[FSPA] Buying tickets for Pinburgh - Urgent

[Bob K Mertz]

I was a single buyer on mobile sitting in Cedar Point's parking lot and I managed to get a spot as well.

On February 25, 2019 3:57:40 AM EST, Dan Reynolds via FSPA <fspa at fspazone.org> wrote:
>by my math, two data points are twice as useless.  that works out,
>right?
>i also was a single buyer that managed to get in by refreshing
>somewhere
>within 2 seconds of 12:00.
>
>i happen to have a very good internet connection with low latency and
>i'm
>using a cable, not wifi.  dunno how much that helped.
>
>i'm sure teaming up in a group of five would have helped more than
>simply
>winging it, but i failed to get my shit together enough to form a team.
>
>On Mon, Feb 25, 2019 at 3:28 AM Dave Hubbard via FSPA
><fspa at fspazone.org>
>wrote:
>
>> Well one data point is worthless, but I was a single buyer that
>refreshed
>> at exactly 12:00, and I was able to secure a ticket.
>>
>>       --- Dave
>>
>> On Sun, Feb 24, 2019 at 8:23 PM Jonathan Williams via FSPA <
>> fspa at fspazone.org> wrote:
>>
>>> If the success rate was as low as 1 in 5, that would be what, a 67%
>>> chance of success for the 5-team and 0.03% for the 5 single buyers
>all
>>> making it? With those odds you'd be crazy not to join a ticket
>buying
>>> alliance. Hopefully it wasn't quite that bad. I wonder how many
>people
>>> actually tried to buy tickets in the first few minutes.
>>>
>>> On Sun, Feb 24, 2019, 5:29 PM Deb Kapke via FSPA <fspa at fspazone.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> It’s an interesting idea if ShowClix put a priority on 5-ticket
>carts
>>>> over 1-ticket carts. (I’d be curious if that were true.)
>>>>
>>>> But I’d guess it just *feels* like more 5-ticket carts got through.
>>>>
>>>> 5 people coordinate to purchase 5 tickets as a group.
>>>>
>>>> 5 individuals trying for a single ticket.
>>>>
>>>> Suppose 1 in 5 visitors get to add tickets to a cart and purchase.
>So 1
>>>> of the group gets through and is able to purchase 5 tickets. 1 of
>the
>>>> individuals gets through to purchase 1 ticket. 4 remaining
>individuals
>>>> don’t get through. Still a 1 in 5 success rate.
>>>>
>>>> Strategy and skill combined with luck! Almost like ... pinball. Who
>knew?
>>>>
>>>> Not sure that 5-ticket groups is ideal myself, but it does allow
>for
>>>> families or travel mates who want to go together.
>>>>
>>>> The eBay option is really interesting. But I’d hate to see it all
>come
>>>> down to who is willing to pay more. I could maybe see that for a
>handful of
>>>> spots though.
>>>>
>>>> Deb
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Feb 24, 2019, at 11:11 AM, Kevin Stone via FSPA
><fspa at fspazone.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Regarding VIP passes – EBAY!!!  They are a sponsor after all,
>right?
>>>> That would be the ideal way to sell VIP spots and raise a ton more
>money.
>>>> You might also consider putting up another batch of 50-100 regular
>tickets
>>>> on EBAY after VIP are sold.  This would directly tie in ticket
>sales to
>>>> primary sponsor, win-win-win for those willing to pay more to
>guarantee a
>>>> spot.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Identify more tournaments that can be provided an option to buy a
>>>> ticket, e.g. circuit event winners, SCS state champions, and other
>large
>>>> scale tournaments.  This would provide a method for the ‘top rated’
>players
>>>> to get a ‘satellite’ spot instead of just making them a direct
>priority as
>>>> someone else mentioned, yet at the same time provide other players
>the
>>>> opportunity to snag one of those, e.g. as a State Champion.  Even
>if IFPA
>>>> or the state prize pool has to pay for the entry, it is worth gold
>to the
>>>> player that wins it.  That just makes SCS state’s and circuit event
>>>> tournaments worth a lot more to the player, and for once it has
>nothing to
>>>> do with money or WPPRs, but ability to snag the most coveted ticket
>in
>>>> pinball.  Maybe consider some other unique tournaments around the
>country
>>>> as well, like the Pinholics Anonymous Pintervention Circuit
>Championship
>>>> (got to plug it, lol).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Even though I benefited from the 5 player group blocks and got a
>ticket
>>>> this time, 2 ticket max is probably more reasonable and eliminates
>the huge
>>>> amount of 5 player groups that were slamming the system.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Also, when all is done, take a look at the metrics regarding how
>>>> ShowClix handled 5 versus 1 ticket reservations.  Totally just an
>>>> observation but it seemed to me that ShowClix might have somehow
>within
>>>> those 5 seconds put priority on 5 tickets carts than 1 ticket
>attempts
>>>> since so many 5 block attempts worked and so many 1 ticket people
>didn’t
>>>> get past that screen.  This is just based on what I’ve heard from
>those
>>>> grumbling and groups that had multiple people get into the cart
>with 5
>>>> tickets.  Would be interesting to see if there was some algorithm
>at work
>>>> that benefited groups versus solo purchasers.  And I’d say this
>isn’t a
>>>> theory just a thought.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *From:* FSPA [mailto:fspa-bounces at fspazone.org
>>>> <fspa-bounces at fspazone.org>] *On Behalf Of *Dan Reynolds via FSPA
>>>> *Sent:* Saturday, February 23, 2019 10:58 PM
>>>> *To:* FSPA main discussion list
>>>> *Cc:* Dan Reynolds
>>>> *Subject:* Re: [FSPA] Buying tickets for Pinburgh - Urgent
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> i think a 2 ticket limit would be even more fair, by the way.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Feb 23, 2019 at 10:56 PM Dan Reynolds <
>>>> daniel.j.reynolds at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> there's no GREAT way to divvy up a thousand tickets between the
>>>> X-thousand number of people who want to go.  i'm actually pretty
>cool with
>>>> the current system -- there's a high degree of randomness -- it's
>almost a
>>>> lottery as is.  but there is some weight towards how much effort or
>>>> shit-togethered-ness an individual can manage.  people who go to
>the
>>>> trouble of finding out the optimal strategy and organizing a group,
>or
>>>> incessently refreshing at exactly the right time, probably want it
>a little
>>>> more, and i tihnk it's ok that they are able to improve their
>chances
>>>> slightly over people who are only semi-committed or half invested.
>>>> certainly it's still true that lots of extremely enthusiastic
>people don't
>>>> get in, but a lottery wouldn't solve that problem.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> i think the system sucks in some ways, but i doubt there's a better
>way
>>>> to do it.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Feb 23, 2019 at 7:23 PM Mark Steinman via FSPA <
>>>> fspa at fspazone.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Open question for the FSPA.  Would you prefer this land rush style
>of
>>>> signups or a lottery?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> mhs
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Feb 23, 2019, at 6:32 PM, Paul Liam McGlone via FSPA <
>>>> fspa at fspazone.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> That would be a heck of a long shot if they had an extra ticket
>with
>>>> your name on it.   Only way to buy extras is to have player info
>ready.
>>>> Optimal strategy was no great secret.   Have some friends.   Get
>ready to
>>>> log in and put the max of 5 tickets in your shopping cart.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Gilles did it for me last year and took care of a few folks this
>year.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> This was discussed on the list a few weeks ago, amid speculation
>that it
>>>> would only take a minute to sell out.   See also:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *From: *Paul Liam McGlone <dwifairfaxatty at gmail.com>
>>>>
>>>> *Subject: Re: [FSPA] Pinburgh tix go on sale 2/23 Noon!*
>>>>
>>>> *Date: *February 11, 2019 at 6:20:08 PM EST
>>>>
>>>> *To: *FSPA main discussion list <fspa at fspazone.org>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Last year, it was that fast, but then tickets came back online as
>the 15
>>>> minute limit expired.
>>>>
>>>> Imagine a bunch of geeks (no, not us) sitting around with multiple
>>>> devices trying to jump onto a queue.
>>>>
>>>> So, then it says “please wait” and folks have  2 or 3 of those
>going.
>>>>   Then they get what they want and go back to playing pinball, as
>>>> originally scheduled.   So, the other devices may have tickets held
>in the
>>>> cart until the 15 minute mark, and then they go to …. Somebody in
>line OR
>>>> somebody trying to get in line.
>>>>
>>>> I’m sure it is a “whole different thing” this year, but it probably
>>>> doesn’t end in a minute.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> That shouldn’t happen this year.  If all goes as planned, leftover
>>>> tickets will be released to the waitlist in order.
>>>>
>>>> mhs
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Feb 23, 2019, at 12:31 PM, Steve Ryback via FSPA
><fspa at fspazone.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Long shot here but did anyone get any extra tickets? I was
>refreshing at
>>>> 11:59 and when I went to purchase was already sold out.  I’m on the
>>>> waitlist but would love if anyone had one I could purchase from
>them
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Steve Ryback
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Feb 23, 2019 at 12:29 PM Mark Whipple via FSPA <
>>>> fspa at fspazone.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I was able to get in and bought 2 tickets for the main event. Thank
>you
>>>> Gregg Giblin for your assistance. I also appreciate those that sent
>me a
>>>> link to order tickets. I am so glad I was able to buy tickets this
>year. I
>>>> was #125 on waitlist last year and never got in.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks again,
>>>>
>>>> Mark Whipple
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *From:* FSPA <fspa-bounces+mcwhip=verizon.net at fspazone.org> *On
>Behalf
>>>> Of *Kendall Van Pool via FSPA
>>>> *Sent:* Saturday, February 23, 2019 12:11 PM
>>>> *To:* FSPA main discussion list <fspa at fspazone.org>
>>>> *Cc:* Kendall Van Pool <kendallvanpool at gmail.com>
>>>> *Subject:* Re: [FSPA] Buying tickets for Pinburgh - Urgent
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I am forgoing wprs because IFPA crashed.  Thanks for the idea
>Jonathan,
>>>> but I didn't want to forgo the tourney due to IFPA crashing.  I
>just put in
>>>> 111111111.  I have to guess this is going to be the case for a lot
>of
>>>> people.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Feb 23, 2019 at 12:08 PM Jonathan Williams via FSPA <
>>>> fspa at fspazone.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Google has it cached.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Feb 23, 2019, 12:05 PM Kendall Van Pool via FSPA <
>>>> fspa at fspazone.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I think we crashed if a looking for our I'd numbers.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Feb 23, 2019, 11:45 AM Mark Steinman via FSPA
><fspa at fspazone.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Also, the link that says “Pinburgh 2019 Reservations etc” will
>become a
>>>> link to the waitlist.
>>>>
>>>> https://replayfx.org/competitions/pinburgh/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> mhs
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
-- 
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
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