Loyalty Scheme

[Rodders]

Thing is, with anything up to 25-30,000 match-going fans at some point in the season, you're going to get 25-30,000 ways that the loyalty scheme "should be run" with points given if you attend all games, to points not given if you travel by coach to points given if you can only make it down on the 3rd Tuesday in October.
Sadly, only 1 way can be implemented, and the way it is done currently is the fairest to ALL fans. Up to 06/07 I went to around 5-7 aways a season, in the Prem I made 9-10, then in the next 2 seasons I've made 2 (due to Robson / a certain amount of apathy about the Championship / lack of cash), but I don't mind being down the pecking order (on 8,950pts) as I've not been recently - I certainly don't expect any favours because I used to go more regularly a few years ago.
Agree that the points should be held on a rolling basis to let people catch up though too.

 

[Linz]

So what about the previous 17 years? Do you get nothing for that?

But the thing with the scheme is that it had to be brought in sometime. There could be people on here who could say what about the previous 40 years... my Nannan has been going over 60 years.

I think the rolling drop-off of points does have to come in though... those with lots of points will not see the difference whereas those in the middleground might sway more towards going to the game instead of just plumping for the pub.

 

[silverfox]

I've had a season ticket most years since the late 60's and lost count on the away matches i've been to.

People like Daz, Linz and Foxy have more points than me because they don't miss many away matches.

I have no problem with them being able to get tickets in front of me at all as I don't go to all away matches.

We do, as has been said, need some system which can help the middle ground catch up.

For the people who only attend the big matches.....what do they really expect?

 

[Robbie]

But the thing with the scheme is that it had to be brought in sometime. There could be people on here who could say what about the previous 40 years... my Nannan has been going over 60 years. .

Oh I do agree....

But certain things could have been looked at when they brought the scheme in.

I have no problems with the scheme itself, but it does have flaws. Just like all of them would have

 

[Linz]

Hahhaha.... first "big" game for six years and it's all kicking off on BU about the "ridiculous" loyalty system.

You know, this "ridiculous" system that has been in place three years and is mentioned every time you get away tickets?

Apparently the mates of season ticket holders should be able to get a ticket at the same time as everyone else, because it isn't their fault they don't go to matches.

Is it me being biased for a system that works, both for me and all all those other people who travel, being unreasonable to these people who obviously never buy tickets (some are even proclaiming they have zero loyalty points!)?

I mean, bloody hell... even just getting season tickets since the system came in means you can get a ticket on Thursday.

Fair dos... we all want a day at Wembley. But if you can't be arsed to go to other games, you should be prepared to wait your turn.

 

[Berks_Blade]

Hahhaha.... first "big" game for six years and it's all kicking off on BU about the "ridiculous" loyalty system.

You know, this "ridiculous" system that has been in place three years and is mentioned every time you get away tickets?

Apparently the mates of season ticket holders should be able to get a ticket at the same time as everyone else, because it isn't their fault they don't go to matches.

Is it me being biased for a system that works, both for me and all all those other people who travel, being unreasonable to these people who obviously never buy tickets (some are even proclaiming they have zero loyalty points!)?

I mean, bloody hell... even just getting season tickets since the system came in means you can get a ticket on Thursday.

Fair dos... we all want a day at Wembley. But if you can't be arsed to go to other games, you should be prepared to wait your turn.

To be fair, some people have made valid points about the best ways to make sure we sell all the tickets, or don't end up with mad scrambles on the later days from everyone waiting till their mates/families qualify.

It looks like the ticket office have done their sums and tried to be fair to everyone. If we sell out, they've got it right. I'd be irritated though if it ended up like the Palace final, where those of us qualifying early through memberships, ticket stubs or whatever could only buy one ticket so couldn't get them for families, while glory-hunters buying them on general sale could get as many as they wanted.

 

[Linz]

I'd be irritated though if it ended up like the Palace final, where those of us qualifying early through memberships, ticket stubs or whatever could only buy one ticket so couldn't get them for families, while glory-hunters buying them on general sale could get as many as they wanted.

But surely the family members who don't qualify are the same people as the glory hunters?

Just because they know a season ticket holder, why does that make them any different to people who want tickets because they want a day out a Wembley? If they weren't a "glory hunter", surely they'd qualify before general sale?

They are all people who have to wait for general sale tickets and so should wait their turn... whether they're the brother/mother/aunt/next door neighbour of a season ticket holder or not.

 

[Berks_Blade]

But surely the family members who don't qualify are the same people as the glory hunters?

QUOTE]

Yes and no. The point is - someone that's been to every game for 40 years can be unable to get one extra ticket for their long-suffering spouse that's put up with them spending all their dosh and being away every weekend. While someone that's never been before could be able to buy tickets for their kids, nanny and cat.

Not a problem if we do sell out once those further down the pecking order (but still on the database as fans) get their turn, or if there's enough left on sunday for people hanging on till family members etc qualify. As I said, I think the ticket office have probably done the best they could, as it's impossible to predict demand. Palace in '97 we had loads of tickets spare (so ST holder could probably have taken ones bought earlier back and swapped them for tickets with their families/mates I suppose), while for Wolves there were genuine fans left without as demand was so high.

 

[beightonblade]

Anybody wanting tickets bung me a £10 an i'll get yer as many as yer want..............

for me the loyalty thing is bang on the button...... mind yer there is always the owd pals act ... but yer will never stop that.

 

[jacknat]

personally i like the loyalty scheme, ive got just under 9000 points and although i've got a season ticket i don't go to many away matches due to work and having a young family(otherwise known as a drain on resources!)
but when i do want to go i usually get tickets, and i agree with silverfox that if i have to wait a couple of days till the people that go all the time get theirs then so be it

 

[Linz]

Yes and no. The point is - someone that's been to every game for 40 years can be unable to get one extra ticket for their long-suffering spouse that's put up with them spending all their dosh and being away every weekend. While someone that's never been before could be able to buy tickets for their kids, nanny and cat.

But if 'er indoors has never been to a match, why does her wanting a day out in that London make her any different from someone who's never been before, their nanny or their cat?

She might be the light of the season ticket holder's life, but if he wants her to go that desperately, then he knows what he needs to do. He should have perhaps made up for his spending on United by bribing her with fancy meals and shoes before all this became an issue

I think some of the time, people want our tickets to sell out so they have a valid excuse for not going and being able to have a good old whinge on an internet message board without spending any money to follow "their" team.

Just like Crystal Palace (the people with loyalty points who were bothered about going bought their tickets two weeks before all the hoohar) and Preston (it wasn't the loyalty system that prevented people going, it was people not being arsed).

Of course we should attract new fans, but relationship marketing theory backs up my point. You should spend 80% of your income on retaining the top 20% of your customers because they will account for 80% of your profits.

 

[Linz]

So... now the panic is over for many.

Any more thoughts?