Goodwood Full Membership

[nurseholliday]

Definitely thought twice, thrice, more like 50 times about renewing this year. Ended up doing it despite my numbers brain saying it was a waste of money. Will downgrade to Fellow at the end of the year I think or even give up altogether and just chance getting MM tickets on the 2nd hand market.

I'm just not sure I'm getting any actual benefit from the benefits provided in return for a chunk of money that isn't insignificant to me.

[TV8]

SarahGoodwood said:

Dear all,

I do apologise if there has been a delay in responding to your emails to the GRRC team: I can assure you that the team do work hard to respond to the many messages they receive. You may prefer to telephone the office on 01243 755057, or do email again.

If you have told us previously that you wish to cancel your GRRC membership, we do remove you from our mailing lists so that we do not keep bothering you - Ian, if you have reconsidered and would like to renew, do please contact the GRRC team, or email me.

If I am not responding to messages on here, I can assure you that it is not for any sinister reason - it's simply many tasks taking up my attention! I would always suggest contacting us directly - either via the Ticket Office or the GRRC team if you have any questions at all about your GRRC membership, rather than relying on my logging on to monitor this forum.

With best wishes,
Sarah

Edited by SarahGoodwood on Tuesday 16th January 13:05

Hi Sarah,
Still no response to my email to Goodwood and I am not going to call you up or resend it as you suggest. If Goodwood has lost it, didn’t like the tone or simply can’t be bothered, that’s up to whoever calls the shots in the office.
Were you not on here representing Goodwood, I would think that the club does not care at all. Now, I don’t think it is anything sinister and you are providing a veneer of effort in public relations. Behind that it is simple arrogance and laziness towards members.

[SarahGoodwood]

Dear TV8,
I understand that you may not wish to hear from anyone at Goodwood, but so that I can check that your email has not been lost, firstly could I confirm that you sent it to [e-mail], and secondly, if you could possibly let me know your email address (by emailing me at [e-mail]) I would appreciate the opportunity to check to see why you have not received a response. The team may take a few days but they do try their absolute best to answer every single email, regardless of tone, content etc, so I'm concerned that you did not hear anything.
With best wishes,
Sarah

[ecsrobin]

Just received an email from the GRRC.

[i] It is with great pleasure that I am writing inform you that we have had some spaces open up and I am delighted to invite you to upgrade to a family membership for 2024.

I note that you have not yet renewed for 2024.[/i]

[johnoz]

ecsrobin said:

Just received an email from the GRRC.

[i] It is with great pleasure that I am writing inform you that we have had some spaces open up and I am delighted to invite you to upgrade to a family membership for 2024.

I note that you have not yet renewed for 2024.[/i]

That will be my space, begrudged paying for family this year..

[TV8]

SarahGoodwood said:

Dear TV8,
I understand that you may not wish to hear from anyone at Goodwood, but so that I can check that your email has not been lost, firstly could I confirm that you sent it to [e-mail], and secondly, if you could possibly let me know your email address (by emailing me at [e-mail]) I would appreciate the opportunity to check to see why you have not received a response. The team may take a few days but they do try their absolute best to answer every single email, regardless of tone, content etc, so I'm concerned that you did not hear anything.
With best wishes,
Sarah

Hi SarahGoodwood, I do not know why you "understand" that I may not wish to hear from anyone at Goodwood? Have you read my posts or is this a rephrasing attempt to make Goodwoods lack of action seem like my wish? I have been chasing a reply on here for several weeks.

Anyway, in other news, someone call Cleo responded to my email, 2 days short of one calendar month from when I sent it in.

In that email, she confirmed that there is a known problem with forum access and the Goodwood IT team is working with the developer of the platform to resolve it.

Some other nonsense was included regarding the the loss of the Thursday tickets including changing working practices meaning that Thursday is now the new Friday and the local roads are too busy as a result and the one that made me smile was the problem that members who redeem their free tickets then don't attend, causing dissatisfaction for the different stakeholders! We have over attendance causing increased traffic on the surrounding roads and over attendance in the Kinara enclosure that members used benefit from but some people get free tickers and don't attend, causing general dissatisfaction.

[ecsrobin]

TV8 said:

Hi SarahGoodwood, I do not know why you "understand" that I may not wish to hear from anyone at Goodwood? Have you read my posts or is this a rephrasing attempt to make Goodwoods lack of action seem like my wish? I have been chasing a reply on here for several weeks.

Anyway, in other news, someone call Cleo responded to my email, 2 days short of one calendar month from when I sent it in.

In that email, she confirmed that there is a known problem with forum access and the Goodwood IT team is working with the developer of the platform to resolve it.

Some other nonsense was included regarding the the loss of the Thursday tickets including changing working practices meaning that Thursday is now the new Friday and the local roads are too busy as a result and the one that made me smile was the problem that members who redeem their free tickets then don't attend, causing dissatisfaction for the different stakeholders! We have over attendance causing increased traffic on the surrounding roads and over attendance in the Kinara enclosure that members used benefit from but some people get free tickers and don't attend, causing general dissatisfaction.

I’m not really sure what you were expecting from Goodwood?? They will only regurgitate the company line about the issues you raised which have been discussed at length on this thread. If you expected a different response than what we’ve all had more fool you.

Also if you paid any attention to the club you would know that Cleo is probably the longest serving member of staff within the GRRC, she is also often found like all staff manning the reception at FOS and revival of the enclosures.

[timbo999]

ecsrobin said:

TV8 said:

Hi SarahGoodwood, I do not know why you "understand" that I may not wish to hear from anyone at Goodwood? Have you read my posts or is this a rephrasing attempt to make Goodwoods lack of action seem like my wish? I have been chasing a reply on here for several weeks.

Anyway, in other news, someone call Cleo responded to my email, 2 days short of one calendar month from when I sent it in.

In that email, she confirmed that there is a known problem with forum access and the Goodwood IT team is working with the developer of the platform to resolve it.

Some other nonsense was included regarding the the loss of the Thursday tickets including changing working practices meaning that Thursday is now the new Friday and the local roads are too busy as a result and the one that made me smile was the problem that members who redeem their free tickets then don't attend, causing dissatisfaction for the different stakeholders! We have over attendance causing increased traffic on the surrounding roads and over attendance in the Kinara enclosure that members used benefit from but some people get free tickers and don't attend, causing general dissatisfaction.

I’m not really sure what you were expecting from Goodwood?? They will only regurgitate the company line about the issues you raised which have been discussed at length on this thread. If you expected a different response than what we’ve all had more fool you.

Also if you paid any attention to the club you would know that Cleo is probably the longest serving member of staff within the GRRC, she is also often found like all staff manning the reception at FOS and revival of the enclosures.

I was just about to respond in a similar vein... The GRRC is a commercial enterprise, anyone who thinks it is in any way a 'club' - whereby the 'members' have any influence on the running of the club - are naive in the extreme.

Worth noting, when weighing up the value of the membership costs that you get 15% off the driving experineces including the new simulators which are great fun but you WILL be beaten by the 12 year old in the next seat.

[RichB]

ecsrobin said:

<clip> Also if you paid any attention to the club you would know that Cleo is probably the longest serving member of staff within the GRRC, she is also often found like all staff manning the reception at FOS and revival of the enclosures.

Along with other's in the team I think she also woks the phones in the ticket office on the day tickets go on sale.

I have no issue at all with the GRRC team, it's just the ever increasing fees.

[flatlandsman]

There is a very simple answer, remove this obsession people involved with this club of FOMO and maybe if enough people do they might do something about it, right now they are simply fleecing you for more and more and offering less and less, the answer is glaringly obvious

(If that is you want to see it...)

[TV8]

ecsrobin said:

I’m not really sure what you were expecting from Goodwood?? They will only regurgitate the company line about the issues you raised which have been discussed at length on this thread. If you expected a different response than what we’ve all had more fool you.

Also if you paid any attention to the club you would know that Cleo is probably the longest serving member of staff within the GRRC, she is also often found like all staff manning the reception at FOS and revival of the enclosures.

Its quite simple, I expected a response in a short period of time, not 2 days short of a month.

In addition to the feedback that all members were invited to contact the club about, I reported an issue accessing the members forums and that has now been confirmed as a IT problem still under investigation.

Ps, love the pompous tone

[ecsrobin]

TV8 said:

Its quite simple, I expected a response in a short period of time, not 2 days short of a month.

In addition to the feedback that all members were invited to contact the club about, I reported an issue accessing the members forums and that has now been confirmed as a IT problem still under investigation.

Ps, love the pompous tone

If you expect a quick response, why not pick up the phone? Also didn’t you message over Christmas when people have leave?

Before you start commenting on how other posters posts come across you might want to reflect on how yours are written and come across…..

[No ideas for a name]

flatlandsman said:

There is a very simple answer, remove this obsession people involved with this club of FOMO and maybe if enough people do they might do something about it, right now they are simply fleecing you for more and more and offering less and less, the answer is glaringly obvious

(If that is you want to see it...)

It will be interesting to see what happens this year. The 'club' is obviously now very aware of the views of the membership.
The only thing that will make a difference is as you say, the membership and how they react financially.

If as has been said, there really was a 20% leaving rate (totally unverified) AND a very low joining rate from Associates, the message will have been sent in a way that affects the 'club'.

If the total membership was 10k+ before the 'issues', and is still 10k+, then everything will continue.

Just to cover the other issue mentioned - I find the actual staff fine and friendly. I have spoken on the phone with a few over the last year and no complaints. They do however have to work within a framework of their employer.

[Mk2Jag]

No ideas for a name said:

flatlandsman said:

There is a very simple answer, remove this obsession people involved with this club of FOMO and maybe if enough people do they might do something about it, right now they are simply fleecing you for more and more and offering less and less, the answer is glaringly obvious

(If that is you want to see it...)

It will be interesting to see what happens this year. The 'club' is obviously now very aware of the views of the membership.
The only thing that will make a difference is as you say, the membership and how they react financially.

If as has been said, there really was a 20% leaving rate (totally unverified) AND a very low joining rate from Associates, the message will have been sent in a way that affects the 'club'.

If the total membership was 10k+ before the 'issues', and is still 10k+, then everything will continue.

Just to cover the other issue mentioned - I find the actual staff fine and friendly. I have spoken on the phone with a few over the last year and no complaints. They do however have to work within a framework of their employer.

I agree with this. Staff have always been a pleasure to deal with, whether that’s on the phone, at events or at The Kennels when I’ve been.

I don’t think it’s fair to be critical of those who are forward facing and no doubt do their best to keep the paying public and members happy. Everyone drops the ball occasionally but I have to say generally speaking I find everyone that I interact with at Goodwood to be both professional and courteous.

It seems to be the higher echelons of management at Goodwood Towers who are completely out of touch with so many members. They have shot themselves in the foot repeatedly over the last year or so with what appears to be an unbelievable level of dismissive arrogance.

Moving on, I’m prepared to draw a line under it and I am now looking forward to the MM and Revival as I do every year. Let’s see how the feedback is reflected in plans for the future including price hikes and the erosion of benefits and who knows we might all feel like we’re more valued this time next year. If not, I’m sure many more of us will be voting with our feet!

[ecsrobin]

Yes, I’m sure we’ve all been in a similar position at some point in our careers having to toe a company line that we know is unpopular so I do feel for the team there.

There’s been quite a few posts on here and the FB group about giving it one more year so you’d hope the staff pull out all the stops this year.

[WhyOne]

No ideas for a name said:

.......

Just to cover the other issue mentioned - I find the actual staff fine and friendly. I have spoken on the phone with a few over the last year and no complaints. They do however have to work within a framework of their employer.

Like many, I feel very let down by Goodwood and the latest erosion of full-member benefits, however I have found the membership-facing staff I have dealt with over the years to have all been brilliant.

Edited by WhyOne on Wednesday 24th January 08:30

[No ideas for a name]

WhyOne said:

Like many, I feel.very let down by Goodwood and the latest erosion of full-member benefits, however I have found the membership-facing staff I have dealt with over the years to have all been brilliant.

I will take the opportunity to thank Sarah who pops in here occasionally.
Can't be easy as pretty well every time she puts her head over the parapet, some one shoots it off.. (That includes me from time to time).
Tough job, having to toe the company line and enter this forum where there are more complaints that praise.

I trust it does get the message through, though staff can't change the direction of the GRRC.

[RichB]

The irony being that this has all been kicked off by the removal of a Thursday ticket for the FoS that I, for one, only occasionally used. I suppose it was that on top of the significant hikes in fees over the last two years. The classic straw that broke the camel's back.

[No ideas for a name]

RichB said:

The irony being that this has all been kicked off by the removal of a Thursday ticket for the FoS that I, for one, only occasionally used. I suppose it was that on top of the significant hikes in fees over the last two years. The classic straw that broke the camel's back.

This.
FoS isn't really my thing, so I rarely claimed my Thursday tickets.

[WhyOne]

RichB said:

The irony being that this has all been kicked off by the removal of a Thursday ticket for the FoS that I, for one, only occasionally used. I suppose it was that on top of the significant hikes in fees over the last two years. The classic straw that broke the camel's back.

Likewise in may ways.

Off the back of 'donating' my membership fee to Goodwood in the first year of the pandemic, I just find this all very disappointing - far more the action taken by Goodwood than it's direct impact on myself.