okay, Plym, I live (literally) 10 mins walk from the ground and I am a 'member' so if i can help in any way let me know- i.e. very happy to pop up to the club and get tickets if you are struggling for any match- you are right though, the club relies on supporters to survive, so they should at least acknowledge your correspondence on the day it was received.
This giving preferential treatment to "members" is not unique to Argyle as far as I know. The big buddies of the Theatre Royal get preference when popular big shows come to town and anything left over is there for everyone else to fight over. You would not expect punters to get equal treatment to season ticket holders. However, very few games will be close to a sell out and Argyle should grade games to take this into account. Exeter, Portsmouth, Bristol, Yeovil (maybe) are the only ones where consideration would be necessary. End of season promotion games possibly and second half of season if we are top but even then it would not be sell out crowds just better ones. All other games should go on general sale from day one and this would not cause any problem for anyone. Alienate the possible day tripper and that is one less you are likely to get through the turnstyle. Bad business sense but then again football is good at that. Since when have any of them given any thought to what supporters would like and not just taken them for granted. We supporters however just allow them to treat us that way. Mugs aren't we because if this was any other service we would be kicking off big time.
To be honest I dont think we have had a genuine 'sell out' for years except the first leg against Wycombe last season. As far as the theatre is concerned sensible , you only have to be on their mailing list to get 'preferential' treatment. We have never had a problem in getting tickets to any show and pretty much close to our preferred seats. Isn't this what Plym is asking for?
That isn't my point though lyndhurst even if that is all plym is asking for. For giving the club your money up front and in advance you would expect to get preference over and above anyone else. This would be worth something if there was ever a case of tickets not being in excess at anytime. Trouble is there is always an excess so I'm saying they should sell the bleddy tickets if there is a demand and not go through this cherade of pretending there is more demand than there truely is. It's quite amusing when you think of it. A season ticket holder, or member as they call us, buys one season ticket yet is given priority to buy several tickets before they go on general sale. Now they already have their ticket if it's a league game so why the preference to take a part time supporter over and above other part time supporters? That just doesn't make sense. I see the reasoning for giving them the opportunity to get a ticket for a super dooper cup draw before others but not league games. They give so little away so I suppose they have to make the deal look good somehow. All season ticket holders want though is their usual seat and the same one for a cup match. The rest of the offer is just bollocks and window dressing. My point regards the theatre is not that the theatre gives a preference to some but that it is not doing anything a lot of these places do as well. They give preference to what they perceive as regular customers over and above the seldom visitors. Fair enough, look after your regulars is reasonable enough.
I agree sensible though I am not entirely convinced there is actually an issue. For HOME matches all tickets should be available on a given date for everyone-as you say 'members' will already have a ticket. I do think though that for away matches members should have preference- just my snobbery I know, but it is small reward for all those years for forking out for a season ticket. Unfortunately, Argyle (like many clubs) are very complacent and with a small staff living in a bubble often don't see the bloody obvious. i.e. the staff are so busy maintaining the status quo, improvements need to be pointed out to them. This is not a criticism of the club but if they don't get proper complaints/suggestions they wont change things. To be honest , all the staff at the club (that I have met and that is most) are only too keen to be helpful.
I agree with the away ticket thing but we were talking home games. I think we are saying the same thing only slightly differently. If there was over subscription then delaying general sale might be an issue. There isn't therefore there should be general sale from the outset and all this putting off of people who want to pay their pennies to Argyle even if only once a season wouldn't happen. You would think Brent would see the flaw wouldn't you.
I doubt JB knows the intricacies of this ....at the risk of repeating myself, people need to point out the madness/unfairness of this to the right person at the club (CEO) and am sure they (the club) would change their policy-or at least come up with a rational explanation why not.
The only "member" who hasn't automatically got a ticket for a game is the one buying the "white membership" packet.....he will pick his six games for when he prefers to go.....or when he knows he'll be able to....or certain teams that will be the opposition on that given day. All the other forms of membership are for the whole season and their seat is paid for up front........how long does the club give "white membership" holders a chance to buy a ticket for an up coming match before non-members get a chance when tickets go on "general sale". I wonder how many supporters have a "white membership" deal.....that is the only reason tickets don't go on "general sale" straight away. Thanks for the offer Lyndy....very kind of you....but I'll wait a little longer......I do wonder if you having "membership" allows you to buy extra tickets automatically beyond your membership quoter....I just wonder ?
I think it does allow more than one ticket. I'm sure I've seen this before. If you think about it it has to otherwise there would be no point at all in delaying sales to all and sundry. I get my seat no matter what so I have no axe to grind but I do think those who can only attend intermitently should give the club a hard time about their policy. It makes no sense at all.
Plymborn I'm sorry you are finding it difficult. My experience with the box office has always been good. I do intend to take a White membership soon. I think that allows you to buy tickets for cash outside your membership allocation. It doesn't help you now but as an ex-exile myself but in future I'd be willing to buy on your behalf and send them on. Not quite within the rules possibly but nobody checks your ID when you present the tickets and nobody would be losing out...
Thanks for the offer notDistant......Joe and Lyndy have already offered.....but I'll wait for tickets to be on "general sale" and see what happens.
10%? I don't get out of bed for 10% although I do when we have to pick up the Outlaws. Going to be especially grouchy on Saturday afternoon. Wanted to go to that one.....
Have to admit am now getting a bit excited about tomorrow. Seems to have been forever since the end of last season and am well looking forward to watching a game. This one isn't going to be easy is it. I've been going long enough to know that to have too much expectation at a season's start is a receipe to disappointment very often. I still have a feeling this is going to be a good one and if it is then gates will go up and even if not promoted should lay the foundations for an even better one next season. I just hope I'm not overdoing the self inflicted hype and expectation.
Three interesting tip-bits.....David Norris has signed for Yeovil.......... Zac Ansah (Charlton) has signed on loan for Newport......who we play next week.....(I won't state the obvious there) also Olly Lee (Birminham) has signed on loan for Luton.
David Norris was another lifetime for us and I don't believe he is the player he once was. Sentiment shouldn't come into any thinking and I'm glad he hasn't signed for us. Zac Ansah did ok on loan here but again that is last night chip paper. Same applies to Olly Lee. I am quite happy with the players we have got so am not envious of who others sign. Don't think the "come back to haunt us" thing really applies anymore either. We will beat all of those teams with or without ex players being in them.
