My partner in crime and I have been members and regulars at Eureka! for a number of years and, although it’s a quirky sort of place (maybe even an acquired taste) we’ve loved what it has to offer and the general friendliness of the staff. Yes, there are always improvements that can be made to any environment and you’re never going to please all of the people all of the time, but we’ve been largely happy customers under a number of management regimes. We’re finding now, however, that we’re doubting whether we want to return in June under the current management. We’ve had gold membership throughout our time as members, which means a not inconsequential upfront payment. It now seems as though the management are saying that no extensions will be granted or refunds given for periods of gold membership not used during lockdown. Their justification is that they have had to continue paying their bills and their advise is to “speak to the government”. This has angered us greatly and is yet another example of the aggressive stance that’s being taken towards members’ queries and concerns. There seems to be very much a “like it or lump it” approach. We understand that the Eureka! business model may not always have been the most profitable and that new owners will always look at things differently but members are the most important aspect of any club reliant on their payments. By their own admission, a lot of work has gone on at the club over lockdown, presumably paid for by the likes of us who have had no service provided for our money, through no fault of our own. It’s worth mentioning that when the club was asking for additional voluntary payments to help tide them over at the beginning of the pandemic, we played our part but that goodwill seems not to work the other way, under current management.
We’ve loved Eureka! and want to continue loving it but they need to think again if they want to keep our and presumably others’ custom.
Lastly everyone has had a tough year one way or another. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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If you love the club so much why are you so bitter that they need your financial support to survive. Clubs are often run at close to zero profit, with a constant battle with local authorities that want to see them closed. A little more community spirit can go a long way to keeping your favorite venue open. |
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By *nclePMan
over a year ago
Mitcham |
While I agree that you can never please all of the people all of the time I do wonder if the new owners are being misunderstood here. They havent just appeared, they have been around the club for a while and, like me, saw the previous owner almost destroy the place. They have a brand new thirteen year lease and yes they want to make their mark. The refurbishment is being carried out by the new owner himself in an effort to update the place and make it better for all who visit. I certainly havent got a refund on my car insurance because I used it less during lockdown and see this as a similar situation though can understand too how some might feel upset. Personally I will be taking a Gold membership, it feels like "my" club and I believe it now has the potential to be one of the biggest and best clubs in the south of England. I look forward to returning and seeing what has been done!
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By *haredMan
over a year ago
Southminster |
The club is not just two individuals, there are many others and I hope they have remained and kept well, some rely on the club for more than just entertainmentment.
They are running different to Mike, no doubt there will some people that will like some aspects more than others, but its fundamentally the same, the club is the staff and the people that come back, there were many things I liked before, and a lot I didn't, its going to be a bit different going forward but I will almost surely renew, or should I say start again as its expired our gold membership as I have never been anywhere quite like euekas and find it a comfortable place, had some great evenings there.
I could sit here and make a long list of the things I didn't like under Mike, and another for things I liked, not been there much over the last year so do not know what changes there will be, or if old faces will be coming back, but I am keen to see we still find in comfortable, many attitudes will have changed, and everyone needs to survive, it certainly is more expensive to buy a drink at a bar than a bottle from a supermarket, that will possibly scare off a few from the parties (my fave) but maybe the improvements will make up for it.
Just to recap, we will certainly be back when allowed and renew gold. It will no doubt be a slow start and find its way overtime. |
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For me the issue is around choice, fairness and approach. It’s not that I don’t want Eureka to continue and thrive. I do. However, I’d like the decision to support them over hard times, as I have before, to be my choice. My gym have suspended membership payments but have asked for voluntary payments to tide them over. My car insurance company have offered refunds of premium due to me driving less (yes, that’s a thing across much of the car insurance industry). My holiday company have refunded me for a holiday that they couldn’t supply. I’m struggling to see the difference. As I said before, everyone is having a hard time and if a business’s solution is to use their customer’s money to tide them over (or even refurbish) without providing the service they’ve paid for, they surely can’t be too surprised when it’s questioned. People will, I’m sure, make their own decisions. |
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