Sussex County Cricket Club ticketing...

[The Large One]

As the weather cleared for yesterday's game, I took the decision to go to the Twenty/20 match.

I went on to the website to order tickets to pick up at the gate. When you go on to the website, you don't order, you have to phone. So I phoned. Eventually, I spoke to someone in the ticket office who said I couldn't reserve tickets on the phone, so I asked if I could pay with a credit card over the phone. She said that I could not. She also pointed out that there weren't that many tickets left for the game.

So I thought I'd just have to swallow the extra fiver cost in order to get in. (It's £15 in advance, £20 on the gate). I get to the gate and ask the bloke in the blazer on the door for a ticket. 'Oooh, there's not that many left...' I told him only wanted one. 'Well, if you're sure. The thing is, the tickets aren't here on the gate, they're in the office.' So I started walking to the office to go and buy one. 'Ooh, I can't let you in, Sir, you need a ticket to get in...'

I told him I was going to the office to go and buy one. So the bloke in the blazer on the door called out to a steward. 'Bill, this fella wants to buy a ticket.' 'There's not many left', he replied. I only want ONE. 'OK, Sir, I'll escort you to the ticket office.' So, I get to the ticket office, and I'm just starting to get the hump. At the office door, there is a security woman - you know, hired muscle, black bomber jacket, arse the size of Bournemouth, face that looks like it's been on fire and put out with a thorn bush.

'The tickets are £25.' she told me, as if I'd ever asked her. I ignored her and went to the woman at the desk. 'Are there any ticket left for tonight's game?' 'Yes, but they're £25.' 'How come? It says on the website that it's £15 in advance or £20 on the door. How come it's now £25?' 'Oh, they're tickets for the North Stand.'

'So where does it say anywhere that they're £25? It doesn't on the website, and no-one told me when I phoned earlier. In fact, it was confirmed that it was £20 on the door.' I was getting a tad cheesed off by then. 'Yes, but these tickets are for the seats.' 'What, seats in the public area...?' 'Yes they are.' 'And they're now £25...?' 'Yes, they are...'

I saw it was pointless arguing, so I simply said, 'do you know what, I don't think I'm going to bother...' So I turned round and went out, only to be told be this pig of a woman on the door 'see, I told you it was £25...' as if her opinion - sorry, her repugnant attitude - was really important to me.

As I was leaving, I thought about turning round and biting my tongue in order to think 'sod it, I'm here. I might as well buy the sodding ticket and pay the extra.' Just as I did turn round, the black-jacketed walrus who had followed me out about five feet behind me screeched out at the top of her voice 'You have to go now. LEAVE THE GROUND. GET OUT...' which was extremely embarrassing for me. The best I could come up with, trying to retain some dignity was 'if you're going to talk to me, do it with a civil tongue in your head.' I could have been wittier I suppose.

All in all, it kind of f***ed up my evening. Not only could I not buy tickets on the day, over the phone or the internet, they made it hard to buy them on the door, then they whacked on an extra unannounced fiver (unless I have missed something obvious), and then the security bitch behaved like a arsehole.

Ever since Gus Mackay took over the role of Chief Executive, and since he fired the previous Press Officer, the place has gone form being a relatively progressive, customer-friendly county cricket club to a bloody circus. Every single time I have written to anyone at the County Ground I get no reply at all.

I love watching Sussex, and I love supporting them, but it is going to be bloody hard work to do that all the while they treat you like shit, which was how I felt last night.

 

[FalmerforAll!**]

I got a reply from Gus when I wrote to him complaining about the refund policy for non members, the best i got was that they'd review it at the end of the year and it clearly states why non members cannot get a full refund on the website(when it clearly doesn't)

 

[medicine man]

That is shocking TLO.
I went last night and I would say your decision not to bother was inspired- the cricket was GASH.

 

[Marc]

TLO complain to SussexCCC as my mates had the same issues last night and they formerly complained by letter & e-mail & phone this morning -

 

[The Oldman]

Am a member of SCCC but can't be arsed to do 20/20. It's a poor form of cricket and I don't see why as a member I have to pay again and pay more to use the member's pavilion.
I agree that since the new CEO has arrived the club has turned from a friendly provincial cricket club into a an badly run organisation.
The decking area adjacent to the pavilion was put up without any consultation robbing 50 people who sat in that area of their seating area and yet it's been hardly used by diners from the restuarant. So has not generated any cash but upset people who have paid their annual subs. The area for members has also been reduced by the so called family area. All for what? A few 20/20 matches.

 

[The Large One]

TLO complain to SussexCCC as my mates had the same issues last night and they formerly complained by letter & e-mail & phone this morning -

As I said, I've written several times on other issues, I get no reply from them.

The point is, a few years ago, I used to do work for SCCC (I designed 'Hove & Away' and the Members' Handbook), and found them courteous and a pleasure to deal with - if a little amateurish from a commercial point of view.

What I am getting now from more than one source is that Gus Mackay is a very unpleasant egocentric control freak, who takes over other people's jobs - jobs that these people are paid to do - on the back of the fact that he thinks he knows everything about everyone else's job. That is NOT the way to run a business. If there are issues with staff, you deal with it in an appropriate manner. You do not ride roughshod over everything purely because you think you know best.

Look at the farce with the ticket compensation issues this week for one. He FFA says above, 'he will deal with the issues at the end of the season'. People want, and are entitled to, their refunds NOW. Un-f***ing-believable.

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

...what pissed me off was the fact I was told my Middlesex ticket from last Sunday could be redeemed over the bar as a sort of beer voucher (it can't be used for another match as i'm a member)

Now, the members tickets are half price so most of them cost £7.50 but I bought the ones for the pavillion at the reduced rate of £10,
when i went to the Jim Parks bar last night I was told by the two old dears (who i've known for some time and have no problem with) behind the bar that a £10 members ticket can only be redeemed for £7.50 !

My initial reaction was a shocked "how can that work?"
but in the spirit of the game I didn't kick off, I just walked away thinking " i'm speechless"

 

[Lord Bracknell]

At the very least, TLO should post his tale on the SCCC message board:-

http://www.sussexcricket.co.uk/fanzone/message-board/

 

[The Large One]

At the very least, TLO should post his tale on the SCCC message board:-

http://www.sussexcricket.co.uk/fanzone/message-board/

Easier said than done. You try to start a new thread, and it takes you back to the Sussex Cricket homepage instead.

I give up.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Well prices will probably go up to repare the burning flood light.

Friday was a farce from start to finish. They no longer allow you to take booze in for thes games, however last year there were lots of bottle bars spread around for the 20/20's.

On Friday there were less bars and yet an extra 1000 people due to the temporary seating. Took 40 minutes to get served at one point.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

They need to either allow some beer to be brought in or have 'promo' girls with backpacks selling bottles.

I can understand the need to maximise profit in disallowing drinks to be brought in, but this should not be allowed to effect the enjoyment of the spectators.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

They need to either allow some beer to be brought in or have 'promo' girls with backpacks selling bottles.

I can understand the need to maximise profit in disallowing drinks to be brought in, but this should not be allowed to effect the enjoyment of the spectators.

agree - the whole thing was a frightful cock-up and reflects very poorly on the beleaguered "marketing" department...

how hard can it be to organise a competent beer selling operation on your own premises with 6 months' notice in which to organise...?

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I ordered 2020 tickets for Old Trafford (Lancashire v Leicestershire 6 July) on Thursday over the internet (prices £9 advance or £13 on the day). Despite the postal strike on Friday, tickets arrived Saturday am.

http://www.lccc.co.uk/index.php?p=news&id=1041

 

[Cheshire Cat]

If you think you've been ripped off or the ticket prices are not as described talk to the local Trading Standards office

"Misleading Prices
The Consumer Protection Act 1987 makes it a criminal offence to give consumers a misleading price indication about goods, services, accommodation (including the sale of new homes) or facilities.

It applies however you give the price indication - whether in a TV or press advertisement, in a catalogue or leaflet, on notices, price tickets or shelf-edge marking in stores, or if you give it orally, for example on the telephone. The term "price indication" includes price comparisons as well as indications of a single price."

http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/Adprice/Misleading-prices/page7848.html

http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/fact-sheets/page38133.html

 

[Beach Hut]

If you do not look after your customer they will go elsewhere.

Al of all people should know this running a shop.

Shame on SCCC

 

[Jim D]

I went on Friday. I had no idea of the pricing policy and just paid my £25 - which is about the same as you would pay at Withdean. I didn't realise that the ticket was for the North Stand (nobody pointed out where the seat was) but when I eventually found it the view was tremendous. In fact, I would say it's the best view that I've ever had at Hove (including from the Grandstand).

I might go back for the Essex match and, if so, I'll be asking for the same seat.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

There were plently of spare tickets outside the ground.

 

[The Large One]

I went on Friday. I had no idea of the pricing policy and just paid my £25 - which is about the same as you would pay at Withdean. I didn't realise that the ticket was for the North Stand (nobody pointed out where the seat was) but when I eventually found it the view was tremendous. In fact, I would say it's the best view that I've ever had at Hove (including from the Grandstand).

I might go back for the Essex match and, if so, I'll be asking for the same seat.

But are you happy paying a higher-than-advertised entrance fee?

As you can tell, my beef was two-fold - one, the difficulty they placed upon getting a ticket on the door, and two, the inflated price. I mean, £25 for 40 overs? Or 36.5, as it turned out.

 

[ali jenkins]

But are you happy paying a higher-than-advertised entrance fee?

As you can tell, my beef was two-fold - one, the difficulty they placed upon getting a ticket on the door, and two, the inflated price. I mean, £25 for 40 overs? Or 36.5, as it turned out.

My mate offered me a spare ticket for one of the England West Indies 20/20 matches the other day, it was £48 for the ticket, thats more that £1 and over! Once you add on the cost of going to London and drinks/food it was looking like the best part of £100 so i declined his kind offer.

20/20 is a good idea, but since it has took off its now all about making the most money!

 

[Hiney]

I know it's been on another thread but contrast all this with the situation at The Rose Bowl.

Tickets for the 20/20 are £15 on the door and £12 in advance. The website is very clear about refunds etc and about the cut-off times for buying the cheaper tickets. Under 16s are a fiver.

You can take 4 cans of beer into the ground

20/20 is brilliantly entertaining and a Marketing dream but there is a thin dividing line between charging a slight premium and taking the piss.