Computaform Press release

DATE: Wednesday 27 February 2019
RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming

Punters will have noticed that the ComputaForm is now printed on what is called 48.8gsm Newsprint paper while previously it was printed on 70gsm Bond paper.
The change in paper quality has been necessitated due to the high costs of printing on 70gsm Bond paper.
“We really were faced with a simple choice,” said Rob Scott, Betting Executive at Phumelela.
“We could either downscale on the quality of paper used in the printing of Computaform, or we could slap the punter with what I consider a hefty price increase.
“I’m sure that the punters who use the ComputaForm to study form will be relieved with the decision we have made.”
According to Scott, ComputaForm is still available online at a fraction of the retail price of the printed book.
“We live in a world where everything is moving to digital,” said Scott.
“The day might come when we will have to reconsider printing ComputaForm on paper altogether and making it available online only.
“For the time being though, we have decided to maintain the printed version, but on newsprint.”
While a printed copy of ComputaForm for one race meeting costs R40, online subscribers who get the online version only pay R100 for a month’s subscription, covering approximately 32 books at around R3.12 per book.
Online subscribers can get a full year’s online books for only R600. This subscription covers well over 400 books at around R1.44 per book.
Buying a printed copy of every ComputaForm book, will cost punters more than R16,000 annually.

rch 2019
RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming

When the customer talks, you have to listen, because the customer, after all, is always right.
That is how Phumelela Betting Executive Rob Scott announced his decision to revert back to printing ComputaForm on 70gsm Bond paper and discontinue the process of printing it on 48.8gsm Newsprint paper.
“It’s a pity that the industry could not appreciate the cost implication and work with us,” said Scott.
“We have been absorbing big increases in the production, printing and distribution costs and we have been doing it to ensure that the ComputaForm remains affordable.
“If we merely shift all the price increases to our customers, then ComputaForm would become unaffordable to the average punter.”
According to Scott Phumelela cannot, however, continue absorbing rising costs indefinitely and the price of ComputaForm will have to be reviewed in the near future.
“We appreciate the link between the racing data and betting and we will continue to strive to provide our customers with as much relevant data at the most cost-effective price.
“The reality is that the industry as a whole would have benefitted from the cost-savings by printing ComputaForm on newsprint.”
Scott also reiterated that while the price structure of the printed ComputaForm will be reviewed, the price of the online edition will remain unchanged.
Online subscribers can get a full year’s online books for only R600. This subscription covers well over 400 books at around R1.44 per book while buying a printed copy of every ComputaForm book will cost punters more than R16,000 annually at the current price.

quite frankly i dont care what paper they print the computerform on its not the best racing publication out there.What happened to the old race cards vaal and when they raced at Newmarket was like a white front cover card.The only thing missing was a comment next to each run baulked at the 200m etc bring that back.My opinion only abt the computerform guys.Xpress us even worse.

they can subsidise the cost from the ridiculous takeout whilst all the shareholders to a company that ''inherited'' racing for probably nothing siphon it dry

and now want to run it like a business

I would love Rob Scott to hand over Computaform to an entrepreneur like Owen Hefer from Hollywood and see what he does with it. Before Computaform was sold to Phumelela there used to be an official racecard printed by the clubs. I recall this little book cost about 50 cents ( 1984 I think ) and contained all the information needed, and if memory serves me had the previous 5 runs of every horse if applicable. Only finishing positions but all the other stuff needed. Computaform cost R2 but was the undisputed Rolls Royce of formguides. Was printed on decent paper, had for the "normal" races the previous 10 or 12 runs, with the applicable 800/400//finish positions, 400 to finish times, comments on runs etc. It also had previous meetings black and white photos. It was the formguide to have for the serious punter. In my opinion Phumelela have just cocked the whole thing up by removing as much as what they could and cheapened the formgrid. It is typical of this organisation.

While Mr. Scott is correct in his summation that everything is moving towards digital, he excludes vast numbers of punters who do not have either the access, or the ability to fund data charges to download and access these electronic copies of Computaform..This is another indication of the divide that exists between Phumelela and their customer base.

These guys should really look at getting the Computaform online version to be mobile friendly................

Dont forget the possibility of alterior motives,,

Suely the market that does not have have access to digital ( via cell phone) ?
Would find it difficult to pay R40 for a hard copy for a book where their punting budget might be in the region of R100 per day (40% for book ) ?
I am sure that market mentioned are just reading off the walls in the totes?
I imagine more of the books are sold in cafes to owners, and the punters who go racing or buy the books to study a few days before race day.
They will have their marked hard copies but take their punts via the internet.

Why all the semantics???

Firstly customers were told that the paper quality was changing due to new sponsorship being acquired. The paper quality changing now surely is due to that same sponsorship not being available or costs have become so prohibitive that even with the sponsorship the paper quality has to change.

Why is it that the communication from racing operators is always done in a manner of, "we haven't done anything wrong?" When communication is transparent then customers are willing and open to work with you.

At the risk of only highlighting the fault and not offering a solution herewith my input;
1. Make the photo forms available online as well as for mobile phones, these are not a printed must have.
2. Get betting outlets to print the photo forms if necessary.
3. There are a large proportion of us that want the publication for specific regions but your bundle deals are not customer centric rather rand centric. I only want specific centres no matter what the discount is for all centres.
4. Ensure your publication is available earlier, ComputaForm is always the last publication to be made available and then you have to search for the limited outlets.

All disclaimers apply...

Having owned Formgrids led me to many encounters with P and other racing entities, I found that the forwarding of racing itself is very seldom on the minds of the people commanding entrusted positions, their own self serving agendas are ushered in under the "racing best interest" guise,, these self servers plan well in advance and execute plans using position, alliances, power and industry resources, I was told of plans 3 years ago that seem to be falling in to place