You're a Bunch of Factors

If a venue gives you eight, or even four stamps, for a drink, are you more likely to return? Do you need 8 stamps for a good time at NPL?

I'm just curious as to how other NPL players feel. One pub I've been to (lets call them Pub A) regularly gives everyone 2 full cards for minimum drinks/meals. They average about 60 players a week.

While another pub (Pub B - located in the same town) gives one stamp for a pint/soft drink/two for a schooner (original NPL rules, right?). They average about 30 players a week.

Make what you will behind those two statements (of course, there could be other factors behind low turnout in Pub B), but do you think "cheap" stamps drive people away? They certainly have for me, and my friends (we stopped going to Pub B). Starting with 1000 chips just isn't feasible - we're so accustomed to the two full cards for one drink at Pub A that going anywhere else just ain't happening (for anything less than two or three stamps a drink).

Of course we'd all like eight stamps for as cheap as we can get em, but if it doesn't happen, is it the be all and end all for you? Alternatively, is anyone willing to spend the maximum amount for eight stamps at "cheap" venues?

I hear Pub B has recently started loosening up on stamps. Interesting to see if more people start turning up.

How does everyone else feel?

YES YES YES

If a venue makes it expensive to stamp up ill just go elsewhere
Currently i play at 2 venues that make it cheap and easy to stamp up
But wait there is more
Even after we are stamped up we still buy more and support the venue for supporting us with value for money offers.

I see many players at the venues i play at still spending money at the venue way after being stamped up

SUPPORT THE VENUES THAT SUPPORT THE PUNTERS

As Garth has said in another thread, if you think you're being ripped off on stamps mention it to your TD. We all talk to venue managers frequently about stamp values / prizes / incentives etc. No-one wants to see an NPL venue shut down just because of bad stamping policy, it's very easy to change.

It doesn't sound like pub B is ripping you off on stamps, it is just that pub A is giving them away (silly them). 2 stamps for a schooner is reasonable. I would have thought the average would be 1 for a schooner and 2 for an echo.

I am curious if it is the manager or owner of pub A that is giving away the stamps or an employee who doesn't realise how much it costs the venue to hold the tournament.

Matt Porter wrote:As Garth has said in another thread, if you think you're being ripped off on stamps mention it to your TD. We all talk to venue managers frequently about stamp values / prizes / incentives etc. No-one wants to see an NPL venue shut down just because of bad stamping policy, it's very easy to change.

We did, actually. We mentioned it to Pub B's TD, asked what was going on. They agreed with us that it wasn't exactly right - and did say they'd speak to the manager. A week later the manager left a notice saying that he heard there was some disappointment on stamps and that, from now on, you'd get 2 stamps for a schooner, 1 for a pint/soft drink. We stopped going after that night. Which is a shame, because apart from the poor stamps, Pub B was a great venue. Players were now dropping to mid 20s most weeks. The majority of patrons at Pub B agreed with us, the stamp situation was turning away players.

Water under the bridge however, as I hear from both players and the TD that Pub B is finally doing stamps right. Guess I'll be going back.

shark wrote:It doesn't sound like pub B is ripping you off on stamps, it is just that pub A is giving them away (silly them). 2 stamps for a schooner is reasonable. I would have thought the average would be 1 for a schooner and 2 for an echo.

Possibly, but my friends and I weren't willing to spend $15 or more for 8 stamps.

shark wrote:I am curious if it is the manager or owner of pub A that is giving away the stamps or an employee who doesn't realise how much it costs the venue to hold the tournament.

Both, actually. Pub A has around 5 or 6 staff, plus the Manager, and no matter who serves you, or what you buy, they'll stamp up both cards on your first purchase. And as Goose mentioned above, all players at Pub A continue to buy drinks after their cards are stamped - support that venues that support the punters is a great statement.

u sure that wasn't 1 stamp for a SCHOONER/soft drink (not a pint) ?

Schooner is the smaller one that's for the girls

BigPete33 wrote:u sure that wasn't 1 stamp for a SCHOONER/soft drink (not a pint) ?

Schooner is the smaller one that's for the girls

Heh - well I wouldn't know, I'm a bourbon man.

OLD SPOT HOTEL GAWLER 1 drink both cards filled

the old spot in gawler is definitely a good venue, both with their stamping value, and with shannon running the tourney. they average around 40 players a night.