Re: [melb] yearly met cards

[usenet.spam@gunzel.net (Michael)]

Railvic <railvic@iprimus.com.au> wrote in article 
<3AD3AFB1.13D51205@iprimus.com.au>:

>Are you willing to pay $25 to have your damaged Metcard Xpress
>replaced?  

Like most other passengers, YES! That said, I don't think touchcards would 
be that unreliable that many people would need to replace them. Put into 
the situation, that most office buildings are touchcard access, I'm sure 
most people would know how to treat a touch card. Additionally, due to the 
nature of the touchcards, not much can go wrong with them.

What can go wrong with a Metcard Xpress, under normal operating conditions. 
It sits in your wallet all day, and even then probably never comes out - 
you just touch your wallet in front of the yellow dot. Considering that 
credit cards and atm cards are by nature (being taken out of the wallet, 
being inserted into machines, having an easily erasable magnetic stripe) 
still reliable given the above circumstances, about the only reason you 
would have to pay for a new Metcard Xpress is if you lose it, or the dog 
eats it (in which case, he's already eaten your ATM card, credit card, 
Medicare card and half your cash).

>Keep in mind these cards are not inserting into validators
>(instead read by the yellow external spot), therefore, if such request
>is made, it will most likely to $$$$ (Excuse of ticket damaged by
>validators will become irrelevant).  All M>Trains, Connex, M>Trams and
>Yarra Tram staff have been issued with Metcard Xpress and they have
>signed and agreed to such fee for replacement.  From what I have seen so
>far, some customers will have trouble keeping Metcard Xpress in working
>order, not to mention losing them ...

Once again, at least give the customers a choice. If customers are 
unwilling to pay $25 to replace the Metcard Xpress that their dog ate, then 
give them a ticket like they have right now!

M.

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