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

[weybridgewanderer]

our company uses system similar to this across 30000+ employees in many offies in the UK.

I load up my card at a "top up" point at any of our offices around the country and use my card at any one of the many restaurants and coffee bars, coffee machines, crsip/sweet machines we have in any of these office around the country.

It pretty much works without any problems. If you have a problem you get a "did not pay" notice against your "member card number" and you have to clear it off yourself later or they send round the heavies

The benefits of a cashless catering system include:

Quicker transactions
Time saved in the processing of coins and notes
Positive cash flow
Increased customer loyalty
Enhanced management information
Improved staff efficiency
Fewer security problems
Less theft and vandalism

http://www.g2is.co.uk/Solutions/CashlessCatering.aspx

Not having to give change could mean a benefit :

Throughput at the cashless till point is three times quicker than cash. A good cashier will serve approximately 8-10 persons per minute thereby removing any queues at peak periods.

[West Stand Man]

Don't let facts ruin a good argument!

[TFF]

The benefits of a cashless catering system include:

Quicker transactions
Time saved in the processing of coins and notes
Positive cash flow
Increased customer loyalty
Enhanced management information
Improved staff efficiency
Fewer security problems
Less theft and vandalism

Only the first item in that list (if the compass staff can cope with the system) is a benefit to the customer.

I'm quite prepared to give this a go but lets not pretend that not being able to use cash or bank cards at the catering outlets is for the benefit of the average fan.

[Dirk Gently]

The benefits of a cashless catering system include:

Quicker transactions
Time saved in the processing of coins and notes
Positive cash flow
Increased customer loyalty
Enhanced management information
Improved staff efficiency
Fewer security problems
Less theft and vandalism

Only the first item in that list (if the compass staff can cope with the system) is a benefit to the customer.

I'm quite prepared to give this a go but lets not pretend that not being able to use cash or bank cards at the catering outlets is for the benefit of the average fan.

True - but the number one complaint from customers is the speed of transactions/length of queues, so if it does help address that it must be worth a try?

[peeping bernal]

Are they going to extend this to season ticket renewals? A cashless renewal would be fine. With all the money made the last 2 years its about time they gave something back to the fans! Or make you add a £50 credit to your ST at the start of the season if you do or don't want to as a prerequisite

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

i expect the club will make a tidy sum from all the interest from all the money kept on these cards, also how long will it be till like the oster card someone hacks the system and has unlimited free food.

[Squelchy2507]

......like the oster card someone hacks ....

I wish someone would hack Oster

[West Stand Man]

The benefits of a cashless catering system include:

Quicker transactions
Time saved in the processing of coins and notes
Positive cash flow
Increased customer loyalty
Enhanced management information
Improved staff efficiency
Fewer security problems
Less theft and vandalism

Only the first item in that list (if the compass staff can cope with the system) is a benefit to the customer.

I'm quite prepared to give this a go but lets not pretend that not being able to use cash or bank cards at the catering outlets is for the benefit of the average fan.

So, time saved in processing coins and notes won't speed up the serving?

Less theft and vandalism won't help keep prices at current levels ) and maybe even get reductions once the profits are recognised?)

Improved efficiency won't mean more customers served and hence a better service to us?

Methinks you are too negative about this?

[Royal Lady]

I'd be interested to know the figures on theft and vandalism on the concourse food outlets.

As I said, I'll be interested in the feed back from this after tomorrow's game. I'm not particularly bothered either way at the moment.

[North Somerset Royal]

From my perspective seemed a great success today. Queues were shorter and moved faster and for the first time ever I was able to get a drink after Golden Gamble and still get back in time fo the start of second half. Charges made were correct and did not hear any complaints about overcharging/short changing. Having said that there seemed to be more people serving and fact that there were also loads of supervisors watching closely may mean that the service today was exceptional and things may lapse if system is adopted throughout.

The only problems I saw were the result of people turning up who apparently knew nothing of this trial. I find that incredible bearing in mind that I got 2 texts, an e-mail and a letter through the post advising what was going to happen. The club could hardly have done any more to alert people. Even then all they had to do was get their ST topped up with cash at a dedicated till but I heard some arguing with stewards that it was ridiculous that they could not pay for drinks in cash.

[TFF]

Didn't go for a beer at half time but no problems getting a beer before the game. I didn't recognise many of the staff behind the bar - perhaps they drafted in their elite team

Queues were indeed shorter but I wonder how many people just didn't bother as they couldn't use cash.

My only gripe with the whole system is the size of the display on which I was supposed to read the amount due and the balance on my card. I had to fetch my glasses out - would be easier if it could be tied up to the till display.

[North Somerset Royal]

Yes I agree the read out was ridiculously small.

[gh7901]

There was always going to be some idiots who somehow didnt hear about it though

Im almost dissapointed to hear it went well, cus Im not a fan of the idea, for some of the reasons stated 100 times in this thread. Tbf the service in the north stand with old fashioned cash seemed to be better than normal today too.

So is it a seperate unit you swipe or place your card in next to the tills?

[Schards#2]

Ordered a beer in the east stand and watched the pouring guy put one pint holder under one of the taps and then push some button that poured a pint from each of the six nozzles. So 83.33% wastage.

I pointed it out to the guy on the till who turned, looked and just shook his head at me.

At least it's not the clubs profits going straight down the drain.

[North Somerset Royal]

So is it a seperate unit you swipe or place your card in next to the tills?

Yes there is a small flat unit on the counter at the head of each queue which you place your card on and which immediately shows the balance available. The server then rings up your purchase on the til and you remove your card from the pad. As mentioned above the unit display is difficult to read as its so small. However when I logged in this morning I was able to see a detailed list of items purchased with the time and amount of each item. It was also very nice to get 30p off each pint- a nice gesture by the club.

[Matt de K]

Ordered a beer in the east stand and watched the pouring guy put one pint holder under one of the taps and then push some button that poured a pint from each of the six nozzles. So 83.33% wastage.

I pointed it out to the guy on the till who turned, looked and just shook his head at me.

At least it's not the clubs profits going straight down the drain.

Ordered a beer - and got a cider.

Took it back, complained that my beer was in fact cider - so i got another one. An yes, I mean I got given another cider. It was, however, third time lucky. Damn thickos. But I didn't even know they sold cider at the mad stad

[Huntley & Palmer]

That's just what the Fosters tastes like normally

[PurpleTurtle]

someone hacks the system and has unlimited free food.

Just how many rollover hotdogs could one man bear though!?

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

......like the oster card someone hacks ....

I wish someone would hack Oster

they have

[West Stand Man]

http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/cards/one-pulse-balance-transfer/index.html?WT.mc_id=96255513311019176-&TC=AFMFX17319

This might look a touch familiar in its operation. Man City have already (it appears) taken this techonology on board and there is a view that it might be very widespread soon.