Casual fans can't watch the royals because of club policy

[SpaceCruiser]

"Buy"? Have those people ever bothered to check their facts before giving up completely?

You mean like going to the official site?

http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MemberCard/0,,10306~1063595,00.html

Yup, and £2 isn't that much, surely?

STAR membership is more expensive.

[bigshaka'away']

There is something wrong when you HAVE to pay money to have the OPTION to then spend more on buying a ticket...Money grabbing.

[Rex]

Customer number information and databased info makes it far easier to process at the ticket office.
Probably more to do with this than anything else. Loyalty points also mean ticket priority for those who need to have loyalty points. The days of having to use other friends cards to allow my daughter to go to games is now luckily and frustratingly over. It does make perfect sence. Loyalty/ member cards provide a certain failsafe to prevent integration of supporters. Sadly this is another point for another thread but also valid and reasonable support for memeber cards.

What it does not vouch for is proof of ID for a member card holder. As a result it is still open to the abuse of 'selling on'.

[SpaceCruiser]

There is something wrong when you HAVE to pay money to have the OPTION to then spend more on buying a ticket...Money grabbing.

It's only a one off payment, you won't have to pay that again when you go to the next match.

Unless you lose the card.

[Southbank Old Boy]

There is something wrong when you HAVE to pay money to have the OPTION to then spend more on buying a ticket...Money grabbing.

It's only a one off payment, you won't have to pay that again when you go to the next match.

Unless you lose the card.

The point is that it makes it that little more difficult to get to a game for the first time, it's not so much the expense

[SpaceCruiser]

There is something wrong when you HAVE to pay money to have the OPTION to then spend more on buying a ticket...Money grabbing.

It's only a one off payment, you won't have to pay that again when you go to the next match.

Unless you lose the card.

The point is that it makes it that little more difficult to get to a game for the first time, it's not so much the expense

But his point is the expense though, he's moaning about Reading grabbing millions of pounds from customers!

[East Grinstead Royal]

(40,000 people paying to become a member = well over a million pounds)

That's an average of £25 a head. I feel sorry for whoever paid my £25, but would like to thank them!

[Southbank Old Boy]

But his point is the expense though, he's moaning about Reading grabbing millions of pounds from customers!

Well I agree he's over egg'ing the impact of the charge, but when you consider that the money the club has raked in on membership cards would probably have covered Kevin Doyle's transfer fee he does have a point

[Wycombe Royal]

There is something wrong when you HAVE to pay money to have the OPTION to then spend more on buying a ticket...Money grabbing.

It's only a one off payment, you won't have to pay that again when you go to the next match.

Unless you lose the card.

The point is that it makes it that little more difficult to get to a game for the first time, it's not so much the expense

Not really. You just have to provide name, address, phone number and DOB to get a member card. You would need to provide only slightly less to have a paper ticket sent.

[bigshaka'away']

But his point is the expense though, he's moaning about Reading grabbing millions of pounds from customers!

Well I agree he's over egg'ing the impact of the charge, but when you consider that the money the club has raked in on membership cards would probably have covered Kevin Doyle's transfer fee he does have a point

my point is both, and indeed perhaps i did over egg the figures but if it does work out at 25 quid a head i bet that figure is not that much higher than reality. I just want more people to support the club and this policy doesn't help.

[Stranded]

But his point is the expense though, he's moaning about Reading grabbing millions of pounds from customers!

Well I agree he's over egg'ing the impact of the charge, but when you consider that the money the club has raked in on membership cards would probably have covered Kevin Doyle's transfer fee he does have a point

It's a processing charge though surely. £2 once for that with a card you can use again and again (if you have to pay it all) is fine. I'd argue whether the club has actually made much or anything at all from member card charges.

[Blue&White Mage]

Is there anyway round the needing a membership card for getting a home ticket? As I've only just found out about the change in policy (it used to be my dad could put both our tickets on his membership card) now I have to get my own and by the time all the paper work is filled and birth certificate to prove i'm a concession it would be too late.

[bigshaka'away']

Why you should get your Member Card TODAY!

Price – the best prices for match tickets are for supporters with a Member Card.
Value – Collect Royalty Points on your Member Card and get access to big match tickets.
Convenience – you can book online at http://www.readingfc.co.uk
Save time - there is no queuing to collect your tickets on match day as your card is uploaded.
Security – if you lose your card, let us know and we can block it.
Pride – show you are a Member of Premiership Reading Football Club.

Member Cards are £10.00 for adults and £3.00 for concessions.
(Please provide proof of date of birth if applying for a concession, e.g. copy of Birth Certificate, Driving Licence or passport).

Payment Method: Cheque – please make cheques payable to Reading Football Club Ltd
Credit card payment: Please complete details below (AMEX & Diners not accepted)

THIS IS HOW MUCH THEY COST IN OUR FIRST SEASON, AS I CUT AND PASTED IT FROM WEBSITE FROM THIS TIME>>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THAT IS NOT THE 2 QUID OF TODAY, THEY MADE LOADS OF MONEY.

[Southbank Old Boy]

Not really. You just have to provide name, address, phone number and DOB to get a member card. You would need to provide only slightly less to have a paper ticket sent.

And that's a lot more difficult than walking up to a turnstile and handing over 20 quid to be let in

It's more difficult than our system of having to queue at a ticket window/office to buy a ticket to then queue at a turnstile to be let into the ground

The issue is that as a casual fan you can't just turn up and buy a ticket like you could in the good old days

[Southbank Old Boy]

But his point is the expense though, he's moaning about Reading grabbing millions of pounds from customers!

Well I agree he's over egg'ing the impact of the charge, but when you consider that the money the club has raked in on membership cards would probably have covered Kevin Doyle's transfer fee he does have a point

It's a processing charge though surely. £2 once for that with a card you can use again and again (if you have to pay it all) is fine. I'd argue whether the club has actually made much or anything at all from member card charges.

There wouldn't be a processing charge if they didn't make you have a card in the first place

Have a card if you want to rack up points for away games etc, but why need one for the occassional game you want to roll up to as a last minute thing (subject to availability of course)

[bigshaka'away']

It's a processing charge though surely. £2 once for that with a card you can use again and again (if you have to pay it all) is fine. I'd argue whether the club has actually made much or anything at all from member card charges.[/quote]

There wouldn't be a processing charge if they didn't make you have a card in the first place

Have a card if you want to rack up points for away games etc, but why need one for the occassional game you want to roll up to as a last minute thing (subject to availability of course)[/quote]


damn right

[Rex]

Sadly or happily at the time of the band wagon being firmly jumped on, walking up and buying a ticket at the t/o were proving harder and harder for a casual attendee. That was just a sign of the times, and the two successive PL seasons were a proven fact. It's all a question of supply and demand. This season, relegation, less attractive opposition and team performance will naturally be the controlling factor for ticket availability. Still member card led but those are the strokes.

[Southbank Old Boy]

Sadly or happily at the time of the band wagon being firmly jumped on, walking up and buying a ticket at the t/o were proving harder and harder for a casual attendee. That was just a sign of the times, and the two successive PL seasons were a proven fact. It's all a question of supply and demand. This season, relegation, less attractive opposition and team performance will naturally be the controlling factor for ticket availability. Still member card led but those are the strokes.

I agree with where your coming from, but why rule out the possibility of the casual fan being able to turn up and buy a ticket without a member card.

If they can't get in because we've sold out and you need one to pre-book then thats a shame. To have empty seats and prevent the man in the street deciding he wants to take in a game for the sake of it just for the sake of collecting customer data and making a couple of quid (I really don't think that was the real intention but just a nice little spin off) just seems a shame.

[SpaceCruiser]

Honestly! The member card is about more than just customer data and making a couple of quid!

It helps to give PRIORITY to the more loyal customer who turns up at more games than the casual customer.

[Wycombe Royal]

Not really. You just have to provide name, address, phone number and DOB to get a member card. You would need to provide only slightly less to have a paper ticket sent.

And that's a lot more difficult than walking up to a turnstile and handing over 20 quid to be let in

It's more difficult than our system of having to queue at a ticket window/office to buy a ticket to then queue at a turnstile to be let into the ground

The issue is that as a casual fan you can't just turn up and buy a ticket like you could in the good old days

I doubt many clubs in the top two divisions (and certainly not one that has been in the top flight) offer a walk up to the turnstile and pay service.

The good old days are long gone unless you go and support someone like Aldershot.