New ticketing system meltdown already?!

[Bozza]

I'm no computer expert so this might sound like a naive question but surely Brighton know that they get X amount of people logging on when tickets go on sale why not build a system that can cope with it? Or is it not that simple?

Capacity and performance testing is difficult, but from what I've seen they've not done a bad job...

1. A lot of people got 'site busy' a lot of times but that was because a stupid number of people were trying to access the site. But they still got an informative message as to what was going on, and the site didn't crumble.

2. Those who did get in were able to transact successfully. This was because the safety step in 1 above segregated the load on the system.

However, you'd expect the Albion's internal ticketing staff to be using completely different infrastructure to access the system, such that they would not be influenced by any peak loads going on from punters on the outside. Reports from those who were at Queens Road suggest that this was not the case and they were suffering some degradation in performance.

 

[Gazwag]

So I guesstimate that (for the Spurs game)

12,000 available

1,200 Spurs
2,600 1901
5,000 Withdean STH

So 3,200 minimum left for next Wednesday - does that look about right (assuming all those who got tickets today that they were not entitled have them cancelled)

 

[Uridium]

The 'add my reserved seats' section is now empty for my 1000 point account so sounds like they've fixed that bug

 

[Brian Fantana]

So I guesstimate that (for the Spurs game)

12,000 available

1,200 Spurs
2,600 1901
5,000 Withdean STH

So 3,200 minimum left for next Wednesday - does that look about right (assuming all those who got tickets today that they were not entitled have them cancelled)

I thought it was 12,000 tickets available (not including 1901 and away tickets).

 

[Gazwag]

I thought it was 12,000 tickets available (not including 1901 and away tickets).

OK so there maybe 7,000 tickets left next Wednesday then

 

[the wanderbus]

what an absolute pile of shite, the ticket site now shows no tickets available at all.

 

[Gazwag]

what an absolute pile of shite, the ticket site now shows no tickets available at all.

Hiw many more times will somebody need to post CLICK ON RESERVED TICKETS TAB

 

[AMEXican Wave]

I sort of hope they don't attempt to cancel any tickets, or if they do be 100% that they get it right.

It doesn't effect me by the way, but given how flakey the system seems to be, and the mistakes in loyalty point numbers, if they start cancelling tickets left, right and center, then I can just see the wrong tickets being cancelled, people having to get them reinstated, complete chaos.

No, let's just have a block on future mistakes, and a humble letter apologising for glitches in the loyalty point system. If the problem is fixed now, I'm sure that all those with 1250 points, who want them, will get tickets.

 

[Giraffe]

There are obviously some data issues and it's only when people come to use the system that they are identified. These will bring some pains but you would expect that by the time the Spurs sales process has concluded, 95% of them should have been noticed and addressed and things should get to Business as Usual.

The site 'too busy' thing isn't too bad either, I don't think. And there really is no need for everyone to try and get in during the first few hours - if you have 1250+ points you will get your seat later today or tomorrow etc. That said, if you refresh enough times, you will get in. And when you are in, it all seems to work quite well, but there have been some obvious issues:

- Those below the 1250 point threshold being able to buy tickets. Time will tell whether those orders will be fulfilled.
- Amex cards not processing. Quite an embarrassment for obvious reasons.

And a couple of usability issues...

- "They've sold out already!" - the 'add my reserved seat' thing was clearly not obvious.
- Automatically including all Friends & Family and requiring the manual removal, prior to purchase if required. Quite cumbersome for big groups.

I think the biggest embarassing issue is that we started reported the loyalty point number f*** up on here over ther weekend, and I reported it to the club on Monday morning, yet they only seem to have woken up to it last night! and last time I looked I still have 3500 points so not sure it's resolved yet.

 

[Deano's Right Foot]

what an absolute pile of shite, the ticket site now shows no tickets available at all.

Me too, but that might be because I only have 1,000 points so I can't buy any home games yet. I can buy a ticket for the away game at Burgess Hill.

 

[Commander]

So who else is now in the "tried (unsuccesfully) to buy tickets with only 1000 loyalty points when you shouldn't have been able to, thinking tough luck everyone else, it's the club's fault for messing the system up, but now hopes the club act fairly in this and cancel the tickets of all the people who were succesful in cheating the system" camp??

 

[middletoenail]

I think the biggest embarassing issue is that we started reported the loyalty point number f*** up on here over ther weekend, and I reported it to the club on Monday morning, yet they only seem to have woken up to it last night! and last time I looked I still have 3500 points so not sure it's resolved yet.

That together with the fact that they are unable to take Amex cards online, one of the biggest problems Amex execs have is card supression! Surely this is a simple round of user acceptance testing that has not been performed?

 

[Giraffe]

I think it would be unfair to take back tickets from those that have bought in their eyes fairly as their loyalty points may have shown as 2500 or 3500 even though they shouldv'e had only a 1,000.

 

[Laridae]

No, let's just have a block on future mistakes, and a humble letter apologising for glitches in the loyalty point system. If the problem is fixed now, I'm sure that all those with 1250 points, who want them, will get tickets.

I think you're right, the club will just draw a line under the cock-up and learn from the "experience" (IMO it's not worth finding the resource into refunding those new STH, though it would be interesting to know how many 1000 pointers 'illegally' bagged tickets).

Let's hope no STH from 2010/11 miss out (which in all honestly I don't think they will... if they order before next Wednesday).

 

[Another Berkshire Seagull]

I have 3520 pts now as they have given me 20 more points for the spurs game (that was previously stated as having no loyalty attached).

Teething troubles...ho hum.

Annoying though because most of the problems could have been addressed by proper testing by the ticket system provider.

 

[the wanderbus]

hiw many more times will somebody need to post click on reserved tickets tab

dont treat me like some kind of fuckwit, smartarse. Read my post ,no tickets are available ,as in there are no home games to buy tickets for!

 

[Gazwag]

I think it would be unfair to take back tickets from those that have bought in their eyes fairly as their loyalty points may have shown as 2500 or 3500 even though they shouldv'e had only a 1,000.

How many logged in after finding out about the loophole knowing full well that they should only have 1,000 points, its been well publishised. No different from the mispricing of an item on an internet shop (like last weeks X Box) anybody who bought one knew it was an error so shouldn't be surprised that the order is cancelled.

 

[Beachbum71]

So I guesstimate that (for the Spurs game)

12,000 available

1,200 Spurs
2,600 1901
5,000 Withdean STH

So 3,200 minimum left for next Wednesday - does that look about right (assuming all those who got tickets today that they were not entitled have them cancelled)

There are NO tickets left at all! SOLD OUT. Not a good start to the ''New era''

 

[Gazwag]

dont treat me like some kind of fuckwit, smartarse. Read my post ,no tickets are available ,as in there are no home games to buy tickets for!

yes so you click add my reserved seats" tab, have a go, I have just tried it and it still works

 

[Brian Fantana]

Finally managed to log in, but the Gillingham game is not under 'add my reserved seat'. Any thoughts?