What do you expect from a cafe run by a bloke from Essendon*.
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| Princes Park sojourn http://www.talkingcarlton.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=28344 |
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| Author: | Blue Sombrero [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Princes Park sojourn |
Well, there we were in Melbourne for the day, Blue Beatle and I. We went to see the Brisbane game, thankfully. We caught the early morning Tiger flight from Hobart and headed to a couple of appointments. It had been on our agenda to visit the new developments at PP as I had only seen it as a hole in the ground and then a construction site. On the tram we saw it looming ahead and as we stopped and got off I had the eerie feeling I had felt a hundred times before when my dad and I did the same thing on the way to our seats in the Hawthorn stand. The sight of the old brick buildings leading to the ground; goodness knows what purpose they serve still but they haven't changed in my memory, the path leading to the back of the old stand where we bought the footy record was still the same but there the feeling ended. The new buildings look great and there are still enough seats there for quite a few people to go and watch a game of footy and maybe even to expand the capacity one day.... There was a nice flag standing proudly away from the pole at the entrance and I decided I wanted one. Had to have one for my flagpole at home that usually flies the national flag of Australia (or Mexico on special occasions such as my wife's birthday). When the Navy comes to town I fly the white ensign so the officer of the watch can see it as they steam up the Derwent and know that they are in friendly territory. Blue Beatle and I joked about the time in Sydney after we won the 79 Grand Final and I risked court martial by flying a home made CFC flag from the regimental flagpole. I did want a proper flag. We went in the main doors and were struck by the sixteen cups there, proudly on display. I expressed my disappointment to Blue Beatle that there wasn't much room for expansion, as we waited our turn for a photo in front of them. Opposite was the reception desk. I asked the young man there where the wall was with the names of the Friends of Carlton on display but he said he didn't know. Maybe if we ask at the shop, he said. I was a bit taken aback that he wouldn't know such a thing but we decided to go to the shop via the cafe. There, five metres from the reception desk was the wall. It took me a few seconds to work out how the names were written, in columns or rows but we found ours and duly headed for the shop. It looks a lot better than before. More stuff, better arranged, bigger counter, more staff. I asked if they sold flags like the one outside. They did. But we have lost the key to the cabinet. So she and two others started to ring various offices and cellphones trying to find out if anybody knew where the key was. I offered to have lunch in the cafe while they searched. The cafe menu is pretty sparse but normal lunch fare in Australia. Pasties, Pies, Sausage Rolls, sandwiches/rolls. The menu was written on a whiteboard next to the counter. It was 12:30 on the dot. There may have been eight people eating at various tables. Blue Beatle was first to order. He would have apastie. Sorry no pasties. So he would have a sausage roll. Sorry, no sausage rolls. So what have you got left. Pies. OK he would have a pie. I would too, it seemed. I noticed there were three sandwiches left in the display cabinet. Blue Beatle hoped nobody else was coming for lunch as soon there would be nothing left for them to order at all. A chef was going hard at it in the background looking after a 'Ladies of Carlton' lunch, God bless them. We ate at the end table overlooking the Social Club end goals where a family was kicking goals from all angles while one of the boys was doing a great job of imitating a goal umpire. I went back to the shop after my pie. I asked the girl if they had found the key. It seemed they'd stopped looking as soon as I had turned my back the first time because she mumbled something about it being lost and started frantically making more phonecalls. Her friend on the other end of the counter was busily telling a customer that the beanies only come in one size and they fit everybody and are only $20. Finally my attendant raised someone who might know where the key was. He arrived shortly thereafter and looked in the computer-based inventory list. No, I haven't got the key, he informed the girl. Sorry we haven't got any flags in stock but I can order you one, to me this time. I asked him if I could get it online (yes) and so decided that was the way I would do it. I told Blue Beatle I was out of luck and we headed for Spencer St empty handed, despite having had the good intentions to spend the $110 dollars a flag would have cost. I suppose anybody who wanted to buy stuff that we could see through the glass of the display case was to be similarly disappointed at the lack of a key. They obviously don't need the money or the return clients. They do need a spare key. My parting comment to Beatle was that for a professional footy club, the help was pretty ordinary as was the service. We won't be back, even if it's just to see if the bloke on the desk knows where the names are yet or if they've found the key to the display cabinet. It was great to visit the old place again to look at the oval and talk about the good old days but as for the rest of it, it reflects our recent on-field performances we reckon. Pretty bloody frustrating. But at least I now know why we why we are kicking so many behinds in games lately. Somebody forgot to order the sausage rolls. |
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| Author: | Hotcox [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
Great post mate! |
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| Author: | Wild Blue Yonder [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
Swann!!!!!!!!! |
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| Author: | kingkerna [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
great read, unfortunate that some things never change, do you think they were volunteers? I checked out hawthorns set up over summer and they seemed to be paid staff - could this be the difference? I think an email to the club would be worthwhile on this. I remember the days of the old bloke that ran the merchandise, he had a little weatherboard (from memory) hut/shed where it was all kept, he knew where everything was and took pride in his job. Wish I could remember his name now, was it Jack? |
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| Author: | bluegirl72 [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
great post, but rather depressing. Hope your flag arrives in the post before seasons end. |
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| Author: | missnaut [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
That is comically bad. You must email it off to the club! |
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| Author: | Navy Blue Horse [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
Depressingly bad but not surprising |
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| Author: | cimm1979 [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
Entertaining post, but do the right thing, contact the club and let them know your experience. I don't know what its like in Melb, but in Perth the quality of service that you get from service/hospitality/tourism industries is just plain awful. I had very similar experiences here trying to buy Dorkers stuff for my two girls, but in Perth we just shrug our shoulders because we've got used to it, people don't complain. It's so bad here I've decided to send emails to companies where I've experienced good quality or service, it's far rarer. You've already written it, so send it. Go back next year and see if it has improved. |
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| Author: | Agro jr [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
What do you expect from a cafe run by a bloke from Essendon*.
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| Author: | verbs [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
Not sure the Club would be stressing too much over a complaint about not being able to get a flag and a pastie. |
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| Author: | cimm1979 [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
verbs wrote: Not sure the Club would be stressing too much over a complaint about not being able to get a flag and a pastie. Footy clubs are about members and supporters. Gotta go the extra yard to make them happy, otherwise you end up being linked to moving interstate. |
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| Author: | verbs [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
Yeah, but it's a flag ad a pastie. |
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| Author: | missnaut [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
But it's a flag and a pastie for Blue Sombrero, it's a hoody and a keychain for someone else, a guernsey and a sausage roll for someone else...And how does the bloke at reception not know where the wall is! |
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| Author: | verbs [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
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| Author: | bondiblue [ Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
 Very good.....fun.Yeah, send it to they club. They have a sense of humour; that's what footy clubs are about. |
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| Author: | DocSherrin III [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
As a whole, Australians have little idea what constitutes good customer service. Businesses fail to realise how integral it is to their brand. They need to realise that when people walk into Visy Park - they are after an experience. Good customer service goes a long way to promoting what a great club it is. Aside from staff training in this area - I'm not sure of the solution. I always thought they should hire passionate Carlton supporters throughout the areas that deal with customers on a daily basis. But then I always thought Hooters should only hire chicks with big tits. Makes sense doesn't it? |
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| Author: | verbs [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
A Carlton supporter would definitely know where the wall was you'd expect. Staff should be made aware of such things upon induction. The flag thing sounds like it was put in the too hard basket. The tuck shop incident it would seem was caused by the unfortunate coincidence of a function? If the place is staffed by Collingwood, Richmond and Essendon* supporters, the service sounded pretty high class. |
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| Author: | chief [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
I had a similar experience a few months ago when trying to buy a jumper. A bunch of kids chatting by the front counter while I waited to be served. Then I realised they all actually worked there and couldnt be arsed serving me. Shocking service. Real shame considering how much money has been put into the place. If I behaved like that in my job I would be sacked. Seems we accept mediocrity on and off the field.. |
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| Author: | Navy Blue Horse [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
cimm1979 wrote: Footy clubs are about members and supporters. More about TV and sponsorship nowadays |
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| Author: | Agro jr [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:09 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Princes Park sojourn |
Go and have a look at the new "Pound Cafe" that just opened up at the new Whitten Oval re-development - very busy and great coffee (my dad said so  ), - they got an experienced operator there to run it.Jason Johnson from Essendon* is running our cafe at Visy Park and clearly is not up to it. As for the staff manning the merchandise shop - well that is a Carlton Responsibility and Greg Swan has obviously dropped the ball there. |
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