Paul Barber's Email Regarding Harvey's R

[Biscuit]

That's very true, but it is a little bit of a 'short and curlies' situation. If you don't want to stand in the bus/train queue what else is there to do? Might as well have a pint. Sheesh, that's steep but it's better than standing in line and then getting frustrated with the stewards letting queue-jumpers in or not filling the trains properly. One of the things the club wanted us to do was stagger travel times; putting the beer up to London prices either a) doesn't help or b) is just taking the piss because they know they can get away with it. People WILL pay. Damm it I'll probably pay.

See my last post. It's as you say, a captive market. Nobody is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to pay. If you think it's a liberty and you are in some way being taken advantage off then hit the club where it hurts and go without a beer at the stadium. There'll soon be cheaper alternatives if the club believe their pricing structure is out of kilter with customers expectations.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

That's the problem though. Why should people have to make that decision? The fans are in a monopolised area, they have absolutely no alternative drinking choice. You're forced to pay an inflated price, or you go without. How many people are really going to stop drinking at the Amex though? If it's less than 1 in 20, the club will be making more money than before (obviously). So from their prospective, it's a good move!

Might be true before the match in some cases, but the fact that the club tend to close the concourses about 60-90 minutes after a Saturday 3pm match suggests that fans are voting with their feet in large numbers. Even Dick's Bar is near enough empty by 8pm. Challenge for the club is how to reverse that trend.

 

[Biscuit]

That's the problem though. Why should people have to make that decision? The fans are in a monopolised area, they have absolutely no alternative drinking choice. You're forced to pay an inflated price, or you go without.

You are not 'forced' to do anything. You have the option to pay for the drink or to decide not to have a drink.

 

[Brovion]

See my last post. It's as you say, a captive market. Nobody is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to pay. If you think it's a liberty and you are in some way being taken advantage off then hit the club where it hurts and go without a beer at the stadium. There'll soon be cheaper alternatives if the club believe their pricing structure is out of kilter with customers expectations.

That's rather my point. One of the things I've enjoyed about the Amex is having a pie and a pint. In fact I always have at least two, one before and one after. I have NEVER eaten or drunk at any other ground. If I 'vote with my wallet' what else can I do whilst waiting for the bus? No, no one is holding a gun to my head but the fact is I'll probably pay the increased price as drinking staves off the boredom of waiting. I mentioned on the other thread that I'll probably just have the one pie/pint either before or after (probably after), so actually I'm going to be better off!

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

If you don't like the price or quality don't drink it !

True, but that isn't really the point is it? Perhaps the club, rather than thinking profit profit profit all the time, should be selling at least one beer that is affordable to the vast majority of it's fans, (apologies Mr.Barber ... customers).

 

[nwgull]

True, but that isn't really the point is it? Perhaps the club, rather than thinking profit profit profit all the time, should be selling at least one beer that is affordable to the vast majority of it's fans, (apologies Mr.Barber ... customers).

I guess that they have to have this profit mentality because, despite what we'd all like to think, players aren't choosing to play for us for the the love of the albion.

 

[Dan Aitch]

The Harvey's website states that it is 2.8%ABV, which means they only pay half the Inland Revenue Alcohol Duty per Hectolitre, obviously this saving is not passed on to the customer in the form of point of sale price, thus enhancing the margin. Good business for Harvey's and the club, not so good for the consumer.

Inland Revenue?

 

[beorhthelm]

The Harvey's website states that it is 2.8%ABV, which means they only pay half the Inland Revenue Alcohol Duty per Hectolitre, obviously this saving is not passed on to the customer in the form of point of sale price, thus enhancing the margin. Good business for Harvey's and the club, not so good for the consumer.

obviously? i thought the point of the enquiry is we dont know the price yet.

 

[vegster]

Inland Revenue?

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/alcohol-duty.htm

 

[Superphil]

So maybe the club need to look at a line of branded plastic bed sheets?

Just Do It?

 

[Guinness Boy]

obviously? i thought the point of the enquiry is we dont know the price yet.

Or for that matter, if they are being pre-poured, if the experts behind the bar will mix the two up, adding pint roulette to pie roulette. Luckily the R is so disgustingly tasteless that mistakes should be quickly rectified by having a quick taste while still at the bar. Of course whether they'll have any of the real stuff left by then is another question....

 

[Murray 17]

So maybe the club need to look at a line of branded plastic bed sheets?

Apparently they are.

They are currently in negotiations with a number of high-quality sheet manufacturers. However, they are not prepared to pay the going rate, but are sure that if they wait long enough the manufacturers will lower their price.

In the meantime we will just have to put up with lower grade sheets.

 

[Bwian]

I really don't get how contentious this issue clearly is. I don't buy a £4.50 pint at the O2 because, in my humble opinion, that's a rip-off. Other happily pay is because they recognize their a captive market and don't mind paying a premium for the privilege.

If you think it's too much don't pay. If you don't think it's too much pay.

At the end of the day, if nobody drinks it they'll either a) take it away or b) lower the price. It's market forces. It's about as simple as it gets. Not sure why all the animosity.

Could be because the club, when it was building The Amex, promised it would sell real ale at reasonable prices with Martin Perry even going so far as to say that they wanted visiting supporters to enjoy the experience so much ours was the first away game they'd be looking for. All we hear from away fans is how bloody expensive it is and they doubt they'll be back as a result.

It is only 30p a pint increase but factor in that there was a 10p increase last season coupled with a discount scheme that benefits only a handful of people so we (most of us) are effectively paying something like 75p a pint more than we were 2 years ago and don't mention the 4/5 of a pint measures the caterers try and get away with...it's quite easy to see why there's some animosity except from a few 'super fans'.

 

[vegster]

obviously? i thought the point of the enquiry is we dont know the price yet.

Given your life experience and the marketing policies of the club, how do you see it going ?

 

[Biscuit]

Could be because the club, when it was building The Amex, promised it would sell real ale at reasonable prices with Martin Perry even going so far as to say that they wanted visiting supporters to enjoy the experience so much ours was the first away game they'd be looking for. All we hear from away fans is how bloody expensive it is and they doubt they'll be back as a result.

It is only 30p a pint increase but factor in that there was a 10p increase last season coupled with a discount scheme that benefits only a handful of people so we (most of us) are effectively paying something like 75p a pint more than we were 2 years ago and don't mention the 4/5 of a pint measures the caterers try and get away with...it's quite easy to see why there's some animosity except from a few 'super fans'.

Well I wouldn't call myself a super fan at all, I've been very critical of transfer activity recently and was a fierce critic of Oscar so that was a bit of an unfair dig if it was aimed at me,

I get why paying more for a pint sucks, and the prices are getting silly. I personally drink in town before going to the stadium (or on the train down) - I'm sure more people will take this option up.

To your point about Perry etc I agree with you 100%. I feel like I'm treated more as a customer than a fan by the club so I act like a customer. If you don't like the price of the beer I suggest you act like one too!

 

[Dan Aitch]

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/alcohol-duty.htm

Exactly - not a single mention of the "Inland Revenue" who I think ceased to exist in about 2006 (?) when they merged with HM Customs and Excise to become HM Revenue and Customs. Previous to this merger the alcohol and fuel duties were managed by HMCE, not the IR.

So ner.

 

[Man of Harveys]

But it could be life changing.

I do think the club are missing it a trick here, weaker beer meaning people buy more, which means that the loo is used more. Surely a 30p charge to go to the loo (via the Smart Card) would be another revenue stream (or sorts).

Oi, stop nicking my ideas. I posted that on here at least a year ago. My idea included different prices for Number Ones and Number Twos (I'm think a quid/five quid, to be reviewed when we inevitably get promoted to the Prem), or people could join the "1979 Club", which enables you to pay 200 quid a season to use an exclusive pine Glade-scented crapper where some smiling over made-up bird hands you Andrex as you walk in.

I honestly don't know how much to charge someone who needs to vomit but I'm sure the club could pay a consultant to work out a sensible pricing structure for that.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Oi, stop nicking my ideas. I posted that on here at least a year ago. My idea included different prices for Number Ones and Number Twos (I'm think a quid/five quid, to be reviewed when we inevitably get promoted to the Prem), or people could join the "1979 Club", which enables you to pay 200 quid a season to use an exclusive pine Glade-scented crapper where some smiling over made-up bird hands you Andrex as you walk in.

I honestly don't know how much to charge someone who needs to vomit but I'm sure the club could pay a consultant to work out a sensible pricing structure for that.

The problem is if the vomiting is caused by pie roulette, ie a veggie gets a meat pie, how would be liable for that cost?

 

[Crispy Ambulance]

Apparently they are.

They are currently in negotiations with a number of high-quality sheet manufacturers. However, they are not prepared to pay the going rate, but are sure that if they wait long enough the manufacturers will lower their price.

In the meantime we will just have to put up with lower grade sheets.

I can't reveal my sores but can exclusively reveal that negotiations have been successfully completed and the contract to supply waterproof bed sheets has been awarded to .................

Silent Nike

 

[Man of Harveys]

The problem is if the vomiting is caused by pie roulette, ie a veggie gets a meat pie, how would be liable for that cost?

That would have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, as very soon no-one will be able to afford two pies.