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Hi George can you give us the run down on the Shearings Coach trip. Have heard it was AWFUL Uncomfortable seats, Missed Ferry and only a couple of hours in Brugge. :(
Out trip was O.K. except when we got back to the coach after the game we had to wait 2 hours before moving :pinch: due to the police not allowing the coaches onto the car park until 2.00p.m. therefore making the obligatory 9 hours rest required by the driver to put the leaving time back 2 hours… We only had one driver but I presume the Shearings coaches had two? as I saw their coaches drive off soon after the game.Hi George can you give us the run down on the Shearings Coach trip. Have heard it was AWFUL Uncomfortable seats, Missed Ferry and only a couple of hours in Brugge. :(
Out trip was O.K. except when we got back to the coach after the game we had to wait 2 hours before moving :pinch: due to the police not allowing the coaches onto the car park until 2.00p.m. therefore making the obligatory 9 hours rest required by the driver to put the leaving time back 2 hours… We only had one driver but I presume the Shearings coaches had two? as I saw their coaches drive off soon after the game.http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/wigan-fans-in-nervy-euro-trip-1-6067307
Because of the problems last night I have spent a large part of today in between odd cat naps trying to find out what caused the hold up.
Despite our 2 hour delay, which caused upset from some quarters, nothing could have been done at this end by us or our coach operators to avoid it.Everything had been sorted and agreed earlier this week between WAFC, FC Bruges, GM police and ALL the coach operators, someone forgot to tell the Bruges police officer in charge of the match to let the coaches onto the official car parks, he didn’t let his officers open the gates until he spoke to Club Bruges first, by the time they got parked up it was after 2:00pm local time.
LMB did you get my e.mail ref the Raffle? People contacting me wanting to know the result.We had not got the ticket stubs back from all the coaches to do the raffle straight away, so we are hoping to arrange for it to be drawn at half time at the game on Sunday, so watch this space, the winners will be announced on all the forums as soon as its done.
I was on one of the coaches that did not get held up, had no problems at all, in fact it all ran very very smoothly and was well organised. Obviously I cannot speak for anyone who was on the other coaches but for myself I would highly recommend. The seats were fine too – as much as seats on any long coach journey are.
The Shearings coach trip organised through the club was a disaster. I was one of hundred and fifty fans on three coaches who missed our 10.15 ferry crossing because the coach missed the 9.45 deadline,only arriving in Dover at 10.05. Having advertised the trip as a half day in the City, my booking details on the 9th Sept confirmed the departure time from Wigan at 01.00 on Thursday morning. Two days later an amendment invoice confirmed the departure time at 3.30. I know of a couple of people who voiced concerns with Shearings at the time about the reduction in time to be spent in the City and were told that no refunds would be allowed.
Thursday morning, the six coaches departed on time 3.30 am, three Shearings coaches and three sub contracted to what I can only describe as a cowboy outfit Expressway Coaches of Rotherham.
With only one driver having travelled over from South Yorkshire, we were obliged to stop at Oxford along with the two other Expressway coaches for 45 minutes. Leaving the service station at 7.00 our driver had already admitted defeat in making the 9.45 am deadline with the M25 rush hour ahead. Having caught up with three Shearings coaches outside Dover the mad dash for the crossings with two Expressway and one Shearings missing the 9.45 deadline. This meant losing another hour to be spent in Brugge, in the end spending only 60 minutes in the City.
As for the coach I travelled on, it was anything but luxury. Spent on the whole trip sitting on my own cushion as the seats were so uncomfortable, recling seats that did not work and a reluctance by the driver to use the air conditioning.
Spoke to the club this morning who have asked Shearings to provide answers and in fault to provide compensation. I have also spoke to the Wigan Evening Post about an article about the coaches missing the crossing in which Shearings laid the blame on customs at the post for the missed departure.
Attempted to contact Shearings this afternoon to register my complaint, only finding an answering machine recording asking for a telephone number for call back.Sounds like a shambles. As soon as it was announced the other day that the coaches would leave at 3.30am it started the alarm bells ringing.
If enough people complain who were on those coaches, I’m sure they will have to do something or risk nobody using their services next time. I certainly wouldn’t risk using them the way they have treated fans on this trip.
I think sometimes the club forget that WE are customers and actually pay money for these services. The club should be asking questions as well as threatening to change coach company in future.
I have to say being on Shearings wasnt as bad as those on here made out. I was ok one of the shearings coaches. Not sub contracted. And they were very comfortable. They missed the boat as they were 20 mins late for check in. They were allowed to sail, as they arrived with the 2 that were late but sailed. The reason for non sail was the sub contracted coach nipped on instead and split the 3 main coaches. Thry should have left earlier which was the only problem.
Arriving in Bruge 50 minues late from the adverised time and reduced rhe planned 3 hours to 2.10. The way people were complaining as though we had missed an entire day.
Return was quick and effixient and slightly early.
So for me the only complaint was the late set off and boat being missed. Which didn’t ruin the experience.
Why on earth would anyone pay the price they ccharged in the first place ?
Town green latic , we could have got you there for £65 , all afternoon to enjoy the place and best of all ….we had a pick up in town green !
The club wont do anything , just state the logistics of the trip mean deadlines can be missed and im sure there is a disclaimer somewhere , just dont go with them again
Edinburgh as a matter on interest what was the advertised time for your arrival in Brugge? Was it the original time i.e. the one quoted for leaving at 1.00a.m. or the later revised time If when booking originally you were quoted a 1/2 day in Brugge and you only had 2 hours, You are quite easily pleased. I would be down at their offices of the club and Shearings first thing Monday morning. As you booked through the club I would think they are responsible. The logistics of leaving at 3.30a.m. should have alerted people that they wouldn’t have the original allotted time in the city. You don’t need a degree in Maths to know that if by leaving at 1.00a.m. they state an afternoon free. By leaving 2 1/2 hours later means you aren’t going to get that same amount of free time.
Point taken gecko, it is a case of one bitten, twice shy and only booked at the last minute because of problems with holiday arrangements.
I have contacted the club and they know about the problems and have asked Shearings to provide details by the start of next week and they will ask for Shearings to provide compensation if at fault.Shearings have asked that all fans who wish to complain to write to them as they will not take any more telephone complaints. I urge fans affected to write to them and also leave feedback on http://www.reveiwcentre.com, a website set up to give a voice on Shearings holiday.
I charged £55. We arrived in the city at 1.30pm. Returned at 12 mid-day following day.
End of the day everyone has a choice, up to now the supporters club have provided a very good service and run coaches to all games which sometimes is the only way to get there.
I take it the Shearings coaches were run by the supporters club?,apologies if I’m wrong here.
BTW I have been watching latics for a very long time, the experience in Brugges, match apart, was probably the best I have experienced as a latics fan.
Roll on Russia and Slovenia.
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