What is the training protocol for tellers

Had a interesting thing happen over the weekend that cut my wagering short then and there.....

Could someone who knows please tell me what the procedure is for new tote tellers? Are they meant to go through training? Do they have to pass any tests to check if they are suitable for the position?

What checks are in place by the authorities in their relevant jurisdictions to check that their tellers are up to standard? Do they even know which tellers are where?

While i am all for a person bettering their future and moving up on the ladder, i find it atrocious when you have to try and help the cleaner who is now sitting behind the computer and meant to take your bets, but doesn't even know how the system works, let alone the actual name of the different bet options... I don't blame the cleaner one bit, he is trying his best, with very little to no help.... Especially when, with 2 min before the off of the next local race, the experienced tellers are either attending slot machines or in the kitchen making themselves a cup of coffee or a meal...

Would be interesting to hear if this is common practice....

Question 1

Can u spell TAB?

Answer 1

UMM

Interviewer

You are hired

I experience the poor service once a year at the Durban July.

These Tellers do not appear to be adequately trained and it becomes a frustration to the punter.

Please can these poor souls be trained!!!

....who stands in queues.....use a phone.....oh forgot....big days are swamped with people hogging the available 3G and no 4G at these tracks....no wonder I hardly go racing anymore.....I loose my sh!t with those tellers....and I speak racing tongue....imagine those uninitiated once a year punters trying to decode with the untrained tellers.....that,s how they stumbled on the Mystery bet.....

Hi Karma

If you post with TAB branch I’m sure they will see this post and maybe contact you

Cheers

Bob Brogan wrote: Hi Karma

If you post with TAB branch I’m sure they will see this post and maybe contact you

Cheers

The key words here are 'sure' and 'maybe'

Good day Karma

We have sent you a private message to get clarity on the matter in order for us to investigate further.
Look forward to hearing from you.


Regards

Good day Karma

We have sent you a private message to get clarity on the matter in order for us to investigate further.
Look forward to hearing from you.


Regards

Thanks. I have replied.

Hi Sammy Silver

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Please see feedback below from our Commercial Operations department.

In response to the above thread regarding the apparent lack of training provided to tellers (tote operators) on Vodacom Durban July Day, we would like to take the opportunity to shed some light on the matter by providing some behind the scenes insights into the recruitment and training process.

It goes without saying that the VDJ is no ordinary raceday and with it comes some serious challenges particularly when it comes to staffing an event of this magnitude. Compared to a typical local meeting where we deploy between 25 and 40 odd tellers on the course, for the VDJ we require a further 600!! Recruitment begins as early as mid-January where we interview in excess of 1700 prospective candidates, all of whom must meet certain basic requirements such as being matriculated with passes in both English and Maths. These applicants then go through further screening processes which include numeracy tests, followed by verbal interviews and from there we end up with a pool of around 800 trainees. These trainees are then allocated into groups of 60 with each group undergoing 5 days (40 hours) of “classroom training” in our customised training room here at Greyville. This training covers product knowledge (bet types), money management, operating the betting terminal as well as customer service. To train all of the trainees through this process takes around 14 weeks. Candidates who pass this phase of the training are then allocated 5 days of practical “on the job” training, which takes place on racedays at either Hollywoodbets Greyville or Hollywoodbets Scottsville under the initial supervision of an experienced teller.

From there it’s onto the big day itself and sadly as much as we try to prepare the trainees for the occasion, nothing can replicate how overwhelming the day can be for someone who’s never witnessed a VDJ first hand. Yes, mistakes are made and clearly we field complaints about poor service on the day but in all honesty these are constantly reducing and we are always tweaking and trying to improve our training to ensure the best possible experience for our patrons. As part of these improvements, we recorded the entire 2019 VDJ day from certain teller windows and intend using this footage in our 2020 VDJ classroom training in an attempt to replicate the VDJ experience as closely as possible for the trainees. With an entire mock VDJ under their belts we are hoping that the 2020 Vodacom Durban July will be our best yet, but as always we will do post event analysis and continually look to identify how we can improve our efforts.

Happy betting!

My two cents worth.

I have been to the July from 1995 onwards.

The tellers have improved considerably. Marking a bet mark card makes things simpler to them.

Also Greyville has automated machines where you can wager bet similar to an ATM. Use them.

And then you have your mobile phone to bet on.