MFC Website - Woeful

[hamburglar]

Melbourne's current side is weak as piss and I cant see them winning a game in 2008, nor making the finals in the next 3 years (at best).. & to be honest, as a life long demon, its a shit reality..

The comment I am about to make isnt about whats happening on the field, its just one small whinge that I think is relevant..

The world wide web is an amazing tool.. The e-commerce wave is massive and now in 2008 it definitely isnt a secret.. I spend time on all AFL teams websites, reading news, memberships updates etc etc.. The majority are updated daily.. The MFC site would be lucky to be updated weekly! As of yesterday the membership drive thermometer hadnt been updated for 3 weeks! I have no reason to get excited about the club, even online..

A friend tried to redeem his membership online for his family via the MFC website.. The site wouldnt work.. He couldnt pay for, or redeem his membership using the online system.. He flagged his concern via the website and no one has even bothered to call (2 weeks has past).. This is a guy who has been a memeber for well over 20 years and the club cant manage to give him a call ?

Basically if we cant even get our website sorted, what hope do we have!

 

[candiehappy]

Not much can be said to that, poor bastard!

 

[stickman11]

Melbourne's current side is weak as piss and I cant see them winning a game in 2008, nor making the finals in the next 3 years (at best).. & to be honest, as a life long demon, its a shit reality..

The comment I am about to make isnt about whats happening on the field, its just one small whinge that I think is relevant..

The world wide web is an amazing tool.. The e-commerce wave is massive and now in 2008 it definitely isnt a secret.. I spend time on all AFL teams websites, reading news, memberships updates etc etc.. The majority are updated daily.. The MFC site would be lucky to be updated weekly! As of yesterday the membership drive thermometer hadnt been updated for 3 weeks! I have no reason to get excited about the club, even online..

A friend tried to redeem his membership online for his family via the MFC website.. The site wouldnt work.. He couldnt pay for, or redeem his membership using the online system.. He flagged his concern via the website and no one has even bothered to call (2 weeks has past).. This is a guy who has been a memeber for well over 20 years and the club cant manage to give him a call ?

Basically if we cant even get our website sorted, what hope do we have!

probably put the wrong email address in. And the online ticketing is done through another company that handles the whole afl.

When it didn't work for me, I had an email within ten minutes from a membership officer. Either your mate is unlucky or is just plain noodle.

You only get 8 minutes to renew.

 

[dave10]

Melbourne's current side is weak as piss and I cant see them winning a game in 2008, nor making the finals in the next 3 years (at best).. & to be honest, as a life long demon, its a shit reality..

The comment I am about to make isnt about whats happening on the field, its just one small whinge that I think is relevant..

The world wide web is an amazing tool.. The e-commerce wave is massive and now in 2008 it definitely isnt a secret.. I spend time on all AFL teams websites, reading news, memberships updates etc etc.. The majority are updated daily.. The MFC site would be lucky to be updated weekly! As of yesterday the membership drive thermometer hadnt been updated for 3 weeks! I have no reason to get excited about the club, even online..

A friend tried to redeem his membership online for his family via the MFC website.. The site wouldnt work.. He couldnt pay for, or redeem his membership using the online system.. He flagged his concern via the website and no one has even bothered to call (2 weeks has past).. This is a guy who has been a memeber for well over 20 years and the club cant manage to give him a call ?

Basically if we cant even get our website sorted, what hope do we have!

Hamburglar (Big Mac) - very interesting post!

This story sounds similar to a friend of mine who tried to buy his memberships for his family online and, to his dismay, gave up in frustration and has decided not to be a financial supporter of the Dees in 2008 (total 3 memberships)...

You identify an interesting fact; The world wide web is a very powerful marketing tool (like a membership / merchandise brochure for everyone in the world) and very few (Essendon the possible exception) clubs have understand or have capitalised on its potential. The objective of those running the sites should be to update the sites as often as possible (news, membership updates etc) to provide supporters / browsers an incentive to come back and view the site on a daily (or more) basis. eg News.com.au or afl.com.au. The more views / visits, the more opportunities to sell the clubs products and services. Even better if the membership payment facility even works!

Unfortunately Melbournes site is as bad as any of the other 15 clubs in the Telstra network. Not only can't supporters renew their membership, but I could not even find any photos of the clubs pre season training sessions or the like. For the latest news on the Dees, I have to go to demonology or demonland (unofficial sites) of all places! This is an indictment on the club and its administration. To the contrary, the Essendon site is regularly updated, thorough in detail, easier to use and would be widely accepted as the place to go for all big news relating to the Bombers - as it should be. If a big story breaks at Essendon, go to essendonfc.com.au! No wonder essendonfc.com.au had 30% more 'hits' than the next best clubs site (Collingwood) in 2007.

Club websites should be a great marketing vehicle, unfortunately the Dees site is currently a reflection of how the club has been (and still is) run. Their website is embarrasing! It's not good enough, should not be accepted and any half intelligent marketer or football club administrator should see the opportunity, break away from the Telstra network, waive the $500,000 annual fee to be involved in the network and control their website and their brand. To continue with the status quo is commercial suicide and an acceptance of mediocrity.

Members giving up and not renewing their membership online due to frustration is reason enough. Which would be multi national corporation would want to associate themselves with the Dees at present?

Now for the sycophants who will say we are having a crack at the Dees when they are down... The reality hurts. Defending the club is not what the club needs - mediocrity has been accepted at the Dees for a long time. they are a nice, harmless club the Dees - nice people, plenty of clout and money - NO MUNGREL... Something needs to change.... No point defending the undefendable.