Coach to Ashington, Issues

[ron manager]

Have you spoken to the coach provider? If it's cancelled then lose all the profit as well as probably still having to find the wages for the driver and not much chance of re-booking the coach.

If they can knock the price down by £30 or £40 then it's probably only an extra pound per person.

Its an uncle of a Fan on here, I'll let them introduce themselves, but tbh, pushing them lower would put them at lose, as they are not a big company and already doing us a favor, most of the other coach companies wanted around 1200-1300!!!! to do the same trip, so really we have got a bargain here.

At the moment, I looking at £50 sponsorship from the the wife (means I have to plaster here advert on the bus, but hey thats nothing), and the rest made up on the footy card on the bus.

[Mat.H]

I have put a call in to the Father in Law to see if we can sell tea and coffee on the coach (the stuff is there just need consumables) for say 50p as that may get £20/30 in both ways, he is going to get back to me.
The majority of the cost is the fuel the two drivers are not m,aking much out of it.

[ron manager]

I have put a call in to the Father in Law to see if we can sell tea and coffee on the coach (the stuff is there just need consumables) for say 50p as that may get £20/30 in both ways, he is going to get back to me.
The majority of the cost is the fuel the two drivers are not m,aking much out of it.

Sorry Mat, said Uncle not Father in Law, will get it right at least once, I think we are alright as it stands, but don't want too lose any more bookings really, I had to twist her indoors arm about the sponsorship, and there was plenty of grumblings ;)

Just make sure you all bring plenty of change for the footy card I have.

[Mat.H]

I have put a call in to the Father in Law to see if we can sell tea and coffee on the coach (the stuff is there just need consumables) for say 50p as that may get £20/30 in both ways, he is going to get back to me.
The majority of the cost is the fuel the two drivers are not m,aking much out of it.

Sorry Mat, said Uncle not Father in Law, will get it right at least once, I think we are alright as it stands, but don't want too lose any more bookings really, I had to twist her indoors arm about the sponsorship, and there was plenty of grumblings ;)

Just make sure you all bring plenty of change for the footy card I have.

The driver and owner is my Uncle in Law (if there is such a thing).

[Everyweeker]

I do hope that we don't have 'no-shows' on the morning - I seem to recall this being a problem for some trips on the old supporters coaches.

Obviously, people get ill on the morning etc (this stopped me from taking a place on a trip to Swansea once), but it could present a financial problem if someone books on and then decides to 'not be up for it' when it comes to leaving the house on a cold Saturday morning.

[rushdenman]

I do hope that we don't have 'no-shows' on the morning - I seem to recall this being a problem for some trips on the old supporters coaches.

Obviously, people get ill on the morning etc (this stopped me from taking a place on a trip to Swansea once), but it could present a financial problem if someone books on and then decides to 'not be up for it' when it comes to leaving the house on a cold Saturday morning.

You are quite right - on average we probably used to get around 3 or 4 very late cancellations or no shows, and it is something we used to factor into the pricing.
It is more difficult for you with just a single trip as you don't have the option of spreading the risk across a number of trips.

What can be particularly galling is having to cancel a coach several days before the trip due to lack of numbers and then get people ringing on the Friday evening wanting to book, meaning that the coach could have run if only they had booked earlier!

[ron manager]

I do hope that we don't have 'no-shows' on the morning - I seem to recall this being a problem for some trips on the old supporters coaches.

Obviously, people get ill on the morning etc (this stopped me from taking a place on a trip to Swansea once), but it could present a financial problem if someone books on and then decides to 'not be up for it' when it comes to leaving the house on a cold Saturday morning.

You are quite right - on average we probably used to get around 3 or 4 very late cancellations or no shows, and it is something we used to factor into the pricing.
It is more difficult for you with just a single trip as you don't have the option of spreading the risk across a number of trips.

What can be particularly galling is having to cancel a coach several days before the trip due to lack of numbers and then get people ringing on the Friday evening wanting to book, meaning that the coach could have run if only they had booked earlier!

As it stands, we have secured the necessary finance to run the coach, unless I have loads of cancellations we are good to go. I'm still hopeful for the last minute bookings to make it a bit more comfortable though.

[Bobos]

I must say, Well Done Ron.............it's not easy sorting things like this out.
I'm sure it will be a success and you will have learnt a lot from this exercise................well done again 8-) 8-)

[Pigman]

Here, here - well done ron - top job !!

[ron manager]

Right, quick update, not sure how many on here are on the coach, but...

No alcohol, on the bus, which I think I said anyway, as its illegal, and if we get pulled with it, it would not be good.

Respect the bus, ie clean up rubbish, bags will be provided.

This a owner operator business, and it's his bus, family friendly, so bare that in mind.

Oh, and no phantom shi55er in the coach toilet please:):)

That said, its should be fun, Mark Dimmock and guest has been allocated the table seat for the fact that he is traveling up from Devon to catch the bus, so a just reward for his efforts.

There will be a football card on the bus, please donate generously as that means the prizes will be higher and all money goes to the coach costs.

I think the coach has a DVD player, so maybe worth digging out some bus friendly videos, my copy of Debbie does Dallas is staying at home (well on the phone anyway).

We haven't planned to stop anywhere in advance, but if anybody knows of a good stop off for the driver and us on route let me know on the day (they need a 45min stop minimum) and we can arrange it.