mofo82
Refugee
There's alot of people here on this forum and just in general that don't get the whole idea of the FanFire Presale Membership problems. If you don't understand the FanFire Problems and think that anyone who bought a membership is a 'Whiner' for not getting what they thought they paid for, READ THIS. Here's the bs that a typical member/ customer has to put up with.
Some have said that people are greedy for tickets to hoarde and profit off of the band. I am not one of those people. I am a fan and a customer. I wanted the truth about what I was buying and was not told the truth. You can still prevent scalpers by providing the fine print and not waiting til the last days before the presales.
So I called FanFire Monday, Jan. 24. '05 about my problems with FanFire and U2's service regarding their paid membership for $40. In the call, I asked a few questions that might affect the way you purchase your presale tickets this morning. Read on.
SO I originally called Fanfire in mid December to ask what the deal is on the presale tickets- what are the limits on tickets and number of shows. The answer I got then was there was the 2 ticket limit on indoor shows and 4 ticket limit on outdoor shows, but no limit on the number of shows you can buy tickets for. Fanfire said this to me, and I swear to it.
I bought the membership for that reason alone.
Early January...I still hadn't recieved any emails from FanFire, nor my
%25 off coupon, membership card or keychain. I thought since I would get to buy tickets to any number of shows that the gifts, as tacky as they are, were balanced by the no limit of shows. I called Fanfire on or near January 14th, '05 and complained that I wasn't getting emails and my gifts. I sent the email wrong, so they corrected it and two days later I got my proof of purchase and %25 off coupon though email. Still no word on the membership card or keychain, and they were holding to the 'no limit of shows' question I had from before.
Saturday, Jan 22, '05- I call Fanfire with a complaint because U2.com sent the emails out with the presale codes and for the first time specifically mentioned that you could only buy presale tickets to only ONE SHOW maximum, contrary to what the customer service reps told me a t Fanfire. The email that U2.com members were sent mentioned for the first time quote,
'Q - How Many Tickets Can I buy?
A - As a Paid-up U2.Com Subscriber you will be able to purchase up to two (2) tickets for any one (1) indoor show (North America) or up to four(4) tickets for any one (1) outdoor show (Europe).'
This was part of the FAQ in the email that included my access code. This was different than before. Here are a few examples of the shady wording that was in the emails from U2.com about the presale ticket arrangements.
*"Priority Ticket Sales for the 2005 Tour
The 2005 Tour is being announced soon. It’s no secret that U2 tickets usually sell out in hours but we have secured agreement for U2.Com members to be provided with an advance window when they can buy U2 tickets at all venues before they are offered to the general public. "
- from email sent to me from U2.com, Dec. 14, 2004
*"Don't forget, if you have paid for a SUBSCRIPTION to U2.Com, you will receive priority ticketing options on all venues , a few days ahead of the general sale."
- from email sent by U2.com, Jan. 14, 2005 -again no mention of dates or number of limit of shows.
The customer service rep said she'd send our conversation to a supervisor to be listened to. I mentioned that there were so many members upset over lack of communication, not recieving items, the bad wording and not being charged the correct amount of money for the membership purchases.
Monday, January 24th, 2005.
I called FanFire to follow up my Saturday call. I immediately asked to talk with a supervisor. I was asked why, and I told the rep, Michelle, that the email sent by U2 says that there's a limit of one show for the presale. Michelle, the FanFire sales rep, told me that there is no limit on the number of shows for purchase in the presale, just the number of tickets. This was the second time a FanFire employee told me this information. I was transferred to the supervisor.
I talked with the supervisor, Diane, who listened to my complaints about the customer service reps who told me BEFORE MY MEMBERSHIP PURCHASE that there was no limit, and that they are still falsely telling people this. She apologized and was embarrased. She said that the staff had a meeting to discuss the presale ticket procedures and they were gone over, yet I was still told there was no limit. What's the excuse for that? There was none. She clarified for me that there IS A LIMIT OF ONE SHOW FOR PRESALE PER CODE. Problem is they already made their money under the false sales pitch that there wasn't a limit. NOWHERE WAS THERE EVER THE USE OF "ONLY ONE SHOW PER ACCESS CODE" EVER. NEVER. If it is assumed, that is not the same as in writing.
There are people that live in cities that normally have the shows that are now hundreds of miles away from cities that are currently booked for shows. HOW IS THAT FAIR TO THEM?
So I asked if those people could hold on to their codes until another show, possibly closer to them, is announced for the 1st leg, and Diane answered that she would think that you could hold on to the code and not use it right away, reason being it's a code between Ticketmaster and the buyer, and there doesn't appear to be an expiration date on it. Keep in mind that our emails say that there codes are only good for the first and second legs of the tour.
I complained how bad this is for a band/ company/ fanclub that is reaping the benefits and profits of so many to be so obscure and unclear with their customers, while at the same time offering the least for the highest dollar. Her response was that there are many exclusives on the website, along with the forum, and the website is getting better each day. My reaction was that almost all of the exclusives on U2.com rright now were free of charge several months ago. Plus, myself and other people whose complaints can be seen on the U2 Zootopia Forum have problems loading new pages. Apparently, the previous page you read loads when you click on the new page or link, so the forum has a few bugs too. Yeah, the website sure is getting better each day.
That left me with the keychain and membership card situation. Diane told me that there are approximately 90,000 members of the fanclub now, that they never expected this many people to join. HOW COULDN'T YOU EXPECT THIS? THEY PROMOTED THE HELL OUT OF THIS ALBUM LIKE NONE BEFORE. So they are just starting to send out those items now. I asked what the relationship is between U2 and FanFire and she responded that U2.com rarely ever notifies them of any moves that will be made, that people are really the first one to know, even before FanFire. What kind of business runs that way? It's not like they run the rumor mill, they are merchants. Shouldn't they know the insides and out's of their memberships that they are in charge of selling?
I asked what good the membership card is- does it bare anything for a member when purchasing items or recieving anything special?- Diane responded that it's just like any other membership card. I followed that up by saying, "Well at Sam's Club, you can't purchase their products without being a member with a membership card?" And I can't remember but I think Sam's Club memberships are about the same price as the U2 membership card- and look how little you get back in that aspect from U2.com. So I guess our cool little membership card is really nothing but a peice of plastic that gets us nowhere but to that happy little place in our head. I asked why couldn't FanFire, U2's merchant, have maybe offered a t-shirt or something of that nature. A t-shirt is what, less than $5 wholesale, and they can't even do that? Not even a newsletter or a typewritten thank you, like almost all other fanclubs would do? It's bogus.
I honestly didn't expect Diane to be able to answer most of these questions and figure out these problems- I am a rational person, but this whole membership fiasco is nearly all profit for U2 and U2.com and Fanfire. I believe they barely lose any of that profit towards the cheapo keychain, plastic membership card, 25% off (which means you still have to buy something), and the chance to get tickets.
It's not like they won't be sponsored on this tour and have to make the difference up to pay for all the high production costs. It looks to me that this whole operation is being fed by greed and lack of care, because lies are still being told to people up to this day to make people buy into the 'sales pitch' and it's worked over the last 2 months. SERIOUSLY, I bet you can find that a majority of the membership buyers bought this because the wording and phrasing led many to believe that there was more than one opportunity to but tickets to a show, that you had seeral, no specific amount given, but not every show.
So there are no answers here, but hopefully you get an idea how screwed up this whole mess is, and in my opinion fans of U2 were fleeced. Perfect timing to finally tell the really important details about the # of shows you could but presale for- 3 days before. I wonder how many bought their memberships prior to that date? I bet alot.
Later,
mofo82
Some have said that people are greedy for tickets to hoarde and profit off of the band. I am not one of those people. I am a fan and a customer. I wanted the truth about what I was buying and was not told the truth. You can still prevent scalpers by providing the fine print and not waiting til the last days before the presales.
So I called FanFire Monday, Jan. 24. '05 about my problems with FanFire and U2's service regarding their paid membership for $40. In the call, I asked a few questions that might affect the way you purchase your presale tickets this morning. Read on.
SO I originally called Fanfire in mid December to ask what the deal is on the presale tickets- what are the limits on tickets and number of shows. The answer I got then was there was the 2 ticket limit on indoor shows and 4 ticket limit on outdoor shows, but no limit on the number of shows you can buy tickets for. Fanfire said this to me, and I swear to it.
I bought the membership for that reason alone.
Early January...I still hadn't recieved any emails from FanFire, nor my
%25 off coupon, membership card or keychain. I thought since I would get to buy tickets to any number of shows that the gifts, as tacky as they are, were balanced by the no limit of shows. I called Fanfire on or near January 14th, '05 and complained that I wasn't getting emails and my gifts. I sent the email wrong, so they corrected it and two days later I got my proof of purchase and %25 off coupon though email. Still no word on the membership card or keychain, and they were holding to the 'no limit of shows' question I had from before.
Saturday, Jan 22, '05- I call Fanfire with a complaint because U2.com sent the emails out with the presale codes and for the first time specifically mentioned that you could only buy presale tickets to only ONE SHOW maximum, contrary to what the customer service reps told me a t Fanfire. The email that U2.com members were sent mentioned for the first time quote,
'Q - How Many Tickets Can I buy?
A - As a Paid-up U2.Com Subscriber you will be able to purchase up to two (2) tickets for any one (1) indoor show (North America) or up to four(4) tickets for any one (1) outdoor show (Europe).'
This was part of the FAQ in the email that included my access code. This was different than before. Here are a few examples of the shady wording that was in the emails from U2.com about the presale ticket arrangements.
*"Priority Ticket Sales for the 2005 Tour
The 2005 Tour is being announced soon. It’s no secret that U2 tickets usually sell out in hours but we have secured agreement for U2.Com members to be provided with an advance window when they can buy U2 tickets at all venues before they are offered to the general public. "
- from email sent to me from U2.com, Dec. 14, 2004
*"Don't forget, if you have paid for a SUBSCRIPTION to U2.Com, you will receive priority ticketing options on all venues , a few days ahead of the general sale."
- from email sent by U2.com, Jan. 14, 2005 -again no mention of dates or number of limit of shows.
The customer service rep said she'd send our conversation to a supervisor to be listened to. I mentioned that there were so many members upset over lack of communication, not recieving items, the bad wording and not being charged the correct amount of money for the membership purchases.
Monday, January 24th, 2005.
I called FanFire to follow up my Saturday call. I immediately asked to talk with a supervisor. I was asked why, and I told the rep, Michelle, that the email sent by U2 says that there's a limit of one show for the presale. Michelle, the FanFire sales rep, told me that there is no limit on the number of shows for purchase in the presale, just the number of tickets. This was the second time a FanFire employee told me this information. I was transferred to the supervisor.
I talked with the supervisor, Diane, who listened to my complaints about the customer service reps who told me BEFORE MY MEMBERSHIP PURCHASE that there was no limit, and that they are still falsely telling people this. She apologized and was embarrased. She said that the staff had a meeting to discuss the presale ticket procedures and they were gone over, yet I was still told there was no limit. What's the excuse for that? There was none. She clarified for me that there IS A LIMIT OF ONE SHOW FOR PRESALE PER CODE. Problem is they already made their money under the false sales pitch that there wasn't a limit. NOWHERE WAS THERE EVER THE USE OF "ONLY ONE SHOW PER ACCESS CODE" EVER. NEVER. If it is assumed, that is not the same as in writing.
There are people that live in cities that normally have the shows that are now hundreds of miles away from cities that are currently booked for shows. HOW IS THAT FAIR TO THEM?
So I asked if those people could hold on to their codes until another show, possibly closer to them, is announced for the 1st leg, and Diane answered that she would think that you could hold on to the code and not use it right away, reason being it's a code between Ticketmaster and the buyer, and there doesn't appear to be an expiration date on it. Keep in mind that our emails say that there codes are only good for the first and second legs of the tour.
I complained how bad this is for a band/ company/ fanclub that is reaping the benefits and profits of so many to be so obscure and unclear with their customers, while at the same time offering the least for the highest dollar. Her response was that there are many exclusives on the website, along with the forum, and the website is getting better each day. My reaction was that almost all of the exclusives on U2.com rright now were free of charge several months ago. Plus, myself and other people whose complaints can be seen on the U2 Zootopia Forum have problems loading new pages. Apparently, the previous page you read loads when you click on the new page or link, so the forum has a few bugs too. Yeah, the website sure is getting better each day.
That left me with the keychain and membership card situation. Diane told me that there are approximately 90,000 members of the fanclub now, that they never expected this many people to join. HOW COULDN'T YOU EXPECT THIS? THEY PROMOTED THE HELL OUT OF THIS ALBUM LIKE NONE BEFORE. So they are just starting to send out those items now. I asked what the relationship is between U2 and FanFire and she responded that U2.com rarely ever notifies them of any moves that will be made, that people are really the first one to know, even before FanFire. What kind of business runs that way? It's not like they run the rumor mill, they are merchants. Shouldn't they know the insides and out's of their memberships that they are in charge of selling?
I asked what good the membership card is- does it bare anything for a member when purchasing items or recieving anything special?- Diane responded that it's just like any other membership card. I followed that up by saying, "Well at Sam's Club, you can't purchase their products without being a member with a membership card?" And I can't remember but I think Sam's Club memberships are about the same price as the U2 membership card- and look how little you get back in that aspect from U2.com. So I guess our cool little membership card is really nothing but a peice of plastic that gets us nowhere but to that happy little place in our head. I asked why couldn't FanFire, U2's merchant, have maybe offered a t-shirt or something of that nature. A t-shirt is what, less than $5 wholesale, and they can't even do that? Not even a newsletter or a typewritten thank you, like almost all other fanclubs would do? It's bogus.
I honestly didn't expect Diane to be able to answer most of these questions and figure out these problems- I am a rational person, but this whole membership fiasco is nearly all profit for U2 and U2.com and Fanfire. I believe they barely lose any of that profit towards the cheapo keychain, plastic membership card, 25% off (which means you still have to buy something), and the chance to get tickets.
It's not like they won't be sponsored on this tour and have to make the difference up to pay for all the high production costs. It looks to me that this whole operation is being fed by greed and lack of care, because lies are still being told to people up to this day to make people buy into the 'sales pitch' and it's worked over the last 2 months. SERIOUSLY, I bet you can find that a majority of the membership buyers bought this because the wording and phrasing led many to believe that there was more than one opportunity to but tickets to a show, that you had seeral, no specific amount given, but not every show.
So there are no answers here, but hopefully you get an idea how screwed up this whole mess is, and in my opinion fans of U2 were fleeced. Perfect timing to finally tell the really important details about the # of shows you could but presale for- 3 days before. I wonder how many bought their memberships prior to that date? I bet alot.
Later,
mofo82
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