I thought I would make an email public that I sent palace on Thursday morning, AS of yet i have heard no response, just wondered if anyone else is bit fed up like myself, not really to do with performances (obviously this has an effect).

Many wont agree with me or will see it as a stop moaning about everything kind of post, but i wanted to see if someone could put a spin on it and make me think i am being to harsh or expecting to much ?

i sent it to customer sevices, sales office, box office and Anna.mccarthy

To All it May Concern,

I have never in my 28 years ever wrote a letter of complaint regarding a good or service, I am a laid back man who doesn't care passionately enough in many case to get disgruntled with poor service or quality. However after the service in which my club im loyal too has given me over the years, I should probably done this a fair few years ago.

The attitude I have always had was “that’s crystal palace, just a small club from london”. But after my 5th season in the last 7 years (20 years overall a season ticket holder)t with first game of the season gripes (Three occasions the ticket hasn't turned up on time, 2 occasions my ticket hasn't worked on the day!!) I wanted to complain be cause I have had enough.

Once again this happened on Saturday, my card was received Friday 12th August for our first game Saturday 13th August, only 6 months later to the day that I have paid for the privilege back in February, I should also add I am writing this on behalf of my Dad as well, if you check your records we come as a duo, home or away tickets are brought together since he first took me to my first game back in 1990.

We turn up to the game excited and ambitious with a new release of the disappointing end to last season, travelling up from Chatham in kent and accepting the 33 mile journey door to door every home game can take up to 2 hours often. That’s not Crystal palace fault but worthy to note we do this rain, snow, sun, night or day. We turn up to the gate to walk in using our new card and surprise surprise for the 5th time in 7 seasons there is a problem. Our card does not work. Waiting 20 minutes to get a staff member to tell us what we can do now we get told by a member of staff we have to go to the Box office and que for a print off ticket. He asks us if we paid? Yes he then proceeds to say the card has been blocked! We ask why? No reason he can give us. See he explained he was new to the role and didn't have the answers, a theme I know all too well over the years with the service.

At the box office we cue for around 40 minutes, the young girl was very attentive and dealt with our issue efficiently. Sadly this was because we were not in the minority and hundreds of people had the same problem. She advises we get a print off for the game and our seasons tickets will be sent out first class Monday 15th August. WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED the tickets (Thursday 18th August) and apart from what I would take a guess at being a polite 16 year old girl on the box office desk apologising. No correspondence what so ever from the club, not even a generic PR apology that’s not personal!, The attitude that makes me feel it don’t matter, you have my money for the season, and any inconvenience or shoddy service to me wont change that. My fault really as I have been the fool to put up with lack of quality service, lack of knowledgeable Staff and over inflated prices of Food, Drink and merchandise, because that what a Loyal Football Fan does we turn a blind eye.

The club I love have Chosen to strip back the squad (so far), produce merchandise that’s ridiculously expensive, provide a match day experience that would not be sufficient for a league 2 club at times (Ques for bars and toilets ridiculously long, Sound system that’s to loud and then too quite, card reading machine that don’t work properly, warm pint, electric billboards facing the crowd? annoyingly changing every second whilst im trying to enjoy the spectacle there to really watch, toilets that are atrocious and never seem to be upgraded or even clean sufficiently) I have to monitor my own loyalty point scheme because its been wrong on many occasions. At this point it is relevant to add we could not gain loyalty points for the food and drink we brought in the ground as our cards did not work and taken off us! No receipt was provided? How do I redeem this? Can I ? Does anyone really care?

All in all the experience on Saturday was negligent in all forms from the club I loyally try to support to my full capacity taking a huge dent in my disposable income to do so, and I for the first time in my life of 28 years have started to think why do I bother ? What does it matter? The days of me being cherish as a fan have sadly gone. Managers, players and all forms of Staff will walk in and out of the club but the fans, they stay, im one of them, I go through it all with my Father and we will but for how much longer im not quite so sure.

After my long complaint I want to summarise I don’t want the earth the be moved, I just want to be able to travel to a game, walk in, enjoy a reasonable priced food and drink, watch an entertaining game of football, and now and again have some appreciation shown my way for the effort we put in.

THE SOUL OF THE CLUB IS SLOWLY DRIFTING AWAY, WITH FANS LIKE ME CONTEMPLATING MY LOYALTY I CAN SEE WHY. BUT DOES CRYSTAL PALACE, THE CORPORATE MACHINE IT HAS BECOME CARE ? SADLY I DON’T THINK SO, so I write to you all to give me hope that what I love and adore AND PAY A VAST AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR and don’t want to give up is all worthwhile?

Kind Regards

Craig xxxxxx Age 28 and Don xxxxxx Age 56 (loyal fans of support of over 70 years between us)

CC email is my father; he deserves the basic service I request too.

I wait for the reply in hope more than in anticipation.

I had the same, told tickets were blocked, went to Box Office who said they were not blocked. Given paper ticket and assurances it would not happen again...who knows. I emailed box office the next day, have received no reply. Pretty poor considering the amount I have paid out for 2 season tickets.
Can anyone confirm if we are to receive new tickets or are the originals going to be ok?

ive emailed the membership email numerous times as didnt receive confirmation, or the shirt for my son (and still havent!) even though it was order nearly 2 weeks ago. I finally get a email back from the membership manager

"Apologies for the delay here. The shirt has arrived with our mailing house and is now being processed to be sent out with the Junior Member welcome pack."

Kind regards

I don't really think tweeting Parish about something like this, is a great use of his time do you?
Everyone is moaning about signings and the playing side of the club - Now we want him to get down to the box office and sort things out!

Find an email for someone at the club, look other figure heads/dept heads up on twitter/linkedin. Surely there's a head of customer service?

The club employees people to deal with this, tweeting parish to tell him the toilets are blocked and the beer is warm will result in him eventually not replying to everyone.

The OP has a fair gripe and I'm sure if you can speak to the right person it'll be resolved.

My Gold Membership pack hadn't arrived before WBA

game. So, E.Mailed, and was told that those who

applied July onwards would have to wait until after

WBA game.

I emailed back and told them I'd ordered in June.

They then changed tack and said mine would be going out

in the week after WBA [ So no online programme ]

and finished by saying that when order processed it

would then be 2 to 3 weeks to arrive.

I emailed back and said if delivery was from UK, I

could walk there in 3 weeks and collect it!

I don't see where the issue here is. In my experience small clubs have poor box office, low staffing levels, poor technical infrastructure and frustrating box offices - Its been that way since I was a kid. Unprofessional, slightly slap dash bolstered by enthusiasm and cynical humour.

Anyone who thinks were a slick corporate marketing exercise, has never been to Selhurst park. Everything about our club screams 'punching about our weight' compared to slick financed corporate clubs.

Even my local team Reading, have a more modern ground in a modern business complex, out of town etc.

There is nothing slick about us. Tatty old ground, with lots of character, right in the middle of the community, with poor, minimal facilities, with fans taking the p*ss as a coping mechanism.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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