Do the offshore clerks care if the players win or lose?

Journeyman · Jun 3, 2005

I have often wondered this and some sportsbook clerks seem to have a chip on their shoulder when they anwer the phone...almost like you are bothering them when you ask for the lines....Do the clerks care one way or the other if the players are beating them?

This does not include our very own Slim, who absolutely despises any and all winners (*if anyone did win according to him)

:digit: Its almost like you're taking food off the clerks table

Woody0 · Jun 3, 2005

You know those obnoxious charity telephone sales calls you get at supper time? I think many clerks get that kind of stuff all day so it can be wearying.

Fishhead · Jun 3, 2005

I would hope not

Dante · Jun 3, 2005

I think they would care more if there book they work for wins

Moon88 · Jun 3, 2005

I'm sure they rather have their company doing well.

5teamparlay · Jun 3, 2005

Why Do We Forget A Good Book Should Take Even Sided Action, Hence A Good Book Will Have Plenty Of Winners. It Is A Badly Run Or Small Action Book That Has One Sided Action.

5teamparlay · Jun 3, 2005

I also find it ridiculous that people make such a big deal when an underdog win the Superbowl at 100 to 1 and feel books took a beating. If the book collected a 1.1 million in wagers they should still pay out the same 1 million assuming regular vig (these bets are usually taken at a higher vig) to all winners no matter who won. Whether the patriots, rams, bengals or ravens win the superbowl shouldn't change the total amount paid to all players on winning tickets at a well run book.

dmmd98 · Jun 3, 2005

winning players = happy people on the phone

losing players = unhappy people on the phone

At the end of the day most clerks don't care much about how much the company is making since most of it doesn't tickle down to them. There on the front line so if the players are happy their days goes by much smoother

VeNuS · Jun 3, 2005

Not at all!!!
Only there to take your bets, Journeyman. May sound a little stressed because the phones are going crazy or down cause they wanna leave, lol.
Now, put urself in a clerks shoes, damn boring giving rundowns every day, huh??? but then again, it´s the job and you gotta do it right...
Why would they care if you are beating the book... money ain´t comming out of their clerk´s pockets, right?

Dante · Jun 3, 2005

**VeNuS** said:
Not at all!!!
Only there to take your bets, Journeyman. May sound a little stressed because the phones are going crazy or down cause they wanna leave, lol.
Now, put urself in a clerks shoes, damn boring giving rundowns every day, huh??? but then again, it´s the job and you gotta do it right...
Why would they care if you are beating the book... money ain´t comming out of their clerk´s pockets, right?

Venus good post and I have a great respect for clerks in general always had..but on the rare time I have called into various books I can not understand ONE word they say :icon_conf

....accents and stuff and the phone is always on a DELAY :icon_conf

so people talk over each other

so I will never call into a book using the net is fine for me.

VeNuS · Jun 3, 2005

Dante said:
Venus good post and I have a great respect for clerks in general always had..but on the rare time I have called into various books I can not understand ONE word they say ....accents and stuff and the phone is always on a DELAY so people talk over each other
so I will never call into a book using the net is fine for me.

I tottally understand what you mean...
Sportsbooks in CR changed it all... And it´s funny cause you´ll see adds in the paper like: Learn english and get trainned to be a clerk, all for $40... WTF??? :icon_conf

Some sportsbooks hire crappy clerks to answer the phones because the would only charge $3 -$3.5 per hour and get ride of good clerks with experience and good english because they are "overpaid"... Sad, huh?

Aquatic · Jun 3, 2005

1990s books off shore employing mainly American clerks cared because a few books would include a bonus after a good week in football on top of the pay. Then it was more of a team effort or us against all the groups mentality since all action was over the phones.

Journeyman · Jun 3, 2005

I know its just the way they speak with that accent but, the English clerks always seem the most polite...its almost like they're really hoping you kick the books arse!

Almost!

Woody0 · Jun 3, 2005

Journeyman said:
...the English clerks always seem the most polite...

Ah, now I see where you're coming from. What you have experienced in simply typical good English manners.

marc · Jun 3, 2005

In my experience, everyone loves a loser and hates a winner

Rainbow · Jun 3, 2005

Aquatic said:
1990s books off shore employing mainly American clerks cared because a few books would include a bonus after a good week in football on top of the pay. Then it was more of a team effort or us against all the groups mentality since all action was over the phones.

Every clerk I worked with back in those day's all cared, it defintely was a team effort, boy I miss them good old days, I miss the adrenaline more than anything, I always pulled for my office to win, it was fun pulling for the office, and we didn't have no RUDE clerks.

winbet · Jun 3, 2005

Journeyman said:
I know its just the way they speak with that accent but, the English clerks always seem the most polite...its almost like they're really hoping you kick the books arse!

Almost!

Journey,
Nothing could be more from the truth. They may be polite on the phone, but these guys have a deep laid hatred for the punters and seeing them lose is the only job satisfaction they get. This all stems from a failure to make the game pay themselves and the chat between each other on how they are part of the sharp circle. The only pro-punters I ever seen were in Betting Shops, where winning punters would tip the staff, but no tip then pure, unadulterated hatred and curses. I once had a chalkman who commented on no tip being given by a punter who had backed 3 horse winners on the spin, when the 4th winner went in, he jumped across the counter and attacked the guy.

-Slim- · Jun 3, 2005

Journey what is your obsession with me?

-Slim- · Jun 3, 2005

For those interested in the answer, in general, clerks dont root for or against customers.....

Its not like theres 10 customers only and its not like they remember who wagered what.

Basically if youre nice to a clerk, theyll be nice if youre not theyre not.

Of course theres also those who are always nice and theres those who are a pain in the ass.

Jabow · Jun 3, 2005

The older days were golden, I would say CLASSIC.

At first, the clerks from the US did'nt like the idea of locals getting involved.
They told the boss's a million and one reasons why not to get them.
From the language to not understanding the different sports.

Who could blame the US Clerks at that time, they were simply trying to defend their luxuries, hey they got alot of perks to be offshore and being bookies/clerks.

From free to almost free housing/transportation big salaries, one or two PAID trips back home piece of the action, bonuses etc, etc
Plus living in the tropics, gambling, women, beaches etc. what a deal that was and is now but not as much as before.

Well the owners soon found out that the locals could learn and do the job too. Not as much as the key person(s) but as clerks, they had more money in their pockets as owners at the end of the year.

Now, about clients calling and asking for a run down, nothing can be more horrific as a clerk for john doe to call you and ask you for a run down like on a saturday college games when there are a million games on the board, but guess what, after the run down, john doe doesnt even give you a play, MAN THATS REALLY BAD as a clerk, but, guess what, they call back 5 -10 minutes later, lol.

The books back then had lines on some phone numbers for them to call which was updated every half hour or so, that eased the pain a bit, THEN came the internet, which clerks were happy to send the clients to.

BUT IN THE OFFSHORE BIZ, NOTHING BEATS THE RUSH YOU'LL GET IN A SPORTSBOOK, 15 MINUTES TO A GAME UP TO THE GAME ITSELF.

WOW.

THe action is incredible with the phones ringing off the hook, not to mention when one of the sports reporters on TV says something like "I like team A for tonights game"
The boss's would smile with glee at crunch time to see the action cooming in.

The clerks like the action, especially when the book is heavy on one side and need a team for a few dimes, and you're there waiting the game out, rthen comes half time and more action. :dancefool