The end of free Thursday FOS tickets
Discussion
Unreal said:
Goodwood have really dropped the ball with this one Sarah.
I don't know if you wanted to find the point at which you fatally undermined the goodwill felt by many members and demonstrated through tangible support, particularly during the pandemic. Well, I think you've found it.
Dear Unreal,I don't know if you wanted to find the point at which you fatally undermined the goodwill felt by many members and demonstrated through tangible support, particularly during the pandemic. Well, I think you've found it.
I'm so sorry to hear that you feel that way. I completely understand how disappointing this announcement has been, and I hope that our many other GRRC benefits might be of value.
With best wishes,
Sarah
Unreal said:
Goodwood have really dropped the ball with this one Sarah.
I don't know if you wanted to find the point at which you fatally undermined the goodwill felt by many members and demonstrated through tangible support, particularly during the pandemic. Well, I think you've found it.
I don't suppose Goodwood will care. I guess a bad reaction has been factored in, and the comments on here and on the GRRC forum will quieten down over the next few days. They will just carry on.I don't know if you wanted to find the point at which you fatally undermined the goodwill felt by many members and demonstrated through tangible support, particularly during the pandemic. Well, I think you've found it.
There is a danger of killing the golden goose though. People wanted to belong to the GRRC as it was seen as premium and quality - but with the naming of Fellows, the removal of benefits and the debacle of refunds, it all just look amateurish.
With respect to the pandemic - yes, even I managed a small donation above my membership fees - even though I spent some of it in intensive care and it battered my business. At least we got a bronze coloured gold badge. I do feel 'done over' in respect of this.
SarahGoodwood said:
Dear Robin, I apologise if you found the choice of words potentially worrying: there is no hidden agenda at work here. Complimentary Thursday tickets have been removed for all Goodwood Clubs. I'm sorry if I have caused you any confusion here. With best wishes, Sarah
At least it’s made my decision to renew easy 
Sarah, no doubt you are going to be dealing with the reaction to this on the GRRC Facebook page, here, and on various other platforms, I know it is probably too late to start making suggestions, however, would it not have been better to remove the free FOS tickets from the other Goodwood membership groups, leaving the benefit with the GRRC only ?
If that was the case, and the same applied to the GRRC with the horse racing tickets removed I would have thought there would have been a much more positive reaction.
As it is, what has been announced has been very poorly received and really needs to be reviewed before it does much more harm than good.
If that was the case, and the same applied to the GRRC with the horse racing tickets removed I would have thought there would have been a much more positive reaction.
As it is, what has been announced has been very poorly received and really needs to be reviewed before it does much more harm than good.
mk1coopers said:
Sarah, no doubt you are going to be dealing with the reaction to this on the GRRC Facebook page, here, and on various other platforms, I know it is probably too late to start making suggestions, however, would it not have been better to remove the free FOS tickets from the other Goodwood membership groups, leaving the benefit with the GRRC only ?
If that was the case, and the same applied to the GRRC with the horse racing tickets removed I would have thought there would have been a much more positive reaction.
As it is, what has been announced has been very poorly received and really needs to be reviewed before it does much more harm than good.
I put this elsewhere but Goodwood never say they’re in the wrong, unlike me they sometimes are! If that was the case, and the same applied to the GRRC with the horse racing tickets removed I would have thought there would have been a much more positive reaction.
As it is, what has been announced has been very poorly received and really needs to be reviewed before it does much more harm than good.
Look at the fellowship naming at no point did Goodwood accept that they’d cocked up and just moved on stubbornly. Same with the ticket refunds which are still ongoing.
Unreal said:
Having carefully considered all the options, we are left with no choice but to remove complimentary Thursday tickets as part of the membership benefits. This will also apply to the Kinrara Enclosure which, as many of you will be aware, had become overcrowded on Thursdays. These restrictions will not just be limited to the GRRC – we will also be suspending the Festival of Speed reciprocal arrangements with other Goodwood memberships. However, we will continue to offer complimentary horse racing tickets for GRRC members.
Sorry, you can't have tickets to a motor racing event with your motor club membership, but have some tickets to the horses instead.Brilliant
As a long standing member I agree with all of these negative comments! Living well away from West Sussex the gratis Thursday FOS tickets were by far the most valuable benefit for me. I think this is a real disappointment for those of us who have supported Lord March over the years but with a big queue of “Fellows” waiting to replace members I don’t suppose it will matter.
Edited by Trfcok on Monday 16th October 15:59
Trfcok said:
As a long standing member I agree with all of these negative comments! Living well away from West Sussex the gratis Thursday FOS tickets were by far the most valuable benefit for me. I think this is a real disappointment for those of us who have supported Lord March over the years but with a big queue of “Fellows” waiting to replace members I don’t suppose it will matter to him.
The big queue might be a fair bit smaller when they read the email.Don't think the fellows got the email, so suspect many of them will be delighted by their membership offer and will feel let down when they find out this benefit doesn't exist anymore.
There are no more real benefits to the membership anymore, unless you live close by and can pop into the Kennels or maybe make it to a breakfast club.
There are no more real benefits to the membership anymore, unless you live close by and can pop into the Kennels or maybe make it to a breakfast club.
MarcelM6 said:
maybe make it to a breakfast club.
There has to be a breakfast club! There were 4 last year including the GRRC event, they’ve been dropping one a year for quite a while and even Pistonheads doesn’t go there anymore for Christmas. My money is on 3 including GRRC event next year Sarah
I am not going to repeat all the arguments laid out here and on facebook, I do think that Goodwood has jumped the shark on this one and it will be terrible PR disaster.
Many members stood behind goodwood during covid, stomached the price increase and tried to give feedback through some very badly crafted member surveys, this it seems has led the insight down the garden path.
Fellows I talk to are equally disappointed being on the list for many years and paying for the privilege and now more upset as they see the benefits they were once looking forward to going as well at a much higher price.
If I was your PR advisor I would be advising the following
1. Do a u turn before it is too late
2. From this point on only members of the relevant club get free tickets so GRRC fos, GHRC the gee gees etc
3. Member from other clubs get discounts
4. Kinara is there but at an extra cost ( and lets be honest, you need the thursday to get the wrinkles out of the service !)
That said you might be facing a big revenue crunch, big manufacturers no long have the big presence they once had, and it does look a bit repetitive.
If that is true, is upsetting the membership what you want to do? the pool is not endlessly deep....
If you are not, is it just getting a little bit greedy and then of course the shark will be beckoning and all good things will come to an end, just as they did last time at goodwood.
History does repeat itself....
my 2 cents
I am not going to repeat all the arguments laid out here and on facebook, I do think that Goodwood has jumped the shark on this one and it will be terrible PR disaster.
Many members stood behind goodwood during covid, stomached the price increase and tried to give feedback through some very badly crafted member surveys, this it seems has led the insight down the garden path.
Fellows I talk to are equally disappointed being on the list for many years and paying for the privilege and now more upset as they see the benefits they were once looking forward to going as well at a much higher price.
If I was your PR advisor I would be advising the following
1. Do a u turn before it is too late
2. From this point on only members of the relevant club get free tickets so GRRC fos, GHRC the gee gees etc
3. Member from other clubs get discounts
4. Kinara is there but at an extra cost ( and lets be honest, you need the thursday to get the wrinkles out of the service !)
That said you might be facing a big revenue crunch, big manufacturers no long have the big presence they once had, and it does look a bit repetitive.
If that is true, is upsetting the membership what you want to do? the pool is not endlessly deep....
If you are not, is it just getting a little bit greedy and then of course the shark will be beckoning and all good things will come to an end, just as they did last time at goodwood.
History does repeat itself....
my 2 cents
Edited by cati on Monday 16th October 19:42
Edited by cati on Monday 16th October 19:43
Edited by cati on Monday 16th October 19:45
cati said:
Sarah
I am not going to repeat all the arguments laid out here and on facebook, I do think that Goodwood has jumped the shark on this one and it will be terrible PR disaster.
Many members stood behind goodwood during covid, stomached the price increase and tried to give feedback through some very badly crafted member surveys, this it seems has led the insight down the garden path.
Fellows I talk to are equally disappointed being on the list for many years and paying for the privilege and now more upset as they see the benefits they were once looking forward to going as well at a much higher price.
If I was your PR advisor I would be advising the following
1. Do a u turn before it is too late
2. From this point on only members of the relevant club get free tickets so GRRC fos, GHRC the gee gees etc
3. Member from other clubs get discounts
4. Kinara is there but at an extra cost ( and lets be honest, you need the thursday to get the wrinkles out of the service !)
That said you might be facing a big revenue crunch, big manufacturers no long have the big presence they once had, and it does look a bit repetitive.
If that is true, is upsetting the membership what you want to do? the pool is not endlessly deep....
If you are not, is it just getting a little bit greedy and then of course the shark will be beckoning and all good things will come to an end, just as they did last time at goodwood.
History does repeat itself....
my 2 cents
I share your views - and those of every other poster on this thread. This is a very poor show after the support the members have given Goodwood over the last few years.I am not going to repeat all the arguments laid out here and on facebook, I do think that Goodwood has jumped the shark on this one and it will be terrible PR disaster.
Many members stood behind goodwood during covid, stomached the price increase and tried to give feedback through some very badly crafted member surveys, this it seems has led the insight down the garden path.
Fellows I talk to are equally disappointed being on the list for many years and paying for the privilege and now more upset as they see the benefits they were once looking forward to going as well at a much higher price.
If I was your PR advisor I would be advising the following
1. Do a u turn before it is too late
2. From this point on only members of the relevant club get free tickets so GRRC fos, GHRC the gee gees etc
3. Member from other clubs get discounts
4. Kinara is there but at an extra cost ( and lets be honest, you need the thursday to get the wrinkles out of the service !)
That said you might be facing a big revenue crunch, big manufacturers no long have the big presence they once had, and it does look a bit repetitive.
If that is true, is upsetting the membership what you want to do? the pool is not endlessly deep....
If you are not, is it just getting a little bit greedy and then of course the shark will be beckoning and all good things will come to an end, just as they did last time at goodwood.
History does repeat itself....
my 2 cents
Edited by cati on Monday 16th October 19:42
Edited by cati on Monday 16th October 19:43
Edited by cati on Monday 16th October 19:45
Not sure I’ll bother renewing. There are plenty of other events to go to.
I think there's another factor that may not have been taken into account. That is the non-financial support that members give - such as standing up for Goodwood against increasing local opposition.
I can see all goodwill and demonstrations of support evaporating and it wouldn't be surprising.
At a rough guess, how many members supported Goodwood during the pandemic by paying their full membership and how much did that contribute to the coffers? There are an awful lot of names on the strip around the circuit.
I can see all goodwill and demonstrations of support evaporating and it wouldn't be surprising.
At a rough guess, how many members supported Goodwood during the pandemic by paying their full membership and how much did that contribute to the coffers? There are an awful lot of names on the strip around the circuit.
Unreal said:
I think there's another factor that may not have been taken into account. That is the non-financial support that members give - such as standing up for Goodwood against increasing local opposition.
I can see all goodwill and demonstrations of support evaporating and it wouldn't be surprising.
At a rough guess, how many members supported Goodwood during the pandemic by paying their full membership and how much did that contribute to the coffers? There are an awful lot of names on the strip around the circuit.
I have many friends who have become fellows or members because of me either taking them or talking to them about the events. The last few years I’ve been less positive but have said to those that looking to join work out if the cost benefits work for you. After today I certainly wouldn’t encourage anyone to join up. I can see all goodwill and demonstrations of support evaporating and it wouldn't be surprising.
At a rough guess, how many members supported Goodwood during the pandemic by paying their full membership and how much did that contribute to the coffers? There are an awful lot of names on the strip around the circuit.
Regarding how many supported there was under 20 people that asked for their money back. So you’re looking at over 6,500 plaques (that number might be over 7 I forgot.
I’m genuinely dumbfounded.
As has been stated- sell a few less tickets to the public on a Thursday- there’s a starter for ten. And stating we can enjoy some free horse racing tickets instead just doesn’t cut it I’m afraid. Like many on here, I supported the club during Covid, gave above and beyond in fact.
The club does very well out of those of us who have been GRRC members for many years and despite our occasional grumblings about how we perceive the benefits to be declining as costs go up (big increase in subs last year for example), most of us keep renewing. However please do not take that for granted. It will get to a point where people will think enough is enough and I fear some will have reached that point today.
Watching the Duke turn up to the Revival cricket match in his £40 million 250GTO and then depriving his members of a free Thursday ticket to next years FOS has left a very bitter taste in mine and no doubt many others mouths.
As has been stated- sell a few less tickets to the public on a Thursday- there’s a starter for ten. And stating we can enjoy some free horse racing tickets instead just doesn’t cut it I’m afraid. Like many on here, I supported the club during Covid, gave above and beyond in fact.
The club does very well out of those of us who have been GRRC members for many years and despite our occasional grumblings about how we perceive the benefits to be declining as costs go up (big increase in subs last year for example), most of us keep renewing. However please do not take that for granted. It will get to a point where people will think enough is enough and I fear some will have reached that point today.
Watching the Duke turn up to the Revival cricket match in his £40 million 250GTO and then depriving his members of a free Thursday ticket to next years FOS has left a very bitter taste in mine and no doubt many others mouths.
Mk2Jag said:
Watching the Duke turn up to the Revival cricket match in his £40 million 250GTO and then depriving his members of a free Thursday ticket to next years FOS has left a very bitter taste in mine and no doubt many others mouths.
It’s a replica. It was originally a 330 GT 2+2 that was converted to a 330 GTO and then later to this 250 GTO Slightly bucking the trend here but I don't really care. That maybe because I'm not a huge fan of the FoS and the big benefits of membership for me are around the Revival and the use of the Kennels.
As a general observation, I would say that I, personally, would happily pay a higher annual sub and get more benefits. To me this would look less like free/subsidised tickets and more like more members only areas, more members only previews and more forward parking/fast track access etc
As a general observation, I would say that I, personally, would happily pay a higher annual sub and get more benefits. To me this would look less like free/subsidised tickets and more like more members only areas, more members only previews and more forward parking/fast track access etc
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