First of all, to those people accusing the past negative responses of attacking Adam when he’s taken the time to post, no one is attacking Adam personally, yes there are legalities that are preventing him saying certain things, no one is asking him to risk his position and break the company guidelines etc etc. However after years of hearing that MSM and the LPU are listening, yet no changes (for the sake fans) are seen, it’s no wonder the response to his reply was less than positive. that information.
However, as a representative of the company. no one should have to part with their cash before you SHOW THEM how great something will be – especially if it’s something that has still to be developed to cater for those concerns. To pay someone to show you why you should pay them –seems a little wrong to me – this is something I regularly tell people trying to sell their businesses to me within the music industry, I’m not going to pay you to research/develop something I may like in 6 months time.
Pre-Sales/Tickets
This whole thing seems sugar coated, which being in Social Media Marketing myself I agree with Jeanne’s comments in relation to tickets. Prime example is the small print with regards to the "best available seats held for LPU" – bingo. During the last actual UK tour, January 2008, the seats we got in the Pre-Sale for the O2 Arena in London were appalling, close to the back of the Arena –even then we felt a little ripped off.
LPUX package.
Everything has already been said collectively by Simon, Jeanne, Bec and everyone else who has voiced their ‘concerns’. In regards again to ‘We’re listening and taking it all in’- it seems that the listening and research should have happened before asking for $60 apiece for a package that really is not giving you anything substantial. Especially as really there are no new features included in the package apart from you no longer receiving a T-shirt/package. If nothing is being sent to the member/recipient – then yes this is an online package. Simple as that.
M&G’s
Let’s face it, the band don’t really want to be there most of the time, long standing members(who are now adults) don’t get a look in – The last meet & greet I got was again was MK Bowl and like Simon already said, himself Bec and I were left ‘holding the baby’ and trying to ensure that fans got their passes and missed a good chunk of the event organising things – which we still got abuse for.
But apart from that the entire 5 date UK tour that myself and alot of fellow members attended and travelled to, not one of us got a M&G pass – for any of those date – this seems a little strange, regardless of how many times the LPU states ‘selected at Random’ – seems strange that all the ‘random’ selections were children with their required accompanying adults – we checked, we asked.
The album events with LPUX pre-sale purchase.
Oh wow, that is a great deal. If you live in the US, however for those of us who have spent way more than we can afford travelling to ‘support’ the band on various trips to US events from the UK – this ‘free’ even t – which I noticed the fine print of ‘a select number of tickets spaces for this free event will be reserved for LPU members’ – wait a minute – how many is ‘a select number’ in relation to those you’ll be giving away to non paying members of the LPU.
The package itself is great – if you’re a new member and living in the US where you can go to the free events (and it won’t cost you £1000 to travel to do so) as you’re getting a ticket to an event in the price of your membership.
HOWEVER, if you’re not in the US (which will be a large percentage of your members/customers however you want to view it), then think of it from their point of view – really $60 to join a website, with the ‘possible ‘– not guaranteed chance to meet the band, presales for tickets you could get better by getting the pre-sale codes from promoters (which is easy to do online if you know how)... and wait for it a Digital Download of tracks (if you’re not a new member) you already have. And you can pay extra for fanclub merchandise which you used to get included for the old lower price anyway.
I could go on forever but let’s be honest here, it’s not like it’ll make a difference, but I felt the need to share and rant as my peers have. It’s a shame its come to this, and having a time in some of our lives that helped to make who we are today, it’s sad that rather than us looking back with fond memories they’ll be slightly tainted by the sour taste of the sheer commercialism of the band nowadays. Whatever way you sugarcoat it.
All the best to everyone, regardless.
