MFC Retail Answers Above

BoroPhil said:
Thanks Rob. There are questions that haven't been answered - did you not ask those questions or were they asked and not answered?
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Rob inferred one question from each poster would be asked, hence the "one question per poster" rule in the thread.

My question about the reason we suddenly switched from Hummel to Errea wasn't answered, possibly because of confidentiality agreements, I don't know.
 
I'm pleased to see answer 5), which addresses a complaint I've made bitterly and repeatedly about the sizing and cut of the shirts. But it remains to be seen whether "we'll pass on your comments" is a fob-off, or anything will actually be done. I'm not too impressed that they said "we ordered bigger sizes to alleviate the problem", since the problem is that the sizes are wrong, and that still doesn't help with the horrible cut. I don't want to wear 4XL.
 
There's definitely a comms problem at the club. Those responses were pretty defensive, maybe they're under a lot of pressure at the moment. Is the club still operating like the Riverside has just opened and its 1996?

Due to the lead times it looks like the kits and merch for 25/26 will be close to being done and dusted too. So Errea again.
 
Nice one Rob, appreciate your efforts in getting some kind of background to the Retail operations.

Interesting information regarding the kits, lead in times etc - must be a bit of a nightmare not having someone blab re the designs.

However there were a couple of total cop out answers. They didn't get sufficient away kit stock before Xmas as I couldnt get shorts and socks for a 10 yr old, and various sizes of adults tops also just weren't in stock.

Saying "well, Sports Direct charge £4.99" isn't actually an answer. I ordered a mug for my daughter, paid £2.99 p+p. Club shop had the exact mug at £2 more expensive and £1 more for p+p.......both via Royal Mail. Just a little thing, but they priced themselves out of a sale. Multiply this by X including the cheap kits.......lot of revenue lost.

QPR and Sheff Utd were well stocked with Errea kit before Xmas (or at least their website was showing this) we weren't. Facts is facts. And how does the club know how many kits to order if 2k people can't buy them?

Good to see the club answering a few questions but bet we are in the same position moaning about the same things next season 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Thanks for your efforts Rob. Sad to say it seems like it was a complete waste of time but I have no doubt that is through no fault of your own. I asked a question about why they are charging £90 for an Errea coat which is available everywhere else for under £50. The only difference is the Boro badge which has been stuck on (and it will probably peel off after one wash). Shame we didn't get an answer on that but I suppose they're never going to give the honest answer which is simply "we like to rip our supporters off".
 
So everything all ok with retail side then.
Just like S/T renewals everyone happy.
Win last night as well.
This club is just about perfect.
Well done Steve and Neil
 
Completely avoided the truth with delivery costs. I don't care what sports direct charge for click and collect. Sports direct are always well stocked and I can go to a sports direct in any town in the country. The fact that we have 1 retail unit makes click and collect impossible for me and others to use. There is a 0% chance that the club are not just fleecing customers by charging £6 for delivery and if the costs of delivery were that high then they should be changing courier. There was also nothing about why it costs more for delivery when you buy more instead of costing less.

Appreciate the effort Rob but as I think we all expected it was another PR box ticking exercise by the club and there appears to be no acknowledgement that everything about the retail offering is practically a disaster.
 
Again, I appreciate your efforts Rob but they are taking the p*ss out of us.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so annoyed, disappointed and disillusioned towards those running our club as I have done these past 2-3 weeks. It feels very sad. Maybe it’s just that time when you start to drift away a bit. Who knows. But the club has angered and annoyed a lot of reasonable people so maybe it’s not just me.
 
Very defensive responses and not addressed some queries. The 40 odd quid coat marked-up to 90 for the sake of a daft badge is an example. Why not have some 'premium' products at appropriate prices? - not all of us want cheap tat.
The reasoning for kit being out-of stock was stunningly ludicrous.

Modern day, progressive retail companies actively encourage customers views to help address issues and shape an improved offer.
Boro's view? - "nothing to see here".

Unless the club opens up and embraces it's fans and acts like we actually matter, then the decline will continue.

There's more than a disquiet in the air at present and MFC would do well to read the room.

Thanks to Rob for taking the time to get some answers. Not his fault they were next to useless.
 
I have bought the past 2 seasons from China, £14 including delivery to the UK

Because the club had sold out... so my 2 purchases from China are deffo not counted by the club

Tried to buy a home goalie top before christmas out of stock in XL online, walked into the club shop in start of January there was loads of XL on the rack - another missed sale

Good business MFC (y) - 3 missed sales from me alone
 
Thanks Rob for the effort.

This season’s mini home kit was sold out in August. It didn’t come back online until mid-December. I know this cause I checked pretty much weekly for my son. That’s much more than 60 days turnaround for them ordering a restock. More like 120 days.

You won’t pull the acrylic over my eyes!
 
Thanks for your effort Rob. I feel bad for you because you've tried to help and have been let down by those responses.

Unlike others I actually don't see it as defensive but more that there's not the skills and experience in the teams to deliver a good service.

I don't want to be too critical because having dealt with Jo Ann I the past, I know that she's a really helpful person who cares about the fans and the club.

The setup though is demonstrably below reasonable expectations, the club are missing out on revenue and the fans on merchandise.
 
Thanks for this Rob. I’d echo the above, it doesn’t appear like they know how to move forward with the issues raised which is disappointing.
 
The trouble with things like this is us fans are offering advice we have identified with the retail section. The response from the club is a defensive statement sharing information of issues they having to explain the issues we face. Yet they don't seem to offer any way they looking to improve current procedures they just saying they doing their best in difficult circumstances. The 60 day lead time seems long should be more 4 weeks as standard in fashion.
 
What about the questions on partnering with local companies who are producing merch that the club could easily do a deal for?

Hardly any of the questions asked I there were answered? Can you confirm all distinct questions were asked and just not answered?
 
'supporter group discussions'....... I've had a season ticket for donkeys and unless i'm wrong i can only remember when Karembeu's mrs' modelled our shirts that we could actually vote? Do our supporters groups actuallly get involved in these discussions?

Really feel a disconnection from all aspects of our club at the moment which i really dont like typing.
 
ApoBoro1982 said:
'supporter group discussions'....... I've had a season ticket for donkeys and unless i'm wrong i can only remember when Karembeu's mrs' modelled our shirts that we could actually vote? Do our supporters groups actuallly get involved in these discussions?

Really feel a disconnection from all aspects of our club at the moment which i really dont like typing.
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There have been a few of the fan votes that i can remember, bernie was used for the white and purple number, the last one we had was in 2008 I think. Definitely need to bring them back though as they were popular and made the fans feel involved, Darlington for example do one every year for both home and away.

I was lucky to be involved in the zoom discussion that Jo-ann mentioned this season with Rob and some others, there hasn't been the follow up that we were told there would be, but they did seem to be more interested in fans views this year, so hopefully this is the first step towards the right direction.

There is some issues though that need dealing with, but I don't think it's down to Jo-ann, when you talk to her you can see how much she cares for the fans, club and area, I think it's more a case of hands are tied by those from above.
 
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