It seems that the Charlton Ticket Office has finally been jump-started into action after several months of Furlough. News that the club is finally moving to address the question of monies owed to season ticket holders for the curtailment of the season was broken in a message clearly aimed at minimising the amount of money that is actually refunded. I think we can all appreciate the logic but the way they have chosen to go about will only make things worse.
The bottom line is that they are hoping to 'break even' here or even make a few quid. The club offered a number of options, the first of which caused me to laugh out loud. I wish had been at the brainstorming session where someone shouted 'a donate option!' Yes, in a message offering you credits against the streaming of the remaining 9 league games or a credit towards next season's tickets or a club shop voucher, the first option was to donate your credit to the club! This from an ownership not long divorced from Matt Southall and which is still trading under the brand-damaged East Street Investments monica.
Moving swiftly on, I was interested in the remaining streaming option as I'd quite like to see the relegation battle played out to a conclusion. However, the messaging was confused and it quickly became clear that some season ticket holders (those in the cheapest seats) wouldn't have enough credit in their accounts to cover the cost of screening the five remaining home games. This took a bit of thinking about. How on Earth could anyone suggest to a season ticket holder that they would have to pay more to watch the remaining games on a stream than they had already paid for a season ticket to be there in person? This is completely nonsensical and a very obvious mistake. To add to that, there appears to be the imposition of booking fees on these transactions. A £1.50 penalty we cannot avoid and reminds us of the worst excesses of Katrien Meire.
The situation is easier for those who have bigger credits but the pricing at £10 per game for the stream is clearly intended to ensure they get enough cash to cover any refunds and, hopefully, give them some profit. However, at least one of the games will be on Sky (Millwall) and it's very likely the Leeds one will be too, if no others. Given families will be able to watch a stream together or even share with those in their bubble or those who aren't, this plan is beginning to look like it has lots of holes in it.
As if to underline their determination to make a Pig's Ear of this, the option of a complete refund of your owed money was also covered but instead of simply honouring the obligation, the website spoke of including a form at some point in the future and an expectation setting that processing wouldn't be swift. I hate to be provoked, so this immediately got my back up and changed my initial pan from 'stream' to 'bloody-minded refund.'
Today I see that pricing has been launched for next year's season tickets. I have skimmed through the options but can't get beyond 'this is half-baked wishful thinking.' They appear to be offering season tickets on similar 'early bird' pricing to last season eg £260 but then the story gets weird. The best deal apparently is a full season ticket that offers 'compensation' at the end of the season for games played behind closed doors! The other genius idea is a 'two stage' ticket whereby you pay for a half-season ticket which means you can watch the second-half of the season if the first half is behind closed doors.
Who in their right mind is going to buy a season ticket any time soon? The default position is that all games will be behind closed doors. There may be talk of gates in 2021 if the virus dies out but anything approaching a second wave will kill that we are unlikely to have to wait much before the approach of Winter if that is to happen. There is no mention of a streaming alternative in the event that you can't actually use your season ticket to see games, so I suspect they will expect you to pay for that too in the meantime! The final killer is the statement that early bird prices will go up if you don't renew by 31st July and we are relegated to League One! That's right, more money not to be able us to watch us in Division Three....ha, ha, ha!
In the circumstances, I fully intend to go through the trial of wills needed to get my money back this year and wait until it's very clear what I will be getting for my money. The other elephant in the room, is who will be getting my money? I bought a half-season at the end of December because I fell for the ESI 'lock, stock and barrel' takeover when 'Arab money' had us all dreaming of better times. When I discovered Matt Southall had used my money to fund an all-extras Range Rover for him and Bimbo, and that all my mates season ticket money was going on a luxury riverside pad for the grasping Southall, I wanted my money back after being sick. Coronavirus has thrown me a lifeline and I intend to take it unless our next owners happen to be people I know and can trust (sorry but that's not you Paul Elliott).
The bottom line is that they are hoping to 'break even' here or even make a few quid. The club offered a number of options, the first of which caused me to laugh out loud. I wish had been at the brainstorming session where someone shouted 'a donate option!' Yes, in a message offering you credits against the streaming of the remaining 9 league games or a credit towards next season's tickets or a club shop voucher, the first option was to donate your credit to the club! This from an ownership not long divorced from Matt Southall and which is still trading under the brand-damaged East Street Investments monica.
Moving swiftly on, I was interested in the remaining streaming option as I'd quite like to see the relegation battle played out to a conclusion. However, the messaging was confused and it quickly became clear that some season ticket holders (those in the cheapest seats) wouldn't have enough credit in their accounts to cover the cost of screening the five remaining home games. This took a bit of thinking about. How on Earth could anyone suggest to a season ticket holder that they would have to pay more to watch the remaining games on a stream than they had already paid for a season ticket to be there in person? This is completely nonsensical and a very obvious mistake. To add to that, there appears to be the imposition of booking fees on these transactions. A £1.50 penalty we cannot avoid and reminds us of the worst excesses of Katrien Meire.
The situation is easier for those who have bigger credits but the pricing at £10 per game for the stream is clearly intended to ensure they get enough cash to cover any refunds and, hopefully, give them some profit. However, at least one of the games will be on Sky (Millwall) and it's very likely the Leeds one will be too, if no others. Given families will be able to watch a stream together or even share with those in their bubble or those who aren't, this plan is beginning to look like it has lots of holes in it.
As if to underline their determination to make a Pig's Ear of this, the option of a complete refund of your owed money was also covered but instead of simply honouring the obligation, the website spoke of including a form at some point in the future and an expectation setting that processing wouldn't be swift. I hate to be provoked, so this immediately got my back up and changed my initial pan from 'stream' to 'bloody-minded refund.'
Today I see that pricing has been launched for next year's season tickets. I have skimmed through the options but can't get beyond 'this is half-baked wishful thinking.' They appear to be offering season tickets on similar 'early bird' pricing to last season eg £260 but then the story gets weird. The best deal apparently is a full season ticket that offers 'compensation' at the end of the season for games played behind closed doors! The other genius idea is a 'two stage' ticket whereby you pay for a half-season ticket which means you can watch the second-half of the season if the first half is behind closed doors.
Who in their right mind is going to buy a season ticket any time soon? The default position is that all games will be behind closed doors. There may be talk of gates in 2021 if the virus dies out but anything approaching a second wave will kill that we are unlikely to have to wait much before the approach of Winter if that is to happen. There is no mention of a streaming alternative in the event that you can't actually use your season ticket to see games, so I suspect they will expect you to pay for that too in the meantime! The final killer is the statement that early bird prices will go up if you don't renew by 31st July and we are relegated to League One! That's right, more money not to be able us to watch us in Division Three....ha, ha, ha!
In the circumstances, I fully intend to go through the trial of wills needed to get my money back this year and wait until it's very clear what I will be getting for my money. The other elephant in the room, is who will be getting my money? I bought a half-season at the end of December because I fell for the ESI 'lock, stock and barrel' takeover when 'Arab money' had us all dreaming of better times. When I discovered Matt Southall had used my money to fund an all-extras Range Rover for him and Bimbo, and that all my mates season ticket money was going on a luxury riverside pad for the grasping Southall, I wanted my money back after being sick. Coronavirus has thrown me a lifeline and I intend to take it unless our next owners happen to be people I know and can trust (sorry but that's not you Paul Elliott).
Dear DDTG, Thanks for the entertaining posts especially the recent ones on the Boardroom Shenanigans.This current one on CAFC marketing you point out the scheme and options are bit like Ran C Nesbitts vest -full of holes. One word that could apply to it is desperation....to hold on to our money. But I guess the entirety of the EFL are in the same position.
ReplyDeleteTaking a step back and looking at the ticket prices- take the average £10 million loss the club makes and divide by the average attendance and you get a "subsidy" of £35 per ticket for every person (OAP,child as well) for every game. So "real " cost of a ticket is more like an expensive theatre ticket or a cheap Opera ticket. Nessum Dormer anyone?