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Post by dmcnally on Sept 25, 2018 15:54:38 GMT
I think the idea is to get 10 or 20 to take up the offer so that it gives us a cash boost in the short term but doesn’t detract from the yearly subs that they can buget for in the long term. Such a short term attitude ....don't we ever learn. Remember such projects as Buy a Brick and Debentures ? Collapsed ! Need longer term commitment from more people at less cost not a quick £10k. Would rather 40 people at £250 or 20 people at £500 than 10 at £1000. Can then build on and cross sell benefits to a greater number of real supporters ? Such a naive short term approach with prohibitive cost. Scary ! Is it just me that sees this yet another failure ? Feel sorry for Woody though ! It’s hardly short-termism when the lifetime membership is getting the club more £ than if the same person just signed up every year.
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Post by happyclapper52 on Sept 25, 2018 15:56:56 GMT
Such a short term attitude ....don't we ever learn. Remember such projects as Buy a Brick and Debentures ? Collapsed ! Need longer term commitment from more people at less cost not a quick £10k. Would rather 40 people at £250 or 20 people at £500 than 10 at £1000. Can then build on and cross sell benefits to a greater number of real supporters ? Such a naive short term approach with prohibitive cost. Scary ! Is it just me that sees this yet another failure ? Feel sorry for Woody though ! Why would you feel sorry for someone who is proud to support his local club and back an initiative like this? That's scary. We already have a raft of other schemes for so called real supporters .... sponsorship, squad builder, Blues lottery etc which in theory enable the club to cross sell. As has been pointed out, this clearly isn't aimed at everyone and it's a shame if you feel excluded, but give it a chance. It's obviously not prohibitive or Woody wouldn't have signed up. It must be soul destroying for the working groups who give up their time to come up with ideas like this to have them pissed all over from the outset. You wonder if some people actually want the club to fail so they can say told you so. Taken totally out of context mate. Sorry in that Woody has committed literally 000s when I think the unit cost should be lower and if reduced he may lose out financially ? Not a criticism at all. Ok ?
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Post by happyclapper52 on Sept 25, 2018 15:59:20 GMT
Such a short term attitude ....don't we ever learn. Remember such projects as Buy a Brick and Debentures ? Collapsed ! Need longer term commitment from more people at less cost not a quick £10k. Would rather 40 people at £250 or 20 people at £500 than 10 at £1000. Can then build on and cross sell benefits to a greater number of real supporters ? Such a naive short term approach with prohibitive cost. Scary ! Is it just me that sees this yet another failure ? Feel sorry for Woody though ! It’s hardly short-termism when the lifetime membership is getting the club more £ than if the same person just signed up every year. Ok so lets just see how many sign up then if you think the cost is not prohibitive ? Did I criticise the concept ? No just the cost.
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Post by agl on Sept 25, 2018 16:10:02 GMT
Why would you feel sorry for someone who is proud to support his local club and back an initiative like this? That's scary. We already have a raft of other schemes for so called real supporters .... sponsorship, squad builder, Blues lottery etc which in theory enable the club to cross sell. As has been pointed out, this clearly isn't aimed at everyone and it's a shame if you feel excluded, but give it a chance. It's obviously not prohibitive or Woody wouldn't have signed up. It must be soul destroying for the working groups who give up their time to come up with ideas like this to have them pissed all over from the outset. You wonder if some people actually want the club to fail so they can say told you so. Taken totally out of context mate. Sorry in that Woody has committed literally 000s when I think the unit cost should be lower and if reduced he may lose out financially ? Not a criticism at all. Ok ? Obviously if the cost is reduced then he would be given the option of being reimbursed. I think that goes without saying. no problem with you thinking the cost should be lower but it's the way you phrase your argument so aggressively and condescendingly, as if you are automatically right. The club has tested the water re price.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2018 16:37:03 GMT
Can the club actually do anything to please you? I want to drive a Range Rover, but cant afford one. That doesn't make Range Rovers a bad idea. I'm made up for Woody. He can afford to put the money into his club, will get a nice chance for some photos for his kids with the players, and our club benefits from his donation. I am genuinely shocked that people still volunteer for this club the amount of shit that gets flung at them. Mark...trying to be constructive here.I agree with 99% of your posts as you have given loads to the Club but please stop being defensive.My suggestions re Club Shop and CFU Life membership are just suggestions to increase revenue. Unfortunately you have a bit of a chip on your shoulder when someone disagrees with you ? I have every admiration for volunteers and would love to see you back on the Board tomorrow. Try reading again what I suggest ? Constructive? Saying you pity somebody who is putting £1000 into his/our club? As I said before, the group who come up with this work long and hard for the good of the club. Our club. I know its the obvious response, that has become a cliche, but you seem to have so many good constructive ideas about this and the shop on here maybe you should consider joining the group.
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Post by Matt on Sept 25, 2018 16:55:35 GMT
Should be some decent initiatives in that, discount in the Club shop, season ticket and the Blues Bar, IE legends lounge packages.
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Post by Al on Sept 25, 2018 17:00:17 GMT
Billy, the answer is lower cost so more can benefit including seniors. At the right cost we could raise thousands and then sell additional products to a loyal base. What you don’t want to do is to take too much money out of the yearly pot now because we will need that in the longer term, the transfer window when it opens will allow most teams to strengthen their squads and that’s what they will do. So we need a boost to our funds so we can add to our injury ravaged squad, it’s all about balance whatever money we raise will I imagine get spent on the playing buget but as I have said you don’t want to take too much out just enough for 2 or 3 players if that’s what the managers want. I don't think windows apply at this level? Other than that I agree with you. The above will all be about finding a balance. How much interest in a lifetime membership and how much would people be interested in paying for said membership? If club have had 10-20 people approach and express a significant interest in lifetime membership and they prepared to pay that amount then great. We could halve the price or drop it to £250 but the interest from the majority of our support might not necessarily be there and we end up making nowhere near the amount we would have.
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Post by sumo on Sept 25, 2018 17:33:29 GMT
It’s hardly short-termism when the lifetime membership is getting the club more £ than if the same person just signed up every year. Ok so lets just see how many sign up then if you think the cost is not prohibitive ? Did I criticise the concept ? No just the cost.
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Post by Jack on Sept 25, 2018 17:33:53 GMT
Well, I for one am furious that the club have launched something that I cannot afford.
It's almost as if they don't only think of me when they're considering ways to raise funds. The bastards!
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Post by banksy on Sept 25, 2018 18:15:47 GMT
Evening all...
Thanks for the various responses towards the latest initiative.
When we floated the idea of the lifetime membership it was something we always considered worthy of asking the members about and that's exactly what we did with the big city census earlier in the year.
Those who responded advising they'd be interested in this were then followed up, with a suggested figure and most were in agreement with it. We also wanted lifetime membership to be something special, and a way of contributing a significant amount of money to help the club at the same time.
I'm also in the bracket that couldn't afford this but at the same time believed that if there are people out there who could manage this, then this would be the right approach to make. In terms of numbers expected to take up this initiative then I think the 10-20 estimate is about right for this.
This was also really a revamp of the ill fated 1000 Club that failed miserably as we all know. However we have put a different spin on this, with a lower expectation and early indications are that we have set a realistic figure for this.
There will be further initiatives coming out in the future which will suit other budgets too.
So to those who have already contacted us about the lifetime membership, thank you, and also to those who have already contributed to.
Jeff
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Post by delamereal on Sept 25, 2018 19:00:45 GMT
Whilst I agree with the idea in principle I feel that the club would have got more people to take this offer up if the price had been set at £500 - one of whom would have been me.
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Post by agl on Sept 25, 2018 19:10:14 GMT
Whilst I agree with the idea in principle I feel that the club would have got more people to take this offer up if the price had been set at £500 - one of whom would have been me. Watch out for the 500 Club
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Post by chesterken on Sept 25, 2018 19:19:10 GMT
Whilst I agree with the idea in principle I feel that the club would have got more people to take this offer up if the price had been set at £500 - one of whom would have been me. That’s the idea we don’t won’t too many
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Post by dmcnally on Sept 25, 2018 19:20:21 GMT
It’s hardly short-termism when the lifetime membership is getting the club more £ than if the same person just signed up every year. Ok so lets just see how many sign up then if you think the cost is not prohibitive ? Did I criticise the concept ? No just the cost. If one person signs up then the CFU is getting more £ from them than if they signed up every year for the rest of their life - so it's immediately worth it after one person. I know four people already who are Lifetime Members, that's £4,000 for the club and probably double they'll get than if those same four people just renewed every year. It's a great idea. Don't understand those knocking it like it's meant to be some buy now and save money concept.
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Post by bing on Sept 25, 2018 19:33:14 GMT
Let's say we "only" shifted 10 - that's around the equivalent of 10 fundraisers! I know how much it takes to arrange just one fundraising event, so this is an absolute no brainer.
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Post by agl on Sept 25, 2018 19:33:46 GMT
Ok so lets just see how many sign up then if you think the cost is not prohibitive ? Did I criticise the concept ? No just the cost. If one person signs up then the CFU is getting more £ from them than if they signed up every year for the rest of their life - so it's immediately worth it after one person. I know four people already who are Lifetime Members, that's £4,000 for the club and probably double they'll get than if those same four people just renewed every year. It's a great idea. Don't understand those knocking it like it's meant to be some buy now and save money concept. Give that man a prize for hitting the nail on the head
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Post by rcb on Sept 25, 2018 19:43:51 GMT
I for one am knocking it. At 66 years of age would I want a lifetime membership that covers the next 84 years upfront? Anyone can currently make a financial donation whenever they want, so a pointless exercise in my view. May as well paint a few seats gold, market them in Abu Dhabi for £1 million each and claim selling only one would still be a great success. Someone’s had too many wine gums.
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Post by Imperial on Sept 25, 2018 19:59:05 GMT
I for one am knocking it. At 66 years of age would I want a lifetime membership that covers the next 84 years upfront? Anyone can currently make a financial donation whenever they want, so a pointless exercise in my view. May as well paint a few seats gold, market them in Abu Dhabi for £1 million each and claim selling only one would still be a great success. Someone’s had too many wine gums. Ridiculous attitude. You might as well criticise musicians who make genres of music you don’t like. I don’t buy programs, should the club stop producing them? If it makes a profit then it’s a worthwhile exercise. If it doesn’t appeal then don’t buy one, it’s not supposed to appeal to many people. It clearly does appeal to some so they’ve bought them.
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Post by rcb on Sept 25, 2018 20:12:26 GMT
I expressed a personal opinion, as I clearly stated in my introduction. That’s what is referred to as feedback. As for your opinion, simply another comment to be held in contempt, in much the same way as I do for those who publicly proclaim to be an ‘owner’ because they pay a membership fee.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Sept 25, 2018 21:48:02 GMT
We are realistic and we set a conservative goal of around ten uptakes - we have sold five already. It's £5k more than we would otherwise have had in the bank right here, right now.
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Post by Woody on Sept 25, 2018 22:05:13 GMT
I don’t want sympathy or any refund for the price I paid. I just want a sustainable football club.
Unfortunately due to my commitments of working abroad I don’t attend many games as I would like but that doesn’t prevent me buying season tickets. I do however take my hat off to all the tremendous volunteers at the club, as stated previously I work away and would offer my services and volunteer but my career and job dictates that I am unable to do that hence the contribution. That’s what supporters do any contribution no matter how large or small it all helps the club.
This is now our club not one mans little toy, a supporters owned club where we all pull together and want one outcome a prosperous business, competitive exciting team and a pillar of Chester community. We all have a part to play in this journey to success
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Post by agl on Sept 25, 2018 22:09:20 GMT
I for one am knocking it. At 66 years of age would I want a lifetime membership that covers the next 84 years upfront? Anyone can currently make a financial donation whenever they want, so a pointless exercise in my view. May as well paint a few seats gold, market them in Abu Dhabi for £1 million each and claim selling only one would still be a great success. Someone’s had too many wine gums. Well, yes, using your tortuous Abu Dhabi analogy this scheme could be deemed a success if ten of these memberships are sold. Who is to say those buying them aren't also donating to other projects additionally? Not one for you then?
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Post by rcb on Sept 25, 2018 22:29:36 GMT
I for one am knocking it. At 66 years of age would I want a lifetime membership that covers the next 84 years upfront? Anyone can currently make a financial donation whenever they want, so a pointless exercise in my view. May as well paint a few seats gold, market them in Abu Dhabi for £1 million each and claim selling only one would still be a great success. Someone’s had too many wine gums. Well, yes, using your tortuous Abu Dhabi analogy this scheme could be deemed a success if ten of these memberships are sold. Who is to say those buying them aren't also donating to other projects additionally? Not one for you then? A polite question deserves a polite answer. Correct, not one for me. The concept at the heart of the club should be one of all fans being equal. I’m happy with Members and non-members, subject to recognising membership as the purchase of a voting right. For people to then claim to be an ‘owner’ is tantamount to a class divide, even if only in their minds, and unnecessary and undesirable in my opinion. If you own something then you can choose to sell it. No member has anything to sell. Now the creation of a ‘super’ lifetime member seems like another class creation. We saw last year what happened when board membership went to the heads of some deluded individuals with inflated egos.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Sept 25, 2018 22:35:39 GMT
Wow, way to blow this up out of proportion.
Look, we see Lifetime Membership as a way of raising a relatively substantial amount of funds in a relatively short period of time - the nature of the initiative simply has to be rewarded with some benefits for that kind of financial outlay. I don't think I'll ever be able to afford this at present but it doesn't bother me in the slightest as all the money helps the club out. We all help the club out in different ways yet we all (CFU members anyway) get the same one member one vote. Do you feel the same about Stuart Murphy investing a million?
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Post by agl on Sept 25, 2018 22:44:35 GMT
Yet, we already have inequalities. Someone who contributes £50 a month to Squadbuilder might feel superior to someone who donates only £25, but you would hope that fans would see the bigger picture. We are not trying to create some footballing Utopia. Do you therefore feel that our £1m benefactor should have been turned away, on the basis that it could be divisive? Might he consider himself a better class of fan, or is he simply like those who will buy these memberships passionate about his club? We almost went bust a few months ago, so personally I welcome anyone who is willing to bung in a few extra quid. If they consider themselves super fans that's fine with me. Bottom line is they still get the same voting rights as anyone putting in £12, so all equal after all. I think the board membership issue is different altogether and we do have to be careful about who we elect. Sadly, we are not awash with candidates so almost (but not quite) anyone can get elected
edit...was typing this as SB posted same point about our benefactor
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Post by eyeswideopen on Sept 26, 2018 6:50:08 GMT
When you have a product that not all can afford, there will always be rifts among people.
I have no problem with people who can afford to buy something with their hard earned, but at the same time I have every sympathy with people who want to contribute, but simply cant afford that amount.
As Mark analogized earlier regarding the Range Rover, it doesn't make them a bad idea, but if only Range Rovers were available it would. Just like other cars on the market, we have other ways of raising funds for the club, at all levels of economic affordability. I now pay less than last season to stand on the HM, the change I get from my £15 last season, I spend on 50/50 tickets, its not something I ever bought before, but it means I am contributing the same as last season, with no financial detriment to myself, its the little things that count.
There is also a thing called compromise, just because someone expresses their disapproval over a price, it doesn't make them wrong, lets listen to everyone, every single fan counts at the moment.
The lifetime membership is a great idea and is affordable for some, let them take up that offer and make a difference. But lets also consider the compromise, those that want to go that bit more than just paying the £12 a year but a grand is too far out of reach, what about a ten year membership? at X amount of pounds? with Y benefits.
Just a thought
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Post by uptheseals on Sept 26, 2018 10:44:25 GMT
Shame on the club trying to raise money
If you can't afford to pay £1000 for a life membership then its simple, Dont buy it. Fantastic idea imo
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Post by histsci on Sept 26, 2018 11:13:33 GMT
This seems like quite obviously a good idea - little work for the club and a lot of benefit. I think those worrying about it not being 'worth it' are missing the point - it's for members who won't miss the money. That isn't many true - I can't afford it either - but I'm still able to contribute my £12, which benefits the club with a yearly income. As we're all benefiting the club, I can't see that this is creating an 'us and them' situation, which some people seem intent to find at every opportunity.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2018 11:40:55 GMT
Wow, way to blow this up out of proportion. Look, we see Lifetime Membership as a way of raising a relatively substantial amount of funds in a relatively short period of time - the nature of the initiative simply has to be rewarded with some benefits for that kind of financial outlay. I don't think I'll ever be able to afford this at present but it doesn't bother me in the slightest as all the money helps the club out. We all help the club out in different ways yet we all (CFU members anyway) get the same one member one vote. Do you feel the same about Stuart Murphy investing a million? New to rcb mate? If he won the euromillions this Friday he would moan about the price of the ticket. Ignore and crack on. Every penny raised is a penny to our club. Haters gonna hate.
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Post by happyclapper52 on Sept 26, 2018 12:56:59 GMT
We are realistic and we set a conservative goal of around ten uptakes - we have sold five already. It's £5k more than we would otherwise have had in the bank right here, right now. Sums up the point of my query really.
So out of around 1000 fans we target a take up of only 10 to make £10k??
Sorry but this really is a short term approach if we're content with £10k.
Why not target £100k revenue and work backwards from there to agree a lower subscription per person that results in greater numbers to cross sell products/services to?
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