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Post by focus12 on Oct 6, 2008 19:23:47 GMT
I heard some disturbing news over the last weekend in Scotland. It appears that after a complaint by the NPSC to Premiere coaches, no-one other than the Panther office themselves or the NPSC can hire a coach from Premiere to take Panther fans anywhere. So to my mind if we dont join the NPSC we cant go on their coach and we cant hire a coach from Premiere coaches either. Dictatorial  Freedom of choice?    |
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Higgy
Les Strongman
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Post by Higgy on Oct 6, 2008 19:40:23 GMT
What exactly was the complaint about?
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Post by Nemesis on Oct 6, 2008 19:44:35 GMT
I assume the Premier coaches are a private company?
So essentially a private company has agree to limit it consumer base after a demand by 1 small customer?
Nope, can't see it sorry. And even if they did, why don't you start a brass rubbing club that just happens to want to visit all the same city's on the same days the Panthers are playing? Purely coincidentally you understand...
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Post by martinski83 on Oct 6, 2008 20:05:45 GMT
Use a different coach company?
I'm sure there's more than 1 in Nottingham. If Premiere don't want the business I'm sure another company will bite your hand off.
Better still use megabus (but not from Nottingham), or book in advance and go by bus or rail or plane for next to nothing.
I know the last two times I've been to Edinburgh I've flown up.
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Post by focus12 on Oct 6, 2008 20:39:19 GMT
A driver of Premieres, who also happens to be a Panther fan has been hiring coaches (self drive) for Fans who want to travel by coach but are not eligible to go on the NPSC one as they are not members. I hear that a complaint has been made to Premiere that the NPSC will not hire any more coaches from Premiere if they continue to supply coaches for other Panther fans to use.
I am aware that other coach companies are in Nottm and would probably be grateful for the custom, but that is not the point being made.
Nem, this is as told to me by the said driver at Premiere. I could hardly believe what I was being told, but this is the case. The guy has no reason to lie. He makes no profit from this venture.
Is this a ploy to get more members?
Will we not be able to car share soon?
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Higgy
Les Strongman
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Post by Higgy on Oct 6, 2008 20:47:38 GMT
I hear that a complaint has been made to Premiere that the NPSC will not hire any more coaches from Premiere if they continue to supply coaches for other Panther fans to use. If thats true that is an utter joke, something else which tarnishes the supporters club. |
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Post by lps on Oct 6, 2008 20:48:16 GMT
The only way I can see this being possible is that Premiere are on a retainer or contract agreement from the NPSC, otherwise I would have thought any coach company would be free to run the trip to non NPSC members.
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Post by focus12 on Oct 6, 2008 20:51:41 GMT
They are contracted by the Panthers but I dont think the NPSC would run to an actual contract.
But then again, why would they complain? surely the more supporters go the better.
The persons using this coach are not NPSC members and most do not want to join.
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Higgy
Les Strongman
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Post by Higgy on Oct 6, 2008 20:58:21 GMT
But then again, why would they complain? surely the more supporters go the better. The persons using this coach are not NPSC members and most do not want to join. Exactly, and why should people have to join the supporters club just to go to away games? The more away fans the better i say who cares which coach they go on? |
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Post by lps on Oct 6, 2008 20:59:22 GMT
Maybe someone should consider starting up the 'unofficial Nottingham Panthers Supporters Club' (UNPSC) with no membership fee  |
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Post by Nemesis on Oct 6, 2008 21:06:55 GMT
I was not disputing what you said Auntie, it was a comment on the situation. I cannot believe that a private company, a company I assume was setup to make money would accept such a restriction in trade. Put it this way, if I owned a company and someone walked in making such demands of me I know what I would do, and it would involve lots of laughter!
It is not only ridiculous in the extreme, but I would suggest open to challenge. Rumpole would be the man for this.
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Post by Carnell on Oct 6, 2008 21:12:02 GMT
My mum is the Away Travel Manager for the NPSC.
There has been no complaint from the supporters club to premiere about the guy hiring out the smaller coaches.
The guy phoned my mum several weeks ago to talk about the situation, and she explained that they hadn't complained, and were NOT planning on putting forward a complaint.
I have PERSONALLY been told from someone OUTSIDE the NPSC committee that the blame lies with Premiere themselves.
I'm not going to name names, as i was told this in confidence, but Premiere were unhappy at the possibility of losing the NPSC coach money should minimum numbers of supporters not be reached, therefore THEY have instigated the ban on private hire for other Panther fans.
FYI, my mum willingly passed the guys number on to NPSC members that wished to travel to Edinburgh, that had originally booked to travel with the Supporters Club.
The guys comments are out of order, but I'm guessing that this is what he has been told from his employers.
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Post by spik on Oct 6, 2008 21:17:46 GMT
Awaiting to hear the whole story.....there could be more unknown about this.Let's hear a reply from NPSC.....But if this is true......
1) I would have thought that if anyone was in trouble it might have been the driver for working outside his normal role with his employers.
2) If the unofficial bus passengers were unruly (no suggestion of this) that again the owners of the company would be the ones taking action.
3) Can only assume that this will only drive (no oun intended) more folks onto more unofficial bus journeys.
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Shaggy
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Post by Shaggy on Oct 6, 2008 21:20:06 GMT
I'm not going to name names, as i was told this in confidence, but Premiere were unhappy at the possibility of losing the NPSC coach money should minimum numbers of supporters not be reached, therefore THEY have instigated the ban on private hire for other Panther fans. If that is the case, then Premiere had better think again. Rightly or wrongly (and it's everyone's own choice) there are a lot of people who don't like the NPSC or simply don't want to join the NPSC. The people who would go on a non-NPSC coach are, by and large. not the same people who are members of the NPSC. The one is not very likely to affect the other. And if there's any proof of this required, look at previous seasons. There have been lots of NPSC coaches that have ben cancelled due to low demand... without any competing coaches in operation. Whatever the reasons behind this... if anyone here truly has any channel for communication with Premiere, then I would strongly suggest that they persuade Premiere to reverse this decision. It's not going to do them or anyone else any good at all. |
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Post by spik on Oct 6, 2008 21:20:52 GMT
My mum is the Away Travel Manager for the NPSC. There has been no complaint from the supporters club to premiere about the guy hiring out the smaller coaches. The guy phoned my mum several weeks ago to talk about the situation, and she explained that they hadn't complained, and were NOT planning on putting forward a complaint. I have PERSONALLY been told from someone OUTSIDE the NPSC committee that the blame lies with Premiere themselves. I'm not going to name names, as i was told this in confidence, but Premiere were unhappy at the possibility of losing the NPSC coach money should minimum numbers of supporters not be reached, therefore THEY have instigated the ban on private hire for other Panther fans. FYI, my mum willingly passed the guys number on to NPSC members that wished to travel to Edinburgh, that had originally booked to travel with the Supporters Club. The guys comments are out of order, but I'm guessing that this is what he has been told from his employers. Sounds , as I though.We needed confirmation of facts here. As I also said,...a company call on this one. In this case maybe lost custom coming up for premier. It's between the driver and his employer it seems. |
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Post by Rob #12 on Oct 6, 2008 23:09:38 GMT
I think someone on here has jumped the gun a bit by stating they know for fact a complaint was made. That person might want to withdraw that statement without knowing first hand information.
I was there when the Chairman, Treasurer and Vice Chairman discussed this a few weeks ago. I can tell you for fact hand on heart that no complaint was made by them and they were as surprised to hear about this as everyone else is.
If anyone has any problem or would like to get an official reply, speak to Joe at the next home game. I am sure he would be happy to talk facts.
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Post by Number 9.1 on Oct 6, 2008 23:50:12 GMT
Misinformation or not, it's the fact that people are willing to believe it that's the real issue for the supporters club.
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KIGOIUK
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Post by KIGOIUK on Oct 6, 2008 23:50:51 GMT
statement from NPSC is that they have not officaly complained so leave it at that , but if its just premier coach travel thats dictating that they do not want any Private coach travel for none members of said organisation then try www.needabus.co.uk Ask for Gary ( Tell him Cousin Geoff sent you ), I am sure he will arrange None members coach travel with his Coach firm . He also has mini buses for smaller crowds . |
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Shorty
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Post by Shorty on Oct 7, 2008 6:06:03 GMT
I have travelled on the supporters club bus in the past, despite not being a member of the supporters club. I think we paid a bit extra. That was probably about two seasons ago, so unless the policy has changed, I can't see an issue.
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Post by sameagain on Oct 7, 2008 8:06:05 GMT
Lots of NPSC members were on the coach, number given to me when NPSC coach was cancelled, who gave it to me. The away travel steward ofthe NPSC. Think someone is telling porkies.
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Doughnut
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Post by Doughnut on Oct 7, 2008 9:31:57 GMT
If you look at it from Premiere's point of view: on one hand one of their drivers has been hiring their coaches from them for self drive and on the other hand the NPSC (who presumably pay more money for hiring from them) have been failing to get enough numbers. The two things may be either directly or indirectly related.
So from Premiere's point of view one of their own drivers is taking business from them by using one of their own coaches which (I'm guessing here) he's hired at a preferential rate. If that's the situation then I can understand Premiere doing something about it. Maybe the best solution all round would be for Premiere to bypass the NPSC and put on the coach trips themselves.
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Milkman™
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Post by Milkman™ on Oct 7, 2008 9:36:12 GMT
Maybe the best solution all round would be for Premiere to bypass the NPSC and put on the coach trips themselves. That would go down well. However as you say Rob, they would be able to match the bus size to demand and, maybe they would do pick ups outside Nottingham too (en route of course) a thing the NPSC have flatly refused to do in the past. |
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Post by Carnell on Oct 7, 2008 15:21:31 GMT
maybe they would do pick ups outside Nottingham too (en route of course) a thing the NPSC have flatly refused to do in the past. The coach would pick up from other locations providing it is on the route, however, we never know who the driver is, or the route that will be taken until the day, therefore it is difficult to organize, however, we always drop off on the way back, again if it is on route. |
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Milkman™
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Post by Milkman™ on Oct 7, 2008 15:47:37 GMT
maybe they would do pick ups outside Nottingham too (en route of course) a thing the NPSC have flatly refused to do in the past. The coach would pick up from other locations providing it is on the route, however, we never know who the driver is, or the route that will be taken until the day, therefore it is difficult to organize, however, we always drop off on the way back, again if it is on route. You always pass Selby Fork en route to Newcastle that's the pick up I was refused, it was suggested I go Selby - Nottingham for the bus ;( |
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Post by Carnell on Oct 7, 2008 16:18:23 GMT
The coach would pick up from other locations providing it is on the route, however, we never know who the driver is, or the route that will be taken until the day, therefore it is difficult to organize, however, we always drop off on the way back, again if it is on route. You always pass Selby Fork en route to Newcastle that's the pick up I was refused, it was suggested I go Selby - Nottingham for the bus ;( I don't know when that was, but it was certainly not this season. If you wish to travel, you should speak to the NPSC Travel Manager to discuss this |
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