The loyalty point system is skewed

[Mitch]

The only issue with the system, as I see it, is when they offer 4-5 points for home friendlies/cup ties, or as I've heard, for purchasing additional seats. That shouldn't be the case. Otherwise I think it's a very balanced system.

[westcliff white]

The only issue with the system, as I see it, is when they offer 4-5 points for home friendlies/cup ties, or as I've heard, for purchasing additional seats. That shouldn't be the case. Otherwise I think it's a very balanced system.

So if I book seats for my family I should not get rewarded?

[Mitch]

The only issue with the system, as I see it, is when they offer 4-5 points for home friendlies/cup ties, or as I've heard, for purchasing additional seats. That shouldn't be the case. Otherwise I think it's a very balanced system.

So if I book seats for my family I should not get rewarded?

No. That's an easy one. Why should you potentially get 20 loyalty points for buying four tickets to a home game against Hull, when someone who travels up to Hull can end up with just 4? Loyalty points will only ever matter for away games, so they need to reward away travel.

[rweller86]

The only issue with the system, as I see it, is when they offer 4-5 points for home friendlies/cup ties, or as I've heard, for purchasing additional seats. That shouldn't be the case. Otherwise I think it's a very balanced system.

So if I book seats for my family I should not get rewarded?

No. That's an easy one. Why should you potentially get 20 loyalty points for buying four tickets to a home game against Hull, when someone who travels up to Hull can end up with just 4? Loyalty points will only ever matter for away games, so they need to reward away travel.

I don't think you do get that many points. You don't get points for every ticket you buy.

[westcliff white]

The only issue with the system, as I see it, is when they offer 4-5 points for home friendlies/cup ties, or as I've heard, for purchasing additional seats. That shouldn't be the case. Otherwise I think it's a very balanced system.

So if I book seats for my family I should not get rewarded?

No. That's an easy one. Why should you potentially get 20 loyalty points for buying four tickets to a home game against Hull, when someone who travels up to Hull can end up with just 4? Loyalty points will only ever matter for away games, so they need to reward away travel.

its a loyalty program, a reward scheme. To not get some kid of reward (when a scheme is offered) would be like going to Tesco's and them saying are all those beers for you? no then you only get rewards for the 4 cans your drinking and so on.

[Mitch]

The only issue with the system, as I see it, is when they offer 4-5 points for home friendlies/cup ties, or as I've heard, for purchasing additional seats. That shouldn't be the case. Otherwise I think it's a very balanced system.

So if I book seats for my family I should not get rewarded?

No. That's an easy one. Why should you potentially get 20 loyalty points for buying four tickets to a home game against Hull, when someone who travels up to Hull can end up with just 4? Loyalty points will only ever matter for away games, so they need to reward away travel.

I don't think you do get that many points. You don't get points for every ticket you buy.

Some have said this season they have.

[Mitch]

The only issue with the system, as I see it, is when they offer 4-5 points for home friendlies/cup ties, or as I've heard, for purchasing additional seats. That shouldn't be the case. Otherwise I think it's a very balanced system.

So if I book seats for my family I should not get rewarded?

No. That's an easy one. Why should you potentially get 20 loyalty points for buying four tickets to a home game against Hull, when someone who travels up to Hull can end up with just 4? Loyalty points will only ever matter for away games, so they need to reward away travel.

its a loyalty program, a reward scheme. To not get some kid of reward (when a scheme is offered) would be like going to Tesco's and them saying are all those beers for you? no then you only get rewards for the 4 cans your drinking and so on.

But the point is that it rewards each person, not necessarily who is paying. It's rewarding your effort, not how much you've paid.
I can buy my mates tickets, and I'll stick it on their reference so they get the points. the points are for being there, not the buying.
Home games should have some reward, but you shouldn't get repeat loyalty points for buying further tickets to the same home game. It just goes agains the whole point of the system. Maybe a better phrase would be 'Effort Points'. It's a lot harder to pull your arse up to Boro for a midweek game then it is to get down to a weekend home game, and the potential for accruing points should reflect that.

[westcliff white]

The only issue with the system, as I see it, is when they offer 4-5 points for home friendlies/cup ties, or as I've heard, for purchasing additional seats. That shouldn't be the case. Otherwise I think it's a very balanced system.

So if I book seats for my family I should not get rewarded?

No. That's an easy one. Why should you potentially get 20 loyalty points for buying four tickets to a home game against Hull, when someone who travels up to Hull can end up with just 4? Loyalty points will only ever matter for away games, so they need to reward away travel.

its a loyalty program, a reward scheme. To not get some kid of reward (when a scheme is offered) would be like going to Tesco's and them saying are all those beers for you? no then you only get rewards for the 4 cans your drinking and so on.

But the point is that it rewards each person, not necessarily who is paying. It's rewarding your effort, not how much you've paid.
I can buy my mates tickets, and I'll stick it on their reference so they get the points. the points are for being there, not the buying.
Home games should have some reward, but you shouldn't get repeat loyalty points for buying further tickets to the same home game. It just goes agains the whole point of the system. Maybe a better phrase would be 'Effort Points'. It's a lot harder to pull your backside up to Boro for a midweek game then it is to get down to a weekend home game, and the potential for accruing points should reflect that.

firstly watch the language (I have changed the word).

Secondly I do not disagree with you but just saying that's not how the scheme it is portrayed.

[Supermitch]

The problem is they have to do something like this.  Every scheme would have winners and losers.  I've been a season ticket holder for over 40 years, have been to 8 aways this season (over 300 altogether) but perfectly accept that someone who goes to all aways deserves a ticket ahead of me.  I had enough points (680) to get one in the second tranche.

Unfortunately there is no perfect solution.  When we played at Kettering in the FA Cup there was a ballot for tickets as the demand far outstripped the supply.  Imagine if that were to happen today....

[rweller86]

The only issue with the system, as I see it, is when they offer 4-5 points for home friendlies/cup ties, or as I've heard, for purchasing additional seats. That shouldn't be the case. Otherwise I think it's a very balanced system.

So if I book seats for my family I should not get rewarded?

No. That's an easy one. Why should you potentially get 20 loyalty points for buying four tickets to a home game against Hull, when someone who travels up to Hull can end up with just 4? Loyalty points will only ever matter for away games, so they need to reward away travel.

I don't think you do get that many points. You don't get points for every ticket you buy.

Some have said this season they have.

I bought 2 tickets for the Spurs game and only got 1pt? Bought 2 for Hull and only got 5pts.

[westcliff white]

The problem is they have to do something like this.  Every scheme would have winners and losers.  I've been a season ticket holder for over 40 years, have been to 8 aways this season (over 300 altogether) but perfectly accept that someone who goes to all aways deserves a ticket ahead of me.  I had enough points (680) to get one in the second tranche.

Unfortunately there is no perfect solution.  When we played at Kettering in the FA Cup there was a ballot for tickets as the demand far outstripped the supply.  Imagine if that were to happen today....

agree with what you say no perfect solution

[Mitch]

The only issue with the system, as I see it, is when they offer 4-5 points for home friendlies/cup ties, or as I've heard, for purchasing additional seats. That shouldn't be the case. Otherwise I think it's a very balanced system.

So if I book seats for my family I should not get rewarded?

No. That's an easy one. Why should you potentially get 20 loyalty points for buying four tickets to a home game against Hull, when someone who travels up to Hull can end up with just 4? Loyalty points will only ever matter for away games, so they need to reward away travel.

its a loyalty program, a reward scheme. To not get some kid of reward (when a scheme is offered) would be like going to Tesco's and them saying are all those beers for you? no then you only get rewards for the 4 cans your drinking and so on.

But the point is that it rewards each person, not necessarily who is paying. It's rewarding your effort, not how much you've paid.
I can buy my mates tickets, and I'll stick it on their reference so they get the points. the points are for being there, not the buying.
Home games should have some reward, but you shouldn't get repeat loyalty points for buying further tickets to the same home game. It just goes agains the whole point of the system. Maybe a better phrase would be 'Effort Points'. It's a lot harder to pull your backside up to Boro for a midweek game then it is to get down to a weekend home game, and the potential for accruing points should reflect that.

firstly watch the language (I have changed the word).

Secondly I do not disagree with you but just saying that's not how the scheme it is portrayed.

What word? I didn't swear? You've lost me there.

I was under the impression the scheme was sold on the basis it was to reward travel and effort, so I've always been a bit miffed about the 5 points for home friendly type allocation. I think the club have it bang on, but those two small things need a re-think.

The only other thing they'll need to add soon is removing points for older seasons, meaning that it's refreshed. I shouldn't be here in ten years time going only to home games with more points than a younger person who has been going home and away flat out for three years.

[Burt]

Just been in touch with the club about this, given it's a bit of a hot topic and one where there isn't much by way of information on how it all works. Good to see that there's an acknowledgment of the issues and a commitment to be a bit more transparent about it all.

Detail below:

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"Thanks for the message, and I can see the frustration mounting. Unfortunately it's not a simple answer, although I have tried to get ticket office to issue a simple FAQ to assist."

"In terms of the categories, most people fall into the mid 500+ to high 400+ that is why the drops after 700 were smaller, so we broke it down over the days so as not to flood the system and enable people with higher points to virtually guaranteed a ticket."

"Loyalty points are always going to be a little contentious because a lot of fans have been travelling and supporting before records were retained."

"Also, you can't accumulate more points by purchasing multiple tickets in one transaction, as they have to be assigned to the additional ticket purchaser only e.g. QPR home 1 point. Purchase 1 ticket 1 point. Purchase 10 ticket  1 point unless assigned elsewhere."

"I'm not sure this is of much help to you, but am trying to get it all simplified for information to be included on the website."

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[Dodger53]

If the fans with enough points to buy Reading tickets get loyalty points for those tickets they just get further away from those without enough points to buy despite wishing to do so. That would be skew the system completely.
I am one of those who despite being a ST holder for 40 odd years and who goes to a few away games a year only has 480 points - given up idea of getting one Saturday morning because not sure post would get it to me on time for game.

[Arthur]

The only issue with the system, as I see it, is when they offer 4-5 points for home friendlies/cup ties, or as I've heard, for purchasing additional seats. That shouldn't be the case. Otherwise I think it's a very balanced system.

So if I book seats for my family I should not get rewarded?

No. That's an easy one. Why should you potentially get 20 loyalty points for buying four tickets to a home game against Hull, when someone who travels up to Hull can end up with just 4? Loyalty points will only ever matter for away games, so they need to reward away travel.

I think there is merit in awarding additional points for home cup games; the 6000 fans, for instance, who turned out for our cup-tie with Bristol City have, to my mind, demonstrated a form of loyalty that the extra 11 000-or-so supporters who were present three days later for our league game against the same opponents didn't display.

On the other hand, from my perspective, when I've made a round trip of up to 18 hours to attend an away game and spent perhaps upwards of £100, I too am somewhat bemused that it can be possible to spend five minutes at a computer and no money (not of one's own, that is) and be rewarded with a similar number of loyalty points.

[Mitch]

Arthur, I do agree. I think it's just the level of points they tend to award as an incentive to get to less interesting friendlies or cup games. I would reduce those from the 4/5 amount you often see. Not much, just enough that it isn't the same as a long slog away trip.

[toshes mate]

No comment from me other than to say I love reading about what a mess the mercenary middle classes make of most things they touch. 

As a pot stirrer I'd ask just how many loyalty points does 'aussie-rod' (on a thread elsewhwere) deserve if he shows up at Wembley?  For what it is worth I thought football was always better when it was just the occasional match that was ticket only and you could mostly travel on the day, arrive and get in, but then we were talking about terraces....