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Good article on standing from SUSD

PeterboroughYids

New Member
Apr 4, 2006
797
0
Customer Service

If football has become a business (which it undeniably has) then supporters should perhaps be referred to as customers (a practice which is actually increasingly common).

Whilst this might leave most of us “customers” with an unsavoury taste in our mouths it does throw up a very important point – that of the concept of “customer service” (or in our case the lack thereof).

The “product” in question here is by no means a cheap one. Furthermore, it isn’t as if you can simply jump ship and “shop” somewhere else if you become dissatisfied with that product. This is a situation (almost unique to the world of football) which the suppliers of this product are all too aware of.

In any other walk of life, if you pay £615 (the average price of a premiership season ticket) for a product you might well expect a fair level of customer service from the company in question. Instead, as football fans, we are ignored when we voice our opinions on how we might like to enjoy our “product”, treated like criminals at every turn and all the while we are charged higher and higher prices to “enjoy” these below par practices.

The question of safe standing at football matches is the perfect example of this unsatisfactory state of affairs. Despite the fact that there is no sound reason in terms of safety (please see the Football Supporters’ Federation’s (FSF) report for a more in depth analysis) and despite overwhelming support amongst supporters (92%) in favour of a choice between sitting and standing football clubs and the various other bodies involved in regulating matches (the Premier League, the Football Licensing Authority, the Minister for Sport etc.) completely refuse to listen to the “customer”.

Instead, over-zealous staff, who should be working to enhance our “matchday experience”, are employed to act almost as prison warders or police officers creating problems which need not exist by enforcing rules which are unnecessary and unwelcome.

Why then do these strange practices continue? Why do prices continue to rise as atmosphere continues to dwindle at an alarming rate? Why do these “companies” still refuse to listen to the consumers?

Unfortunately the answer is simple. Apathy on the part of those consumers.

While other companies spend millions on researching what their customers want to ensure they do not lose business, football clubs continue largely safe in the knowledge that people will still buy their product despite the complete lack of concern for their consumers’ desires.

So what can you do?

Firstly join the FSF and sign up to StandUpSitDown (a campaign for a solution to the problem of safe standing at football matches). Join your local independent supporters’ association. Write to your club expressing your views rather than simply accepting that things simply are a certain way.

Most of all, stand. The only reason clubs could have to implement change is if you the customer demand it. If you believe, paying what you do to attend a football match, that you deserve an opportunity to choose how you enjoy it then stand up for yourself.
 

mkkid

Well-Known Member
Nov 9, 2004
2,035
452
Try this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU3S5Rh9pmQ&feature=related

MY season ticket at Ajax is in section 403 but swapped with a friend for the D Zagreb game.It was mental,my twelve son was waving his top round going mental, me being a fat B*****d kepted my top on.
Im trying to get Tickets for Schalke 04,so that should be a good experience as well!
 
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