Season tickets - a suggestion

DevonYellow · Post by **DevonYellow** » 30 Oct 2013, 13:32

After the game on Saturday my brother suffered the serious misfortune of having his season ticket book lost/stolen. Not sure which but he didn't have it when he got home Saturday night.

Obviously he's gutted about this - they don't come cheap and it was a birthday present from our dear old mum and dad. He will now have to pay on the gate each game knowing some oik will be getting in for free on his season ticket.

Ever since we've had season tickets (from the year we got relegated) we've talked about the possibility of losing the book and the risks with having to take the whole thing with you. You wouldn't, for example, risk taking the equivalent value in cash.

Anyway, my suggestion is that in future seasons we issue not a book of vouchers but some kind of photo ID card. If lost the club could issue a new one (for an admin fee) as the photo element would make the card redundant in someone else's hands. This card would then also double for the discount in the shop and would also stop tickets being passed around.

Thoughts?

A Candy · Post by **A Candy** » 30 Oct 2013, 13:57

If you report this to the Police and get a crime reference number the Club will replace the lost/stolen book but there is a cost of £30 for the replacement book. Still a hassle and more cost but not as much as having to pay each game. Anyone found using the lost/stolen book will be reported to the Police.

DevonYellow · Post by **DevonYellow** » 30 Oct 2013, 14:02

Many thanks!! Will pass this on.

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 30 Oct 2013, 14:09

Surely this is no more of a risk than carrying a £500 phone, or wearing a £4000 watch? Some people wear glasses worth more than their season ticket. I take your point, but it seems a lot of effort to combat a problem which occurs very rarely and isn't really the fault of the club.
I'm sure at Man Utd, where they have electronic turnstiles, this would be a good idea, but at TUFC I can only see it either doubling the time it takes to get in, or else turnstile operators will simply not bother checking the photo (they barely check at passport control, these days and who else remembers the days before chip and pin cards, when the cashier wouldn't bother checking the signature on the card?)

A perfectly decent idea in theory, but probably a bit beyond us at the moment.

Matt.

Post by **MidDevon** » 30 Oct 2013, 16:52

Some of you have no doubt heard this already...but for those who have not it's quite funny

A few years ago, before electric ticketting, 2 Manchester United fans had their tickets stolen and obviously reported it to the police.
What was amazing was that the two ASBO's who stole the tickets did not think of selling the tickets on the black market....no they actually attended the next game and were arrested in their seats.

A police search of their houses found more stolen goods and they were duely gaoled.

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 30 Oct 2013, 18:58

Ahahahaha, I hadn't heard that. Magical stuff.

Interesting that a Devonian (is that the correct geographical term, or does it refer only to the prehistoric time period?) uses gaol, as opposed to jail.

Matt.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 30 Oct 2013, 20:34

ferrarilover wrote:Surely this is no more of a risk than carrying a £500 phone, or wearing a £4000 watch? Some people wear glasses worth more than their season ticket. I take your point, but it seems a lot of effort to combat a problem which occurs very rarely and isn't really the fault of the club.
I'm sure at Man Utd, where they have electronic turnstiles, this would be a good idea, but at TUFC I can only see it either doubling the time it takes to get in, or else turnstile operators will simply not bother checking the photo (they barely check at passport control, these days and who else remembers the days before chip and pin cards, when the cashier wouldn't bother checking the signature on the card?)

A perfectly decent idea in theory, but probably a bit beyond us at the moment.

Matt.

Yes I echo this too Matt. It would be unworkable, unaffordable and impractical and it definitely would delay entry into the ground. I think what Andrew has suggested is the most sensible all round solution even though it is going to cost your brother an extra £30 devonyellow. I hope the season ticket turns up somewhere anyway.

DevonYellow · Post by **DevonYellow** » 31 Oct 2013, 12:35

Yeah take your points about it being expensive or difficult to introduce. Was trying to think of a way that made the actual theft or a season ticket redundant, or cancelling a lost one so if someone found it they couldn't use it.

My brother got a reference number this morning and think the club have already sorted a replacement.

Many thanks Mr Candy and TUFC.

wodger of awabia · Post by **wodger of awabia** » 31 Oct 2013, 21:52

It should be possible for the season ticket holder to rip the numbered match ticket out of his book, & just take that ticket to the match I.M.O.

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 31 Oct 2013, 23:57

I don't actually know why this isn't possible.

Andy, I'm sure there is a valid reason, I just can't think what it might be.

Matt.

Yellow4life · Post by **Yellow4life** » 01 Nov 2013, 00:01

ferrarilover wrote:I don't actually know why this isn't possible.

Andy, I'm sure there is a valid reason, I just can't think what it might be.

Matt.

Would it be so you couldn't be accused of 'copying' the match ticket? I know it has marks on it but that's the only reason I can think of.

Bobbytanz · Post by **Bobbytanz** » 01 Nov 2013, 15:51

Talking of season tickets why doesn't the club consider the idea of a "country membership" whereby those fans leaving say 50 miles away form the ground get a reduced price for a season ticket ?? Maybe offset the travel cost ??

But could this be too radical and confusing for the likes of Bill Phillips ( Mr Chocolate Teapot)

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 01 Nov 2013, 20:18

The fact that we already have this exact system in place probably marks you out as Britain's Biggest Moron.

Matt.

Post by **Dave** » 01 Nov 2013, 21:43

wodger of awabia wrote:It should be possible for the season ticket holder to rip the numbered match ticket out of his book, & just take that ticket to the match I.M.O.

The reason is obvious, season tickets are not transferable, whats to stop a season ticket holder who can not make a game from ripping a numbered ticket out of his book and giving it to a friend, who then gets into a game for free, when they should pay.

Many season tickets holders would think twice about lending some one their season ticket book.

Burnhamgull · Post by **Burnhamgull** » 02 Nov 2013, 00:31

Bobbytanz wrote:Talking of season tickets why doesn't the club consider the idea of a "country membership" whereby those fans leaving say 50 miles away form the ground get a reduced price for a season ticket ?? Maybe offset the travel cost ??

But could this be too radical and confusing for the likes of Bill Phillips ( Mr Chocolate Teapot)

I like this idea.

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