'Olympics ticketing system – a psychic booking process that's anti-consumer' blog

ViolaLass

mgmidget66 wrote: »

While people are quick to say there is a better way to sell tickets, very few people seem to have anything concrete. Martin's suggestion about a window to buy tickets is sensible, but then wouldn't that just lead to everyone applying for everything as they know they don't have a commitment to actually buy?

I know people who are applying for huge amounts of tickets to increase their chances of getting some. This system penalises those who cannot afford to spread their bets in this way.

I think the window would have been a very good idea - surely you would only apply for things you actually want to see? If 100 people are allocated tickets to an event, let's say, and only 90 buy them when offered the chance, it wouldn't be that difficult to do another ballot (covering the people who didn't 'win' the first time round) for the remaining tickets.

Simon_c_2

All these are reasons why I'm not bothering.

I might buy three (for me and the kids) once they are available to re-sell, or I might just go down and watch the marathon or cycling from the streets with them.

mgmidget66

ViolaLass wrote: »

I know people who are applying for huge amounts of tickets to increase their chances of getting some. This system penalises those who cannot afford to spread their bets in this way.

I think the window would have been a very good idea - surely you would only apply for things you actually want to see? If 100 people are allocated tickets to an event, let's say, and only 90 buy them when offered the chance, it wouldn't be that difficult to do another ballot (covering the people who didn't 'win' the first time round) for the remaining tickets.

If people only applied for things they wanted then surely all 100 people would take up the option leaving us no better off than we were before? If people are applying for huge amounts of tickets to increase their chances then having this system would surely make it worse as they can apply for even more tickets without actually having to pay? You then have the task of reallocating tickets which probably isn't as simple as it sounds...

ViolaLass

mgmidget66 wrote: »

If people only applied for things they wanted then surely all 100 people would take up the option leaving us no better off than we were before? If people are applying for huge amounts of tickets to increase their chances then having this system would surely make it worse as they can apply for even more tickets without actually having to pay? You then have the task of reallocating tickets which probably isn't as simple as it sounds...

I really don't see that it's that difficult. Let's say you have 100 tickets but 200 people apply. You do a ballot to put the people in order and offer the first 100 people the tickets they asked for. Any that aren't bought can be offered to the next person on the list until they're all gone. Each time you offer tickets, you could give people a week to pay, after which the ticket is offered to someone else. It would take a little time but could be largely automated.

The problem at the moment is that you might, for example, be happy to see one gymnastics event but apply for six in order to boost your chances of getting one. This system is weighted in favour of those who can afford to have the money for all six lots of tickets waiting in their account in case they win them all. Those who can only afford to put money aside for one or two lots of tickets cannot spread their bets in the same way.

mgmidget66

ViolaLass wrote: »

I really don't see that it's that difficult. Let's say you have 100 tickets but 200 people apply. You do a ballot to put the people in order and offer the first 100 people the tickets they asked for. Any that aren't bought can be offered to the next person on the list until they're all gone. Each time you offer tickets, you could give people a week to pay, after which the ticket is offered to someone else. It would take a little time but could be largely automated.

The problem at the moment is that you might, for example, be happy to see one gymnastics event but apply for six in order to boost your chances of getting one. This system is weighted in favour of those who can afford to have the money for all six lots of tickets waiting in their account in case they win them all. Those who can only afford to put money aside for one or two lots of tickets cannot spread their bets in the same way.

In that case I may as well apply for all 30 basketball sessions and 30 volleyball sessions meaning everything gets oversubscribed and makes even more people unhappy... Plus you're now in the position whereby people who have already bought tickets now get the option to buy more which they might not be able to afford. So the process goes on and on until it's too late and we have empty seats! How long do you want this to be drawn out for?

We're talking about 2 million tickets here, it's the largest and most complex event the UK has ever held. It may be simple to think 'oh yeah, knock up a website to do it' but that in itself would be complex and cost money which would probably end up being added to the tickets.

I agree that some people are at an advantage here but it would still be possible to apply for a good number of tickets and not have a big debt on your hands and the chance to be there. And being there is what it's all about. Want to get on the Olympic Park? Buy a couple of handball tickets for £20.

Doshwaster

mgmidget66 wrote: »

Want to get on the Olympic Park? Buy a couple of handball tickets for £20.

That's what I did. I figured that Handball would be the least popular event (at least with British spectators - it's huge in Germany and Scandinavia) so I applied for quite a few sessions thinking that would give me the biggest chance of getting an allocation. I have almost no interest in the sport myself but it is sure to be a great experience just being around the Olympic Park. I'd be annoyed if I didn't get any of these.

On the other hand I have put in for some athletics, swimming and cycling with no expectation that I will get any. If I do then my credit card will have to take the strain as it's only going to happen once in my lifetime.

Some of the football tickets are also good value - £20 for 2 back-to-back games - and these are spread around the country.

frugalrob

It certainly is extremely anti-consumer, the points raised here are all very valid.

How is it even legal to only accept VISA?

Doc_N

frugalrob wrote: »

It certainly is extremely anti-consumer, the points raised here are all very valid.

How is it even legal to only accept VISA?

Perfectly legal, but I wonder how much bad publicity it's created for VISA? I was pretty neutral about credit cards before, but pulling a stunt like this has made me pretty negative about VISA.

Harryspotters

ViolaLass wrote: »

Add to that the fact that when you buy, you don't know how good or bad a seat you're getting - there's no information beyond 'we can't give a seating plan but every seat will provide a great Olympics experience'.

Why can't they give a seating plan? Some of the buildings are already in use e.g. Wembley so why can't they give an indication of where a £20 ticket would seat me versus a £50 ticket? How many £20 tickets are there? Will it be the crappiest 10% of the seats or are most of them for one event at that price? They won't even tell me whether the view is restricted!

I haven't bought any in protest at having to buy 'blind' (on top of all the other issues mentioned). The ballot was the only good idea they had.

I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment of not buying tickets in protest at a lack of at least some idea of the seating plans. I live in the North of England and would need to spend a lot of money on top of tickets, but would love to see the 100m final in the best seats. I can't remember the price now, I think it was £750. I would push the boat out to pay this but only if the seats were near the end of the track.
I really wouldn't take a punt on paying such a ticket price for two people without at least an indication of which portion of the stadium the seats might possibly be in. Other venues such as theatres and football stadiums manage to advertise the seating plans. It just doesn't make any sense. So I have decided not to have an attempt for this once in a lifetime event. So sad and so unfair for the vast majority of average income people in the country.

starsteel

I know my parents could potentially end up with £3000 worth of tickets, which I'm sure will be winding my mum up, as they don't have a Visa credit card and will have a random amount come out of their bank account and not even on a set date. I would have been a lot happier with using one of my current MasterCard credit cards, rather than having to use one of my spare bank accounts and leave money sitting in it not earning interest.