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Portsmouth away tickets - ballot reopened!


hypochondriac

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Seems like there's a hell-of-a-lot of people who have thus far been unsuccessful. Hardly points to being under-subscribed to me.

 

the club even confirmed there were plenty of tickets left after the first ballot and the echo have reported there are several hundred remaining yesterday

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That is nearly as stupid as your Murty comments.

 

Tbf it was said in jest.. The 4-1 defeats Hurt but the whole country seeing an empty end at that hole would stay with me forever. As supporters we can be judged on one thing - support

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the club even confirmed there were plenty of tickets left after the first ballot and the echo have reported there are several hundred remaining yesterday

 

I honestly think we have a lot of bottle jobs as fans. We struggled to sell out 2k in the prem as it went to general sale. Poor poor poor anyone not going should be ashamed.

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The way I see it is it went to an original ballot, then a 2nd ballot. If there are any left now it will go to maybe a 3rd ballot/on sale to fans on database. The communication about the details have been non existent, and ticket sales for this match have hardly been helpful to the fans have they? The game is still a few weeks away. It will sell out (unless the OB have pulled the plug after the 2nd ballot, which would be a complete p*ss take)

Edited by LA77
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Can't work out how it takes so long if they didn't sell out from initial ballot but got the below from the TO any way

 

me: Are we likely to receive clarification on Portsmouth tickets soon? I submitted my application as a season ticket holder in the original ballot. I cannot make the Blackpool game so will need to make arrangements to get to St Mary's in advance and would appreciate knowing whether this will be necessary.

 

RE: Portsmouth Away Ballot

 

 

 

Dear Supporter,

 

 

 

All supporters who applied in the first ballot have been successful.

 

 

 

Please wait for a confirmation email which you will receive within the next 10 days.

 

Me: Dear Charlotte,

 

 

 

Thank you for the reply. It still seems like a very long time to wait for confirmation. Surely there is some explanation for this? I appreciate that a lot of this may not be to do with SFC or the ticket office but this system and its delay as well as the arrangements for the day are now becoming pretty farcical

 

 

Unfortunately we have had thousands of applications which take time to process. Checking each ballot takes up to 20 minutes per 1. We also have other games on sale which we are also selling down at the ticket office.

 

 

 

The arrangements for the day have been decided by the local authorities.

 

 

 

Regards

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Are there that many people who have been to four or more aways and aren't season ticket holders?

 

I'd be inclined to think the people who aren't ST holders and have been to a lot of aways are the non-Southampton based fans - the very people for whom Portsmouth is as much of an effort to get to as Southampton - except this time they've got their usual occasional trip to Southampton plus getting stuck in a police cordon for 6 hours in the middle of their journey. So that doesn't exactly smack of hundreds of additional applications.

 

The +1 for ST holders is fine and should lead to far more applications (I've gone in again for a couple of mates who don't meet the other criteria due to having kids etc but are proper Saints fans nevertheless).

 

However, if fewer than half the tickets went on the first ballot (no suggestion that is the case, but there were clearly loads left), then it's not very likely that we'll sell as many second time around. It's not impossible that we'd sell out even in that situation as other ST holders who didn't apply first time could apply, but it's not that likely people will suddenly decide to apply having not bothered.

 

Obviously the people who already have tickets from ballot 1 can only double their numbers with a +1, so if they weren't half the allocation to start with, they can't possibly fill the end on their own.

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Can't work out how it takes so long if they didn't sell out from initial ballot but got the below from the TO any way

 

me: Are we likely to receive clarification on Portsmouth tickets soon? I submitted my application as a season ticket holder in the original ballot. I cannot make the Blackpool game so will need to make arrangements to get to St Mary's in advance and would appreciate knowing whether this will be necessary.

 

RE: Portsmouth Away Ballot

 

 

 

Dear Supporter,

 

 

 

All supporters who applied in the first ballot have been successful.

 

 

 

Please wait for a confirmation email which you will receive within the next 10 days.

 

Me: Dear Charlotte,

 

 

 

Thank you for the reply. It still seems like a very long time to wait for confirmation. Surely there is some explanation for this? I appreciate that a lot of this may not be to do with SFC or the ticket office but this system and its delay as well as the arrangements for the day are now becoming pretty farcical

 

 

Unfortunately we have had thousands of applications which take time to process. Checking each ballot takes up to 20 minutes per 1. We also have other games on sale which we are also selling down at the ticket office.

 

 

 

The arrangements for the day have been decided by the local authorities.

 

 

 

Regards

 

20 mins per application, F8cking hell the lazy buggers bet they are chatting away drinking coffee while doing it, never ceases to amze me, they try to purvey an image of professional top flight outfit, but behind the scenes it is amatuer, Totton probably have a better outfit doing their Bristol Rovers tickets

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It will be the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened if we don't sell out for Pompey. I would have paid 100 quid for travel and tickets to be there. I don't care how I get there, it means too much to miss out on. Those that are missing it because they can't be ars*d with the bubble, get out of your armchair and get on with it.

 

You clearly have too much money and not enough responsibilities.

 

The weekend before Xmas is always a poor attendance anyway; people are skint and other people are roped into shopping.

The last two derby matches at Fratton weren't sold out in the Prem, and we had a bigger following back then.

"Normal" people don't like being told what to do, or how to spend their time.

...Or putting themselves in the position of being a target.

The club are clearly making a ridiculous mark-up on the compulsory coach fare.

£42 is a lot of money to watch a match in a sh!!thole.

None of the usual away game fun, pre-match pub etc.

There is a recession on, and a lot of people are either building up or paying off debts.

Also, it's on the box, so people don't have to go to see it.

 

So one of those reasons you gave is valid, and that one's only relevant if you accept that people would have to ignore the other 8 conditions and still want to go.

 

I'm going despite it all, I've applied for some +1s, but we all know it's going to be boring shart surrounding general unpleasantness, and it's only the vague hope of seeing some history from Saints in person (and the same vaguely warped and definitely irrational concept of loyalty to Saints) that's got me there.

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20 mins per application, F8cking hell the lazy buggers bet they are chatting away drinking coffee while doing it, never ceases to amze me, they try to purvey an image of professional top flight outfit, but behind the scenes it is amatuer, Totton probably have a better outfit doing their Bristol Rovers tickets

 

Take application form.

Check it is completed properly, that the sum equals the number of tickets applied for +£1.50 booking fee.

Look at applying fan's ticket account number.

Wait 30 seconds for crap server to deliver fan profile information.

Check eligibility (if ST or +4 aways).

Tick form or whatever consists of processing it.

 

If applicant is eligible, look at form again for additional numbers.

Look at applying fan's ticket account number.

Wait 30 seconds for crap server to deliver fan profile information.

Check eligibility (if ST or +4 aways).

Tick form or whatever consists of processing it.

 

Repeat for each number listed on the form, up to a maximum of 8. Check payment details, process payment, print bus ticket, match tickets, stick in appropriate piles, add email address to list of people to be emailed.

 

I can see why that would take 20 minutes if there are 8 applicants - but equally it could take a minute or two if there's only one person on the form.

 

Plus they have to do it up to 3000 times. Actually more than 3000 times, as some forms will be incorrectly completed, or need chasing up. And some will be concessions so have to be treated differently... and so on.

 

And they don't really want to email on completion, as it gets people panicking that they haven't had theirs, which means they have to answer the queries instead of processing forms. Plus there are people buying tickets for other matches...

 

Now, if anyone needs a ticket office business process analyst, I am available at an unreasonable rate... ;)

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I didn’t renew my season ticket this season but have been building up some away games on my history, so I decided to submit a form in the first ballot in the hope that if they did extend the ballot I’d be included.

 

When they announced that it was being extended, they also said on the website that “All supporters who applied in the first ballot have been successful“ I called to check that if it was true that ALL supporters had been successful, meaning I would have been included in that? I was told that any applications that didn’t meet the initial criteria would have been binned, so I wasn’t included so I’d have to apply again.

 

You’d think that if they’d already spent the time checking forms and had a pile that didn’t meet the initial criteria, they’d at least put them to one side 'ready checked' to go into the second ballot rather than binning them!!:(

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Take application form.

Check it is completed properly, that the sum equals the number of tickets applied for +£1.50 booking fee.

Look at applying fan's ticket account number.

Wait 30 seconds for crap server to deliver fan profile information.

Check eligibility (if ST or +4 aways).

Tick form or whatever consists of processing it.

 

If applicant is eligible, look at form again for additional numbers.

Look at applying fan's ticket account number.

Wait 30 seconds for crap server to deliver fan profile information.

Check eligibility (if ST or +4 aways).

Tick form or whatever consists of processing it.

 

Repeat for each number listed on the form, up to a maximum of 8. Check payment details, process payment, print bus ticket, match tickets, stick in appropriate piles, add email address to list of people to be emailed.

 

I can see why that would take 20 minutes if there are 8 applicants - but equally it could take a minute or two if there's only one person on the form.

 

Plus they have to do it up to 3000 times. Actually more than 3000 times, as some forms will be incorrectly completed, or need chasing up. And some will be concessions so have to be treated differently... and so on.

 

And they don't really want to email on completion, as it gets people panicking that they haven't had theirs, which means they have to answer the queries instead of processing forms. Plus there are people buying tickets for other matches...

 

Now, if anyone needs a ticket office business process analyst, I am available at an unreasonable rate... ;)

 

do it 3000 times? and yet the example you use has 8 applicants on the form? doesn't add up.

No excuses - this is very slow

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The TO are being so slow it's unreal. The initial time window for the 1st ballot was far too long, in relaity only 2 weeks was needed, not a month. I do feel for the staff there though, as they are obviously being directed to by the OB.

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The TO are being so slow it's unreal. The initial time window for the 1st ballot was far too long, in relaity only 2 weeks was needed, not a month. I do feel for the staff there though, as they are obviously being directed to by the OB.

Maybe the TO are doing CRB checks on each applicant :lol:

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You’d think that if they’d already spent the time checking forms and had a pile that didn’t meet the initial criteria, they’d at least put them to one side 'ready checked' to go into the second ballot rather than binning them!!:(

 

You'd think that if people didn't meet the criteria that were clearly laid out for the first ballot, they wouldn't waste the ticket offices time by applying.

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The TO are being so slow it's unreal. The initial time window for the 1st ballot was far too long, in relaity only 2 weeks was needed, not a month. I do feel for the staff there though, as they are obviously being directed to by the OB.

 

you can just imagine the meeting between the OB, the safety officer at the club jobsworth, flip charts, powerpoints, bet they are loving it planning it pretending to be a military operation, makes them feel important having missed out in their careers of doing anything of any substance.

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You'd think that if people didn't meet the criteria that were clearly laid out for the first ballot, they wouldn't waste the ticket offices time by applying.

 

buy why not prepare for eventualities? say ballot open, tickets go first to season ticket holder, then to database + 4, then database + 2, then just database, they could have it sorted quickly with a proper system.

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You'd think that if people didn't meet the criteria that were clearly laid out for the first ballot, they wouldn't waste the ticket offices time by applying.

Touché!

 

In all honesty I was just taking a punt on hopefully slipping through the net during the first ballot (based on previous stories in past years), with a second ballot being a back up plan.

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You’d think that if they’d already spent the time checking forms and had a pile that didn’t meet the initial criteria, they’d at least put them to one side 'ready checked' to go into the second ballot rather than binning them!!:(

 

As part of a lean business process I'd have slung them out as well, why offer a benefit to someone who has already cost you time and money through their own incompetence or sneakiness ?

 

If you knew you wouldn't be included, why submit it - and if you thought there was any chance it wouldn't be accepted, why not make a copy so you could just send it again, and take control of the process into your own hands ?

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you can just imagine the meeting between the OB, the safety officer at the club jobsworth, flip charts, powerpoints, bet they are loving it planning it pretending to be a military operation, makes them feel important having missed out in their careers of doing anything of any substance.

 

The meeting? The meeting? What do you mean The meeting?!!!! This would have required 5 or 6 and a couple of conference calls. They'd have done a brainstorming session initially to put ideas out there and then follow ups, planning, strategy and exexecution meetings. You underestimate just how important these people are and the planning that goes into it. You don't become a celebrity Copper or a safety officer without talent fella.

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RE: Portsmouth Away Ballot

 

Unfortunately we have had thousands of applications which take time to process. Checking each ballot takes up to 20 minutes per 1. We also have other games on sale which we are also selling down at the ticket office.

 

So if this email received by 'saintinlondon' from the Ticket Office is correct with regards to "thousands of applications" then it's surely over subscribed...and they must have ditched loads?

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THEY are checking with pc burrows on the suitability of each applicant' date=' when you do not get e-mail you will be told they never got your orginal application[/quote']if you handed it in in person that is going to annoy
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As part of a lean business process I'd have slung them out as well, why offer a benefit to someone who has already cost you time and money through their own incompetence or sneakiness ?

 

If you knew you wouldn't be included, why submit it - and if you thought there was any chance it wouldn't be accepted, why not make a copy so you could just send it again, and take control of the process into your own hands ?

 

:lol: :lol: Ha brilliant. I’ll split this into bits:

 

As part of a lean business process I'd have slung them out as well
If you are going to start talking about lean, rejecting applications and then requesting an additional application set that could include duplications of the initial set of data which will then also have to be checked, isn’t really a very lean process end to end is it!! So in fact, as part of a true lean business process methodology, you’re activities would go against the principals of reducing process waste and providing the best service to the customer.

 

why offer a benefit to someone who has already cost you time and money through their own incompetence or sneakiness ?

If the process was engineered better in the first place (As JRM says “why not prepare for eventualities”) then actually having the next batch of applicant information ready would be a better leaner process. Now I totally agree that in this case, as the process is not working in that way, my initial submission will have taken additional time (thus money) for the person doing the checking. Sneaky?... maybe, incompetent…hardly!!. But this leads nicely onto your next point…..

 

If you knew you wouldn't be included, why submit it
Where did I say I knew I wouldn’t be included? It was quite the opposite. As I’ve already said, based on previous comments from various ballots we’ve had, there was always a chance of getting a ticket via the first ballot even when not meeting the requirements, but if not, then there was also a chance they may have taken the pile of applications that didn’t get through the first set of requirements and used them for the next phase. As for why submit it, obviously because I really really want to go to the skate away game!

 

And finally……..

if you thought there was any chance it wouldn't be accepted, why not make a copy so you could just send it again, and take control of the process into your own hands ?
Where have I said that re-submitting a form a second time was a problem? That’s exactly what I’ve done and was happy to do so. It’s no bother at all to me if it means I may still get my hands on a ticket to the game, but just as you’ve tried to highlight a lean business process, my point too was more around the fact that they could potentially have had a batch of applications already checked that would now be valid for the second ballot phase!
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20 mins per application, F8cking hell the lazy buggers bet they are chatting away drinking coffee while doing it, never ceases to amze me, they try to purvey an image of professional top flight outfit, but behind the scenes it is amatuer, Totton probably have a better outfit doing their Bristol Rovers tickets

 

You've got to laugh.

 

You can just picture them searching the keyboard with a confused look on their faces as they struggle to input the 16 digit debit card numbers.

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Never missed a Saints trip to Fratton in my adult life - even got in without a ticket once. Never seen us win but every game was well worth it (even the "Amarillo" debacle), not for the feint hearted which is why I love it - pure hatred. How anyone that gives it the big one "we're coming for you" etc can be satisfied with watching it in the Varsity throwing beer around and shouting at a projector is unbelieveable. You need to see the whites of their eyes if you ask me, that feeling you get when you see the shock in their eyes that we aren't the tin pot family club propoganda they were brought up on by their 657 wannabe dads is one you'll never forget.

 

Up the Saints!

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Surely this "delay" could have been avoided by the ticket office running whatever "checks" they're doing at the time of receiving each application? Not everyone handed/posted theirs in at the same time on the same day, they would have been staggered over a period of A WHOLE MONTH (original OS article: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2485151,00.html - started accepting them on 17th October with closing date on 19th November), so all they need to do is process each form for eligibility, label the form with the average number of away games and put them in an ordered pile ready for payment processing.

 

Once the deadline comes round, if there are more applicants than tickets available, you start working from the top down until all the tickets are gone. If, as appears to be the case, there are more tickets than applicants, simply go through each form and process payments.

 

It really doesn't need to be rocket science, just a bit of common sense.

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Surely this "delay" could have been avoided by the ticket office running whatever "checks" they're doing at the time of receiving each application? Not everyone handed/posted theirs in at the same time on the same day, they would have been staggered over a period of A WHOLE MONTH (original OS article: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2485151,00.html - started accepting them on 17th October with closing date on 19th November), so all they need to do is process each form for eligibility, label the form with the average number of away games and put them in an ordered pile ready for payment processing.

 

Once the deadline comes round, if there are more applicants than tickets available, you start working from the top down until all the tickets are gone. If, as appears to be the case, there are more tickets than applicants, simply go through each form and process payments.

 

It really doesn't need to be rocket science, just a bit of common sense.

 

perhaps it's not the ticket office that are running the checks :smug:

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Fair play. How many aways have you done - wondering if they're working backwards (i.e. from most aways to least)?

Doubt that's the case as I've only done 5 so not many compared with some. I'm sure the emails will be sent out over the next few days and we’ll all find out for sure, it's just difficult for us all to be patient with something like this isn’t it!

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Never missed a Saints trip to Fratton in my adult life - even got in without a ticket once. Never seen us win but every game was well worth it (even the "Amarillo" debacle), not for the feint hearted which is why I love it - pure hatred. How anyone that gives it the big one "we're coming for you" etc can be satisfied with watching it in the Varsity throwing beer around and shouting at a projector is unbelieveable. You need to see the whites of their eyes if you ask me, that feeling you get when you see the shock in their eyes that we aren't the tin pot family club propoganda they were brought up on by their 657 wannabe dads is one you'll never forget.

 

Up the Saints!

 

Agree 100% with this. People moan about this as being a nuisance but 50,000 can get to Wembley on a Sunday for a far far less important game.

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20 mins per application, F8cking hell the lazy buggers bet they are chatting away drinking coffee while doing it, never ceases to amze me, they try to purvey an image of professional top flight outfit, but behind the scenes it is amatuer, Totton probably have a better outfit doing their Bristol Rovers tickets

 

http://twitter.com/#!/officialsaints/status/142248269706301440/photo/1

 

Taking the stereo away might be a start

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Same as a few people, the ticket is in my online history (dated about 9pm on 29th November if anyone's interested) but I haven't had any other contact.

 

Can't decide whether to wear a Saints shirt or my replica Latvia shirt...

ooooh I have a Latvia shirt as well, but I hadn't thought about wearing it to that dirty hole though.

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