Should the OAP discount be scrapped?

[Beowulf]

2 hours ago, screm said:

Berwick have taken the decision to remove any concession payments by putting the walk up admission price set at £20.

For each track it is a business decision. I sincerely hope that those withdraw it  do not have cause for regret it at the end of the season. What I don't get is why are those younger people who don't get the concession moaning about it ?  At my place of work, I have been there 21 years. As such I get extra holidays, currently 30 days, a total that you got to in incremental stages. Now because they cannot afford  wage rises they are upping everyone's holiday entitlement to 30 days over the next 2 years. I am no worse off, others are better off, why should I complain?

[mc131]

16 minutes ago, Beowulf said:

For each track it is a business decision. I sincerely hope that those withdraw it  do not have cause for regret it at the end of the season. What I don't get is why are those younger people who don't get the concession moaning about it ?  At my place of work, I have been there 21 years. As such I get extra holidays, currently 30 days, a total that you got to in incremental stages. Now because they cannot afford  wage rises they are upping everyone's holiday entitlement to 30 days over the next 2 years. I am no worse off, others are better off, why should I complain?

 Exactly, but sadly some ppl just love to moan

Edited December 2, 2022 by mc131

[uk_martin]

12 hours ago, BV66 said:

The "Must Have Now" society that we live in, ...

If we ran our household budgets like the government does its finances, ...

https://moneynerd.co.uk/average-personal-debt-uk-2022/

It seems to me that "our households" are full of people who "must have now" so much that personal debt is at record highs. I don't think that the way that the government runs the country is any different to how the average household is run. But of course, you can always blame the government but you can't blame ordinary Joe, can you? Because ordinary Joe looks just like you and me, and we can't be seen to be blaming ourselves now, can we?

[wealdstone]

My local foodbank are not supplying me with the quality or quantity of wine that I  believe I am entitled to . Things would I am sure be a lot  different under a Labour Government they appreciate such problems . They know   that the Tories  have bought up all the good stuff  with the money accumulated from  avoiding tax  just leaving the ordinary bloke to make do with Vin Ordinaire

[Halifaxtiger]

On 11/20/2022 at 9:41 AM, Byker Biker said:

Until someone has to live off a pension and see how thinly that income has to be spread I don't feel they are qualified to add value to this topic. Deciding what stays and goes on a monthly basis isn't a comfortable feeling.

In my opinion Speedway would be better off trying to keep the customers it has already got rather than risk alienating more. The sport hasn't been very good in the past at this, self interest and the blind desire to win has distorted every possible view of what was a sport. The limited company that has no financial or marketing leadership and is running the "show" needs to become a proper company instead of an agency for the village fete committee then we might see some accountability and unilateral direction. The decision to become a limited company in my opinion was purely a risk averse move.

In simple terms; invest in a growing market, consolidate in a static market and defend in a receding market. It all costs money but in these times it may be wiser to try and lose less by defending what they already have.

I am pretty sure that the bit I have highlighted is applicable equally to working families. The inference that all pensioners are in that situation is, I believe, highly inaccurate.  

A study completed in 2017 suggested that if housing costs are not taken into account the average pensioner is better off than the average non pensioner (for want of a better term). This takes very much into account the fact that those of pensionable age are less likely to have housing costs than those of working age.

Are pensioners better off than people of working age? - Full Fact

This a more recent headline:

Pensioners will be better off than workers by 2024 (telegraph.co.uk)

This refers to disposable income and while I can't see the text the header is clear.

I'd say, then, that the suggestion that pensioners are less likely to able to afford entry costs and therefore should receive a discount as a result is questionable at best.

Having said that, your second paragraph is absolutely bang on. Doing away with the discount, I suspect, will lose more than it gains and surely that has to be the bottom line.   

[Halifaxtiger]

On 12/2/2022 at 7:11 PM, Beowulf said:

For each track it is a business decision. I sincerely hope that those withdraw it  do not have cause for regret it at the end of the season. What I don't get is why are those younger people who don't get the concession moaning about it ?  At my place of work, I have been there 21 years. As such I get extra holidays, currently 30 days, a total that you got to in incremental stages. Now because they cannot afford  wage rises they are upping everyone's holiday entitlement to 30 days over the next 2 years. I am no worse off, others are better off, why should I complain?

I don't think they are all moaning. I am sure one or two might be motivated by nothing more than spite but for some - including me - it is a question of whether allowing a discount is justifiable given the parlous state of speedway's finances. Why should the average pensioner get a discount when their disposable income - according to at least one study - is higher than a non pensioner ? That's not an unreasonable point.

You are right that it is a business decision and that alone. I'm not sure precisely what the discount is but, as an example, if one person currently paying £16 walks away, you have to ensure that four others pay £20 just to break even. That's a gamble that might well not be worth taking.

[Fromafar]

8 hours ago, Halifaxtiger said:

I don't think they are all moaning. I am sure one or two might be motivated by nothing more than spite but for some - including me - it is a question of whether allowing a discount is justifiable given the parlous state of speedway's finances. Why should the average pensioner get a discount when their disposable income - according to at least one study - is higher than a non pensioner ? That's not an unreasonable point.

You are right that it is a business decision and that alone. I'm not sure precisely what the discount is but, as an example, if one person currently paying £16 walks away, you have to ensure that four others pay £20 just to break even. That's a gamble that might well not be worth taking.

Like you say it is a business decision and a bit of gamble.Time will tell,certainly effects my thoughts regarding regular attendance given fuel and other factors,including match day pricing.

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

If the concession does indeed mean more pensioners attend to a point where it outweighs the gain of a price hike as people are saying  then surely the same would apply to those of working age

Therefore the concession should go but with the lower admission level applying and crowds would increase.......

[chunky]

2 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

but with the lower admission level applying and crowds would increase.......

But only if the product improves and we provide value for money... Wouldn't matter if it was free if people aren't interested.

[uk_martin]

7 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

the lower admission level applying and crowds would increase.......

Would it?  How far must it reduce to? £10?  £5? I don't think that people go around thinking "how can I best spend £10, or £15?" They look at what is likely to give them a good night out, pay for it, and then decide afterwards whether that was money well spent or not, and on that decision base whether they would want to go again. On that basis, the onus is on the sport to deliver a good night out. You'll never get lose the "speedway at any price" public and you'll never entice the "no speedway even if it was free" types. The job is to convert those who go once into going many times, and that you will only do if the product and presentation is improved and brought into the 21st century. An analogy would be that in a world of streaming movies, speedway is still playing betamax video tapes.

7 hours ago, chunky said:

But only if the product improves and we provide value for money... Wouldn't matter if it was free if people aren't interested.

Exactly!

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

1 hour ago, uk_martin said:

Would it?  How far must it reduce to? £10?  £5? I don't think that people go around thinking "how can I best spend £10, or £15?" They look at what is likely to give them a good night out, pay for it, and then decide afterwards whether that was money well spent or not, and on that decision base whether they would want to go again. On that basis, the onus is on the sport to deliver a good night out. You'll never get lose the "speedway at any price" public and you'll never entice the "no speedway even if it was free" types. The job is to convert those who go once into going many times, and that you will only do if the product and presentation is improved and brought into the 21st century. An analogy would be that in a world of streaming movies, speedway is still playing betamax video tapes.

Exactly!

I was playing devil's advocate to the posters saying pensioners would stop going if the price increased but more would still go with a lower price

The issues you state are very true but are not not relatable to the situation re concessions and their impact 

[Beowulf]

11 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

If the concession does indeed mean more pensioners attend to a point where it outweighs the gain of a price hike as people are saying  then surely the same would apply to those of working age

Therefore the concession should go but with the lower admission level applying and crowds would increase.......

Could you really envisage admission charges ever coming down ? I dont think so.

[therefused]

Yes

[Fromafar]

2 hours ago, Beowulf said:

Could you really envisage admission charges ever coming down ? I dont think so.

50% increase in Concession Prices is a big hike though.

[wealdstone]

We are such a burden to society  that we should all be exterminated. 

[WRDukes]

6 minutes ago, wealdstone said:

We are such a burden to society  that we should all be exterminated. 

I think the Govt & NHS call us 'bed-blockers'?  You can see why Hancock  got 2 years supply of Midazolam just before the start of the 'pandemic'

[Beowulf]

1 hour ago, wealdstone said:

We are such a burden to society  that we should all be exterminated. 

Isn't it great to be 'disliked' just because you are older ?

[wealdstone]

48 minutes ago, Beowulf said:

Isn't it great to be 'disliked' just because you are older ?

We have passed our sell by date  and are no longer of any use to society.  Once such assets as we have that  were scrimped and saved for are passed to the "we are entitled " brigade we will fade off into history

[Fromafar]

1 hour ago, wealdstone said:

We have passed our sell by date  and are no longer of any use to society.  Once such assets as we have that  were scrimped and saved for are passed to the "we are entitled " brigade we will fade off into history

Next up will be Concessions for U/65s no doubt. It’s the way forward I feel.!!

[wealdstone]

It is us OAPS that should be scrapped