It didn't cost them money. That's the point that Loko was making. It was a smart commercial decision on their part to facilitate people to use the kiosk who wouldn't have done so otherwise. By reducing their huge markup on a bulk buy of drinks they likely got additional revenue from other purchases made by supporters who ordinarily wouldn't have bothered. Thanking them for it in the letter also means they get a bit of goodwill alongside it. Win / Win for them (plus the inevitable 3 point win on the pitch).
But we /they don't know how many would have bought drinks and as I've stated the order would have kept till next match. Its not like they were offloading past sell by crisps. Besides the letter states they've split the cost, not just facilitated using the coupons/letter.
Well the gents at full time the only sink had only a warm tap but no warm water in it so the hands end up the coldest they have been all night even though it wasn't gloves weather.
"Split the cost" in practical terms = collect all the letters handed over on the night and charge BFC the cost of that many drinks at half the retail price. There's no incremental spend involved for Luton to do this, so it hasn't cost them anything in practical terms.
I reckon our CEO is tapping away at the next letter on his Amstrad CPC464 detailing the replenishments of fresh clean bog rolls and a full tank of hot water for our next home game.
Fond memories of that model as it was the first computer I ever owned. The built in tape-deck was quite the feature at the time.
aye was some upgrade as well moving to the 6128. Bought that off barnsley market for the grand sum of £80. Barnsley for bargains! Ask our owners.
I deal with a company who claim they subsidise services(when they sell at a lower price point), I always point out they are not subsidising they are selling at a lower profit margin. Which is exactly what Luton have done in this case.
Do Luton provide the catering in house? Obviously if they use an external catering company like we did for years then regardless of it being at their ground they would have paid 50% of the costs
Not if you speak to that catering company in advance. Any smart food and beverage company would lap up a bulk order of something at a reduced rate.
Wasn't how it worked at Oakwell. I doubt it's how it would work anywhere. It will be exactly as suggested by @Sheriff and @Loko the Tyke And bear in mind how little a cup or tea or coffee costs when bought at football club volumes. Even at a 50%, discount Luton will still make a profit, sell more teas than they normally would, and benefit from the additional sales from people who bought something to accompany their cuppa who probably wouldn't have bothered without the freebie. There's no eventuality where they or their catering company are losing money here (not that it matters, it's a good will gesture).
Oh I know they'll still be making money. They could sell some of the stuff it at 15% of the usual price and still make money. Makes our pathetic vouchers even more embarrassing How do you mean though that it didn't work like that at Oakwell and you doubt it would work like that anywhere else? We used an outside company who paid money to provide the catering and take the profits. If the club chose to give away 300 free drinks I'd be astonished if they could just demand that the caterer provides them at half price
I am very unhappy with our owners and feel questions need to be answered and crucially actions need to show a change in approach. However anyone have a go about this gesture is just looking for a reason to be angry.
Well for a long time we had a deal that paid a fixed price irrespective of sales. See my previous point about how its not a loss making exercise irrespective
I never said it was a loss making exercise though. Am I right in thinking then that you're saying the in our long term deal the club took all profits and just paid the caterer a set fee? I'm sure I recall the club proudly announcing that the caterer had signed a deal worth X amount for a certain period. That seems an odd thing to announce if it was actually the club paying the caterer
This. So much. It’s pathetic. As someone who didn’t go, as most posters on this thread likely are, who cares what Luton contributed? Its a good gesture from us to contribute anything. They didn’t have to contribute anything and were I them I would think twice before doing it again. People (person) suggesting it is prioritising away supporters over season ticket holders is just looking for an argument. (But of course will then block/ignore people who are willing to engage with them on it). We are bad on the pitch which is the reason the responses are this way. Had this been last year most people would have been lauding it as great P.R. (As most people were when Conway was handing out beer vouchers/scarves)