I was just wondering about peoples impressions about the newest version of the 12th Man Rewards Program. Its been in operation for 8 months or so. About to close down on May 1. Like it? Dislike it? Not worth the bother? How about how it compares to the earlier Bill Byrne Rewards Program. I'm just curious.
Personally I think it leaves much to be desired.

I've tried to check in a few times on arrival. Could not tell if it worked or not. I gave up.

You're going to hate what I'm going to say next: the reward program always turns into a marketing program if not a direct sales program. Things you learn working in marketing tech…

greg.w.h said:

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You're going to hate what I'm going to say next: the reward program always turns into a marketing program if not a direct sales program. Things you learn working in marketing tech…

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It doesn't "turn into a marketing program". It IS a marketing program. Why would any company / institution offer rewards without the expectation that it drives future revenue?

That said, I find the app a bit glitchy and the rewards fairly mundane. It's not going to drive me to attend games I wouldn't otherwise attend, but it I'm there anyways, I normally check in. Gets me some "free" Aggie swag to give the nieces & nephew.

I try to check in if I remember, It never seems to give points so I have no idea how it works.

All I know is that I caught a pair of mesh shorts from 12th Man Rewards at a soccer game in 2005 or so. They were the most comfortable shorts I've ever had. They finally wore out after five or six years. I'd probably let them scan my DNA map and send me hourly marketing emails for the next many years if I could get another pair of those shorts.

I liked the old one better. You could get some really cool stuff and you always knew exactly how many games you had to go to to get it. I've only started using the new app since baseball season started, and sometimes I get 50 points, sometimes 100, sometimes 200. Seems very arbitrary. I also have no idea what the rewards are or what I can reasonably expect to be able to achieve by season's end. Plus, ending May 1 when there are still sports happening doesn't make a lot of sense.

ptothemo said:

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All I know is that I caught a pair of mesh shorts from 12th Man Rewards at a soccer game in 2005 or so. They were the most comfortable shorts I've ever had. They finally wore out after five or six years. I'd probably let them scan my DNA map and send me hourly marketing emails for the next many years if I could get another pair of those shorts.

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They really had some great stuff! I've got a fleece I still love wearing and a blanket I use all the time. Several hats. Cool jerseys. I got a sling backpack from them one year that was just perfect for me and it was my baseball bag for years until it finally wore out. I loved that backpack.

Another vote for the Bill Byrne program. I have a Nike duffel bag that I still use for weekend trips that I earned somewhere around 2007.

I know to start the year they had a seat cushion on the list of prizes. Which was great, my old Teams Rewards one was looking bad.

Well at some point it disappeared very early in the process.

I have bunch of points to turn it, but the stuff isn't all that great.

I think the old program where you got rewards at 12, 24, etc made it better or you kept tract of your status.

Now the points are so random. 400 pts for this WBB game, then 50 points for the next one.

The app has been super buggy for me at Olsen, it worked fine at Kyle and Reed.

I didn't use the old one so I have no real opinion on which is better.

I like being able to choose what I get. If you open the rewards part of the app, there's a schedule that shows how many points you get for any event and any bonus points available.

The reward items this year seem like they came from dollar tree.

I've got points and no idea how or where to redeem them.

On the app, click on "giveaways" down at the bottom.

It is hard to be too critical of a free program, but I can see some room for improvement. First, the app crashes so often it has become nearly unusable, especially at Olsen.

Second, as mentioned above the prizes make Chuck E Cheese prizes look like high end merch.

Third, what a bush league move to raise the price on the top prize (custom 12th man jersey) right here in the last few weeks. I guess they saw that it was mathematically possible for several people to reach 10,500 so they just bumped it to 12,000 to keep it out of reach.

Given the quality of the items, I wonder if the 9,000 point lunch with the AD would be at Sbisa, or is that too upscale?

It did get me to attend my first tennis match and my first equestrian event so I guess it worked.

Thanks!

Detective Jake Peralta said:

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Another vote for the Bill Byrne program. I have a Nike duffel bag that I still use for weekend trips that I earned somewhere around 2007.

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Got a few nice jerseys and windbreakers. Those 72-event rewards were sechsie

I still have my t-shirt and hat from the rewards program from back in 07/08. I think I might still have the backpack and visor that verison was giving out prior to the regional the year that they gave students free tickets to the regional.

ptothemo said:

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All I know is that I caught a pair of mesh shorts from 12th Man Rewards at a soccer game in 2005 or so. They were the most comfortable shorts I've ever had. They finally wore out after five or six years. I'd probably let them scan my DNA map and send me hourly marketing emails for the next many years if I could get another pair of those shorts.

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I still use the A&M duffel bag from 2005-2006 (or maybe year after) rewards program.

Detective Jake Peralta said:

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Another vote for the Bill Byrne program. I have a Nike duffel bag that I still use for weekend trips that I earned somewhere around 2007.

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That's the one. Amazed it's held up this long. Great weekend bag.

I see in the OP that it will shut down on May 1. Does that mean we will lose the points we have accumulated or do you keep your points and they roll into next year?

I check in at all the games i attend but would agree, the list of items i can earn don't really drive that behavior. I am just already there and so i check in.

They change the price of the rewards during the season? That's really lame. Maybe if someone does earn 9000 points, they can have lunch with Ross and discuss improvements to the program, lol.

From the latest email

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All 12MR giveaways must be redeemed in the Giveaway Store by Monday, May 1 and picked up by Monday, May 15. Only a limited number of summer pickups via the Athletics offices during normal business hours will be available for points earned after May 1. Items will not be shipped, and your points do not carry over to the 2023-24 year. Only 12MR account holders can pickup their giveaways.

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Bill Byrne's... for all the reasons already mentioned. Not even close.

Since they're ending the program with a few home games still left on the schedule, it would be nice if they let points earned after May 1 to roll over to the next year. I think that's too much to ask, though.

Agreed. I told the boys they can decide what we get. So I'm sure I'm in for a bunch of cheap stuff.

The app is trash. Does not work

2005ish

For only 36 games! Much better than what you can get today for 90+ dollars!

The last shirt I got from the rewards program

I was going to the games anyways....the jersey was just a nice bonus!

AgRyan04 said:

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I was going to the games anyways....the jersey was just a nice bonus!

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Exactly!

AgRyan04 said:

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2005ish

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Nice - I wore mine to the CWS last year. I also still use the duffle bag regularly.

They did a great job with the original program. You could get all kinds of great stuff plus there were good giveaways -especially at the non-traditional sports. One time at a swim event I got a stack of free burrito coupons to Chipotle. I ate at least one burrito a week and didn't have to pay a cent for an entire semester.

I feel pretty much the same. The old program was much better that this one. Really chaps me that they moved the points required for the jersey. Sneaky. With the last program getting a jersey was reachable by many fans. With this program they are attainable by very few. And if the program was to be Wi-Fi based, then make sure the Wi-Fi is up to the standard. Olsen's Wi-Fi is terrible to non existent.

The check-in is very glitchy. I'll end up attending around 45 athletic events by May 1. That will score me a Welcome mat. I don't see myself doing it again. Just not worth the trouble.

The prizes should be more bespoke.