Get with the program 21st century and all that.
We are in the 21st century - one for nonprofits, where we aren't swimming in resources. I've been researching options for them, and there are a ton of considerations that go into it. If there's a monthly fee, we'll have to keep paying that fee during months where we don't operate. One company even charges $100+ per month. Alternatively, there are ones with no monthly fee. But they do take cuts from sales, and we either need to get a separate data-only plan (plus, for something like square, a dedicated smart phone), or go debit only since credit sales don't work without an internet connection (at best, they wouldn't be processed until we connected it to wifi, so we wouldn't know if the card gets rejected until it's too late). Plus, when it comes to people taking a while to punch in their pins, maybe for the sale to be processed, etc., it can take a bit longer than cash - which adds up when you don't have ticket sellers helping.
How much revenue are they missing out on?
Not a whole lot, tbh. I'd love to see it work out (which is why I took the initiative on researching options), and we do get a few people like you sometimes, but most people check our website and learn they need cash. I've actually been surprised by how few people already have cash on them.
surely they can make arrangements with flag men to get there. This is after all their biggest exposure of the year.
This is the first year where they have the Whyte Ave stop, and there were a ton of uncertainties and new procedures to be worked through. This will most likely come up during the next general meeting, but right now I think they did not want to experiment during such a high traffic event. Especially when we desperately need volunteers for ticket sales, driving, etc.
Keep in mind, this is 100% volunteer done. The Whyte Ave extension took ten years for the volunteer board to get through. Card machines need volunteers to arrange. So do the flaggers. There's only so much capacity for a volunteer board, and only so many volunteers to go around. I think it's simply remarkable that they've managed to restore and maintain streetcars that are over 100 years old, and grateful that they have volunteers who are passionate enough to do this for the public. There's always room for improvement, yes. And they
should strive for improvement. But we shouldn't forget what they're about here, and how much the members get paid to do this
Sorry you missed out on the ride though, hopefully you give it another chance and enjoy it
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