Bert, The Box Office and Eleven Hundred Quid.

[Bert]

Bert has been in foreign parts for the last few weeks and he has missed the deadline for season ticket renewals. His own fault, but never he less he emailed to Box Office to ask if he could still have the discount for the three tickets, he also mentioned (very politely) that he probably wouldn't bother if he had to pay the higher price. (£150 more for a vastly inferior product)

He didn't mention how many years he has supported the club, how many years he has had a season ticket or that he was a shareholder, blah, blah.

The reply was a straightforward NO from the Box Office, now Bert understands that rules are rules but it's £1,100 that the club won't be getting now.

This marks the end of an era that started in the 1960's.

 

[shorehamview]

Renew early = discount. January Sales = discount.
Would you have the shops hold their sale open just for you? Do you demand a ferry waiting at Dover on the off chance you might want a trip to France one day? Renew late = pay full whack. What makes you special enough to renew whenever you fancy it? Unless of course you are special and different other than just posting in the third person.

SV doesn't think so, but SV had the presence of mind to renew early.

Sheffield United season ticket purchase does not = DFS Sale opening hours. Deadline gone. Them's the breaks.

 

[ghandi]

Bert has been in foreign parts for the last few weeks and he has missed the deadline for season ticket renewals. His own fault, but never he less he emailed to Box Office to ask if he could still have the discount for the three tickets, he also mentioned (very politely) that he probably wouldn't bother if he had to pay the higher price. (£150 more for a vastly inferior product)

He didn't mention how many years he has supported the club, how many years he has had a season ticket or that he was a shareholder, blah, blah.

The reply was a straightforward NO from the Box Office, now Bert understands that rules are rules but it's £1,100 that the club won't be getting now.

This marks the end of an era that started in the 1960's.

Bert is not a True Blade.

 

[shorehamview]

Bert is not a True Blade.

Bert may well be a Trye Blade, but he was also a Late Blade.

 

[S64 Blade]

Renew early = discount. January Sales = discount.
Would you have the shops hold their sale open just for you? Do you demand a ferry waiting at Dover on the off chance you might want a trip to France one day? Renew late = pay full whack. What makes you special enough to renew whenever you fancy it? Unless of course you are special and different other than just posting in the third person.

SV doesn't think so, but SV had the presence of mind to renew early.

Sheffield United season ticket purchase does not = DFS Sale opening hours. Deadline gone. Them's the breaks.

Not the best of comparisons though - January sales are to get rid of surplus & last season's stock, therefore it's impossible to offer at that rate if the stock isn't there. If Bert has a genuinely valid reason, which it appears so, then it's a bit harsh of the club to not be willing to come to some agreement. The club has hardly made it an exciting prospect to get a season ticket, so should be willing to work with long-standing fans in these kind of circumstances.

 

[JohnDenver]

Bert has been in foreign parts for the last few weeks and he has missed the deadline for season ticket renewals. His own fault, but never he less he emailed to Box Office to ask if he could still have the discount for the three tickets, he also mentioned (very politely) that he probably wouldn't bother if he had to pay the higher price. (£150 more for a vastly inferior product)

He didn't mention how many years he has supported the club, how many years he has had a season ticket or that he was a shareholder, blah, blah.

The reply was a straightforward NO from the Box Office, now Bert understands that rules are rules but it's £1,100 that the club won't be getting now.

This marks the end of an era that started in the 1960's.

I get the frustration, but.... what does the ticket office say to the bloke behind you in the queue?

I'm sure SUFC would love your money, but when every poor sod who paid full whack reads about discretionary discounts...

 

[shorehamview]

Not the best of comparisons though - January sales are to get rid of surplus & last season's stock, therefore it's impossible to offer at that rate if the stock isn't there. If Bert has a genuinely valid reason, which it appears so, then it's a bit harsh of the club to not be willing to come to some agreement. The club has hardly made it an exciting prospect to get a season ticket, so should be willing to work with long-standing fans in these kind of circumstances.

Would you have, say, Debenhams or John Lewis hold some of their stock back for those who couldn't make the January sales? And as JohnDenver says, what do you say to the bloke behind bert in the queue? Or the bloke behind him? Either the deadline stands, for everyone, or there is no point in having one. What about those who renewed early?

 

[S64 Blade]

Would you have, say, Debenhams or John Lewis hold some of their stock back for those who couldn't make the January sales? And as JohnDenver says, what do you say to the bloke behind bert in the queue? Or the bloke behind him? Either the deadline stands, for everyone, or there is no point in having one. What about those who renewed early?

But they wouldn't do that because of capacity constraints and generally speaking they are able to shift all the stock, so it's not really a valid argument. The club has no such problem with season tickets as its a plastic card that is updated automatically and they are nowhere near selling out the ground with season ticket holders. So why not listen to what a lifelong fan that was unable to renew, due to being away, has to say and maybe offer a more valid reason for not doing so - for example, maybe they can't because the system for payment has reset to the new prices. I'd assume it's a rare incident and also it wouldn't affect those that renewed early as they're not losing out financially.

 

[cooperblade]

Bert has been in foreign parts for the last few weeks and he has missed the deadline for season ticket renewals. His own fault, but never he less he emailed to Box Office to ask if he could still have the discount for the three tickets, he also mentioned (very politely) that he probably wouldn't bother if he had to pay the higher price. (£150 more for a vastly inferior product)

He didn't mention how many years he has supported the club, how many years he has had a season ticket or that he was a shareholder, blah, blah.

The reply was a straightforward NO from the Box Office, now Bert understands that rules are rules but it's £1,100 that the club won't be getting now.

This marks the end of an era that started in the 1960's.

All you had to do was mention Alien's cast iron guarantee that cheap season tickets would be available after the deadline.

 

[Darren]

But they wouldn't do that because of capacity constraints and generally speaking they are able to shift all the stock, so it's not really a valid argument. The club has no such problem with season tickets as its a plastic card that is updated automatically and they are nowhere near selling out the ground with season ticket holders. So why not listen to what a lifelong fan that was unable to renew, due to being away, has to say and maybe offer a more valid reason for not doing so - for example, maybe they can't because the system for payment has reset to the new prices. I'd assume it's a rare incident and also it wouldn't affect those that renewed early as they're not losing out financially.

How about if I go into a shop and quite fancy a Wispa bar and see they cost 45p. I am just about buy one when someone calls me on my phone and I go outside the shop to take the call and forget to buy my favourite piece of confectionary.

Next week I go back to the shop and see the price has gone up to 50p. I also see the shopkeeper has plenty of bars in stock. If I ask him if I can have the bar for 45p on the grounds that I meant to buy one at that price last week and forgot to do so, and that I won't bother if I have to pay the extra 5p, would I have grounds for complaint if he said 50p or nothing?

 

[TAMUS]

No phones where you have been Bert .

 

[Trigger Blade]

How about if I go into a shop and quite fancy a Wispa bar and see they cost 45p. I am just about buy one when someone calls me on my phone and I go outside the shop to take the call and forget to buy my favourite piece of confectionary.

Next week I go back to the shop and see the price has gone up to 50p. I also see the shopkeeper has plenty of bars in stock. If I ask him if I can have the bar for 45p on the grounds that I meant to buy one at that price last week and forgot to do so, and that I won't bother if I have to pay the extra 5p, would I have grounds for complaint if he said 50p or nothing?

That's a fair comparison and the shop may well be able to sell all its stock at 50p, so doesn't need to contemplate a discount. However, if they have stock left when the Wispa bars are coming close to their sell by date, they may need to sell them to recoup their initial outlay.

It isn't for me to speak for Bert, but I doubt he was demanding the discount, he has no right to it. I think what he's saying is that it makes no sense for the club to deprive itself of much needed income by taking a hard line, with anybody. They clearly don't know they're dealing with The Great Man himself ;-)

They aren't going to sell his seats to anybody else and a bit of common sense wouldn't have gone amiss.

Oh, and by the way, I doubt Bert would be seen dead eating a Wispa bar (even at the unlikely low retail price of 50p), he's much more of a Chinky Kit Kat type.

 

[Bert]

Cuba, would have cost about two hundred quid to use a mobile and get through to the Box Office.

 

[raul]

You're either in or you're out.

 

[Bert]

Spot on Trig, Bert isn't making a fuss over this he is merely pointing out that they could have had Bert's eleven hundred quid but now they won't be getting it. Still, perhaps they don't need the money.

 

[Darren]

That's a fair comparison and the shop may well be able to sell all its stock at 50p, so doesn't need to contemplate a discount. However, if they have stock left when the Wispa bars are coming close to their sell by date, they may need to sell them to recoup their initial outlay.

It isn't for me to speak for Bert, but I doubt he was demanding the discount, he has no right to it. I think what he's saying is that it makes no sense for the club to deprive itself of much needed income by taking a hard line, with anybody. They clearly don't know they're dealing with The Great Man himself ;-)

They aren't going to sell his seats to anybody else and a bit of common sense wouldn't have gone amiss.

But isn't this a proposal to sell seasons tickets by haggling:

Caller: I missed the deadline, but could I buy tickets for the reduced price otherwise I won't bother
SUFC bod: (thinks: he's probably bluffing and if I play hardball he will pay the full price) no way - full price or nothing
Caller: ok its nothing then
SUFC bod (thinks, he will come to lots of the games anyway so we will make more than if we gave him the cut price) fine

etc etc

Seems to me simpler and more cost effective for SUFC to have deadlines and stick to them.

 

[FleaPitBlade]

Isnt it better to set a price for a product and everyone who wants to purchase said product has to do so at that price?

 

[raul]

Where's Uncle Richard when you need him? I propose bert is given his discount.

 

[Worksop II]

Seems to me simpler and more cost effective for SUFC to have deadlines and stick to them.

Bert is / was a Businessman

When you run a Business you always ask to get it for less, I would and do.

Sometimes they reply No, sometimes they reply Yes.

The ones who reply Yes get more Business, as shown in this example.

I get asked for reductions, I always try to make a step towards them, even if it is a small step.

 

[Trigger Blade]

Seems to me simpler and more cost effective for SUFC to have deadlines and stick to them.

It might be simpler, no paperwork involved in not taking a payment or re-activating the season cards. As for more cost effective, that's a very bold statement, you'd have to cross examine (see what I did there) Bert to establish if he'll be going and how often to know whether that's the case or not.

 

[sheffielder]

considering Deadline was 17th April and it now 2nd June did Bert think his couple of weeks holiday excuse didn't have any f***ing flaws in it

 

[JohnDenver]

Spot on Trig, Bert isn't making a fuss over this he is merely pointing out that they could have had Bert's eleven hundred quid but now they won't be getting it. Still, perhaps they don't need the money.

Why won't you pay the full price? It's rather unfortunate that you have to, but the fact you're not suggests you've been wronged. When in truth, all that's happened is they've not made an exception for you.

---------- Post added at 04:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:22 PM ----------

Bert is / was a Businessman

When you run a Business you always ask to get it for less, I would and do.

Sometimes they reply No, sometimes they reply Yes.

The ones who reply Yes get more Business, as shown in this example.

I get asked for reductions, I always try to make a step towards them, even if it is a small step.

Did you buy a season ticket before the deadline? If so, did you ask for discount then?

We're dealing with thousands of people here. All prices cannot be negotiated individually.

 

[Bert]

Bert is / was a Businessman

When you run a Business you always ask to get it for less, I would and do.

Sometimes they reply No, sometimes they reply Yes.

The ones who reply Yes get more Business, as shown in this example.

I get asked for reductions, I always try to make a step towards them, even if it is a small step.

Exactly.

Bert won't be paying more for what is now a third rate product. He will go to games when it suits him and his total spend will be far less than the £1,100. The loser here is the club not Bert.

 

[Worksop II]

We're dealing with thousands of people here. All prices cannot be negotiated individually.

Thousands of people didn't ask - Bert did, they can only say No, which they did, no problem, no Business done.

 

[bricktop]

Do they not have an internet connection in Cuba, you could have gone online and done it all on there, and seeing that you've posted on here a couple of times since the season tickets have been on offer, would it not have been an idea to renew online?

It just seems to me your whingeing like a little girl, and throwing your toys out of the pram because the club won't give you what you want.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Even an half brained stunted mutant managed to purchase his prior to the deadline date.

 

[JohnDenver]

Exactly.

Bert won't be paying more for what is now a third rate product. He will go to games when it suits him and his total spend will be far less than the £1,100. The loser here is the club not Bert.

So if the pre-deadline renewal price was any higher than last season's price, then Bert's money would have stayed in Bert's pocket?

If that's true then the issue isn't that SUFC won't treat you as an exception. It's that they've priced you out.

 

[FleaPitBlade]

The problem here is that Bert is dealing with a pleb in the ticket office without the power to negotiate.

 

[Darren]

It might be simpler, no paperwork involved in not taking a payment or re-activating the season cards. As for more cost effective, that's a very bold statement, you'd have to cross examine (see what I did there) Bert to establish if he'll be going and how often to know whether that's the case or not.

But the point is would it be cost effective for SUFC staff to cross examine every person who tried to "do a Bert" once it got out that the club were open to hagglers?

 

[Bert]

If you have ever been to Cuba you would know why your suggestion of applying online is laughable and also if you weren't such an arse you would be able to see that Bert isn't whinging he is merely pointing out the lack of business accumen shown by the club.