patiodweller Wrote:Why were the balcony seats the same price as the floor seats? That seems not right. I got tickets but know people that couldn't get tickets. There were some glitches also. A better system is in the works which is good.
Yes, as I mentioned in my email, a system of some sort is in the works. I hope it is better
patiodweller Wrote:I realized that my work computer must not be
compatible with all the flash and cookie requirements, but I have no control over that at work and the computer network .. .
and nor do I, so this might not actually change for you in a new system.
patiodweller Wrote:that some people that got in after me were either not able to get tickets or got even better tickets.
The way TM tickets work, is that they hold each set for 2:15, so if you look at a set, change your mind to go back for a different set, the first set you looked at is still held for 2:15 until they get released back into the system. So it is possible for good seats to come up a few minutes later as many people doing this puts many seats on reservee before they are released.
patiodweller Wrote:So you see, the system only allows people with certain computers access.
I think this is more of an issue with your system admin and It department and your employer. Many corporate intranets ban sites altogether as well as certain functionality so that their employees will not say, spend their time surfing the web at work. This will not really change in the future either. If your corporate environment is set up to curtail certain browsing activities, then there is nothing I can do to change that, nor will the website change to address one or two corporate IT environments, though I do believe our system works in most.
patiodweller Wrote:And I do not understand why the band is so against people buying tickets that are available through sites like E-Bay. These are the most die hard fans. Many die hard HIP fan have used E-Bay for tickets. I realize the extra cost of the tickets through 3rd parties does not go to the band and the band therefore stands to lose money
It's not the band that loses money in this case at all. They have sold the tickets for the retail value already and are only expecting that amount. It's the fans that lose out and it creates a class system of fans, between those that have money and those that don't.
Ticket prices are expensive enough already, as we all know. I think it's great that the band does what it can to curtail these activities as much as possible so that the "real" fans can get access as easily as possible for a price as affordable as possible.
In this case, I mean those fans who have taken the time to check out the band, their web site, register and allow for communication between themselves and the band, as opposed to the "real fan" who has the money to drop several hundred dollars more than face value for a pair of tickets, who can pay for the privillege of seeing the band no matter what.
patiodweller Wrote:Lastly, the system implies an "ahead of the line" advantage for former HIP CLUB members and now "registered users" of hip.com but in actual fact since this is a free membership, most people at HIP concerts are "registered users" so there is no advantage in real terms.
The current system implies, those that are interested and take the time to register, get an advantage of having a second opportunity to purchase tickets and get added benefits (downloads, videos, registered user only shows). When there is a limited supply and a high demand, it is the added opportunity to actually get tickets and ability to see them in smaller venues like Brockville, that I personally feel, is the bonus.
At a show like the Kingston show, for example, where fans are competing with (Hockey) season ticket owners, and the local population as well as music lovers in general, having a "free" second , or first, opportunity (as the case may be) to get tickets is an added bonus. As there is no cost to it, it's a win win situation. There is no real downside. The fact that it is being compared to a system that charges fans, is I believe, like comparing apples and oranges.
they are totally different.
So I believe, personally, that what people really mean, is that they would like to see a "Paid Fan Club," with added benefits, as opposed to, or in addition to, the current "free" system, of registered users. Which I feel is very different than complaining about a free system.
patiodweller Wrote:A fan club system like Aerosmith or Bon Jovi and other bands who charge a reasonable yearly charge and then when tickets go on sale to the fan club members only, they simply log in through the fanclub site and do not have to deal with any Ticketmaster websites at all
Many fanclubs only sell tickets to a few venues, and only in limited numbers, so you might still be competeing for tickets and might still need a second opportunity to purchase tickets. . . . this is true even of pearl jam's club:
Pre-sale tickets are limited. Ten Club does not guarantee tickets for all eligible members regardless of seniority. Tickets are available to all eligible fan club members while supplies last.
I'm not saying these guys don't do it right, I think they probably have the best system around, but there are still limitations and you pay for it. I believe we are going in the right direction and are better than many and not as good as some, but there are limitations in any system. And at the present time, our system is free and provides many benefits and I'm cool with that.
Yes, it has limitations, of coure it does and we are trying to solve as many of them as we can, in a way that addresses the wants, desires and wishes of the fans and the band?