The only thing that is mildly of interest to me....$750 donation level seats were not in the original season ticket applications...so who is in that section???

Basketball Fan

While it does make me happy to know that sports other than football are getting good donations spread their way, I can only imagine how I would feel if this happened to me. Very sad.

[This message has been edited by Camille06 (edited 11/7/2006 1:45p).]

Yep. You might have to watch games 1 section over from where you expected to be. A catastrophe.

Basketball Fan

Welcome to the real world, where the more you can offer an organization...the better you are treated.

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Im waiting to hear about someone who paid for season tickets that got a "worse" seat.

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From the original post:

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They selected 2 season tickets and donated $250 for each seat. Based on the chart, they should have received tickets in either section 120, 121, 122, 104, 105 or 106.

Last week when they received their tickets, they found out that they had been stuck in section 119. (Which according to the chart was at the $100 a seat donation level.)

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They paid for the $250 seats, but instead was put in the $100 seats based on the order form they were provided by the Ticket office.

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Yep. You might have to watch games 1 section over from where you expected to be. A catastrophe.

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No offense, but surely you see that we're trying to build a solid fan base, for an up and coming program. Telling people who pay a lot of money for seats that they'll have a certain section(s), and then sticking them in another is not a good way to do that.

I understand the situation from both sides, but I would think the ticket office would do something to accomodate the growing fan base.





[This message has been edited by aggrad99 (edited 11/7/2006 5:12p).]

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call the state attorney general's office for consumer issues

(800) 621-0508

this is bait-and-switch. even if the demand did go up, they advertised a product at a price and then substituted a lower value product at the same price. if they underestimated the demand, then they flunk marketing 101 but the law doesn't allow what they did ... not even close.

from the state AG's website:

§ 17.46. DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES UNLAWFUL. (a) False,
misleading, or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any
trade or commerce are hereby declared unlawful and are subject to
action by the consumer protection division under Sections 17.47,
17.58, 17.60, and 17.61 of this code.
(b) Except as provided in Subsection (d) of this section,
the term "false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices"
includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:

(7) representing that goods or services are of a
particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a
particular style or model, if they are of another;

(9) advertising goods or services with intent not to
sell them as advertised;
(10) advertising goods or services with intent not to
supply a reasonable expectable public demand, unless the
advertisements disclosed a limitation of quantity;

(24) failing to disclose information concerning goods
or services which was known at the time of the transaction if such
failure to disclose such information was intended to induce the
consumer into a transaction into which the consumer would not have
entered had the information been disclosed;

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Ahh, do you really want an Atty General's Office Investigation of the A&M athletic dept?

How does this serve you the Aggie Sport fan's interest of initiating an Atty General's Investigation of your own team's athletic deptartment, before exhausting every other remedy? Think man, think.

Just keep calling asking for all or a portion of your money back.. Either ask for all of your money back (lose the seats and go to a general season ticket spot), or if you ask for a portion- go back to cheaper donation spot with seats available.


[This message has been edited by Aston04 (edited 11/7/2006 5:32p).]

Call the AG's office and be sure you specify you are disputing the amount of your DONATION. I think after they laugh, they will tell you there is nothing illegal going on. You may not like the system, but it is not illegal.

When you call, you need to tell them the exact situation. You paid $461 for a mezzanine level seat and they delivered to you tickets for a mezzanine level seat. Then tell them that your DONATION did get you high enough priority for the exact mezzanine level seat you wanted.

THE SAME PROCEDURE APPLIES TO FOOTBALL TICKETS. THIS IS NOTHING NEW. Just in the past, there weren't very many people that bought basketball season tickets so it was not an issue. Now that the team is winning big time and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, NEW season ticket holders have to get in line and they are prioritized by 1) the level of donation and then 2) the date of their deposit/donation. IN THAT ORDER.

I am not saying I 100% agree with the system. And I can see how people that didn't realize how the system works were taken by surprise and that can result in hard feelings. But, if you vehemently disagree with the system, take it up with the 12th Man Foundation and then chalk it up to a lesson learned.

I do think that this year perhaps the 12th Man Foundation should refund the donation difference to those that call as a goodwill gesture. It would be a shame to sour new season ticket holders. But, I seriously doubt that will happen.

I do agree that The 12th Man Foundation should have made a better effort to clearly explain how it would be handled if demand exceeded supply. It is pretty clear on their brochure for football tickets.

The entire reason I posted this info was because in the end, there is NOTHING my folks can do about it. But, it is something that needs to be known about our glorious 12th Man Foundation.

My folks want season tickets, but they got a raw deal. Its not right or ethical and people need to know about it.

I sent an e-mail to Byrne and have yet to hear back. Im sure I will eventually.

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They paid for the $250 seats, but instead was put in the $100 seats based on the order form they were provided by the Ticket office

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Wrong. They paid for $461 seats and got $461 seats in the same price level, but further back on the priorty list than they expected.

Basketball Fan

12th Man Foundation has pulled this kind of thing in the past

what ircs me is that they encourage loyalty, put their practices discourage it

my Dad's been buying bball seats for 20 years, when it was time to move to Reed they told him seniority didn't mean anything

I committed to the Zone Club early (one of the first) when it was time to select my seat, ALL of my first selctions were already gone...how can that be??...everyone was paying $2k a seat so there wasn't any tier system

anyway, 12th Man Foundation just writes their own rules on a case by case basis...but it hasn't stopped me from donating, just pizzes me off

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Wrong. They paid for $461 seats and got $461 seats in the same price level, but further back on the priorty list than they expected.

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That is actually the truth. Although, you may not like it.

But ... they altered the advertised expectation of where the seats would be located. The price may be the same but the location was changed. If I gave you seats in the upper level men's room for $461, you're saying I got what I paid for and what was promoted?

Seats in the upper level men's room cost the same as mezz?

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They selected 2 season tickets and donated $250 for each seat. Based on the chart, they should have received tickets in either section 120, 121, 122, 104, 105 or 106.

Last week when they received their tickets, they found out that they had been stuck in section 119. (Which according to the chart was at the $100 a seat donation level.)

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Are you really crying like a little girl and raising a ruckus because they are ONE FREAKING SECTION OVER? Quit being a poosy. If your parents weren't bandwagon jumpers, they would have already had the exact seats they wanted and would have just had to renew them at their old donation level.

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Seats in the upper level men's room cost the same as mezz?

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Apparently so, IF the athletic dept determines thet can sell the seats they advertised to you for a better price. BTW, be sure and bring your own toilet paper. It's only the $1000 donor level that gets the paper!

Excellence First ...

Courtside and Floor seats are $515, Mezzanine steas are $461, and Balcony seats are $375.

There are no $1000 seats. The $1000 is a voluntary donation to the 12th Man Foundation which they use to establish prioristy within those sections. If someone paid $515 and got $461 face value seats or paid $461 and got $375 Balcony seats Id love to hear it...the people whining are a few rows back or 1 section over from where they'd hope to be within the same price seat price level because a bunch of people donated more than they did and thus got better seats.

Basketball Fan


[This message has been edited by JJxvi (edited 11/8/2006 7:52a).]

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But, it is something that needs to be known about our glorious 12th Man Foundation.

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Dude, you got seats ONE section from where you thought you were going to get them. They forgot to print their usual disclaimer (I'm sure because they've never had excessive demand for basketball tickets before).

They screwed up. They weren't TRYING to screw anybody. Cut them a little slack instead of filling up our basketball board with your whining. Please.

I guarantee you they won't make the same mistake on next year's renewal form.

[Personal attack deleted; user warned -- Staff]

[This message has been edited by TexAgs staff (edited 11/10/2006 2:09p).]

Also...is that a threat?

Basketball Fan

Your donation has nothing to do with where you seats are located. Remember, those are estimates. Get over it. If there are 1000 seats in the $2000 donation level and there are 1500 seats sold for the $2000 donation level, then you are going to get bumped back accordingly.

Now, donate $5000 and see where your seats would be.

Hmmm, exactly the opposite happened to me.

I offered and was charged $1250 donation per seat for 4 courtside seats and was refunded back the $250 difference when I was told I wouldn't need to donate that much.

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Wrong. They paid for $461 seats and got $461 seats in the same price level, but further back on the priorty list than they expected.

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But they paid the same amount, for worse seats than they were told they'd get.

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Are you really crying like a little girl and raising a ruckus because they are ONE FREAKING SECTION OVER? Quit being a poosy. If your parents weren't bandwagon jumpers, they would have already had the exact seats they wanted and would have just had to renew them at their old donation level.

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It's demand from other 'bandwagon jumpers' that bumped his parents. Dumb argument.
Also, I know several families that supported A&M basketball for years, but can't afford their old seats now.
And for what it's worth, we are trying to ressurect a dead program...we need all the 'bandwagon jumpers' we can get to fill the stadium for the boys. That is the most overused cut-down on the Aggie Basketball board.

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They screwed up. They weren't TRYING to screw anybody. Cut them a little slack instead of filling up our basketball board with your whining. Please.

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I agree, but like you said, the ticket office messed up. And instead of trying to accomodate the growing fan base....they get an "oh well, sorry bout that". I mean crap, do something to appease them, even if it's something small. It's bad business to just ignore their complaints about your screw up.


I dont think this is that big of a deal, I just want to see the fan base grow exponentially....the more support we have, the better chance Gillispie retires here. Doing things like this, piss off people (especially the locals who've already been priced out of seats they've had through the bad years).

Wrong by law? Probably Not. Although they probably can make a ton of noise.

Bad customer service/ethics? Yes.

Surprising? Not at all. Welcome to big time college sports.

Do I want a AG investigation? No. I'd MUCH rather have the 12th Man Foundation and the Athletic Dept do the RIGHT thing, the ethical thing of their on volition.

If they refuse to do so, then I would welcome an AG investigation.

It's frightening and terribly sad that an Aggie would even seem to promote the concept that the University and the 12th Man Foundation are above the law and not bound by ethical business behavior. Is that you, Jeff Skilling?

Excellence First ...

Not suprising about the TMF. I know someone who used to work there. Prettymuch said that the head man does whatever makes him look good with no regrets (promises lots, delivers little) and that "you'd be VERY diappointed if you ever saw the inner workings of their operation."

lmao

Basketball Fan

My guess is they could have $150 returned to them and be moved back about 20 rows.

The donation levels reprsented on the chart are MINIMUMS, not absolutes. You are in no way guaranteed a seat in any section based solely on paying the minimum donation required.

There are tons of people paying donations of $250 or less, and the odds of you getting bumped even completely from a $250 section are pretty good if you only donate the minimum. My guess is that the $250 seats are full of people paying significantly more than that.

In the future, I'd recommend donating 10-20% more than the minimum in hopes to avoid this situation. That is what I offered and was originally charged, and the TMF issued me back the difference because it wasn't necessary.

I know it's a lot more fun to create drama and *****, but I'd ask that all of you that are supposedly educated step back away from the situation and explore possible alternative views to yours. It comes in handy in real life.

[This message has been edited by 99_aggie_grad (edited 11/9/2006 2:29p).]

Soooooooo is the complaining still going on or has a phone been used to call TMF or the Attorney General's office as mentioned before? Hopefully the initiative has been taken because complaining on these boards won't get anything accomplished.

So.....if you really do not want to donate the "extra" donation money to the 12th man then ask for that portion back. Your seats will then be moved another section over to accomodate those who donated more than you.....I don't think you really understand how this works.

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I don't think you really understand how this works.

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Even though several posters have spelled out in detail how the system works, people just don't get it. They'd rather make threats and complain than use some reading comprehension skills to understand the system.

Hopefully the 12th Man Foundation will make it VERY CLEAR how it works next year. It works just like it does for football tickets. Only difference is that this year is the first year that demand has been high enough for basketball season tickets to have people not get the exact seat they wanted.

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Even though several posters have spelled out in detail how the system works, people just don't get it. They'd rather make threats and complain than use some reading comprehension skills to understand the system.

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Ding! Ding! Ding!

I would imagine there's some fine print on the other side of the application which spells out that the diagram lists the minimum required, and that you might end up in a lower evaluated section.

Does it suck? Absolutely, but it's the way the system works.

"Basketball season is officially here now that Dave South has commented on the stat monitor being down." - Message on my cell phone left by TorcanoAg2004, 11/1/06

Hardly a way to endear yourself to fans who have been loyal for years. Really sucks; sorry to hear your folks got screwed; I'm sure there are many others.

I understand how it works, but I'd probably be po'd if it happened to me. Also, I've had two kids work for TMF, and I've not heard anything about Miles doing whatever he wanted. That sounds a little like sour grapes.