The Amex Stadium will be "cashless" according to the Argus!

[GT49er]

It might be OK for regulars, but will be a rip-off for occasional users (ie the ones who can't afford to be regulars). Presumably, you will only be able to top up your card in units - say units of £10. You buy something at half time that costs £7.95, get no change, and as you can't find anything that costs less than £2.05, you either lose that money, or put another tenner on - and then still find you've got credit on there you might not be able to use for months.
If thyey're intent on using cards, surely they could work it with credit / debit cards too!

 

[rool]

In the same way as Oyster cards work. You can put cash on via the internet or via numerous machines in the stations. It really isn't difficult don't get why some are having a paddy. Season tickets will get used to it quickly enough, people who buy 1 ticket at a time will I'm sure have the chance at purchase to put cash on the card, same for away fans. For those saying 'old people' won't be able to do are I think being a bit disrespectful, the internet and technology isn't just for the under 30s

I love my Oyster card. I have it on auto top up so when it gets below a fiver it automatically transfers £20 from my bank.

I'd like to think there'll be the same facility on the albions smart cards.

I've also been used to these cards on cruises which, on the ones I have been on anyway, are totally cash free.

 

[surrey jim]

It might be OK for regulars, but will be a rip-off for occasional users (ie the ones who can't afford to be regulars). Presumably, you will only be able to top up your card in units - say units of £10. You buy something at half time that costs £7.95, get no change, and as you can't find anything that costs less than £2.05, you either lose that money, or put another tenner on - and then still find you've got credit on there you might not be able to use for months.
If thyey're intent on using cards, surely they could work it with credit / debit cards too!

Why - That £2.05 remains for the next game you attend / towards the next match ticket or when you get home you can 'refund' it back to your bank account if needed.

 

[rool]

It might be OK for regulars, but will be a rip-off for occasional users (ie the ones who can't afford to be regulars). Presumably, you will only be able to top up your card in units - say units of £10. You buy something at half time that costs £7.95, get no change, and as you can't find anything that costs less than £2.05, you either lose that money, or put another tenner on - and then still find you've got credit on there you might not be able to use for months.
If thyey're intent on using cards, surely they could work it with credit / debit cards too!

I imagine there would be the facility to write in and ask for the balance back. I'd like to thinks so anyway.

 

[beorhthelm]

In the same way as Oyster cards work. You can put cash on via the internet or via numerous machines in the stations.

true. and so the queues are moved from the point of sale to the top up machines. Id hope there will be some of these at Brighton station (Lewes, Eastbourne etc too?) and not just at the ground, which would defeat half the purpose.

i think taking Debit/credit cards is a very good compromise, but probably take too large a cut of a portion of chips + drink so may not be viable.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

true. and so the queues are moved from the point of sale to the top up machines. Id hope there will be some of these at Brighton station (Lewes, Eastbourne etc too?) and not just at the ground, which would defeat half the purpose.

i think taking Debit/credit cards is a very good compromise, but probably take too large a cut of a portion of chips + drink so may not be viable.

I'm sure I read somewhere that there would be numerous ways of topping up such as machines, internet, phone, text etc. In which case I think most regulars will top up before a match.

Taking debit cards somewhat defeats the object of the smart cards as you'd have to make a connection to a clearing house and put in your pin - it's slower than cash.

Anyway, I don't get all this negativity - haven't the club said we will be able to use cash ? Isn't it just the Argus gettting the wrong end of the stick ?

 

[8ace]

With these cards do you just press it against the thing like an oyster card or do you have to type in a PIN as well?

 

[Spider]

I'll wait to see whether the stadium employs enough staff to deal with a massive influx of people in 15 minutes before I get too excited about a swipe card that could potentially have as many delays as cash ("Oh, I thought I had a fiver on this - let's try it again!"). The real delays in queueing is the fact to run properly you would have to employ hundreds of staff members for about 15 minutes, whilst the rest of the time you could manage with many many less. A card system isn't going to solve this.

 

[Don Quixote]

I won't buy any food anyway. All over priced.

 

[Titanic]

I won't buy any food anyway. All over priced.

How much is it?

 

[Boris Yeltsin]

There will still be a queue at point of sale for the actual serving of the goods to the customers. It still takes time to cook chips and burgers etc!

 

[saafend_seagull]

they have this in german grounds ive been to, saves queue time

 

[beorhthelm]

No I am not. If people are still so behind that they don't have access to the internet via somewhere then they can do it the old fashioned way and go to THE BANK!

ah. so there's going to be top up machines at all the banks? or people are going to queue on a Saturday morning for the counter to transfer £10 from account to albion card? if thats even supported, can you transfer to Oyster over the counter? still have our queing and delays somewhere though, dont we.

i dont think you've really thought it through. i trust the club has though and will deliver appropriate solutions.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Smartcard technology is pretty advanced now. I cannot see why an auto-top-up Oyster card will be anything other than convenient.

As at the Ricoh (the UK's only cashless stadium) I suspect to begin with cash will still be an option whilst the new system beds in, but after a season people will wonder what all the fuss is about.

 

[Turkey]

ah. so there's going to be top up machines at all the banks? or people are going to queue on a Saturday morning for the counter to transfer £10 from account to albion card? if thats even supported, can you transfer to Oyster over the counter? still have our queing and delays somewhere though, dont we.

i dont think you've really thought it through. i trust the club has though and will deliver appropriate solutions.

They will probably do something similar to the Oyster system whereby you can link your card to your bank account and if you go under a certain amount it automatically tops itself up (My Oyster takes £20 from my account every time I go below £5).

Alternatively, you'll probably be able to top it up at home online, over the counter at the club shop or at a machine inside the stadium. There won't be big queues at the stadium because most people will already have some credit on their card.

 

[The Grockle]

They will probably do something similar to the Oyster system whereby you can link your card to your bank account and if you go under a certain amount it automatically tops itself up (My Oyster takes £20 from my account every time I go below £5).

Alternatively, you'll probably be able to top it up at home online, over the counter at the club shop or at a machine inside the stadium. There won't be big queues at the stadium because most people will already have some credit on their card.

Hopefully this will be the case.

 

[HP Seagull]

I haven't read the whole thread, but will there be a ticket office at the ground?

I know it's not pay-on-the-gate but surely there is another alternative for buying tickets?

 

[Hiney]

Too many people with their glasses half-empty.

 

[Easy 10]

Well have you SEEN the queues for the bar ?

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Too many people with their glasses half-empty.

Only in the away end I hope. I want a full pint.

As my grandfather used to say.


"Can you put a whisky in my pint ?"
"Of course sir ......"
"Well fill it up with bloody beer then.