No more programme sellers

[Saint_clark]

Very, very weird indeed.

 

I'm just trying to work out what possessed anyone at the club to think changing our programme sellers was any sort of priority at all.

 

It's stuff like this that inclines me to feel that there is a certain deep steak of "mentalness" in the Cortese administration, despite the many triumphs and upsides.

 

What makes you think it was a priority?

[Chez]

I can`t help thinking that some people are always looking for a stick to beat the club with.

I can't helping thinking that Cortese has redeployed girls in skirts to hand those sticks out Edited 7 October, 2012 by Chez

[Toomer]

Had a chat with one of the sellers outside the ground today the content of the letter said more or less, your services are no longer required don't bother turning up. Over heard at the food counter (as there was a sign saying programmes on sale) someone asked for a programme numpty behind the counter said whats one of those.

[Spudders]

I can't helping thinking that Cortese has redeployed girls in skirts to hand those sticks out

 

Hopefully he's redeployed them taking them away from the training ground where they have been distracting our defence from understanding what they are supposed to be doing!

[CB Fry]

Be honest which would you prefer?

 

St Mary's today...

 

 

Fratton Park next weekend...

 

 

 

 

You honestly think normal people have a "preferred" way of buying a football programme?

 

I know its an unfair question to ask you, as you don't qualify as normal to any extent. But have a go.

[LostBoys]

I purchased my programme from a very nice young lady who was stood only a few feet from where the previous pregramme seller stood. The only difference was that she could only hold a few programmes as she did not have a stand to keep the box and change was much more difficult. Unique new way of selling? - avoiding congestion? - hardly.

[sandwichsaint]

I was wondering how the re-stocking (s******) went? I saw a bird behind the Northam early doors while we were on the way to the pub, tottering about on 10 inch platforms that wouldn't pass any sort of H+S risk assessment, standing there lamely with a clutch of about 8-10 programmes in her hand and trying to give us the eye, but preferring to buy pre-match rather than pre-pub we made our excuses and left . Irony of ironies I pretty much 'always' buy a programme home and away but didn't buy one yesterday. We got back down to the Northam corner at about 13-00 and no sign of a programme seller though I did see two very nice young men in suits but neither seemed to have any programmes to hand. Couldn't see a kiosk or a mobile seller in the concorse, I did ask a steward on the way up to my seat where I could buy a programme but I think he found the question too difficult, he certainly couldn't direct me to where I could buy a programme.

 

Call me old-fashioned but what exactly was wrong with the old way? Can't believe this new way is any cheaper or that it will sell any more programmes, but hey, that's progress.

[Sour Mash]

So getting rid of the old programme sellers was nothing to do with saving the club money, but another attempt to market Saints as some sort of high level brand, something we're not and never will be.

[spyinthesky]

I have to say the lad I bought my programme from was very 'customer friendly' and well turned out.

 

However I wonder what arrangements have been made, going forward, for wet weather

 

The programmes, where I bought from, were laid out on the floor with no weather protection.

 

Whatever happened to the kiosks which provided suitable shelter for stock and seller.

 

Wonder what the programme sales figure was yesterday compared to previous games?

[corky morris]

Was in a queue for 10 minutes to get mine inside the ground......................................I was cursing Cortese the whole time. Just stupid if you ask me.

[Toomer]

I hear the next thing on the agenda is to change the shirt badge to the black and white one because our leader is not keen on the green on the tree in the badge.

[Crazy Diamond]

It was absolutely terrible yesterday. Those hard working people that used to sell programmes with their irreplacable service and the sense of heritage, gone.

 

Oh wait no, I actually got a programme quicker than normal and there was no problem at all.

[Sour Mash]

I hear the next thing on the agenda is to change the shirt badge to the black and white one because our leader is not keen on the green on the tree in the badge.

Few of us were saying yesterday, can definitely see the badge being changed to the black and white one.

[Turkish]

So are we saying that the 'unique customer experience' is actually worse than the orginal one? It would seem so.....

[beatlesaint]

So are we saying that the 'unique customer experience' is actually worse than the orginal one? It would seem so.....

 

I would say so. The positive was that the young lady I bought mine from was extremely attractive and gave me a nice smile.....the negatives were I had to wait longer while all these other old gits tried to charm the pants off her, she had nowhere to put the programmes had it been raining, and some guy was forever giving her extra copies to hold....i mean whats the point of two people doing one persons (old) job ?

[hypochondriac]

And they are on eleven pounds an hour via the pr company.

[doddisalegend]

And they are on eleven pounds an hour via the pr company.

 

ahh but think of all the money saved by not letting the new PR dollies watch 70 minutes of the match for free.....

[hypochondriac]

ahh but think of all the money saved by not letting the new PR dollies watch 70 minutes of the match for free.....

 

Not if the ground isn't full you aren't saving money. I know this btw because my sister was asked to do it who has no interest in football.

[The Kraken]

And they are on eleven pounds an hour via the pr company.

 

So the club are actually paying out more money to have an inferior service?

 

Brilliant. Best in class both on and off the pitch.

[Matthew Le Tissier]

I think it was more about they can watch the game for free. We all know the chairman doesn't like that unless its his guests.

[SaintBobby]

Laughable fiasco.

 

Just mental that the club went down this route.

[maysie]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/programme-sellers-dressed-for-success-448462.aspx

 

I really want that 'iconic' style of suit and scarf

[ladysaint]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/programme-sellers-dressed-for-success-448462.aspx

 

I really want that 'iconic' style of suit and scarf

LOL I would rather talk to someone when buying a programme who knows a bit about football and the history of the club.

[Bearsy]

Hi if anyone wants to get some more pictures of the programme sellers upload them here it would be useful. I think I need to see more pictures before i can be sufficiently outraged.

[Colinjb]

Spoke to one at the back of the Kingsland stand before the Fulham game.

 

An extremely polite and attractive american girl who didn't have a clue what was happening. She had no idea why a load of them had been called down from a London modelling agency to stand in the relative cold selling £3 magazines to 'soccer' fans.

 

How much would it have cost to bus them all in compared to the old hands?

 

Extremely lovely girl though.

[Hatch]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/programme-sellers-dressed-for-success-448462.aspx

 

I really want that 'iconic' style of suit and scarf

 

3, 8, 5 , 4, 7 , 1 ,2 6

 

The two at the back I shall pass on , and the far right, not sure of that one, so will play safe and leave.

[Thedelldays]

LOL I would rather talk to someone when buying a programme who knows a bit about football and the history of the club.

why?

[CB Saint]

Nice to see that the club has taken an inclusive approach and got a couple in for the ladies.

 

Front row, 3 and 4 from left. You can keep the rest. Are we allowed combos?

[Sour Mash]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/programme-sellers-dressed-for-success-448462.aspx

 

I really want that 'iconic' style of suit and scarf

The whole thing is utterly bizzare.

[Mowgli]

LOL I would rather talk to someone when buying a programme who knows a bit about football and the history of the club.

 

It's you that holds the queue up is it?

[david in sweden]

Be honest which would you prefer?

 

St Mary's today...´Fratton Park next weekend...

 

 

Given the choice would you refuse to buy a programme from her? .....that smile alone is worth the £3 .

[Toomer]

Cortese can stick the programme up his arse as it is now printed by a Skate firm!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Saint Garrett]

Left to right.....women only.

 

No, Yes, Yes, Yes, No, No, No, Yes, No.

[Charlie Wayman]

There were no programme sellers for Fulham, I bought mine at the refreshments counter along with a coffee and hot dog. Where's the problem?

 

Time people stopped over reacting to trivia.

[sotonjoe]

Cor ... I'd buy one from them etc ...

[Whitey Grandad]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/programme-sellers-dressed-for-success-448462.aspx

 

I really want that 'iconic' style of suit and scarf

On the right of the page there is an advert: 'Looking For a New Boiler?'

[Horton Heath Saint]

Will you buy one Sunday?

Gone are the 'old programme sellers'. Sitting there in 'flat' caps. Not being unkind.

Now, Sunday we will have 'up market' young guys and girls dressed up in uniform with patent scarves and blazers selling in and outside the ground.

Along with concourses doing food/drinks deals with programme if you buy food or drink. Big notices going up all around.

I, for one don't like change as you do, however, did our programme sellers push to sell, no, they would just sit there and wait for you to go to them.

So these newbies will actually be crowd interactive and mingle to sell, they, I guess, will be on commission based. They will want to sell.

Saying all this, really not happy about about our programme collection shop stall being evicted.

Have a heart, Mr Cortese, that husband and wife team have been there since Dell days, they have our club at heart, bet they are devastated. True Saints. Please re consider Mr Cortese.

At least, go and speak with them to explain.

[aintforever]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/programme-sellers-dressed-for-success-448462.aspx

 

I really want that 'iconic' style of suit and scarf

 

"With roaming sellers also out and about, you’ll never miss a chance to pick up your copy of the programme." - what 12 year-old writes this b@ll@x?

 

How exactly would you miss the original programme sellers who were conveniently stood in the same place each game?

[doddisalegend]

Will you buy one Sunday?

Gone are the 'old programme sellers'. Sitting there in 'flat' caps. Not being unkind.

Now, Sunday we will have 'up market' young guys and girls dressed up in uniform with patent scarves and blazers selling in and outside the ground.

Along with concourses doing food/drinks deals with programme if you buy food or drink. Big notices going up all around.

I, for one don't like change as you do, however, did our programme sellers push to sell, no, they would just sit there and wait for you to go to them.So these newbies will actually be crowd interactive and mingle to sell, they, I guess, will be on commission based. They will want to sell.

Saying all this, really not happy about about our programme collection shop stall being evicted.

Have a heart, Mr Cortese, that husband and wife team have been there since Dell days, they have our club at heart, bet they are devastated. True Saints. Please re consider Mr Cortese.

At least, go and speak with them to explain.

 

Not the guy at the chapel end near the burger van always moving around with a good hearty shout.

 

I'm not exactly going to get bent of shape about this whole issue but I'm not keen on the whole building a brand stuff in football it just seems like another step away from football for the common man (or woman) and one more step towards the prawn sandwhich corporate crowd..

[the boy from saints]

I must admit, I quite liked the old geezers who would sell programmes at the stands. It all seems a bit pretentious having smart youngsters selling programmes. This is football, not bleedin' timeshare selling. My main issue is the amount of times I haven't been able to get a programme due to the fact they hadn't printed enough! If business and profit margins are to be put to the fore, at least print enough programmes to satisfy the market!

[SB]

Think it's a bloody good idea, they had the same girls selling one pound raffle tickets, wouldn't have thought twice about it if an old gezza was selling me one, however a blonde worldy got a few quid out if me without even questioning it. Weird ay?

[saintedwill]

To be honest, I couldn't care less if I bought my programme from someone in a flat cap, a suit and scarf or a specially trained chimp.

 

"Our new sellers not only look the part, but they’re easy to find too with their smart corporate look of dark suits and scarf, making them easy to spot amongst this weekend's sell out crowd"

 

This is the word which I think doesn't go down well with Saints fans (like me) who remember us being a family club.

 

Then again, am I being to nostalgic and should I get real about the modern professional game?

[sotonjoe]

If this is part of a wider process to sterilise the game and get rid of the riff raff and the racists, I'm all for it.

[Daren W]

Hold on, am I missing something here? I thought the club sacked all programme sellers? Now it appears they've just been sacked to make way for younger, roving, more mobile models?

I'm all for change but isn't this ageist?

[Colinjb]

There were no programme sellers for Fulham,

 

I'm sorry, there certain was.

[Colinjb]

So these newbies will actually be crowd interactive and mingle to sell, they, I guess, will be on commission based. They will want to sell.

 

Considering that the old programmes used to sell out about 15 minutes before kick off, they never needed to.

[S-Clarke]

I think the whole thing is ridiculous if I'm honest. Doesn't make it more likely I'll buy one either.

[SB]

I think the whole thing is ridiculous if I'm honest. Doesn't make it more likely I'll buy one either.

 

Unless you're a Middle Aged perv which majority are.

[Horley CTFC Saint]

Not the guy at the chapel end near the burger van always moving around with a good hearty shout.

 

I'm not exactly going to get bent of shape about this whole issue but I'm not keen on the whole building a brand stuff in football it just seems like another step away from football for the common man (or woman) and one more step towards the prawn sandwhich corporate crowd..

I used to buy one off him - I'll probably give it miss tomorrow...not through any thwarted manlove or anything but just an uneasy sense of being milked like some wholly expected taken for granted golden tit

[Dangermouth]

In time-honoured fashion (as deserved) and moving left to right along the front and then r-l along the back:

 

Maybe, unless she really is a dwarf in which case I think she'd split;

 

No: too shiny;

 

Maybe, but I wonder why she's smirking. Is the fella behind her, goosing?

 

No, looks like she needs a punch in the face: far too smiley and happy-clappy;

 

No, needs her eyes straightening;

 

No, looks 12 (IQ - wise) and epitomises the word 'nondescript', as I'm feeling kind;

 

We have men dressed as women now?

 

And to the back:

 

Boris Johnson's love-child with a labrador; I presume it's a male, so no further comment.

 

Possibly, although the face looks painted-on;

 

No, looks like has walked into a wall (and then kept on walking);

 

Numpty bloke;

 

Numpty bloke.

 

As someone's said: a lot of 'kerfuffle' to try to appeal to the older man and the corporates (who, from memory, don't seem to be filling their boxes).