[Albion] Club selling your seat, is this right?

[Guinness Boy]

Undoubtably - but that’s tomorrow not today!

Well, is it?

You only have to look at the tables for this season and last to think that relegation will probably be nailed on for two of the three promoted teams every season. That leaves us - profitable, well run, well coached and with a decent squad - needing to be 18th best team in the league to go down. It MIGHT happen but as each season ticks by, that becomes less likely.

I think that's why there's an element of resistance from some to these club measures. Many of us have grown up with less stringent rules and see some of this as being 'a bit Arsenal / Man Utd'. The reality is we probably think we can do some of this now given our relatively and comparatively safe position in this league.

If we were still finishing in the bottom seven on 40 ish points like our first three seasons then there'd probably be fewer bums on seats but less inclination to do something about it.

I keep going back to the regulator but our position on that says much about where we see ourselves as a club. We're an established EPL club with an absolutely minute chance of going down unless things go horribly and repeatedly wrong.

 

[Professor Plum]

It’s shitty whichever way you look at it. We’ve paid our dosh and should be able attend or not. Maybe making sharing tickets easier and cheaper for all parties.

Have you been reading the thread? That’s been repeated countless times and responded to countless times.

 

[drew]

So should someone who purchased a matchday ticket be able to pass ticket on if unable to attend because there ticket was not discounted

 

[portlock seagull]

Well, is it?

You only have to look at the tables for this season and last to think that relegation will probably be nailed on for two of the three promoted teams every season. That leaves us - profitable, well run, well coached and with a decent squad - needing to be 18th best team in the league to go down. It MIGHT happen but as each season ticks by, that becomes less likely.

I think that's why there's an element of resistance from some to these club measures. Many of us have grown up with less stringent rules and see some of this as being 'a bit Arsenal / Man Utd'. The reality is we probably think we can do some of this now given our relatively and comparatively safe position in this league.

If we were still finishing in the bottom seven on 40 ish points like our first three seasons then there'd probably be fewer bums on seats but less inclination to do something about it.

I keep going back to the regulator but our position on that says much about where we see ourselves as a club. We're an established EPL club with an absolutely minute chance of going down unless things go horribly and repeatedly wrong.

Today = proverbial sense i.e. this season and whilst we remain PL
Tomorrow = ditto, but if relegated from PL

 

[Professor Plum]

I’m not against the proposed changes but I think we all (including the club) agree that the language used in communicating with fans needs some improvement. That seems to be a recurring complaint.

 

[Brian Fantana]

I’m not against the proposed changes but I think we all (including the club) agree that the language used in communicating with fans needs some improvement. That seems to be a recurring complaint.

That is the crux of it for me. Actual topic, fine. Tone of it being communicated, a bit shit.

 

[Clive Walker]

Have you been reading the thread? That’s been repeated countless times and responded to countless times.

no. I have a life mate!

 

[Creaky]

I’m not against the proposed changes but I think we all (including the club) agree that the language used in communicating with fans needs some improvement. That seems to be a recurring complaint.

I make the following with the caveat that I've not seen a copy of the discussed email so may be totally wrong!

I don't think there would have been anywhere near as many objections if the email was along the lines of:-

"We notice that you have missed a number of games this season, if there is anything we can do to help then please do contact us.

In the meantime until we hear from you we will list your tickets for the remaining games on the exchange. This may at least give you some financial return. "

Most companies when contacting customers do try and be positive. Even my bank when I accidentally missed a payment on my credit card approached the problem positively. Was this an oversight, can we help, please don't hesitate to call us etc. There were a number of links included to who to contact for help as well.

 

[portlock seagull]

I make the following with the caveat that I've not seen a copy of the discussed email so may be totally wrong!

I don't think there would have been anywhere near as many objections if the email was along the lines of:-

"We notice that you have missed a number of games this season, if there is anything we can do to help then please do contact us.

In the meantime until we hear from you we will list your tickets for the remaining games on the exchange. This may at least give you some financial return. "

Most companies when contacting customers do try and be positive. Even my bank when I accidentally missed a payment on my credit card approached the problem positively. Was this an oversight, can we help, please don't hesitate to call us etc. There were a number of links included to who to contact for help as well.

Fair enough but we all have the capacity to take offence regardless of wordplay e.g. someone might read your adaptation above and think 'what the hell's it got to do with / how very dare you!'

 

[Wozza]

no. I have a life mate!

No worries.

Guys, guys, let’s start the thread again…

*deep breath*

 

[Wardy's twin]

You shouldn't have to tell them. It's dead easy to tell those who've had a ticket for years but only ever check in against Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal against those who've had a block of absence or scattered one game absences but went to Wolves on a Monday night.

I said it earlier the numbers are there to be read , not difficult but if it is then change the IT supplier.

 

[Questions]

Hi, I’m posting this on behalf a friend.

My friend has been a season ticket holder since day 1 at the Amex, this season he’s struggling to attend every fixture due to providing childcare for his two children. He received an email from the club advising that his Brentford and Everton tickets had been sold which came as a surprise as they weren’t listed as he was planning on attending those fixtures. He duly logged on to find all remaining qualifying fixtures on the ticket exchange. He spoke to supporter services and they claimed that they’d made multiple attempts to contact him to advise of their intentions. He found one email in his junk box. He’s been told if he wishes to attend the Brentford and Everton games he needs to buy an additional tickets.

Does this seem right? Feels a little unfair to me.

No

 

[Justice]

Hi, I’m posting this on behalf a friend.

My friend has been a season ticket holder since day 1 at the Amex, this season he’s struggling to attend every fixture due to providing childcare for his two children. He received an email from the club advising that his Brentford and Everton tickets had been sold which came as a surprise as they weren’t listed as he was planning on attending those fixtures. He duly logged on to find all remaining qualifying fixtures on the ticket exchange. He spoke to supporter services and they claimed that they’d made multiple attempts to contact him to advise of their intentions. He found one email in his junk box. He’s been told if he wishes to attend the Brentford and Everton games he needs to buy an additional tickets.

Does this seem right? Feels a little unfair to me.

Is he being compensated?

 

[wellquickwoody]

Because the club, and most of those attending, don’t want empty seats……….

If I buy food but don’t use it and end up throwing it away, I don’t get a snotty email from Tesco saying that I cannot buy anymore.

In future years maybe a Green led council will send the email instead.

 

[timbha]

If I buy food but don’t use it and end up throwing it away, I don’t get a snotty email from Tesco saying that I cannot buy anymore.

In future years maybe a Green led council will send the email instead.

What a strange comparison.

Has Tesco run out of food and is there a waiting list of hungry customers?

Did you buy your cheesecake with no intention of eating it, just so you could get a brownie?

 

[Talby]

What a strange comparison.

Has Tesco run out of food and is there a waiting list of hungry customers?

Did you buy your cheesecake with no intention of eating it, just so you could get a brownie?

The difference being your theoretical wasted food could have gone to a food bank to feed people who cannot afford it.

The club would, of course, charitably offer your unused food to another person for double the money.

BHAFC don’t offer cheesecake with a brownie. They offer cheesecake or discounted cheesecake if you buy on subscription.


They do let some people share their cheesecake with people that are hungry for them. These are the Finest tickets and, whilst money shouldn’t be exchanged between fans directly, I think we all know there’s a market for cheesecake and it sits outside official channels.

Hope that makes sense of the not unreasonable comparison.

 

[Rowdey]

I'd be interested in what the club deem "acceptable" reasons.

These are the reasons I have missed home games and not done anything with my ticket over the last few years:

1) Last minute trip to A&E with my son for something that happened that morning
2) Death of father, flew to Ireland, Albion not high on my priorities of things to deal with (but I did have several days notice, so would they argue I could have listed it still?)
3) Flight home from holiday due back at Stansted at 10am. Reckoned I'd make the game. Flight delayed.
4) On a course in London midweek. It overran and then there were train problems.
5) Mrs away on a hen do when oldest was a baby. Had childcare (my mum) organised for a few hours on the Saturday lunchtime for the game, but this fell through.

These all came in different seasons but I don't think it's unrealistic that a combination of 3, 4 and 5 could come up for people more than a handful of times, especially people who travel for work and work in London.

Would be interested to know which if the above the club would accept.

But those reasons wont hit 75% of games in a season, so all good..

 

[chaileyjem]

If I buy food but don’t use it and end up throwing it away, I don’t get a snotty email from Tesco saying that I cannot buy anymore.

FWIW THe Albion aren't stopping you buying tickets, sorry food. "anymore" in this analogy. Just a season ticket. In fact its just a renewal of your season ticket. You can carry on buying match day tickets. I suspect if they are still available then i imagine they'd let you buy a new season ticket! And if you have evidence (health, personal circumstances, family) of why turning up to Tesco every week to collect your shopping is not possible anymore - according to their terms at least - then if you get in touch with them - they almost certainly won't do that either.

 

[chaileyjem]

The difference being your theoretical wasted food could have gone to a food bank to feed people who cannot afford it.

A couple of PL clubs - and i think this is a good idea allow you - when you list your ticket - to donate the ££ back to the club charity rather than yourself if you tick a box.

Some clubs go further and have a scheme where if you list a ticket then its distributed via a charity to those who can't afford tickets etc.

These are good ideas that i hope the club are looking at.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

If I buy food but don’t use it and end up throwing it away, I don’t get a snotty email from Tesco saying that I cannot buy anymore.

This is very wasteful though, especially in these cash-strapped times. You won’t get a letter from Tesco but you need to have a serious think about your attitude if this is how you carry on