And The Latest Whitecaps Ticketing Blunder Is……
It wouldn’t be a week here at AFTN Towers if we didn’t have some sort of ticketing blunder to report about the Whitecaps.
This week – season ticket delivery.
[* WARNING – This blog will now contain a spoiler as to what is in your season ticket package. If you want to be surprised. Stop reading now! *]As a member of the Vancouver Southsiders, I was excited to be picking up my Whitecaps season ticket package and my 2011 Southsiders membership package at their special event at the Lamplighter Pub on Tuesday 15th March.
This event isn’t open to just Southsiders members though. Every Whitecaps fan that didn’t want them delivered could indicate that they wanted to pick them up that way. Those that couldn’t make it along, or didn’t want to, would get their package delivered by Purolator and it was thought that this would be in the week leading up to the game.
The closeness of this delivery worried me and others, but good news! They’re getting delivered this week.
And that’s where the good news stops and the latest fuck up takes over.
The Southsiders were given a cut off date that they had to inform the Caps of who was picking their packages up at the event. This date passed, the Southsiders confirmed the details to the FO and an email was sent out by the Southsiders confirming seating allocations and pick up at the Lamplighter.
All good and smooth on their end.
Imagine my surprise this morning when I opened my door and there, lying on my doorstep, was a Purolator package with a Whitecaps address label on it.
Now, where to start…
Well, let’s kick off with the fact that I shouldn’t have had my package delivered in the first place. I should have been picking it up next week, as I indicated and as was confirmed.
Secondly, not only was this delivered whilst I was asleep, it didn’t even need to be signed for and was just left lying there for anyone to come and take. Surely something of this monetary value NEEDS to be sent in a way that people will sign for it.
It could have been lying there for hours if I hadn’t happened to have been off work today and if I hadn’t taken my dog out, I would never have even known it was there. Unbelievable.
So what’s in the package?
Well, the worst kept secret was that all season ticket holders would be getting a special inaugural season scarf, ala Seattle Sounders fans, and yes, we do.
The big difference between the Sounders scarf and ours is the quality and the fact that you’re highly unlikely to want to be wearing it three years later like they proudly are.
I’ve dealt with Ruffneck scarves. I know what top notch scarves they have. This one is basic. White scarf, basic logos, basic printing and just weird blue stripes on the other side. It just makes it look cheap.
To those that don’t know or don’t care about scarves, they’ll like it. To those in the know, it’s awful. I accept the majority will be in the former.
I’ll be honest. I’ll be wearing it to the first match and then it’s just going in a drawer.
I wouldn’t even wear it to the first match if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s your ticket for getting in!
Yes readers, read the small print of your season ticket booklet very closely. The scarf has a “ticket sticker” stuck on it. I very nearly peeled it off until I saw in the season ticket booklet that the ticket in there is not a ticket to get in to the game and you need to get the one stuck on your scarf scanned. I think they really need to make this clearer.
This is also what Seattle did, but a few will be caught out. It will cut down on scalper activity though.
Let’s hope no-one gets too drunk and loses their scarf or their sticker before the game. Don’t go exchanging it either. Even worse, don’t leave it at home!
What other swag is in the package? Um, that’s it. The Cap$ haven’t shown that they really want to give the season ticket holders much. A cheap scarf, no open day, no VIP invites to events like last night’s one at River Rock Casino or this coming Saturday’s closed doors game against Colorado Rapids. Just take our money (eventually).
It does come in a nice cardboard box! There’s a Whitecaps foundation flyer and the season ticket booklet is smart, with varying degrees of quality artwork in it.
I still can’t believe it was just left lying on my doorstep though.
A few other Southsiders who confirmed for the 15th event have reported getting their packages this morning.
No doubt the Club will spin this as either more communication problems or that they wanted to ensure everyone had them in a timely manner.
It would have been nice if they’d let me and the Southsiders board know this then. It would also be nice to have it delivered securely.
Good old Whitecap$
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The Sounders deliver theirs without signature confirmation too and yes, some people have had theirs stolen.
Oh and they've given a new scarf with each season, but that actually makes it less valuable because you know for SURE you're not going to be wearing it for more than one season. 😛
I wish they'd just give us a $20 gift card to the team store and let us choose our own souvenir.
The Scarf looks intentionally bad so no one will want to wear it and be forced to buy a quality one for $35 from the Caps. I offer two other options for people who want a scarf that doesn't look like it was made by the lowest paid working in China 1:
1) Join the Southsiders for $30 and get a Quality scarf made in the EU as well as other get kit in your membership packag
2) Join the Southside and enjoy a 15% discount from Ruffneck Scarves and order an Officially Licensed Whitecaps scarf from their online store for only $22 (including Shipping)
http://tinyurl.com/vssjoin
So you're upset that you got the coolest opening day ticket ever and a free scarf? on top of the free scarf i'm sure you got for organizing the Southsiders Ruffneck scarves (which are very nice)
And you're upset you can't pick up your tickets at the Southsiders ticketing night, but now can drink freely with the Southsiders without having to carry around your tickets all night, or loose them while drunk which you seem to already be worried about?
And what neighborhood do you live in where people are stealing mail off your porch. I'm in Strathcona and have never had this problem?
Yeah to all that.
I'm at upset at the quality of the scarf when I was told by the FO we would be getting an exciting sth package. This isn't that. It's cheap and shows the Cap$ to be all about the money.
I have nothing to do with the current Southsiders board, so no free scarf for me from Ruffneck. If they would like to send me one, then all freebies welcome.
I don't drink, so I won't be losing anything that way! I don't see the point in the club arranging for one thing and then doing something else without notice. Another case of the ineptitude the ticketing department have shown time and again in recent weeks.
And yes, I stay in a neighbourhood where things get stolen.
Florence – its not the coolest opening day ticket ever. Seattle already did all this THREE years ago
I just got my package. Horribly bland. Very disappointed. As you say, they've done nothing for us season ticket holders apart from take our money.
I'm not a southsider but I would much rather have your scarf.
>I have nothing to do with the current Southsiders
> board, so no free scarf for me from Ruffneck. If
> they would like to send me one, then all > freebies welcome.
I would like to point out that the Southsiders Baard doesn't get a free scarf either. We pay for our membership packages just like everyone else. If fact many of the volunteer Board Members have 'donated' hundreds of dollars into the Southside to help it pay for 'optional' items. That is on top of the countless hours and petty operating expenses.
Not sure why everyone is so negative. Where's the joy of finally having half decent soccer in Vancouver?
Wheres the joy for the Caps moving to the MLS and making the Southsiders slightly more relevant?
surely this out weighs any minor ticketing snafu. Which by the way has caused you no problem, as you got your tickets despite the MLS handcuffing teams by releasing their schedule so late and they weren't stolen
Here is another angle. The Whitecaps were so rushed to put together the ticket packages because the MLS released the schedule so late that it was a miracle they put anything together let alone a free scarf. And due to it being of low quality more people will by the Southsiders scarf so win/win.
If you're so upset over the Caps being all about the $$ the only way to make your point is to not give them your money.
Florence … I think folks are a little upset because of the screw ups that would cause a fan to pull out his or her hair as I would not want to have to go through the head ache of reprinted tickets and waiting for a new package etc. glad that it worked out for GoF but I can see how this will add more unwanted stress to the ticketing crew.
I agree with the others Florence. Are you a season ticket holder? Have you gone through the problems we have? Do you know what its like to have promises that you paid for not fulfilled? As for the Caps making the Southsiders more relevent well that is just a joke. Over the year they have done many many things to squash the SS.
Maybe i just don't have the passion/expectations you guys do. I didn't expect anything with my season tickets so am pleasantly surprised to get a scarf, of any quality.
Just seems a bit premature to be angry that your tickets could have been stolen when there have been no reports of that happening. Lets hope it stays that way.
I worry that the strained relationship between the Caps and the Southsiders causes you guys to be a bit grumpy and nitpick.
And agree or not, the Caps moving to the MLS has given the southsiders a bigger voice and a chance to expand. Both of which they are taking advantage of.
I look forward to the Southsiders directing that passion to the pitch.
Anonymous – I have to disagree with that last comment. Over the last couple years the Whitecaps have done alot to help the Southside grow and there are many great people that work there.
I couldn't make this up even if I tried. After reading this post I found my season ticket package at the front desk at my office!
I think the package looks great, I checked the scarf and I don't find the quality to be much different from other team scarves that I have from Europe. However I've never had Southsiders/Ruffneck scarves before so I cannot compare the 2, but overall it's pretty much what I'd expect in a package.
The only disappointing thing is I didn't know about stickers on the scarf, and I brought extra tickets for my wife and her sister to come to a few games. However they won't be going to the first game, so I don't want 2 other friends or brother wearing/keeping those scarves.
-ibeep
“Just seems a bit premature to be angry that your tickets could have been stolen when there have been no reports of that happening.”
If you were expecting to pick your tickets up on March 15, and they were stolen today, how would you know until the 15th?
to clarify the last message wasn't written by the same person as the one who left the messages at 1:38pm or 2:47pm, I couldnt figure out how to leave my name on my comment, so I went with anonymous but I did write my Southsider handle “ibeep” at the bottom of the last message.
-ibeep again
-ibeep
Florence –
I agree. The problems we've had have made some of us a bit extra grumoy and nit picky.
I'm coming from a Scottish background too so maybe expect a bit more from the Club than some others.
My complaint about the quality of the scarf was more directed at the plainess of it. As someone said above, it's bland and a bit boring.
I just can't wait for the season to start though so that we can direct all this energy on to the pitch, the opposition and cheering the Caps on to the title.
Keep up the quality writing GoF and lets all agree:
TFC can suck it!
Florence is Bob Lenarduzzi.
I've just received got an email as well, and I'm organising the Lamplighter event
FLORENCE:
The issue here is that Whitecaps FO can`t follow instructions. I am in Phoenix right now and if they left my box on my front step of my apartment building when I have arranged for pickup on the 15th at the Lamplighter I will be right pissed. I should be able to enjoy my time away without asking a friend to check my door just in case, cause as reported many ppl have recieved their packages even though they signed up for pickup. Its not about being negative, its about expecting to get what we paid for without idiotic lunacy. And FWIW, the scarves look budget…. praying the crazy woman with the apt at the front door doesn`t steal my tickets…
Here is another angle. The Whitecaps were so rushed to put together the ticket packages because the MLS released the schedule so late that it was a miracle they put anything together let alone a free scarf. And due to it being of low quality more people will by the Southsiders scarf so win/win.
Knowing the schedule wouldn't affect what the quality of the scarf could be, or whether they ship the packages properly.
I haven't got my package yet, though Purolator has it in their possession. I, too, was supposed to pick up my package at the pub, though since I have tomorrow off I won't be heartbroken if it gets here tomorrow. On the other hand, I do live in a somewhat seedy part of town and if I got my package stolen because the Whitecaps couldn't ship the tickets according to my explicit instructions, I'd lose my shit.
Florence,
Most of the Southsiders will tell you that I'm one of the biggest apologists for the Whitecaps. Even I am growing wearing of all the screw-ups with respect to the ST's. It's never ending and just points to incompetence in that department.
I firmly believe the folks working there are trying their best. It just may not be good enough is all. Of course, I'm much more concerned with the team they field on the 19th (that and the phone number of the painted jersey girl) but this whole fiasco just feels really amateur.
As to the scarf … meh. Whatever. Doesn't bother me one way or the other. And even though it looks like I'll have my ST's tomorrow, I'll still be coming to the event on the 15th … because I know Chris won't deliver my SS membership package to my door.
What if the painted girl delivered your, er, package for you?
I am so pissed at this point. I won't know if my tickets were shipped because they couldn't update my address or email and they had to wait for the system! Another phone call to the Whitecaps FO tomorrow morning. It seems that it's never ending!
As for the ticket on the scarf…that's just an extra thing to carry.
Does anyone know which schoolkids did the artwork on the tickets? Couldn't find it in the book.
Does anyone know which schoolkids did the artwork on the tickets? Couldn't find it in the book.
Ok so here is a incident that is being reported by me via a co-worker received their season ticket via purlolator not only was her ticket package delivered but also for someone else so might have a few issue like this.
Ok so here is a incident that is being reported by me via a co-worker received their season ticket via purlolator not only was her ticket package delivered but also for someone else so might have a few issue like this.
Having actually got my package (when I shouldn't have yet gotten it, but never mind that), I have to say that the scarf quality isn't bad. I'd call it comparable to some of the other scarves I own like the current Voyageurs scarf and the year one Red Patch Boys scarf, or possibly even the 2009 Southsiders scarf (though I no longer have one with which to compare; I traded it for the RPB one).
Having actually got my package (when I shouldn't have yet gotten it, but never mind that), I have to say that the scarf quality isn't bad. I'd call it comparable to some of the other scarves I own like the current Voyageurs scarf and the year one Red Patch Boys scarf, or possibly even the 2009 Southsiders scarf (though I no longer have one with which to compare; I traded it for the RPB one).