It was quite good to be able to put my point across to someone at the club. I said that I was happy with my seat, I hadn't used any of the vouchers (and instead of such gimics would prefer just a cheaper ticket). I hadn't yet decided whether to renew next season as it very much depends on performances on the pitch and also I didn't feel a season ticket represented such good value for money as it used to because of the constant discounts on individual match ticket prices. I don't think there's been one game this season that hasn't had some sort of deal. I also said because of this I would expect season ticket prices to be reduced for next season as they've obviously got ticket prices wrong for this season.
Quote from: villajk on January 17, 2012, 04:44:51 PMWonder if the refund includes season card holders.It certainly should! I expect they'll argue, as I think they have in the past, that a ST is good value anyway, but there will come a point when ST holders will stop renewing if these special offers become a regular thing. I applaud the club for making an effort to get supporters to come to games, whether it's with free coach travel or reduced prices at home, but as a ST holder who attends every game I'd quite like to be included in the rewards that are being handed out.
Wonder if the refund includes season card holders.
The yearly reductions mentioned above sound like a good idea.. An increase in price, no chance.
It is a problem, because actually a fair few season ticket holders who are considering whether to renew because of the prices, would probably also be thinking twice if the ground was as empty as it might get without these offers.Villa are clear that no-one can get a season ticket holder's seat over the course of a season cheaper than a season ticket holder. They keep an eye on this and ensure it doesn't happen. You can get cheap seats in the North stand maybe, the empty lower corners of the Holte, the weirdly unfillable bits of the Doug Ellis, but anyone who is talking about their "£500 season ticket" against these offers isn't comparing like with like. Those seats carry on selling at full price for enough of the season to keep your season ticket beating them.The vouchers with the season ticket don't really cost the club anything so they couldn't reduce the price instead. They rely on a good proportion of people that go to the counter to use a free pie voucher buying something else with it so they've actually added a sale. Even the £5 Villa shop voucher will be probably be spent on something costing more than £5, maybe it tips the balance for some people on a £40 shirt by bringing it down to £35, and yet again they have made a little more money, but done it with something that has had a feelgood factor.However - I did say at the SCG that perception is everything, and I put it to them that they are getting to the stage where they need to think about announcing reductions on next season's season ticket for this season's season ticket holders in order to redress that perception. I have also suggested loyalty reductions e.g 5% off for 5 years in a row, 10% for 10 years etc. These are things that keep people in when they are thinking of dropping out. "If I give up my season ticket now and want to come back in a couple of years, I'll have to go back to full price" - it just makes you think twice about giving it up.
I also take your point about not comparing like to like, but it really is about the perception as much as the reality, and people will think long and hard about whether they're getting value.
There are two main advantages in having a season ticket:1 - you sit in the same seat, with the same people around you (except cup games when all and sundry get let in).2 - you can be in the away scheme.These reasons may not be that important to some people so they may be tempted to wait for the offer each game. Personally, I am hoping for a reduction in the season ticket price next season. I don't want three cups of tea for the price of two or a free pie (not permitted at half time). I have already got my season ticket holder 'reserved' seat sticker so I don't need a new one of them. Any increase in price will be very foolhardy as I will also be for stumping up the money. We need a significant gesture and that can only be a reduction in cost. A freeze in price will be seen as not good enough by me.
Quote from: dave clark five on January 19, 2012, 09:31:07 AMThere are two main advantages in having a season ticket:1 - you sit in the same seat, with the same people around you (except cup games when all and sundry get let in).2 - you can be in the away scheme.These reasons may not be that important to some people so they may be tempted to wait for the offer each game. Personally, I am hoping for a reduction in the season ticket price next season. I don't want three cups of tea for the price of two or a free pie (not permitted at half time). I have already got my season ticket holder 'reserved' seat sticker so I don't need a new one of them. Any increase in price will be very foolhardy as I will also be for stumping up the money. We need a significant gesture and that can only be a reduction in cost. A freeze in price will be seen as not good enough by me.I've had two of those removed from my seat!