How's the Betfair float getting on?

[Gordon McIvor Wilson]

One topic guaranteed to stir the members of The Sports Exchange into putting e-pen to paper is the single word Betfair. John 2E, due back from his little rest in a week or two, has a long trail of fair comments on the Betfair scenario, and always generates real interest all round.

Adonis, too, has been heard to raise the odd public interest point here.

Press comment says the float is due soon, any bets on opening value of the company - various comments in the £2billion area. Anyone start a book on the likely range?

[Gordon McIvor Wilson]

I could only read so much of this brilliant and comprehensive reply on my diddy little webphone - no FatCats devices at HQ here, I'm afraid. Saving it for this evening, over a large G&T or two. Thanks, Adonis, great info. More to follow. Much of what you say applies equally to other institutional softies in banking, civil (!) service, public (?) servants and the like. Dont get me started: Nurse, the St John's Wort, crash trolley in the bar, chop. chop!

[Adonis First]

My experience is that Betdaq have a smarmy (I knew you'd like the recovery of that fine Old English term), arrogant and condescending attitude to Customers; their saving grace being that they aren't NEARLY so bad, IMHO, as the incumbent virtual monopoly....
Just look through some of the forum questions posted and you'll see that they use a stock response ("call our helpdesk") to general questions. Questions which a broadcast response for all to see would not only help all, but reduce the cost of repetitive support as well!
Analagous to so many QUANGOs these days, it seems to me that betdaq's support team feel that Clients are there to keep them in work. Unfortunately, no-one told them that Support is there to support all Customers.
A sure sign that the know-all "I have a Masters in Business Administration" dopes are in the process of taking over.......It's a fair bet that their flies-on-the-walls are sick to their back teeth (do flies have back teeth?) of swish Powerpoint presentations which skip over the fact that successful execution of a viable Plan comes before Goal Achievement (and pay rises). Their maxim is surely "lie loud enough and long enough, in full colour, with slick page transitions, and EVERYONE will believe it"!
Ah well, I suppose it won't be too long before the next Pretender is launched. Sooner or later, we'll have an Exchange that understands it is a Service-to-Customers Company, totally dependent on (and judged by) its Customers' satisfaction.
And one that resists the temptation to put incompetents in charge of its Customers' "forum"!
(If you don't believe that statement, look at the daily posts from "Buzzards Bay" and followers...... there is almost DAILY mischief published against a well-known Racing Commentator.
(Not that I particularly like that individual, but the posts are a prime example of consistently "doing the wrong things, wrong". I consider them BLATANT libel!!!!)
...But do have a good day!
Adonis

[Gordon McIvor Wilson]

Didnt want to ask, but now I know: Weetabix is revealed. I'm a Crunchy Nut man, myself. But Weetabix has become the current measure of 'real' value - unlike the Mars bar which, as we all know, has shrunk almost out of sight. Doesnt cut the mustard for the Adonis scale, though, it seems. But the WBX site does look pretty dull, lots going on but all a bit dry and chewy: Weetabix indeed.

Betdaq, now: what's wrong with them, nice Oirish folk, their own i-broker software, wouldnt be surprised if there isnt a bit of 'news' from them before long.

[Gordon McIvor Wilson]

'First mover' wins again.

Plan to meet up with Ian Cilia from Malta at the EGR Show at Old Billingsgate on Monday/Tuesday. This seems to be a gambling and betting show - Great venue, shame about the fishy smell - anyone going?

We could have a Sports Exchange meet-up, turn it into a Tweet-up by calling me on my much-neglected Twitter-line @gmciw

[Adonis First]

I'd have thought that shares in a company which manages to take >20% service charges from Clienteles' accounts must be worth a lot more than that......unless of course the Clientele aren't happy and moving away?
No real evidence of that - there's not many places that disgruntled Clients can move to!
Betdaq, Weetabix? In their dreams.... they have no idea how to impress and influence people. Be insolent to them, er, maybe. But impress them? nah......