Open Letter to Tim Bierman on the EV Presale Absurdity

Doggystylen

yeah its tough to bitch because we all love th eband so much, and there is not too many better things in life than the excitement leading up to a concert, and the actual concert. And if you've seen EV's solo performance, than you'd understand.

I would be happier to pay 10c $1000 per ticket, instead of some scalper $500. Understand everybodies gotta make a buck, and I''ve had to sell a ticket here or there for above asking price. But by paying for a membership, this should get us a better system to buy tickets. Websites, Servers, software is cheap now vs 10 years ago.

so bottom line is, some scalper will be getting my $300 per ticket for phili. I'm flying from toronto to see him, and a friend from london...thats how good the concert will be.

I'm confident 10c will change things around next time, maybe its time, might be the same software they had when PJ begun! LOL..............

glad somebody else is bithcing...i sent 10c a friendly letter yesterday about all this shite, and i'm sure i'm not the only one...

MoonTurtle

Or sell one show per day

-decodified-

MoonTurtle wrote:

Or sell one show per day

+1

or 2 per day max... that will help the traffic...

TuckerKatt

Just because you weren't able to get tickets doesn't mean the system is flawed or the 10C servers can't handle the traffic or whatever theory you've come up with for why you didn't get tickets. There are a very limited number of tickets available. No matter what system is used a lot of people are going to get shut out. If it was changed to a lottery system then all of the lottery losers would complain about how unfair the lottery is, it's rigged, etc. As long as 10C sells tickets there will be plenty of people complaining about how unfair it all is.

It's not reasonable to compare the Ed ticket process to the mail-in process for PJ shows from the Vitalogy Health Club days. Back then there were fewer members, more shows, and more seats available per show. Apples and oranges.

Basically everyone wants a system in which THEY get tickets.

RyGuy

TuckerKatt wrote:

Just because you weren't able to get tickets doesn't mean the system is flawed or the 10C servers can't handle the traffic or whatever theory you've come up with for why you didn't get tickets. There are a very limited number of tickets available. No matter what system is used a lot of people are going to get shut out. If it was changed to a lottery system then all of the lottery losers would complain about how unfair the lottery is, it's rigged, etc. As long as 10C sells tickets there will be plenty of people complaining about how unfair it all is.

It's not reasonable to compare the Ed ticket process to the mail-in process for PJ shows from the Vitalogy Health Club days. Back then there were fewer members, more shows, and more seats available per show. Apples and oranges.

Basically everyone wants a system in which THEY get tickets.

+1

Amen, brother.

JAlbano

TuckerKatt wrote:

Just because you weren't able to get tickets doesn't mean the system is flawed or the 10C servers can't handle the traffic or whatever theory you've come up with for why you didn't get tickets. There are a very limited number of tickets available. No matter what system is used a lot of people are going to get shut out. If it was changed to a lottery system then all of the lottery losers would complain about how unfair the lottery is, it's rigged, etc. As long as 10C sells tickets there will be plenty of people complaining about how unfair it all is.

It's not reasonable to compare the Ed ticket process to the mail-in process for PJ shows from the Vitalogy Health Club days. Back then there were fewer members, more shows, and more seats available per show. Apples and oranges.

Basically everyone wants a system in which THEY get tickets.

What we are taking issue with are the unnerving tech issues with the site NOT the amount of tickets they make available or a sense of entitlement towards seats or shows. But when you actually are a lucky one to get through and have a pair of tix in your cart and make it all the way to the purchase stage and your cc is processing and purely because of the site's tech problems you lose your order and then have absolutely no recourse...well I for one don't think that's something that should continue to go unchecked. People posting on this thread talking like those of us who've had that experience numerous times and want to have it talked about as a real issue as part of this community are just spoiled complainers are so completely off base and missing the point completely.

Kevinman

JAlbano wrote:

TuckerKatt wrote:

Just because you weren't able to get tickets doesn't mean the system is flawed or the 10C servers can't handle the traffic or whatever theory you've come up with for why you didn't get tickets. There are a very limited number of tickets available. No matter what system is used a lot of people are going to get shut out. If it was changed to a lottery system then all of the lottery losers would complain about how unfair the lottery is, it's rigged, etc. As long as 10C sells tickets there will be plenty of people complaining about how unfair it all is.

It's not reasonable to compare the Ed ticket process to the mail-in process for PJ shows from the Vitalogy Health Club days. Back then there were fewer members, more shows, and more seats available per show. Apples and oranges.

Basically everyone wants a system in which THEY get tickets.

What we are taking issue with are the unnerving tech issues with the site NOT the amount of tickets they make available or a sense of entitlement towards seats or shows. But when you actually are a lucky one to get through and have a pair of tix in your cart and make it all the way to the purchase stage and your cc is processing and purely because of the site's tech problems you lose your order and then have absolutely no recourse...well I for one don't think that's something that should continue to go unchecked. People posting on this thread talking like those of us who've had that experience numerous times and want to have it talked about as a real issue as part of this community are just spoiled complainers are so completely off base and missing the point completely.

+1
Amen Brother

Kreg

Ya win some ya lose some...
We all went through the same rigamarole. Some fans got lucky and others didnt. Bottom line is that 10c doesnt have to offer ANYONE a presale, and I applaud them for the attempt. I may have made some unsavory remarks yesterday in the heat of battle, but these are good people trying to get tickets to the fans. I didnt get tickets yesterday, but there is no way in hell that I am missing this show!

TuckerKatt

JAlbano wrote:

What we are taking issue with are the unnerving tech issues with the site NOT the amount of tickets they make available or a sense of entitlement towards seats or shows. But when you actually are a lucky one to get through and have a pair of tix in your cart and make it all the way to the purchase stage and your cc is processing and purely because of the site's tech problems you lose your order and then have absolutely no recourse...well I for one don't think that's something that should continue to go unchecked. People posting on this thread talking like those of us who've had that experience numerous times and want to have it talked about as a real issue as part of this community are just spoiled complainers are so completely off base and missing the point completely.

So if you never had tickets in your cart or you lost a lottery drawing you wouldn't complain? That's the part I find hard to believe. No matter what, people who get shut out are going to complain about all the flaws in the system. If people never get the Buy button and never get tickets in their cart they'll say the Buy button doesn't exist or it only shows up for low # people or some other nonsense like that.

10C is such an amazing thing. Few bands offer anything like this and at this point a lot of people are just spoiled. I'm sick of all the 10C bashing and especially the talk accusing the 10C of not listening to fans. They have made SEVERAL ticket policy changes in response to fans but unfortunately the complaining never ends.

vital5

boyo79 wrote:

Why do people bother with a 10C pre-sale? Why not just wait for general sale a couple of days later?

Everytime theres a pre-sale, chaos reigns people have tickets then don't and then there's a billions threads complaining. And then after the show people complain about their 10C seats and how people got better seats through Ticketmaster et al. So why go through 10C for your tickets????

Maybe 10C should bring in a new system where everyone gets a chance to apply for whatever gig they want over a day or so and then a few days later a ballot is done and the lucky ones find out if they got tickets. Its the system thats being done for the 2012 Olympics. There's a 2 month period I think where you get to apply for what events you want and then after the deadline has passed you find out which ones you were successful with. This seems a good idea and maybe one 10C should think about it.

Maybe people complaining/posting on the board brought down the ticket system?

Anyway... Ticketmaster and Ticketek in Australia (and most likely the USA) used to have these issues for major concert sales... at times they still do... Tenclub are not either one of these organisations that sell tickets EVERY day... That is reality, it may bite when you get denied, but stop and think about what you're saying before you tap it out on your keyboard...

I know i do! bwahaha

Get_Right

TuckerKatt wrote:

So if you never had tickets in your cart or you lost a lottery drawing you wouldn't complain? That's the part I find hard to believe. No matter what, people who get shut out are going to complain about all the flaws in the system. If people never get the Buy button and never get tickets in their cart they'll say the Buy button doesn't exist or it only shows up for low # people or some other nonsense like that.

+1
It is a distinction without a difference.

wigoutdcp

here is an idea, why not just sell all the tix to the fan club members, the shows sell out anyway who cares! (except maybe for ticketmaster)

MG79478

JE79371 wrote:

Well said. I rarely chime in here, but I agree that it is absurd for people to have to go through this. It's not about feeling entitled to tickets. A lottery and a simple "you got tickets" or "sorry, you didn't get tickets" answer would be such an improvement. There is a de facto lottery right now, which is whether the technical gods work in your favor, with the added insult of people refreshing screens at their computer for hours repeatedly thinking they have tickets and then realizing they don't. The 10 Club can do better.

A lottery is a bad idea. In the current system, those who want it more, and put in more effort, have a better chance of getting the tickets. These days no one wants to work for anything. There is still luck involved with getting tickets, but effort can greatly increase your chances.

No one has tickets until they have a confirmation. So if you get your hopes up early, that's your own fault.

chaslil

I just hope they have a different ticket sales arrangement set up for the PJ20 fest. Mainly, I hope that due to the "specialness" of it, they will be able to have a huge allocation for the Ten Club, if not the entire venue, in order to absorb the demand, which will make yesterday seem like a small blip.

maj4e

I stopped reading when i saw the word "forced"

Ty

3rd Sydney show, I didn't have tickets to, and got them on the day via Ticketmaster. At 5pm they released the complimentary tickets that weren't being used, so I got like 12 row.

DeepPJ

I read a lot here and post a little so I apologize for the length. I feel compelled to share my story as part of this discourse.

As a red sox fan, you go through this crazy system where you sit in a virtual waiting room until the server decides to pick you up. It can literally take all day and it's the same rigamarole once youre in, you have the tix in your cart, they don't, they lose the cc# etc, tho to their credit, they have worked to change things slightly.

I understand the clear differences between a ticketing system that big and what 10c has (and nobly I think, throughout the years) worked to see in ticketing reform because frankly, not many others are doing anything about it.

That said, my personal problem is this. I gave up on sitting in the virtual waiting room for the red sox because I can find some tickets on craigslist for 40 bucks midseason. I can't find that with PJ or EV. Frankly, I realize that I could bankrupt myself trying to buy the scalpers tickets but I just morally refuse to, and I simply cannot afford the financial burden beyond what it is. However, after these 20 years, since I was a 12 year old at the real garden so excited counting down the days I literally made myself sick with excitement, and then the grand reward of my first front row seats in Saratoga, and then again and again. Truth is I got spoiled. Then more people start showing up, tickets get mixed up and I am happy as hell that I still get 3rd or 4th row. So I understand this is a privilege and not a right, one I would share with everyone if I could figure out how.

And PJ and it's echoes have saved my life quite literally time and time again. But as a 30 something fighting a destructive, powerful nervous system condition that is ranked more painful than childbirth by the McGill pain scale... Only it doesn't end...I am sooo lucky to be able to walk with just a cane for now. I am always hoping, always singing to the sky that the time wont come where i have to ask for more help because i am just no damn good at it. Plus, i understand so well illness and disability and it is so important to me to wait as long as
possible before making ADA arrangements, to allow those precious few spaces for those who need to stay seated or otherwise. My personal arrangement is I bring a friend or my amazing husband to lean on, and people just have to put up with me taking a bit longer to get off the floor after an event. I have to sit a bit more than others.

I won't give this up as long as I don't bankrupt myself, because the healing it provides is in the long term, far more powerful than the pain it increases for the days or weeks following. But the mental agony that is caused even by a half hour of trying to get tickets is, as I age, and deteriorate, becoming a bit more unbearable each time. I am actually not trying to complain because this is my personal issue, but with so much technology, and let's face it, the sheer number of years (71xxx) of remembering to mail in and then pay a little more each year. I think I would do it without the tickets, but it is a huge part. I just wish that little bit of anguish could be reduced for all of us. It's a hard way to start the day when you feel this strongly about something and have it go down the way it does.

But all that said, I accept the problems and I hope there won't come a time where personally, the process getting there prohibits the therapeutic experience, because as cliched as I sound, really truly, every friend or family member who has shared a concert with me has asked- how can I thank this band? Because they have not seen me so healthy, or happy since diagnosis as I am there, pulse rushing, music running through my veins. One of the only times it is not only bearable, but incredible to be myself, in my body.

So that's my sorta too longish story if it counts for something. The moral is, I wish things could be easier on both of us, seller and buyer, so we could somehow not explode from a critical mass of passion. And I personally hope the system catches up before I am to far behind to reach it.

-c

wolfamongwolves

MoonTurtle wrote:

Or sell one show per day

They did that with the Europe tour last year. There were still problems, but it certainly worked better.


I recognise the awful irony of using TicketBastard as a model here, but surely their queueing system makes more sense. You go to the site, find the tickets you want to purchase and are told how long you have to wait. No need to keep refreshing, straining the server & getting error screens. If there are tickets still available when you get to the top of the queue, they are put in your cart - safely and securely - and are held there out of bounds of anyone else. You have 4 mins or something to fill in your details and buy them. If you don't do it in that time, they're back into the pool, and up for grabs again.

It doesn't seem to me that that would be a hard system for 10C to implement. It would certainly be fairer. And again, it does feel very odd to be using the word "fair" about TB...

But that's my 2 cents.

blackhawks

Minny tickets were gone in less than a minute today. Off to general sale or scalper again! Thanks for the second opportunity. There must have been an extremely small amount available.

High Fidelity 2000

I agree with the original poster... I didn't try for tickets (can't get to any of the far away shows) but have read countless threads about how everyone who did couldn't get them, refreshed, had them, got to the final screen, frozen, lost them, ripped off face bullshit, etc. This is obviously an issue with the servers not being able to handle all the traffic and process the orders all at once. This kind of stuff used to happen on the internet 10 or more years ago. Technology has come so far and yet when there's a ticket onsale, it's the same old thing, no improvements ever. Can you imagine if you went to buy a book on Amazon and you had it in your cart and then when you get to the final page after entering your credit card info, it freezes for 5 minutes then says you took too long to complete your request? And Amazon wouldn't even charge you $40 a year for you to possibly buy (but most likely not) books from them!

Invest in improvements, please, with the new dues increase. I know it's also a supply and demand issue, but this should not happen. If tickets sell out on Ticketmaster, a screen comes up that says they could not fulfill your request. Not "sit here and refresh and wish and hope when you get to the last screen that the tickets don't disappear from your cart. Now do this all day long until it officially says OUT OF STOCK." Must be a better way.

Oh, and yes... if the traffic from the message board ALSO brings down the Goods/Sales site, here's an idea: CLOSE the message board at the top of every hour before the tickets show up in the Goods!