09-12-2016, 01:52 AM
(09-11-2016, 02:00 AM)danfromnj Wrote: Ah, the horror stories. They never quite go away. Gotta give it up to the TSO management and the company who facilitate their process. They try every year to make it better. And it is so much better than it used to be, imho. I bought tickets on Day 1 and it could not have gone smoother. I am heading to a venue I have never been before and was looking for three tickets instead of my usual two. Wound up with third row on Chris' side. Pretty much where I was hoping to be. (I am not one that is "front row or bust").
From what I heard from many who attempted to buy tickets on Day 2, they tried instituting a check system that would block you if you tried purchasing tickets using multiple browsers/windows. Probably would have been less stressful on folks if they actually told you up front that was the plan - caused quite a mess and frustration for many. Day 3 I was back in looking for tickets and the TSO website crashed a few seconds after the stroke of 10AM. Luckily, I already had the link to the ticketstoday page that I needed and was able to stick with that and was able to get good seats once again.
So, it had the usual clusterfuck moments, but I heard of many success stories as well.
It's weird, but I must be in the minority. For me the process has gotten worse in the last few years. Mostly because more fairweather fans have caught onto the presale, more scalpers, BOTS, etc. BUT... I am a first 2 rows or bust type of guy. I go with my young son a lot who has trouble seeing over heads when further back on the floor.
As for day 2, I used one browser screen and still got 1/2 screwed. I don't think it was a multiple browser screen issue. From what I was told, once your address hit 2 separate transactions you were done. So I did great with two separate transactions for Greenville. Flawless!!! 2 front row and 2 second row seats. However, once I set my sights on Columbia, I pulled 2nd row center THREE times and got bounced each time. When I called Music Today they tried blaming my bank. I called my bank and they said they approved the amount each time and that it was on Music Today's end. So I tried a different card after pulling the 2nd row again. Same result... bounced! I applaud the effort to try to curb scalpers and bots, but many of us who go to multiple shows/cities got somewhat screwed.
Then on the third day the web crash, and I just ran out of luck pulling at least row A or B floor for Orlando. Probably didn't help that I was in the waiting room doing the presale while my wife was in surgery. Plus they lifted the 2 transaction ban which let in more scalpers again.
Either way, I'll still go to my 4 east and 2 west shows this year. I am going to supplement my failures on the presale with paying out of my ass on Stub Hub. Also, I have run into luck pulling row A or B during week of the show on Ticketmaster (happened in Columbia few years back). For the matinee shows I like to sit far in the back and may try some different locations for once. Usually don't pick them up until a month out. Either way, it's all good, and at the end of the day worse things could happen to us. This day (9/11) is certainly a reminder of that!