Whole Stadium to be a Cash free zone. (UPDATED)

[The 17 Bus]

Have you ever spotted any of the staff kepping the cash? if not that is a rather scurilous comment.

[North Somerset Royal]

Its a farce. I have a ST in the area they are doing it, and it hasnt saved any time at all. All that happens is people queue up, order, have their food given to them, give the server the card, find out there isnt enough money on the card, have to leave the food on the counter for 5 mins whilst they go and put money on their card at a different counter, have to wait to collect their food.

Well done RFC

Yes I agree. As well as people finding they have insufficient money I always seem to land up behind people who do not even know that they cannot pay in cash. At one match I noticed the guy in front was brandishing a Visa card and although I explained that they would not accept it he insisted on staying in the queue and testing it himself! It seemed to improve queuing times last year but then the major part of Upper West (North) was occupied by season ticket holders. This season there are a lot of first timers at each game and they seem to be giving or selling tickets to various groups/sports clubs etc.
I was told by a Quickpay rep at the beginning of the season that it was to be rolled out one stand at a time. However I understand that it has not been introduced in other parts of the ground not even in the Southern section of Upper West so maybe they are not going ahead with this.

[Sun Tzu]

Have you ever spotted any of the staff kepping the cash? if not that is a rather scurilous comment.

It's a pretty good comment !
Almost any cash business loses a % from 'shrinkage' in various forms. I bet (say) fair ground rides find the odd few quid going straight into the pockets of the hired hands....

There's a load of reasons why doing away with cash saves money, but that is only one side of the coin (to coin a phrase) and not enough to make it worth doing on it's own.

Not sure what is happening now but certainly for the pilot last season the cashless area was cheaper than the standard prices in the other stands.

Totally agree with WSR that you really need a large majority of regulars /STH in an area for it to really work. It's not great for those who only go to the odd game....

[The 17 Bus]

[quote="Sun Tzu"]I bet (say) fair ground rides find the odd few quid going straight into the pockets of the hired hands....

quote]

Nonsense anyone taking the bosses money on the fairground would get a good hiding if ever caught, they call it instant justice, when it's past the legal limit. We always nicked of the punters!! Much like a football club, or should we call it a business

[RoyalBlue]

Be fair, it's not that hard to check you've got enough on the card. You'd need to check if you had enough cash in your wallet !

I can't see the scheme actually being worth rolling out but that's at least partially because too many fans just can't be bothered.

But you can check your wallet at any time and in any place. Therefore it is harder to check that you've got enough on your card. Fans can't be bothered because it is more bother!

Well that's not at all logical !

It's no harder to check the balance and add a bit on than it is to check your wallet and then go to a cash point and get more money out.

Sorry but your stupidity has finally got to me!! You need to go to a machine to check the balance on your card. You do not need to go anywhere to check the contents of your wallet.

Only if your wallet turns out to be completely empty does a similarity start to come into play.

[Hoop Blah]

It's much easier to get hold of a bit of cash than it is to top up one of these cards too.

I'm pleased this seems to be falling on it's face as I've thought all along that the club were mad even considering it in a football club match day environment.

[Sun Tzu]

Sorry but your stupidity has finally got to me!! You need to go to a machine to check the balance on your card. You do not need to go anywhere to check the contents of your wallet.

You actually get your balance whenever you use the card. Your inability to think things through does not equal my stupidity !
On the basis that you've never used the system I could take Schards line and dismiss your views as useless, but that would be a bit tough !

Only if your wallet turns out to be completely empty does a similarity start to come into play.

No, your wallet having a varied selection of coins in it would be a scenario which would require you to do more than just say 'Oh, I have no money I must get to a cash point'

[Sun Tzu]

It's much easier to get hold of a bit of cash than it is to top up one of these cards too.

In some situations. You can top the card up while stood in the queue on the concourse, or sat in your seat watching the first half, or whislt taking a swift leak... Try turning to the bloke next to you in the gents and asking him for a fiver....

I'm pleased this seems to be falling on it's face as I've thought all along that the club were mad even considering it in a football club match day environment.

I wouldn't say I'm pleased, but I do think the obstacles are pretty major. And one of the biggest is people just haven't taken to it. If fans decided they wanted to do it most of the problems could be overcome but without that goodwill it won't fly.

[TFF]

It's a proper pain in the arse to be honest but I persevere.

The pre-match queues do seem to be shorter but I don't know if that's due to fewer people buying in the concourse or more efficient service.

I never buy at half time as I prefer to watch all of the game. It's still not possible to watch all of the first half, take a leak, buy refreshments (much less in the case of beer consume it too) and return to your seat for the start of the second half.

I guess RFC will look at the effect on turnover when they finally decide to keep it or not.

[Matt de K]

It's much easier to get hold of a bit of cash than it is to top up one of these cards too.

In some situations. You can top the card up while stood in the queue on the concourse, or sat in your seat watching the first half, or whislt taking a swift leak... Try turning to the bloke next to you in the gents and asking him for a fiver....

Forgive me if I'm being dumb (I don't have, and will never have, any first hand experience of this cashless business) but don't you need cash to top up your card?? If so then your argument is slightly flawed

[Dirk Gently]

It's much easier to get hold of a bit of cash than it is to top up one of these cards too.

In some situations. You can top the card up while stood in the queue on the concourse, or sat in your seat watching the first half, or whislt taking a swift leak... Try turning to the bloke next to you in the gents and asking him for a fiver....

Forgive me if I'm being dumb (I don't have, and will never have, any first hand experience of this cashless business) but don't you need cash to top up your card?? If so then your argument is slightly flawed

Nope - you can do it over t'internet when you buy tickets.

[Matt de K]

Ok cool - cheers Dirk.

....Still not convinced about it, but it does seem like RFC have bottled doing it stadium-wide now anyway

[Sun Tzu]

In some situations. You can top the card up while stood in the queue on the concourse, or sat in your seat watching the first half, or whislt taking a swift leak... Try turning to the bloke next to you in the gents and asking him for a fiver....

Forgive me if I'm being dumb (I don't have, and will never have, any first hand experience of this cashless business) but don't you need cash to top up your card?? If so then your argument is slightly flawed

Nope - you can do it over t'internet when you buy tickets.

And via your mobile.

Hence the examples quoted....

[Hoop Blah]

And via your mobile.

Hence the examples quoted....

For a lot of people that kind of transaction is either difficult or, for want of a better word, a little scary.

If it was a reasonably high tech environment with users who are more accepting and capable of using these kind of things it might not have been such a waste of time. As it is I think it was destined to fail because its not the right environment to use it, and that's why the goodwill towards the system is lacking.

Can you add £2.40 to your card via your mobile etc or do you have a minimum 'spend' of £10?

[Rex]

Probably a minimum of £5 upwards, but would there be hidden costs.

[DelBoyRodders]

Be fair, it's not that hard to check you've got enough on the card. You'd need to check if you had enough cash in your wallet !

I can't see the scheme actually being worth rolling out but that's at least partially because too many fans just can't be bothered.

FFS!!

Extremely articulate and well thought out answer.....

The system and idea is bollocks. Is that constructive enough for you?

I would refuse point blank to ever sign up to a system like this. I'm not afraid of progress and new technology, in fact I embrace it, but this idea has so many flaws and is a very bad business decision by RFC.

If I fancy a Bovril and Mars bar before the game and have a couple of quid in my pocket, then I expect to be able to exchange that for the goods required.
To have to obtain a card and then keep it topped up with monies is utter oxf*rd madness.

This idea is doomed to fail (and good job too) and anyone who thinks it's a good idea or encourages it, is an idiot.

The secret of a succesful business is to make things easy for your clients or customers, this certainly doesn't do that.

[North Somerset Royal]

Probably a minimum of £5 upwards, but would there be hidden costs.

The minimum top up is only £1 with a maximum of £50.

[West Stand Man]

The system and idea is bollocks. Is that constructive enough for you?

I would refuse point blank to ever sign up to a system like this. I'm not afraid of progress and new technology, in fact I embrace it, but this idea has so many flaws and is a very bad business decision by RFC.

If I fancy a Bovril and Mars bar before the game and have a couple of quid in my pocket, then I expect to be able to exchange that for the goods required.
To have to obtain a card and then keep it topped up with monies is utter oxf*rd madness.

This idea is doomed to fail (and good job too) and anyone who thinks it's a good idea or encourages it, is an idiot.

The secret of a succesful business is to make things easy for your clients or customers, this certainly doesn't do that.

..and you thought that the Luddite movement was dead and buried!

Welcome to the Ostrich section of the HNA board, heads buried in the sands of time and refusing to accept change. Ah well, I suppose you are one of those who thought that debit cards would never catch on?

[DelBoyRodders]

The system and idea is bollocks. Is that constructive enough for you?

I would refuse point blank to ever sign up to a system like this. I'm not afraid of progress and new technology, in fact I embrace it, but this idea has so many flaws and is a very bad business decision by RFC.

If I fancy a Bovril and Mars bar before the game and have a couple of quid in my pocket, then I expect to be able to exchange that for the goods required.
To have to obtain a card and then keep it topped up with monies is utter oxf*rd madness.

This idea is doomed to fail (and good job too) and anyone who thinks it's a good idea or encourages it, is an idiot.

The secret of a succesful business is to make things easy for your clients or customers, this certainly doesn't do that.

..and you thought that the Luddite movement was dead and buried!

Welcome to the Ostrich section of the HNA board, heads buried in the sands of time and refusing to accept change. Ah well, I suppose you are one of those who thought that debit cards would never catch on?

It wouldn't be so bad if you could use your Debit Card for this, but you have to get another card. Will we eventually be required to obtain a seperate card for every shop and sports event we go to and attend?

[Hoop Blah]

The system and idea is bollocks. Is that constructive enough for you?

I would refuse point blank to ever sign up to a system like this. I'm not afraid of progress and new technology, in fact I embrace it, but this idea has so many flaws and is a very bad business decision by RFC.

If I fancy a Bovril and Mars bar before the game and have a couple of quid in my pocket, then I expect to be able to exchange that for the goods required.
To have to obtain a card and then keep it topped up with monies is utter oxf*rd madness.

This idea is doomed to fail (and good job too) and anyone who thinks it's a good idea or encourages it, is an idiot.

The secret of a succesful business is to make things easy for your clients or customers, this certainly doesn't do that.

..and you thought that the Luddite movement was dead and buried!

Welcome to the Ostrich section of the HNA board, heads buried in the sands of time and refusing to accept change. Ah well, I suppose you are one of those who thought that debit cards would never catch on?

It's not a luddite response at all, this is just the wrong place to bring in one of these systems.

It's the wrong fix for the wrong problem.