Fenway Merchandise.....they messed this up

24

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  • Weston1283Weston1283 Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 4,617
    I thought the way they did Fenway merch was the greatest I've seen it done since I started buying Merch in 2012.
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  • While I think they merch was well excuted after the first day, there should be some improvements. Leave a LARGE amount for show days, make sure the people that actually bought tickets can get what they want.. Do the limits right off the bat.. Anything that didn't sell Friday or Sunday could have been taken out today with no limits needed on the last day. Just my thoughts..
  • lotsalemonlotsalemon Boston Posts: 2,734

    No complaints from me - except to impose the limits straight away instead of later. Especially on the small stuff like stickers and patches.
    Mansfield 06.28.2008 | Boston 05.17.2010 | Boston 06.19.2011 EV solo | Wrigley Field 07.19.2013 | Worcester 10.15.2013 | Worcester 10.16.2013 | Hartford 10.25.2013
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  • mrz200mrz200 Posts: 76
    4 days prior to the shows, they gave us a map of the locations, the hours of the stands, and provided hours of operations well beyond that of the actual show.

    If I run pj merch, and I do all of the above and see a thread titled "...they messed this up" I honestly wouldn't know where else to turn.

    well done PJ merch.
  • MorpheusIIMorpheusII Posts: 62
    edited August 2016
    mrz200 said:

    4 days prior to the shows, they gave us a map of the locations, the hours of the stands, and provided hours of operations well beyond that of the actual show.

    If I run pj merch, and I do all of the above and see a thread titled "...they messed this up" I honestly wouldn't know where else to turn.

    well done PJ merch.

    Huh? Again, I'm A) new here and B ) not wanting to come across as a whiner but several folks seem to be missing the point. I live 30 miles outside of Boston. Why in the world would I drive in on Friday or Saturday just to buy stuff for a show I am coming into town for on Sunday.

    The items I wanted were sold out well before show time on Sunday. I went to 4-5 different stands and heard the same thing. I saw cards, posters and different size shirts all gone.

    Yes, they said well before the show that we could get merch all weekend. Sure, you can say "they did everything they could" by notifying us. I'll respectfully disagree. All I know is that the stuff was gone before I got to Boston. I can't believe there is no way to manage that.

    For example, just print up more shirts. Why not? Print up more posters. Why not? Just to make it "limited edition"?
    Mansfield, Massachusetts (July 11, 2003)
    Boston, Massachusetts (September 29, 2004)
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  • Lost In OhioLost In Ohio Posts: 6,748
    I showed up at 2PM on Sunday.

    I got two of all the posters, except "The Catch." AFAIK, that poster doesn't exist. *wink.*
    I got one of the "old timey baseball" shirts and the black 2016 shirt that looks like the "25th anniversary" shirt.
    I got a wristband, stickers, and a PJ RedSox flag.

    They seemed to have most of everything else. Any wait I had was 10-15 minutes at the very most.
    Presidential Advice from President-Elect Mike McCready: "Are you getting something out of this all encompassing trip?"
  • jp307677jp307677 Boston Posts: 415
    No complaints here, got everything I wanted easily. An improvement 10x over from Wrigley 2013.
    Everyone had plenty of opportunities to get what they wanted since the Tuesday before the show. Having all posters available throughout and all having both dates on them helped as well. Great job


  • Huh? I live 30 miles outside of Boston. Why in the world would I drive in on Friday or Saturday just to buy stuff for a show I am coming into town for on Sunday.


    I drove 65 miles each way Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Had no wait or problems with merchandise.
    "Hey, listen asshole, one more fucker throws a fuckin' quarter up here and we're outta here, I'm tellin' ya, FUCKER! What the fuck, you're blowin' it for fuckin' everybody. Hit me with a fuckin' quarter again and, fuck it, I'm outta here. We're all outta here. Fuck you, and if anyone sees someone throw fuckin' change right next to them, you have my permission to beat the fuckin' holy shit outta them."
  • WhywhyzedWhywhyzed Posts: 270
    I got two of all the posters, except "The Catch." AFAIK, that poster doesn't exist. *wink.*
    This was my only gripe. They had a million of every other poster.
  • EnterThanmanEnterThanman London, ON Posts: 1,057
    People have repeatedly voiced similar concerns over the years...they don't care.
    The member formerly known as Scratched Vinyl
  • EnterThanmanEnterThanman London, ON Posts: 1,057
    mrz200 said:

    4 days prior to the shows, they gave us a map of the locations, the hours of the stands, and provided hours of operations well beyond that of the actual show.

    If I run pj merch, and I do all of the above and see a thread titled "...they messed this up" I honestly wouldn't know where else to turn.

    well done PJ merch.

    Hold the most merch back for people who are going to the shows but can't get there until the day of.
    The member formerly known as Scratched Vinyl
  • buck502000buck502000 Birthplace of GIBSON guitar Posts: 8,951
    Produce merchandise - sell merchandise - done
  • TA243471TA243471 The Great Northwest Posts: 1,072
    They can't do business that way. They have to license all those posters, and the rest of the stuff. If they get stuck with any of it, they have to eat their costs. Sure, they get their investment back for the Thomas , and maybe the Mark V, but they might have the others on clearance for over a year. That costs them money to store them, and will cost them again when they discount them. Bad Business!!! They may, or may not care about a lot of things, but the one thing I am sure of, is that they care about their fans. They pay out of their purse to go over the noise ordinance limit, and they surely pay to make sure that there is loads of crap for people to bitch about not being able to get in the merch lines. They could just drop all that, and play 90 minute shows, like a lot of other bands. These guys won't, don't, and havent for a hell of a long time. If you are upset because you didn't get something you wanted, or thought you deserved as a long time 10 club member, thats unfortunate. But don't for a minute think that these guys don't care.
    • 2006: Gorge 1
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  • ComeToTXComeToTX Austin Posts: 7,525
    jp307677 said:

    No complaints here, got everything I wanted easily. An improvement 10x over from Wrigley 2013.
    Everyone had plenty of opportunities to get what they wanted since the Tuesday before the show. Having all posters available throughout and all having both dates on them helped as well. Great job

    If you were flying from out of town for the Sunday show you didn't have plenty of opportunities.
    This show, another show, a show here and a show there.
  • wall05wall05 Posts: 304
    I thought they did a great job. They made tons of pretty much everything. I walked up pretty late on Sunday (like 5:30ish) and was able to stand in line for 10 mins and get everything I could've wanted, personally. Can't say the same for many other shows I've been to. Was quick and painless. Very good experience for me.
    2008 - Camden, NJ 1
    2009 - Philadelphia, PA x4
    2010 - Newark, NJ, New York City, NY x2
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    2013 - Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA x2, Hartford, CT
    2016 - Philadelphia, PA x2, New York City, NY 2, Fenway 2
  • TA243471TA243471 The Great Northwest Posts: 1,072
    ComeToTX said:

    jp307677 said:

    No complaints here, got everything I wanted easily. An improvement 10x over from Wrigley 2013.
    Everyone had plenty of opportunities to get what they wanted since the Tuesday before the show. Having all posters available throughout and all having both dates on them helped as well. Great job

    If you were flying from out of town for the Sunday show you didn't have plenty of opportunities.
    I think if you were flying in from out of town on the day of the show, you had at least the same opportunnity that you have at every other Pearl Jam show, and probably more, since there was more than 1 outside merch stand. I also think they sold out of less things than normal. Seems like they made the most stuff available, for the longest amount of time as they ever have.
    • 2006: Gorge 1
    • 2009: Seattle 1
    • 2013: Seattle
    • 2016: Wrigley 1 & 2
    • 2018: Seattle 1&2, Montana
    • 2020: San Diego, LA 1&2, Oakland 1&2
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  • rbhesterrbhester Posts: 212
    The merch at Fenway was done beautifully. I planned on getting there at the crack of dawn Friday to assure I got what I wanted, and I did. I was surprised by the number of pop up stands outside and inside the venue on show days. I got everything I wanted and even stuff for friends and family. Everything was wel announced, well planned, well presented which equals a job well done. I couldn't be more pleased. Kudos to you 10C & PJ, you made my trip from Georgia run without a hitch by being able to plan everything based on what I wanted.

    PS: This may sting to those of you who missed the Thomas poster, but I saw 2 young kids outside the venue playing a mock Star Wars light saber battle, each using Thomas posters.
  • ldent42ldent42 NYC Posts: 7,859
    Don't get me wrong, I thought the merch situation at Fenway the best I've seen at a PJ show... ever. BUT! I got there at 3pm on Sunday, went to all the outside merch stands,and one of the posters, one of the stickers, two of the patches, and both of the pins were 100% sold out. I went into the venue at 6PM and went to two different merch stands, none of them had those items either.

    While Fenway was a big improvement, I think that there is still a couple details to iron out. Impose the limit restrictions starting with the very first sale. Inventory management can be improved, so that x amount of merch is available at each POS on each day. Sure there might be limited space at the stand for all the stock, but that is why God invented Labels and Sharpies. If there had been adequate inventory management implemented correctly (I'm not convinced that restocking the Thomas poster Friday night wasn't a cock-up) (I also do not dislike double negatives) then Sunday would have still had merch available come show time.


    Disclaimer: I do not envy the person who's job it is to order show merch.
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  • TA243471TA243471 The Great Northwest Posts: 1,072
    Sounds like it was better than perfect. On a normal show day, i don't think someone could ever get through 1 merch stand in 3 hours, let alone 3 of them. And then to get in by 6 and hit 2 of those too? More stuff than that is usually sold out long before that. It sounds like asking wayyy too much of people whos business is playing music.
    • 2006: Gorge 1
    • 2009: Seattle 1
    • 2013: Seattle
    • 2016: Wrigley 1 & 2
    • 2018: Seattle 1&2, Montana
    • 2020: San Diego, LA 1&2, Oakland 1&2
    • 2022: San Diego, LA 1&2, Fresno, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Denver
  • pledgeagrievancepledgeagrievance Posts: 2,786
    edited August 2016
    Merch was pretty easy. I didn't even try for anything until Sunday. Booths everywhere you turned. Most things available except Thomas poster.

    Side note, I ended up behind that guy in Merch line. First Merch line I walked up to I was 3rd in line from the start. I winded up behind the guy who wanted 3 shirts held up to check size and he tried on 2 and didn't buy any. Also he and his wife stood there talking to the Merch guy for about 2-3 minutes deciding between 2 hats. Come man, you're 45. Just pick your hat. Not the most important decision in life. There's people behind you.
  • ldent42ldent42 NYC Posts: 7,859

    Merch was pretty easy. I didn't even try for anything until Sunday. Booths everywhere you turned. Most things available except Thomas poster.

    Side note, I ended up behind that guy in Merch line. First Merch line I walked up to I was 3rd in line from the start. I winded up behind the guy who wanted 3 shirts held up to check size and he tried on 2 and didn't buy any. Also he and his wife stood there talking to the Merch guy for about 2-3 minutes deciding between 2 hats. Come man, you're 45. Just pick your hat. Not the most important decision in life. There's people behind you.

    :lol: When I got there I wanted the cream colored shirt and I actually said, out loud, without even thinking "Let me see if this'll fit since there's no line" before I held it up to my chest. #awkward.
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  • AceCoolAceCool Texas Posts: 455
    I thought it was exceptionally well run. Negligible lines and always well stocked. I was able to easily score shit that I figured would have been long since sold the fuck out. Kudos.
  • ldent42 said:

    Merch was pretty easy. I didn't even try for anything until Sunday. Booths everywhere you turned. Most things available except Thomas poster.

    Side note, I ended up behind that guy in Merch line. First Merch line I walked up to I was 3rd in line from the start. I winded up behind the guy who wanted 3 shirts held up to check size and he tried on 2 and didn't buy any. Also he and his wife stood there talking to the Merch guy for about 2-3 minutes deciding between 2 hats. Come man, you're 45. Just pick your hat. Not the most important decision in life. There's people behind you.

    :lol: When I got there I wanted the cream colored shirt and I actually said, out loud, without even thinking "Let me see if this'll fit since there's no line" before I held it up to my chest. #awkward.
    Oh no. It was you! Speed it up buddy lol
  • mpedonempedone 540xxx - Manchester, NH Posts: 1,772
    TA243471 said:

    ComeToTX said:

    jp307677 said:

    No complaints here, got everything I wanted easily. An improvement 10x over from Wrigley 2013.
    Everyone had plenty of opportunities to get what they wanted since the Tuesday before the show. Having all posters available throughout and all having both dates on them helped as well. Great job

    If you were flying from out of town for the Sunday show you didn't have plenty of opportunities.
    I think if you were flying in from out of town on the day of the show, you had at least the same opportunnity that you have at every other Pearl Jam show, and probably more, since there was more than 1 outside merch stand. I also think they sold out of less things than normal. Seems like they made the most stuff available, for the longest amount of time as they ever have.
    Wait, how would someone flying in on Sunday have "at least the same" opportunity, let alone "more" than people who could have gone into the city Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and/or Saturday?
    "I'm a lucky man, to count on both hands the [shows I've done]. Some folks just have one, others they got none..."

    Hartford 10.02.96 | Mansfield 2 09.16.98 | Mansfield 1 08.29.00 | Mansfield 1 07.02.03 | Mansfield 3 07.11.03 | Boston 2 05.25.06 | Tampa 04.11.16 | Fenway 1 08.05.16 | Fenway 2 08.07.16 | Fenway 1 09.02.18 | Fenway 2 09.04.18 | Baltimore 03.28.20 | Hamilton 09.06.22 | Toronto 09.08.22 | Nashville 09.16.22 | St Louis 09.18.22

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  • mpedonempedone 540xxx - Manchester, NH Posts: 1,772

    MP59559 said:

    In the end, we were there to enjoy the music, and a t-shirt or a poster doesn't change that. I like having them as reminders, but I'm not going to freak out about it.

    I agree with that.....great show and whether or not I have a shirt, I have the memory. I don't get the strategy, though. If you want to create a "limited edition" shirt, I guess that makes sense but then sell it at the show not all weekend. If you're selling to anyone on the street for three days, then make it unlimited.

    Just my 2cents.....and none of it changes how great the show was. Unlike many people on this board, I haven't been to a slew of shows but in the short list, I've managed to catch both Mansfield 3 and last night so I think I've gotten pretty lucky.
    I don't think they were trying to make it a limited edition shirt, I think it just happened to be the most popular. I didn't think it would be, though it was the one both my wife and I liked the best.

    I think the gist is that while some things sold out, and that's unfortunate, this was a pretty good way to run the merch sales. The whole weekend was an event, and I think they anticipated (somewhat correctly, IMHO) that many fans would treat it that way and be in the area for more than just the nights of the shows.
    "I'm a lucky man, to count on both hands the [shows I've done]. Some folks just have one, others they got none..."

    Hartford 10.02.96 | Mansfield 2 09.16.98 | Mansfield 1 08.29.00 | Mansfield 1 07.02.03 | Mansfield 3 07.11.03 | Boston 2 05.25.06 | Tampa 04.11.16 | Fenway 1 08.05.16 | Fenway 2 08.07.16 | Fenway 1 09.02.18 | Fenway 2 09.04.18 | Baltimore 03.28.20 | Hamilton 09.06.22 | Toronto 09.08.22 | Nashville 09.16.22 | St Louis 09.18.22

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    He goes to hell, of course. We're going to heaven."
  • ski-bumski-bum Boston Posts: 1,010

    MG79478 said:

    The solution is simple, let's just take the socialist approach like with tickets. Make all merchandise via a lottery, and remove the ability for people to put forth more effort to obtain what they want.

    "Put forth more effort"....does that mean drive into the city on Saturday just to buy swag? Sure, that's possible but why put the fans through that? Why not make more swag?
    I drove into the city @ 6:00am on Tuesday just to bye swag. Got everything I wanted including full set of posters.
    Then drove back in on Thursday & Saturday just to pick up tickets.
    It meant, the night of each show, we went out to eat and drink until 6:30. Then didn't have to carry a poster tube around all night.
    Worked for me in a big way.
    9/15/98 - Great Woods................9/29/04 - Fleet Center.....................8/02/08 - Opera House (EV)............10/16/13 - DCU Center
    8/29/00 - Tweeter Center............5/24/06 - Banknorth Garden............5/17/10 - Banknorth Garden.............08/05/16 - Fenway Park
    7/11/03 - Tweeter Center............5/25/06 - Banknorth Garden............6/16/11 - Wang Theatre (EV)............08/07/16 - Fenway Park
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  • mikerlmikerl Posts: 580
    Walked around to a couple stands each day. Missed the Thomas poster, but big deal.. It was a popular item, popular items sell before less popular items. I got a couple t-shirts, a coozie, and a wrist band. I never spent more than 8 minutes in line. If I saw that the stand didn't have what I wanted, I moved on without waiting.

    All in all painless.. And I spent less than 30 min all weekend in lines. I missed a poster - I hope to get it another time. If I dont get it, I was there for the shows, and was not let down!
    Hartford 1996, Hartford 1998, Mansfield 1 1998, Mansfield 1 2000, Mansfield 2 2000, Albany 2003, MSG 2 2003, Mansfield 3 2003, Boston 2 2004, Albany 2006, Boston 2 2006, Mansfield 2 2008, Boston 2010, Worcester 1 2013, Worcester 2 2013
  • jervin007jervin007 Posts: 3,181
    I didn't arrive at the ballpark until about 2pm Sunday. Seemed like the merch situation was well organized. Was hoping I might luck out with the Thomas poster, but wasn't surprised I didn't see it available that day. I don't have much interest in waiting in long merch lines anymore and was happy to get the Jersey and Hoodie I wanted, plus the Ames green monster poster. Maybe I will pick up some stickers online for a slight markup. Not really a big deal considering I didn't have to spend hours in line. Overall very well done 10club!
    PJ:
    2003 Mansfield: July 2
    2004 Boston: Sept 28 & 29
    2005 Montreal: Sept 15
    2006 Boston: May 24 & 25
    2008 Hartford: June 27, Mansfield: June 28,
    2010 Boston: May 17
    2013 Worcester: Oct 15, Hartford: Oct 25,
    2016 Hampton: April 18, Raleigh: April 20 (cancelled), Columbia: April 21. Quebec: May 5. Boston (Fenway): August 7

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  • I decided to hit the mech stand on Tuesday and missed out on the Thomas poster by about 15 minutes. Stood in line in the rain with my 3 kids for 2 hours and 20 minutes. As I was standing on Brookline Ave looking in the glass window at the merchandise, I see the last Thomas poster get scooped up. Was hoping and praying that they had more out back....but no. As I was checking various posts online later in the week, I saw that people were able to get the Thomas poster. I went back in on Sunday morning and was 10th in line at 7:30am. Waited 2 1/2 hours in line until they opened up at 10am, only to find out that they didn't have any Thomas posters. UGH! Not really looking forward to dropping $100+ on Ebay.
    PJ:
    * 1992 - Mansfield, MA
    * 1994 - Orpheum Theater, Boston
    * 1998 - Mansfield, MA
    * 2003 - Boston
    * 2008 - Mansfield, MA
    * 2016 - Fenway Park
    * 2018 - Fenway Park
  • JC29856JC29856 Posts: 9,617
    OP I hear what you are saying, not complaining. I think some of the responses missed your point, that it isn't unreasonable for someone to arrive for a 7:30 show at 6:30 to be surprised/pissed that items were sold out long before the doors even opened. Most of the ignorant replies are from the short sighted tunnel visionaries who think that everyone had the 3/4 day luxury of hunting down merch or in some cases all day Sunday. Not too much to ask IMO but like tickets many of the merch will end of on ebay and there is really nothing PJ can do about it. Don't be naive to think that 10C'ers and even those that post here aren't the sellers seeking 5 times profit on ebay.
    ST posters going for $200 on ebay
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