indeed buying extras, for him to distribute.

They are still going at it 9 seasons later - but expanded to include distributing tickets to local schools, etc..

One member of their forum is each season buying THREE PAIRS of season tickets, just for this chap to give away

 

[dazzer6666]

You're assuming the sharing policy will be confirmed before the renewal period....



It's pretty weird that fans are more worried about empty seats than the business owner.

Fundamentally, I don't think the club wants tickets given away regularly (and therefore devalued). That's the crux.

Good point re timing……..if it’s not, maybe people won’t bother renewing though. Barber’s bean-counters will be all over it, we’ll see. The empty seats have mostly already been paid for……..

 

[dazzer6666]

You are not making a big whiny fuss about it, though...

I am a bit, it’s really frustrating to not be able to use the seats.

Not really the same thing, but have a read of this, on the Hearts version of NSC...

https://www.hmfckickback.co.uk/index.php?/topic/120135-donate-a-ticket-to-future-jambos/page/16/

Basically (in 2012) a guy who runs a local soccer school / after school club thing, involving a few hundred kids from the rough end of Edinburgh, decided that for each home match he'd buy a pair of tickets (adult plus U13) and run a free raffle amongst all the kids.

The Hearts 'bozza' highlighted this to the forum at large, and other people got involved, either *cough* passing on tickets they couldn't use, or indeed buying extras, for him to distribute.

They are still going at it 9 seasons later - but expanded to include distributing tickets to local schools, etc..

One member of their forum is each season buying THREE PAIRS of season tickets, just for this chap to give away

That’s brilliant…….

 

[Wozza]

The empty seats have mostly already been paid for……..

And not occupied for free by someone who might have paid £40-£50 for an available ticket.

Actually, maybe there's a compromise: free ticket sharing allowed (via club site) if/when a match is sold out. (Last few 100 sales might be slow mind...)

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Why not completely outsource ticketing to the STHs, as that seems what most want? Every single seat is owned by a STH, and then that person can pass the seat on to whomever they want however they want. Job done. No one on here can moan and the club won't get moaned at. Will save a bit on ticket office costs, not to mention the avalanche of extra pie sales

 

[amexer]

now with the increased capacity selling out, to continue to increase income PB only has ST holders or corporate clients to work on. Unfortunately it is the former at the moment although I am sure he will be surprised at number of empty seats and be disappointed more of us have not paid the £20.