ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Box office shambles

I didn't think I could make the City game due to unusual work commitments, so I gave my brother's lad my ticket, then somebody stepped in ? ironically a City fan ? and freed me up. Obviously I couldn't tell the lad I`m taking my ticket back, so I thought I`d just buy another. Been down here in London this week so I tried to buy online... the OS service is a joke, so I tried to phone. I must have rang 20-30 times on Wednesday and Thursday, but all I got was a message saying "all our operators are busy; please try later." Please try later? they may just as well have had a message saying "Piss off ? there`s nobody here" ... whatever happened to the queing system?

A total of 70 odd minutes I spent ringing the number provided; I rang customer services time and again too, but guess what ? no one answered, this must be the busiest the box office has been for years and nobody is manning the phones...

In the end someone who knew someone, who knew someone... so I`m sorted, but what an insight into the service we provide? I`ll be extremely angry if I see empty seats tomorrow.

Sort it out Bill, or better still try ringing the office and see how you feel. Undermanning the office and loosing ticket sales is surely a false economy
Dave Wilson, Liverpool Posted 11/01/2008 at 13:24:53

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Seamus Murphy
1 Posted 11/01/2008 at 14:32:32

Getting through to EFC on the phones is an ongoing issue, its been like that for ages. But I?ve never really had an issue buying the tickets online - it?s the only way I?ll get the tickets now.

Chris Wright
2 Posted 11/01/2008 at 14:35:37

Also I?m a season ticket holder who has bought his ticket for the Chelsea cup game and so has had my Swipe card activated. I was charged £1.50 booking fee on top of my ticket price for this priveledge. How do they justify that. There is no ticket to be printed or postage costs to consider?

David OBrien
3 Posted 11/01/2008 at 14:42:25

It’s a total farce. I was told to ’pop down to the ground’ to get my ticket. The lady was mystified by the fact I didn’t live in Liverpool. I started Emailing Ian Ross who to be fair was really really good and he got the problem sorted everytime. I would recommend becoming a pain in the ass to the club and harassing senior members of staff. No idea with BK’s email address is but Ian Ross was as good as his word.

Patty Beesley
4 Posted 11/01/2008 at 14:58:24

We have never had any problems ordering tickets on line and we live in Carmarthen and always receive the tickets at least three days before the match. Perhaps you were just unlucky.

Robert Carney
5 Posted 11/01/2008 at 15:10:10

Wyness has known about these problems for over 18 mnths. They still persist , they take the piss, quicker he and Kenwright go the better.

John Lloyd
6 Posted 11/01/2008 at 15:20:39

Its not the best,we know that but with the rush for Chelsea tickets and the ususal last minute rush for tomorrow then what do you expect?

Not everything in life is instant, and if your coming up for the game just go the ground in the morning & if you get there about 9 bells you should get a ticket no problem, may have to queue a bit but shouldnt be a problem.

Mark Dodds
7 Posted 11/01/2008 at 15:35:56

Rang up ... got through .. got tickets. BISH BASH BOSH!

Pete Sully
8 Posted 11/01/2008 at 15:34:54

the upgraded on-line ticket system is shite : as an Evertonia member last year (My Evertonia card did not turn up with the "Enclosed" discount vouchers this season , still waiting to hear from the club about that one) I was offered the best tickets available first, now it’s impossible, when they become available, they always offer row B (in the Park End)...well these are not the best seats unless you like looking at the players legs..and you can’t request anything alternative. So to get a decent seat you have to ring up..I mean it’s garbage. It’s a doddle to set up a system where you select a seat by clicking on it..Nuremberg have got it..our systems are just second or third class. I’ve written to the club including Wyness..no response...Customer Charter ?..publication of the Complaint Stats on the website..can you find them..naah..neither can I, Just when will the "Investigation" results into the Metalist home game ticket shambles be published as was promised at the time? Just how fucking complicated is it to run a booking office............Brewery..piss up................YAAAAAAAARGH..

Lue Glover
9 Posted 11/01/2008 at 15:55:02

I have a season ticket and cup priority so in theory I should just have to turn up at each match. Wrong! I’m now on my third version of season ticket as it’s a bit hit and miss whether it works or not. For the Zenit game they had actually sold my seat to someone else! I made a right song and dance about that believe me!
That’s all the negatives - on the positive side - I’m now on first name terms with a few people from the box office and have their mobile phone numbers. If my season ticket doesnt work again I just ring my dear, dear freind in the box office and it should be sorted.............In Everton I trust.

Seriously, if we aim to be a top 5 side we have to sort out the problems with ticketing, my impression (from my dear, dear friend) is that the staff are just overwhelmed at certain times. Come on you Blues, get it right, not everyone lives within walking distance of Goodison!

Steve Ashton
10 Posted 11/01/2008 at 16:04:53

Anyone try buying Christmas presents over the phone or on line from the Everton Mega Store - suffice to say my family all got Next vouchers.

Jim Corbett
11 Posted 11/01/2008 at 16:11:54

The thing that gets me is that they now use an 0870 number. So while you’re on the phone, hanging on, YOU are paying for their incompetence.

The £1.50 booking fee pissed me off as well - the only reason I use the phone to book Cup tickets and suchlike is because the online service is simply impossible to use

Rob Hollis
12 Posted 11/01/2008 at 16:15:32

I bought a ticket on weds, any one know if I can pick up the tickets at the park end tomorrow and what I need to prove I bought them? I?ve always had them sent out ot me before so not sure on the correct procedure

E-mailed the club and like always no answer!

Dylan Jones
13 Posted 11/01/2008 at 16:18:52

I always email Everton. Much quicker and efficient.

Chris Masey
14 Posted 11/01/2008 at 16:39:35

The Everton Box Office is a fucking disgrace. Because I cant get through on the phone I have to email as I don’t live in Liverpool. I emailed for my season ticket seats in plenty of time for the cup semi and they allocated them to someone else! So now my dad and I will not be sitting in our normal seats for the Chelsea game.

ITS AN ABSOLUTE FUCKING DISGRACE

Chris Roberts
15 Posted 11/01/2008 at 16:41:00

Rob

I bought a ticket late last Thursday for the Oldham Game. They said I should Collect it at the Box Office on Bullens Road.

It arrived on my door mat Saturday morning.
??????

Carl Ryan
16 Posted 11/01/2008 at 16:30:59

I wouldnt buy extra tickets online again when getting my usual seat. the system doesnt allow any choice and for both Oldham & Chelsea games I was allocated obstructed views (within the season ticket exclusivity period).
However I sent a mildly complaing e-mail on Monday and a lovely lady called Paula from the box office called me back. Result- 3 replacement tickets through the door by Thursday. great service but I’ll go to GP or phone for the Brann tickets if I’m taking the kids again.

Rob Hollis
17 Posted 11/01/2008 at 16:53:17

Thanks Chris. I?ll just have to wait and see!

Alan Rodgers
18 Posted 11/01/2008 at 17:18:45

I always email the box office and ask for seats as near as possible to the halfway line in the MS. Never had a problem.

Tony Williams
19 Posted 11/01/2008 at 17:16:44

I have never had a problem with the internet site when buying a ticket!!

Also as said before, what did you expect? You phone a day before the game against a team in the top 4 and expect to get straight through!!

Poor thread, if you had been trying for days then perhaps have a dig but not a day before a big game because funnily enough there would be perhaps a handful of other fans trying to get tickets when the lines are open.....strange that really

Graeme Moses
20 Posted 11/01/2008 at 17:26:06

Don’t use the 0870 number when calling the club - check out this website. http://www.saynoto0870.com/
Big day tomorrow, come on you Blue Boys

David Barks
21 Posted 11/01/2008 at 17:39:10

I’ve never had a problem getting a ticket and I have to do it from California. The trick is to use common sense and not wait until the last minute. Maybe buy a couple of weeks in advance.

Karl Masters
22 Posted 11/01/2008 at 18:23:33

I’ve posted about this before. They are as useless off the field as the Team is good on it!

Still waiting for our Evertonia cards in my house this season. Ordered and paid for in August. Given up hope of ever getting them. An utter joke.

Seth DeMerit
23 Posted 11/01/2008 at 18:49:40

Lads

This isnt about a ticket b4 the chelsea game. The Everton FC Box Office has in general has been an absolute fucking disgrace for well over 3 years now.
We the fans hsould be treated better.
The old adage: what would the club be without us, the paying loyal fan?

Dave Wilson
24 Posted 11/01/2008 at 18:48:23

Tony Wlliams
Read what I said lad I was trying for days not today
David Barks
nice to know you use common sense, but unlike you, I dont just go to a couple of games a season, I go to them all, my plans start the day the fixtures are printed - I have a season ticket - I suggest you read what I said too
My point is, thIs is the first time I have had to rely on the box office and I see the shite people who cant afford a season ticket have to put up with

Tony Williams
25 Posted 11/01/2008 at 19:33:18

Dave, assumptions are a bad thing, I also have a season ticket and the tickets I am talking about are the cup games.

As I have said and others have, they have never had a problem so why after one bad incident are you coming on here bad mouthing the club?

Dave Wilson
26 Posted 11/01/2008 at 19:45:18

Tony Williams
once again you didnt read what I said
I didnt make any assumptions all, I told you I was trying for days not as you - for reasons known only to yourself - claim the day before, it was me that spent the hours calling, and if the service is shite then I’ll say so
Me and thousands of others spend thousands of pounds every year following this club, I think we’re entitled to expect someone to be manning the phones
BTW if you want to refer to the above posts count the good experiences then see how they are dwarfed by the bad ones, accept shite by all means, but dont expect the rest of us to

Dave Wilson
27 Posted 11/01/2008 at 20:03:56

Tony

FYI
The OS is still asking people to ring and purchase tickets for tomorrow, Like I said it will be an absolute scandal if there are empty seats at that game tomorrow, Trust me, this club cannot afford to ignore interested customers in this fashion

M J Tyrrell
28 Posted 11/01/2008 at 19:59:37

Tony Williams - If you read all the other comments this is not an isolated incident "others" have also experienced the same poor service just becuase his opinion differs from yours doesn’t mean he’s wrong. I am also a season ticket holder who has failed every time i have tried to use the online service. It refuses my login details saying "another account exists with these details"?? I’d love to know what i’m doing wrong. it appears my details are individual enough for global hotmail but not for our online services?? For cup/away games I have to rely on family members to shoot over to the ground for me when im at work. has anybody else had the same trouble as me?

Tony Williams
29 Posted 11/01/2008 at 22:11:13

MJ I know it is not an isolated incident for other people but it is for Dave at the moment, so why come on to a forum to bad mouth the club?

Dave, I apologise, I did misread your posts but my sentiment still stands, why come on a football forum to specifically badmouth your club, I just don’t get it.

If it had happened on a number of occassions, fair play but just the once and you are calling it a shambles.

Don’t jump on the bandwagon to slate the club. As I said I have never experienced a problem with getting a ticket but I am aware others struggle sometimes but I wouldn’t come on a forum to sing the booking offices praises just because it works for me everytime.

David Barks
30 Posted 11/01/2008 at 22:24:25

Dave,

I understand what you’re saying, you have a season ticket but gave it up thinking you couldn’t go, then found out you could but didn’t want to take that ticket back so tried to buy an extra one yourself. So you didn’t have time to plan a couple of weeks ahead. I wasn’t specifically responding to you but to the general public who come on here complaining. When many people are all trying to get a ticket just a couple of days before the game the lines will back up.

All I’m saying is that this is a high profile match given the two teams league positioning and there is a good chance that the lines were very busy. You’re right, I’m not a season ticket holder, other family members are, but when I go I generally want to go with all of them and not take one of their tickets. So I have had to use the e-ticketing many times and never had a problem. However, I have attempted to access the e-ticketing system and had it not work, only for me to try again an hour later and have no problem at all. The other option is to have someone you know that lives in Liverpool go to the box office and purchase the ticket for you. This is what I do when I take a trip over, spur of the moment, and can’t plan ahead.

Derek Thomas
31 Posted 12/01/2008 at 03:33:29

What ever happened to good old cash at the door?? when was it phased out and what was the excuse(s)

I live in Auckland, still have a UK bank acc. and the use of the Ma in laws local address, What would be the consensus of the best method to ensure a ticket being there when I get there

Dave Wilson
32 Posted 12/01/2008 at 07:47:51

Tony / David
Tony
I’m in total disagreement with you mate - although I like the way you jump to the defence of your club, I’m not bad mouthing them, I love this club and want it prosper
David
I’m assuming you have been over there long enough to have a good grasp of our culture differences, the Yanks would never accept service like this,its always the first thing I notice when I visit, but this "mustnt grumble" attitude we adopt every time someone takes liberties, only serves to perpetuate shite service,
I thank you both for taking the trouble to come back to me