The General C. Krulak Thread XVI

[TimTheVillain]

Hi General.
Is anything - ever - going to be done about our Tannoy system at VP? It has been rubbish for years - I gave up bothering to listen to it years ago.
Even when we go to so called lesser clubs' grounds we can hear what the announcements are.
Lower Holte has just been a muffle for years.

With regard to the kit - has a shelf life been decided on it yet? As it stands at the moment I won't be buying a new top which will be out of date in May - not at the full price anyway - I love to buy a new one each season but it seems we are getting a raw deal here.
Keep up the good work.

Lower Holte TT 74

Major compensation from Nike should be negotiated here, rather than keeping Nike for another season.

Then, we can change of supplier next season - hopefully to Adidas who make decent kits and don't have  track record  of cocking up like Nike did.

Take no prisoners !

[sfx412]

General Krulak here:

5.  peterw:  Why would you write something like that?  Why would you make a comment that 1) you have no idea what you are talking about and 2) is totally inaccurate.  You do the Fans a real injustice when you post a comment like that.  Simply put, Randy is committed to supporting our Manager and our Club...he has done so before and he will continue to do so.    You do not help the situation by posting a snide comment that has ZERO basis in truth.

Thanks General, that's more like your old self

[Dan England]

General,
Is there any chance we can have some of those super beer pumps in the lower North Stand?

Last year there was a Tube outlet that was relatively quick to serve had a reasonably good selection of food and wasn't ridiculously priced. This has been changed back to a Villa outlet the season and it's appalling. The staff have the urgency of a sloth on spring break (when they are not standing staring into space), the quality of the food has gone backwards rapidly and the prices have gone up.

I understand that we pay less for our season ticket due to the poorer view(which I am glad the price allows me to go each week) but surely the poor standard of service should not be acceptable and surely contributes to reduced income from these kiosks.

Most things at Villa seem remarkably well done and customer service has improved massively since RAL took over which probably makes the significant decline in service so noticeable and annoying.

[greenwichvilla]

General,

Apologies if this has already been asked. What's your/the club's stance on the Brigada 1874 group (I'm not a member, just quite interested in what they're doing)

Can you envisage the club working with them in the future?

[Bosco81]

Following on from the VAT issue does that mean when the rate goes up 2.5% in jan the vat exlusive prices will be reduced so us Brits don't have to pay any extra.

Also why does it show the vat exclusive price on kids kits when you don't pay vat on kids clothes.

Man U and Arsenal price their kits including vat, do we sell more kits abroad than either of those.

[Nastylee]

Hi,

I am a season ticket holder in the upper Holte End and due to commitments I am unable to attend the game versus Manchester Utd on November 13th.

Is there any way that I could be reimbursed for this game, my card deactivated and my seat resold?

The reason I ask is because I tried to sell using your official partner Viagogo and I must say I have been left appalled. Firstly, my ticket has a match day face value of £38.00. Viagogo offered to pay me £26 less fees and VAT meaning in reality I would receive just over £22. I then discovered that they insist on charging any potential customer the full face value of £38 plus fees meaning and prospective buyer would need to spend £47 to buy my £38 ticket. That means Viagogo would actually make more money than me and I own the ticket. Furthermore, who in their right mind would purchase a Holte End ticket for £47 when going direct to AVFC would mean you can buy one for £38?

It is pretty obvious that I will not find a buyer for my ticket as the pricing makes no sense and I feel that Viagogo are no better than a shady ticket tout except they honour face value but make their profits through extortionate fees. That is why I ask my original question again; is there any way that I could be reimbursed for this game, my card deactivated and my seat resold? (I have forwarded a copy N. Keye)

 Cheers, Lee

[fbriai]

2.  Bosco81:  No one is trying to hide the price of the shirt...but adding the VAT would have an impact on those purchasing the kit outside the UK.  We basically feel that those Fans buying a kit in the UK are fully aware of the VAT.

General,

are you sure about this? Do you not mean outside of the EU?

I ask as I wasn't aware of this and it seemed a bit odd. I've just been reading up on it a little on the Business Link website, which seems to contradict what is written above, unless the buyer is registered for VAT in the country in which they are resident, which, given that the same website states that this is only necessary in the UK should sales for the previous twelve months be above £70,000, seems unlikely.

Incidentally, what proportion of club sales are made from outside of the UK and outside of the EU? Does the figure really justify not including the VAT price?

Thanks very much.

[shaldonvilla]

General,
Is there any chance we can have some of those super beer pumps in the lower North Stand?

Last year there was a Tube outlet that was relatively quick to serve had a reasonably good selection of food and wasn't ridiculously priced. This has been changed back to a Villa outlet the season and it's appalling. The staff have the urgency of a sloth on spring break (when they are not standing staring into space), the quality of the food has gone backwards rapidly and the prices have gone up.

I understand that we pay less for our season ticket due to the poorer view(which I am glad the price allows me to go each week) but surely the poor standard of service should not be acceptable and surely contributes to reduced income from these kiosks.

Most things at Villa seem remarkably well done and customer service has improved massively since RAL took over which probably makes the significant decline in service so noticeable and annoying.

its dreadful and then you end up paying over a fiver for a pint two half bottles of fosters

[cheltenhamlion]

Do you want us to save you a seat in the pub for after the game on Sunday, General?

[TheBarneyArmy]

General,

Will we be having a commemorative shirt with the poppy on for the Man U game in support of remembrance Sunday?

[Olneythelonely]

General,

Will we be having a commemorative shirt with the poppy on for the Man U game in support of remembrance Sunday?

Sorry for answering for the General, but yes. It was on pravda a few days ago.

[Brigada1874]

General,
Is there any chance we can have some of those super beer pumps in the lower North Stand?

Last year there was a Tube outlet that was relatively quick to serve had a reasonably good selection of food and wasn't ridiculously priced. This has been changed back to a Villa outlet the season and it's appalling. The staff have the urgency of a sloth on spring break (when they are not standing staring into space), the quality of the food has gone backwards rapidly and the prices have gone up.

I understand that we pay less for our season ticket due to the poorer view(which I am glad the price allows me to go each week) but surely the poor standard of service should not be acceptable and surely contributes to reduced income from these kiosks.

Most things at Villa seem remarkably well done and customer service has improved massively since RAL took over which probably makes the significant decline in service so noticeable and annoying.

its dreadful and then you end up paying over a fiver for a pint two half bottles of fosters

Or you get to the front of the que and they say they have stopped serving alcohol!

[ckrulak]

General Krulak here:

1.  I have made sure that Alison Plant (Head of Hospitality) has seen your concerns re. service, temperature of food, distribution of "suds" ,etc.  She has done a wonderful job getting people ready to be of service during our games and will work to address all these issues.

2.  VAT:  Since we don't have VAT in the US, I am not an expert re. EU vs. UK.  I just know that our folks feel it makes more sense to put the base price of the item on the price tag and let the purchaser (wherever the y might live) make what ever calculation is needed.  The fact that ManU does something different does not necessarily mean it is the best way to go.

3.  nastylee:  Give Nicky a call and see what advice she can give.

4.  Forgive my ignorance but I don't know the Brigade group.

[Bosco81]

Can you ask someone else then why we are adding vat onto kids kits that aren't liable to vat.

Still sounds gimmicky to me and I bet the price goes up in January

[Dave Cooper please]

4.  Forgive my ignorance but I don't know the Brigade group.

The Brigada 1874 group are basically an attempt from a group of our younger supporters (forgive me if I have any of this wrong) to get some atmosphere back into the ground via the use of banners, flags and lots of noise.
It's along the lines of the "Ultra" groups much vaunted on the continent, but don't be put off too much if you look up "ultras" on Google! I don't think Brigada 1874 are looking to go down the route of some of the Italian Ultra fans!

Basically General, if this group do approach the club it might be a good idea to talk to them with regards to getting them season tickets together, maybe in the Upper Holte or North Stand Lower, this way they can create an atmosphere together, and not be in the way of our fans who maybe don't appreciate the rowdier element!

Each to their own and all that, but getting the noisier fans in one place has to be a good idea surely?