Saturday's Ticket Office Fiasco

[shooter mcgavin]

Quote[/b] (McScriven @ Sep. 19 2005,17:55)]600 fans didn't go home and it doesn't say that in the Echo.

There was no problem with the system, as just as many terminals were running on that as were on the old system.

It was purely down to the fact that a lot of people turned up late who hadn't bought tickets.

We normally sell about 900 on a matchday we did 2,000 on Saturday. Doesn't take a genious to work out why there were problems.

Having no online ticketing didn't help, but we ended our association with Seatbooker due to other reasons beyond that we were changing ticketing providers. We normally sell around 30% of sales online so this obviously had a knock on effect.

I'm sure the staff that worked there nuts off to clear the majority of the queue in time for kick-off will be pleased with your amateurish comments Mick.

As many terminals as before or whatever. Still doesn't explain why some old bloke was sold my season ticket seat for the Tranmere game eh?

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (shooter mcgavin @ Sep. 19 2005,23:26)]As many terminals as before or whatever. Still doesn't explain why some old bloke was sold my season ticket seat for the Tranmere game eh?

Clearly that was YOUR fault for not turning up to claim your season ticket seat early enough, Gav ...

WS

 

[shooter mcgavin]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Sep. 19 2005,22:28)]

Quote[/b] (shooter mcgavin @ Sep. 19 2005,23:26)]As many terminals as before or whatever. Still doesn't explain why some old bloke was sold my season ticket seat for the Tranmere game eh?

Clearly that was YOUR fault for not turning up to claim your season ticket seat early enough, Gav ...

WS

Fair point Mike. Maybe I was daft to assume that the "unavailable" tag over my seat on seatbooker was because someone else had actually bought it!!

We've only a week before the next home game and I don't know of anyone that has actually been sent their season ticket "card". No doubts they'll leave it too late for postage and encourage us to pick them up ourselves to save costs!

Up, couldn't, brewery, a, p%&s, in, a, organise - you do the maths!!

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (shooter mcgavin @ Sep. 19 2005,23:33)]We've only a week before the next home game and I don't know of anyone that has actually been sent their season ticket "card". No doubts they'll leave it too late for postage and encourage us to pick them up ourselves to save costs!

... which, of course, would be very handy for those people who don't live or work in Southend. Or are they hoping for more queues to snake around the car-park?

WS

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

BTW Gav - you know you have to turn up to claim your allocated season ticket seat at approx. 11.47am on matchday?

WS

 

[* ORM *]

Quote[/b] (Southampton Shrimper @ Sep. 19 2005,22:17)]I turned up at the West Stand ticket office at about 2.15pm, I went straight to a window, there was absolutely no queue. I asked for a seat in a particular row, and the lad at the counter picked up a whole wad of tickets and sifted through them until he found one in the row I wanted. He then asked me if there was any particular seat I wanted, but I said I'd just take the first one he found.

That's because you get a better class of staff to serve a better class of supporter.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Quote[/b] (Southampton Shrimper @ Sep. 19 2005,22:17)]

Quote[/b] (Oh for another Ron Pountney! @ Sep. 19 2005,21:03)]Are the tickets preprinted for the West Stand ?

Where was the publicity, the press releases or communication for last Saturday. It's years since I went in the West Stand but if I'd known at 2.30 that I could have walked round to Shakespeare Drive and bought tickets there I would have and I'm sure that  other supporters would have as well. At least I know now that if there are more than 60 people in front of me then I wont get a ticket by kick off!!!

I turned up at the West Stand ticket office at about 2.15pm, I went straight to a window, there was absolutely no queue. I asked for a seat in a particular row, and the lad at the counter picked up a whole wad of tickets and sifted through them until he found one in the row I wanted. He then asked me if there was any particular seat I wanted, but I said I'd just take the first one he found.

I just don't understand how one side of the ground can be bogged down with utter chaos, while the other side can be as easy as you like!

Snap.

The lad at the West Stand U block ticket office must have been bemused by all his mates' stories of carnage in the East.

 

[Firestorm]

If this is a one off then it should be put behind us, If however it happens another couple of times then I am all for a witch hunt.

Unusual situations sometimes combine, (perhaps there were a couple Saturday) , I recall some years ago when it used to be pay on the gate and we had 4 turnstiles for the Northbank alone, the queue for an evening game against Torquay stretching back across the car park to the fence by the flats and then going up the car park (IIRC they delayed the kick off twice and still people were late...) All down to vouchers for the Spurs game being given out.

Can't we give them the benefit of the doubt this time, our league position is higher than anyone ever dreamed and, as such, our gates are higher than expected, I would anticipate that this will not happen again (Until next season when we are top of the Championship and everyone gets caught by surprise at the amount of people for the home game against Everton

 

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Firestorm @ Sep. 20 2005,09:07)]If this is a one off then it should be put behind us, If however it happens another couple of times then I am  all for a witch hunt.

Unusual situations sometimes combine, (perhaps there were a couple Saturday) , I recall some years ago when it used to be pay on the gate and we had 4 turnstiles for the Northbank alone, the queue for an evening game against Torquay stretching back across the car park to the fence by the flats and then going up the car park (IIRC they delayed the kick off twice and still people were late...) All down to vouchers for the Spurs game being given out.

Can't we give them the benefit of the doubt this time, our league position is higher than anyone ever dreamed and, as such, our gates are higher than expected, I would anticipate that this will not happen again (Until next season when we are top of the Championship and everyone gets caught by surprise at the amount of people for the home game against Everton  

I agree with that 100%, except that the Championship home game will be against West Ham.

I must say i am getting concerned about the lack of my tickets for Yeovil & Forest, which i think should have been forthcoming some time ago IMO.

However there are always problems when a business introduces new computer based systems, as in my experience they never actually do what you want them to do. And then the business has to work around the problems that the system was bought to circumvent in the first place.

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Sep. 20 2005,10:57)]However there are always problems when a business introduces new computer based systems, as in my experience they never actually do what you want them to do. And then the business has to work around the problems that the system was bought to circumvent in the first place.

Full testing prior to installation followed by extensive on-site testing before launch tends to avoid many problems. Unfortunately, in my experience, businesses tend to want to use the services before they have been fully tested ... and then refuse to suffer the consequences ...

WS

 

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Sep. 20 2005,10:31)]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Sep. 20 2005,10:57)]However there are always problems when a business introduces new computer based systems, as in my experience they never actually do what you want them to do. And then the business has to work around the problems that the system was bought to circumvent in the first place.

Full testing prior to installation followed by extensive on-site testing before launch tends to avoid many problems. Unfortunately, in my experience, businesses tend to want to use the services before they have been fully tested ... and then refuse to suffer the consequences ...

WS

That is the truth of the matter, and it is always the customer that is penalised or inconvenienced.

 

[shrimperman]

i havnt had enough time to read through all pages of this thread but im starting to get a bit confused with this new ticketing system and so could someone please clear something up for me.

due to working commitments i am unable to make all games hence buying tickets on the day from the west stand ticket office. Am i still able to due this or does this new ticketing system mean i have to pay and collect my tickets from the new office in the club shop? or am i just getting really really confused??

 

[Upminster Blue]

Quote[/b] (shrimperman @ Sep. 20 2005,12:40)]i havnt had enough time to read through all pages of this thread but im starting to get a bit confused with this new ticketing system and so could someone please clear something up for me.

due to working commitments i am unable to make all games hence buying tickets on the day from the west stand ticket office. Am i still able to due this or does this new ticketing system mean i have to pay and collect my tickets from the new office in the club shop? or am i just getting really really confused??  

If you're buying on the day for the West Stand, there's no change - tickets are available from the West Stand ticket office.

 

[BlueJ]

Quote[/b] (Upminster Blue @ Sep. 20 2005,13:09)]

Quote[/b] (shrimperman @ Sep. 20 2005,12:40)]i havnt had enough time to read through all pages of this thread but im starting to get a bit confused with this new ticketing system and so could someone please clear something up for me.

due to working commitments i am unable to make all games hence buying tickets on the day from the west stand ticket office. Am i still able to due this or does this new ticketing system mean i have to pay and collect my tickets from the new office in the club shop? or am i just getting really really confused??  

If you're buying on the day for the West Stand, there's no change - tickets are available from the West Stand ticket office.

But queues are going to get longer there as they use the new ticketing system also.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Quote[/b] (Tilly's Prodical Son @ Sep. 20 2005,17:49)]

Quote[/b] (Upminster Blue @ Sep. 20 2005,13:09)]

Quote[/b] (shrimperman @ Sep. 20 2005,12:40)]i havnt had enough time to read through all pages of this thread but im starting to get a bit confused with this new ticketing system and so could someone please clear something up for me.

due to working commitments i am unable to make all games hence buying tickets on the day from the west stand ticket office. Am i still able to due this or does this new ticketing system mean i have to pay and collect my tickets from the new office in the club shop? or am i just getting really really confused??  

If you're buying on the day for the West Stand, there's no change - tickets are available from the West Stand ticket office.

But queues are going to get longer there as they use the new ticketing system also.

I bloody hope not! Well, from a selfish persepctive, I hope not before the 29th of October and then by 12th April, teething problems will be sorted out.


Along with our annual LDV trip and impending promotion.


Of course.