[Would you like a fairer way to buy tickets?]

3 minutes ago, little_jim said:

"people who aren't available at that time often miss out"

 

Well if you really want to go, you're going to make sure you are available. I tend to work every Sunday but as soon as the ticket date is announced I make sure I've that day off. In the last few years I've been the lucky one in my group to get the tickets. Ive always had a rule, if your're up trying yourself I will try my best to help you get a ticket (more often than not I'm hanging like the rest of my mates). But if I can only get 12 tickets and 14 want them, If 2 of those are still in the land of nod not helping the group they will be the ones to miss out, its only fair.

 

In other words what I'm trying to say is the system is fair, people have plenty of notice when the tickets go on sale, if they complain they weren't ready for ticket day its their own fault (of course I can't speak for everyone there are major obstacles that may hinder some, but not registering or being hung over from the night before is not one of them) 

Well some people like to go to the festival on their own. If they fall ill the week of ticket sales then they would miss out. Of course, your statement is true for most people, I agree.

[Would you like a fairer way to buy tickets?]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Wow, it's an emotive topic.

21 minutes ago, shuttlep said:

The London marathon is a ballot. I've entered every year for 7 years and never got in . That's not fair but it's a ballot. 

I think the definition of fairness varies from person to person. Some would say that is fair.

20 minutes ago, musky said:

I've got to agree with all the other responses here. It's about as fair as it can get, and the festival goes out of it's way to make it so. When was the last time the site went down? I think it was 2013 there was the temporary problem with one of the servers, but the site didn't fail. 2007 was the last one I think.

Every year I have gone to buy tickets, one of the pages has failed to load and I have had to go back to the beginning. That is what I meant by down. It's frustrating and doesn't happen with normal checkout procedures.

17 minutes ago, incident said:

How and Why is that fairer?

The definition of fairness varies from person to person. I was suggesting it might be fairer, for example, if someone had had to go to hospital for an emergency the week of the ticket sales, it seems unfair that they would miss out. Of course, there is the counter argument well made on here that a ballot system would allow those who aren't that bothered about going get a ticket, which doesn't seem fair either.

4 minutes ago, musky said:

There seems to be two issues mixed into the one post here.

Firstly the idea of fairness and secondly that the booking process is frustrating and outmoded. I don't think they belong together at all and shouldn't be conflated. It's obviously a massively oversubscribed festival and given that I think it's reasonable that people who are prepared to put a little effort in, like get up a little earlier on a Sunday or rearrange their work responsibilities, should be rewarded. Yes there are many ways they could make the process require less effort but that wouldn't make the process more fair, just easier. And I'm really not sure that making something easier equates to making it fairer.

Usually when people want a fairer ticketing process they want it fairer for themselves.

I agree they are in many ways two issues, but they are still related. Some people set up multiple computers to increase their chances of getting through. Others aren't technically inclined and just have one. The former has what you could argue is an unfair advantage gained from a frustrating and outmoded booking system. A ballot would resolve this.

I have tickets to glasto this year, and I got them in the very first coach sale. I was just wondering if people considered the other way fairer, that's all. I hadn't made my own mind up. The posts on here have swayed me back towards the current system being the fairest (or least worst as someone put it).

 

[Would you like a fairer way to buy tickets?]

The current system of a free for all on one (two including coach) day seems a bit archaic. People get very frustrated with the site going down. People who aren't available at that time often miss out.

Would you prefer a system where you simply submit your request for a ticket or tickets for a group and your payment details at any time? Then on a given date, it randomly allocates them?

[Zooloos taking the mickey with their prices!]

Zooloos charged £59 last year for loos and hot showers (and a few other things). Now they're charging £94. They've also upped their Bell tent from £500 to £735!

I think they're taking the mickey. Are there any other toilet and shower packages from anyone else? I'd rather pay a bit and have a walk than use the free on site ones which are dirty or have massive queues.