Cardiff City Ticket Office.

My Dad left school at fourteen, but I've always thought of him as an intelligent and practical man with a talent for things like DIY that he certainly didn't pass on to his eldest son! However, when, at the age of about fifty five, the old style video recorders became widely available, he just didn't have a clue and it was a standing joke that if he was the only one in the house when a programme was shown there'd be no point whatsoever in asking him to record it.

Although I daresay it might sound ridiculous to anyone under the age of, say, fifty, there are people around who are like my Dad was with video recorders when it comes to computers. I have a mate who's just turned sixty nine who just doesn't get them at all. He bought a tablet a few years ago and I can remember spending about three hours at his house before I moved up here taking him through the basics - I left feeling he'd be okay after that, but it soon became clear that what I had said to him went in one ear and out of the other. His tablet has now been chucked in a corner and ignored, while his mobile phone is just that, a device he can use for making and receiving calls only.

He bought a season ticket last year, but the only City matches he got to see were the ones that were shown on Sky, so his 200 and odd quid was spent on nothing and he wants confirmation that his money will be used to pay for his ticket for this season. However, as things stand, the only chance he has of getting an answer to that is if he writes to the club (I'm aware of one or two who have done that and received a reply, but my words to him when we discussed him doing that were "good luck with that, the season will probably have started by the time you get a reply").

My mate tells me that he knows of five or six people in the same position - he's lucky in one regard because he gets out and about a lot and has a pretty wide circle of friends, but loneliness for older people is increasingly an issue in this country and it doesn't take too big a leap to imagine that these older, lonely people do not have access to a computer. Again, is it too big a leap to imagine that for some going to watch the team they have supported all of their life play and meeting up with friends they've made down the years would be one of the highlights of the life they lead now?

Such people have been completely ignored by City's approach to selling season tickets this summer - it so obviously has been devised by young or middle aged adults who just cannot comprehend that anyone would not be online in this day and age.

Through my ties with the Trust, I know there are people at the club doing their best and going an extra yard to help try and sort individual cases out and, of course, allowances have to be made for the pandemic when it comes to things like furloughing, but, even so, the club's response to the challenges they have been set this year has not been good enough.

Over twenty years ago, I started working from home and, although the processes and software involved were in their infancy at the time, I was told by the finance people in the office that me working from home was saving myself and them money. Therefore, it seems amazing that there cannot be some sort of telephone contact with people at the club when it comes to purchasing season tickets - I would have thought that this should have been an absolute priority when it became clear that the ticket office was unable to open.

Bob, there will sadly always be cases like you explain where people aren't computer literate and don't have help, or at least not that they know of.

Without sounding too cuntish though, can the club really open their ticket office for something like a really tiny percentage of people? Have staff there on the off chance someone in need of help comes in?

Pubs by me are still closed because they don't have beer gardens and it isn't worth taking staff off furlough to open for 1 or 2 old men that watch the horse racing, they would rather be open, but it really isn't financially viable so they can't.

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Originally Posted by dembethewarrior

Bob, there will sadly always be cases like you explain where people aren't computer literate and don't have help, or at least not that they know of.

Without sounding too cuntish though, can the club really open their ticket office for something like a really tiny percentage of people? Have staff there on the off chance someone in need of help comes in?

Pubs by me are still closed because they don't have beer gardens and it isn't worth taking staff off furlough to open for 1 or 2 old men that watch the horse racing, they would rather be open, but it really isn't financially viable so they can't.

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I was thinking more in terms of having telephone access for people like my mate. I appreciate that, relatively speaking, there aren’t many who fall into my mate’s category, but, in their way, they’ve been better supporters of the club in the last year than those of us who were at least able to watch streams of our home games - they paid their money and, as yet, have got very little in return, yet they’ve been virtually ignored by City in the last few weeks.

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Originally Posted by dembethewarrior

Bob, there will sadly always be cases like you explain where people aren't computer literate and don't have help, or at least not that they know of.

Without sounding too cuntish though, can the club really open their ticket office for something like a really tiny percentage of people? Have staff there on the off chance someone in need of help comes in?

Pubs by me are still closed because they don't have beer gardens and it isn't worth taking staff off furlough to open for 1 or 2 old men that watch the horse racing, they would rather be open, but it really isn't financially viable so they can't.

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Have those pubs got other members of staff earning a couple of grand a week, in some cases considerably more, who have had their wages whatever the circumstances whereas the bar staff who sell the product are wondering where the next wage packet is coming from.

Also, at the moment probably all season ticket renewals will be people using full or part credit from last year, so there is little money coming in to the club to justify having the staff there. That may change, next week (?), when season tickets become available to all and the club get cash in.

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Originally Posted by dembethewarrior

Bob, there will sadly always be cases like you explain where people aren't computer literate and don't have help, or at least not that they know of.

Without sounding too cuntish though, can the club really open their ticket office for something like a really tiny percentage of people? Have staff there on the off chance someone in need of help comes in?

Pubs by me are still closed because they don't have beer gardens and it isn't worth taking staff off furlough to open for 1 or 2 old men that watch the horse racing, they would rather be open, but it really isn't financially viable so they can't.

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I’ll find out tonight what the numbers are and I think they’ll be higher than you are insinuating.

I will also use Bobs wonderful letter to highlight the problem

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

I was thinking more in terms of having telephone access for people like my mate. I appreciate that, relatively speaking, there aren’t many who fall into my mate’s category, but, in their way, they’ve been better supporters of the club in the last year than those of us who were at least able to watch streams of our home games - they paid their money and, as yet, have got very little in return, yet they’ve been virtually ignored by City in the last few weeks.

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Your mate has support though, in the form of yourself?

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

I’ll find out tonight what the numbers are and I think they’ll be higher than you are insinuating.

I will also use Bobs wonderful letter to highlight the problem

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You carry on. Jesus you've got it for me haven't you 😂

I don't think, in percentage terms, there are many people who
1. Don't have Internet access
2. Can't use the Internet
3. Have nobody who could help them
4. Can't make it to a library to use the free service
5. Have nobody to take them to the library to use the free service.

If those figures are out there (how the **** they would be is anyone's guess but hey ho ill play along)

If anyone has those figures I wanna know why I wasn't partnof the South Wales wide survey, I feel I've missed out.

Or are these figures in the same place you found the "grandparents buy the majority of kids football kits" figures?

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Originally Posted by dembethewarrior

You carry on. Jesus you've got it for me haven't you ��

I don't think, in percentage terms, there are many people who
1. Don't have Internet access
2. Can't use the Internet
3. Have nobody who could help them
4. Can't make it to a library to use the free service
5. Have nobody to take them to the library to use the free service.

If those figures are out there (how the **** they would be is anyone's guess but hey ho ill play along)

If anyone has those figures I wanna know why I wasn't partnof the South Wales wide survey, I feel I've missed out.



Or are these figures in the same place you found the "grandparents buy the majority of kids football kits" figures?

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It’s simple adding and taking away.

13500 season tickets sold last year, minus those that haven’t renewed = the mystical figure

No ones got it “in for you”, it’s just that you are finding it hard to open your other eye to help those supporters that are not as intelligent as you

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

It’s simple adding and taking away.

13500 season tickets sold last year, minus those that haven’t renewed = the mystical figure

No ones got it “in for you”, it’s just that you are finding it hard to open your other eye to help those supporters that are not as intelligent as you

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I’m not exactly an IT dinosaur but it wasn’t easy to navigate the purchase, especially with the added discount. For those more clueless they will probably give up.

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

It’s simple adding and taking away.

13500 season tickets sold last year, minus those that haven’t renewed = the mystical figure

No ones got it “in for you”, it’s just that you are finding it hard to open your other eye to help those supporters that are not as intelligent as you

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Its not though is it. Talk about shunting the goal posts 😂

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Originally Posted by dembethewarrior

Its not though is it. Talk about shunting the goal posts ��

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You’ve lost me :shrug:

It’s NOT WHAT though :shrug:

How many fans do we reckon we have who have no internet access or noone to help them?

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Originally Posted by Hilts

How many fans do we reckon we have who have no internet access or noone to help them?

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Hard question to answer !

But it’s not 1’s and 2’s .

However many it is, it means that these FANS are not receiving a service

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

It’s simple adding and taking away.

13500 season tickets sold last year, minus those that haven’t renewed = the mystical figure

No ones got it “in for you”, it’s just that you are finding it hard to open your other eye to help those supporters that are not as intelligent as you

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I don't disagree with your/Steve/TOBW's points about the ticket office but to say that take away those that haven't renewed from last year's 13500 gives you the figure of people who haven't renewed because of the online system is nonsense. There's tons of different reasons why people might not have renewed this year

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Originally Posted by delmbox

I don't disagree with your/Steve/TOBW's points about the ticket office but to say that take away those that haven't renewed from last year's 13500 gives you the figure of people who haven't renewed because of the online system is nonsense. There's tons of different reasons why people might not have renewed this year

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And not being able to contact the club is the biggest one.

All this debate, doesn’t answer the question, “why are the club eliminating/ignoring, a large number of fans

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

You’ve lost me :shrug:

It’s NOT WHAT though :shrug:

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The mystic figure can't ALL have not renewed because the office isn't open and they aren't able to use the internet/don't have the means. You seem to have claimed them as well to bump up your percentage (which would be minute at best)

Hence moving the goal posts.

My eyes are wide open, I can see help out there for anyone that needs it, you seem one eyed on all issues being because a bloody office isn't open 😂

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

And not being able to contact the club is the biggest one.

All this debate, doesn’t answer the question, “why are the club eliminating/ignoring, a large number of fans

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You can.

Via email.

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Originally Posted by dembethewarrior

You can.

Via email.

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:facepalm:

Are you actually putting this forward ?

So fans that can’t use the tinternet, send an email !!!!!

Unbelievable Jeff

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

:facepalm:

Are you actually putting this forward ?

So fans that can’t use the tinternet, send an email !!!!!

Unbelievable Jeff

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Via someone that can help them with it, yes.

Already said this above.

Anyway, answer this please.

I don't think, in percentage terms, there are many people who
1. Don't have Internet access
2. Can't use the Internet
3. Have nobody who could help them
4. Can't make it to a library to use the free service
5. Have nobody to take them to the library to use the free service.

If those figures are out there (how the **** they would be is anyone's guess but hey ho ill play along)

If anyone has those figures I wanna know why I wasn't partnof the South Wales wide survey, I feel I've missed out.



Or are these figures in the same place you found the "grandparents buy the majority of kids football kits" figures?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

I’ll find out tonight what the numbers are and I think they’ll be higher than you are insinuating.

I will also use Bobs wonderful letter to highlight the problem

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I understand there is a SLO meeting tonight so some info should be forthcoming.

However, I was speaking o an 82 year old last night who thought that his credit would just automatically be carried forward to this season and get his season ticket card. I did tell him he need to apply online only before the 28th. So I offered to travel too see him and help him with it. I suspect there may be quite a few in this position.

It baffles me, that if there are staff dealing with season ticket queries etc etc, in the ticket office......that they can't simply walk over to the counter to serve someone...whether that be a season ticket or match tickets or whatever. People would not mind waiting a few mins while they finished off their e-mail query or whatever they were doing

Same with telephone queries, they can be doing other things as well just waiting for the phone to ring

If a business wants to cover all angles to maximise revenue with minimal outlay..........!! ??

I personally have always gone down the ground for my season tickets/match tickets etc.....I love going down the ground, seeing it in the flesh, just having a little look around, going in the club shop, checking out if anything has changed, smelling that CCFC air all around me, chatting to other people doing similar

but what do I know ? I'm just a customer

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Originally Posted by dembethewarrior

Via someone that can help them with it, yes.

Already said this above.

Anyway, answer this please.

I don't think, in percentage terms, there are many people who
1. Don't have Internet access
2. Can't use the Internet
3. Have nobody who could help them
4. Can't make it to a library to use the free service
5. Have nobody to take them to the library to use the free service.

If those figures are out there (how the **** they would be is anyone's guess but hey ho ill play along)

If anyone has those figures I wanna know why I wasn't partnof the South Wales wide survey, I feel I've missed out.



Or are these figures in the same place you found the "grandparents buy the majority of kids football kits" figures?

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You’ve eaten something that’s repeating on you :hehe:

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Originally Posted by Nicerino

It baffles me, that if there are staff dealing with season ticket queries etc etc, in the ticket office......that they can't simply walk over to the counter to serve someone...whether that be a season ticket or match tickets or whatever. People would not mind waiting a few mins while they finished off their e-mail query or whatever they were doing

Same with telephone queries, they can be doing other things as well just waiting for the phone to ring

If a business wants to cover all angles to maximise revenue with minimal outlay..........!! ??

I personally have always gone down the ground for my season tickets/match tickets etc.....I love going down the ground, seeing it in the flesh, just having a little look around, going in the club shop, checking out if anything has changed, smelling that CCFC air all around me, chatting to other people doing similar

but what do I know ? I'm just a customer

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As I stated before, in the ticket office at the moment, are the ticket office manager, her number 2 and ONE part time girl

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

You’ve eaten something that’s repeating on you :hehe:

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Think it's called sludgeitis he does it a lot too.

Anyway, how are them percentages looking like, they're on that scrap bit of paper with the grandparents being accountable for all of football sales worldwide info you spouted last week.

Senile.

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

And not being able to contact the club is the biggest one.

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I don't want to get into a tit for tat here because I agree that the ticket office should help these people out, but you make sweeping statements like this like they're fact and you have no idea if that's true or not.

People across the world have changed their habits completely over the past year and a half, you've got absolutely no proof that not being able to contact the club is the biggest reason for anything, you're just taking your experiences of talking to friends and acquaintances (who are all a similar demographic to you) and assuming that's it's the same across the board and presenting that as a factual statement. Again.

I've always found the ticket buying process for city games vaguely impenetrable for the uninitiated.
other cities have better visibility of their football clubs as well - upcoming games advertised in buses etc.

I've always thought it's be a good idea to try having a stand in one of the busy shopping centres in Cardiff to sell tickets to passers by. I'm sure there are students or other people who would go along to the odd game.

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Originally Posted by delmbox

I don't want to get into a tit for tat here because I agree that the ticket office should help these people out, but you make sweeping statements like this like they're fact and you have no idea if that's true or not.

People across the world have changed their habits completely over the past year and a half, you've got absolutely no proof that not being able to contact the club is the biggest reason for anything, you're just taking your experiences of talking to friends and acquaintances (who are all a similar demographic to you) and assuming that's it's the same across the board and presenting that as a factual statement. Again.

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Fair comment, but what I do know is, that a millions + business is not making it easy for their customers to contact them

That, you must agree with ?

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

Fair comment, but what I do know is, that a millions + business is not making it easy for their customers to contact them

That, you must agree with ?

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100% :thumbup:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

Fair comment, but what I do know is, that a millions + business is not making it easy for their customers to contact them

That, you must agree with ?

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Have the city ever operated like this? Presuming they haven't, I can't remember them doing this. Maybe they are trialling this internally to see if it is viable going forward and then not needing as many staff thus cost cutting going forward? Presumably if they were to get a number of ST's back from online sales without any interaction between staff and fans that they were happy with, they may just operate like this for the future?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Der Kaiser

Have the city ever operated like this? Presuming they haven't, I can't remember them doing this. Maybe they are trialling this internally to see if it is viable going forward and then not needing as many staff thus cost cutting going forward? Presumably if they were to get a number of ST's back from online sales without any interaction between staff and fans that they were happy with, they may just operate like this for the future?

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Rearrange the following words for the reply:——

Nail head hit the right on the

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Originally Posted by Rjk

I've always found the ticket buying process for city games vaguely impenetrable for the uninitiated.
other cities have better visibility of their football clubs as well - upcoming games advertised in buses etc.

I've always thought it's be a good idea to try having a stand in one of the busy shopping centres in Cardiff to sell tickets to passers by. I'm sure there are students or other people who would go along to the odd game.

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In the past you could buy match tickets from newsagents around South Wales, I certainly bought my Arsenal (FA Cup ‘69) & Real Madrid ticket from a local newsagent.

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Originally Posted by splott parker

In the past you could buy match tickets from newsagents around South Wales, I certainly bought my Arsenal (FA Cup ‘69) & Real Madrid ticket from a local newsagent.

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**** me, that was 52 years ago :hehe: I really don't believe that a physical outlet would improve sales or make it easier for the large majority who book online. Simple fact is that if the club are doing well, tickets sell and people find a way to purchase them.

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

**** me, that was 52 years ago :hehe: I really don't believe that a physical outlet would improve sales or make it easier for the large majority who book online. Simple fact is that if the club are doing well, tickets sell and people find a way to purchase them.

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I know that ya nutter but Rjk was suggesting that outlets in shopping centres could sell to passers by, he also mentioned advertising on buses, this was also done 50 odd years ago on bus windows, regularly replaced as each fixture came up. Ticket office was always open as well, even during the 3 day week:hehe:

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Originally Posted by splott parker

I know that ya nutter but Rjk was suggesting that outlets in shopping centres could sell to passers by, he also mentioned advertising on buses, this was also done 50 odd years ago on bus windows, regularly replaced as each fixture came up. Ticket office was always open as well, even during the 3 day week:hehe:

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How many days a week was the ticket office open, during the 3 day week?

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

How many days a week was the ticket office open, during the 3 day week?

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One, obviously, Sunday:wink:

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

As I stated before, in the ticket office at the moment, are the ticket office manager, her number 2 and ONE part time girl

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What gender is she for the rest of the time?

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

As I stated before, in the ticket office at the moment, are the ticket office manager, her number 2 and ONE part time girl

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Can't they at least offer sanitary facilities? The place must stink!

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Originally Posted by RichardM

The ticket office is nothing like a GP, dentist or optician. A bit of a silly comparison really.

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True.

It is far more painful! 😂

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

How many days a week was the ticket office open, during the 3 day week?

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I double my age during that time.