[News] Flames introduce paperless tickets

[Russic]

I'm all for it and have been asking for it for years. I even did this with some friends last season when they offered the free downloading/emailing at the beginning of the year. I downloaded all the tickets, put them in a dropbox folder and shared it with everybody. It was great knowing that at any time we all had access to all the tickets.

I do understand that complaint from business people that provide tickets to clients. I like the point that somebody made about paper being something that is being phased out and if you want it, you should pay for it. I'm sure if you added a $50 option to the season ticket renewal process for printed tickets it would alleviate many of the complaints. While somebody mentioned that they doubt the printing would be $1/page, I imagine after you consider design, ink, paper weight, and creating the ticket cuts it could easily get to that amount or more.

As for scanning off a phone, I was able to do it several times last year since the tickets were just pdf's in a dropbox folder. While it did work most of the time, it wasn't consistent enough to be used as an actual solution (it seemed very dependent on the zoom level).

[Sec218]

Does anyone know if we are still able to donate tickets to charity through the AccountManager? It doesn't seem to be an option yet. Thanks.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I guess I should clarify; I was more going against the point that this system somehow makes things more secure. A comment had been made "You eliminate hassels of people buying fake tickets." To me I don't see how this is the case. In past seasons people may have felt more comfortable with the hard copy tickets, and cautious about the printed PDF versions. Going forward if all that exists are the printed PDF versions, people will accept them and not give them a second thought.

As it was last season, if somebody tried to sell you a printed PDF you would be suspicious.

But with email forwarding of tickets through the flames scalping service you will be getting a genuine ticket from the flames. Even in the past years you could have TM email directly to the person who you were giving the ticket to or download the pdf. In future I see a large number of people willing to pay for a ticket directly from the flames service. This is probably the only secure way to purchase a ticket.

[bizaro86]

One thing that irks me that I haven't noticed in previous years. When I went to print a ticket to give to my brother, I had to accept their terms and conditions, which included getting email offers from ticketmaster. There was no check box to opt out.

Awfully generous of them to let me use the tickets I paid for, and send me a bunch of spam too!

[Resolute 14]

That seems odd. I've forwarded tickets many times, and never once had to sign up for a spam list.

[homestand]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

That seems odd. I've forwarded tickets many times, and never once had to sign up for a spam list.

Email addresses started to be harvested from the start of ticket forwarding during the World Juniors in Alberta. Whenever forwarding was done, the ticket recipient needed to register an account with Ticketmaster. That is why I stopped forwarding via Ticketmaster. I only download the pdf and then personally email my guests.

[Sec218]

I just received an email from the Flames indicating that Game Packs are going to be paperless as well.

[Smartcar]

I forwarded the first batch of tickets today and it was really slick. You can select multiple games off a calendar and send it in one go. Once you do, they show up as no longer in your account when you click on them. It would be nice to have them show up differently in your calendar so you know right away which ones you have. I don't know what the recipient's Flames Account, if they create one, would look like.

I think forwarding tickets is better than printing to PDF, they are what causes people to think e-tickets are dodgy. Although once last year when I forwarded a game it was caught and deleted in the company's spam filter. I had to print and forward the PDF.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I got season tickets to the Whitecaps and I'm a big fan of the Caps card. Just keep it in my wallet, no worries about forgetting the ticket, no worries about losing it.

[Smartcar]

I really like the new system. To accept the tickets you have to create your own Flames account using the email address that the tickets were transferred to. From there you can forward or print just like the STH. Likely later you can sell or donate when they show up as options (not yet).

So it doesn't look like the STH will be held responsible for a scumbag getting a forwarded ticket and selling multiple copies.

It won't take long for purchasers to realize they shouldn't lay out cash for a printed letter size ticket, but an email ticket transfer from the Flames is legit.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Smartcar

To accept the tickets you have to create your own Flames account using the email address that the tickets were transferred to.

Oh, well, that's all right then. Nothing says 'class' like sending your business clients a gift that requires assembly.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Oh, well, that's all right then. Nothing says 'class' like sending your business clients a gift that requires assembly.

No kidding.

The Flames had this, which I thought was a glitch in the system, for a few games/weeks last year. When I emailed tickets to others in my group, they called me up right away and asked me about what info to fill in for our account. After some back and forth we realized that a new account had to be setup for them to accept the tickets.

We didn't bother and I just reprinted and sent the tickets via email attachment. After a week or two, that wasn't required anymore. Same went for requiring your online account to have cc info, and couldn't exit without entering it. I prefer to just enter my cc info each time I had to pay the ridiculous forwarding fee, as opposed to it saved on the TM site, but for a period of time I couldn't do anything unless my cc info was saved globally....which I could then go in after and delete, which I did.

If one or both of those are back, that's going to be horrible. It's one thing for your buddies to try and muddle through it, its another if its some relative stranger in a colleague or client that has to go through an account setup just to get your tickets.

I don't blame the Flames 100% for this, this is all pushed and driven by Ticketmaster. It's meant to be more efficient, but with not option presented in advance, (and I am guessing they are charging the Flames the same for this service as the paper tickets) its the Flames' (non-Ticketmaster) staff that have to spend the extra hours dealing with all these issues, negating any efficiency gains for the Flames.

I can only imagine what by mid 70 year old uncle and aunt think about this, who split row 8 lower bowl tickets with a couple groups of friends. None in that group are going to be any email transferring or printing and probably don't know that they can even get reprint (on crappy Ticketmaster stock) tickets yet.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by browna

No kidding.

The Flames had this, which I thought was a glitch in the system, for a few games/weeks last year. When I emailed tickets to others in my group, they called me up right away and asked me about what info to fill in for our account. After some back and forth we realized that a new account had to be setup for them to accept the tickets.

We didn't bother and I just reprinted and sent the tickets via email attachment. After a week or two, that wasn't required anymore. Same went for requiring your online account to have cc info, and couldn't exit without entering it. I prefer to just enter my cc info each time I had to pay the ridiculous forwarding fee, as opposed to it saved on the TM site, but for a period of time I couldn't do anything unless my cc info was saved globally....which I could then go in after and delete, which I did.

If one or both of those are back, that's going to be horrible. It's one thing for your buddies to try and muddle through it, its another if its some relative stranger in a colleague or client that has to go through an account setup just to get your tickets.

I don't blame the Flames 100% for this, this is all pushed and driven by Ticketmaster. It's meant to be more efficient, but with not option presented in advance, (and I am guessing they are charging the Flames the same for this service as the paper tickets) its the Flames' (non-Ticketmaster) staff that have to spend the extra hours dealing with all these issues, negating any efficiency gains for the Flames.

I can only imagine what by mid 70 year old uncle and aunt think about this, who split row 8 lower bowl tickets with a couple groups of friends. None in that group are going to be any email transferring or printing and probably don't know that they can even get reprint (on crappy Ticketmaster stock) tickets yet.

On the dramatics. Lack of class, if people don't want to accept the tickets because of this simple step, they really didn't want to go to the game in the first place so I wouldn't worry about it.

As for the 70 year olds, the 70 year olds in my family would have no issue with this, but even if they did, what should everyone do? Wait until everyone in the world who has chosen not to embrace new technology and ways of doing things are no longer with us, then we can move forward?

[flamesrule_kipper34]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

On the dramatics. Lack of class, if people don't want to accept the tickets because of this simple step, they really didn't want to go to the game in the first place so I wouldn't worry about it.

As for the 70 year olds, the 70 year olds in my family would have no issue with this, but even if they did, what should everyone do? Wait until everyone in the world who has chosen not to embrace new technology and ways of doing things are no longer with us, then we can move forward?

Lol. Why is it that everyone who doesn't instantly "embrace" technology, in your words wrong for doing so?

Not everyone is going to love how things work and shift towards paperless especially right off the bat, I'm not sure why you're so up in arms about it and seem to have to make sure everyone knows how you feel about it?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

On the dramatics. Lack of class, if people don't want to accept the tickets because of this simple step, they really didn't want to go to the game in the first place so I wouldn't worry about it.

You know, I don't happen to like giving my credit card information and other personal data to a company that I'm not doing business with. The gift of some hockey tickets is not worth the danger to my privacy. If you think the Flames' system is magically immune to being hacked, you're having an acid dream.

I can't be the only person doing business who is concerned about online security. To the extent that others are, this ridiculous requirement of opening an account to receive gift tickets will simply rule out the possibility of giving away tickets for business entertainment purposes. A lot of businesses that buy season tickets may end up thinking twice about it if they can't give them away without exposing their clients to the risk of identity theft.

[van fan down by river]

Originally Posted by Sec218

Does anyone know if we are still able to donate tickets to charity through the AccountManager? It doesn't seem to be an option yet. Thanks.

You just have to set them up. Add them to your address book . I've done it for kids up front they seem like a good charity.

[Smartcar]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

You know, I don't happen to like giving my credit card information and other personal data to a company that I'm not doing business with. The gift of some hockey tickets is not worth the danger to my privacy. If you think the Flames' system is magically immune to being hacked, you're having an acid dream.

I can't be the only person doing business who is concerned about online security. To the extent that others are, this ridiculous requirement of opening an account to receive gift tickets will simply rule out the possibility of giving away tickets for business entertainment purposes. A lot of businesses that buy season tickets may end up thinking twice about it if they can't give them away without exposing their clients to the risk of identity theft.

The Flames already have my cc info because I pay monthly, and the recipient doesn't have to enter any cc info. But they do have to enter their full name, address and day/evening phone numbers in addition to the email address you sent the tickets to. Also agree to the terms of use:

I agree to the terms of use. By using this Digital service you agree that your personal information will be used and disclosed as permitted by the My Calgary Flames Privacy Policy, which allows the Calgary Flames, Ticketmaster and others to send you event-related information and other special offers. If you have any questions please contact 403-777-4646.

Event-related info is fine, that's where they remind you that the game time has changed from what was originally announce, etc. but making you agree to get sent "other special offers" seems a little dodgy. So for clients it seems like it would be better to print the tickets and email them the pdf or hand it to them. If you're selling them it's definitely better to email forward them, if it turns out they are fraudulently selling multiple copies it will be clear that it wasn't you doing it.

[Sec218]

Has any one received their STH package yet? I always choose to pick it up at the 'Dome, but have yet to receive any notification that they are ready. Cutting it close this year with the first pre-season game only 5 days from now.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Sec218

Has any one received their STH package yet? I always choose to pick it up at the 'Dome, but have yet to received any notification that they are ready. Cutting it close this year with the first pre-season game only 5 days from now.

Yeah, got it last Wednesday.

[squiggs96]

I received my ticketless card last Wednesday. I had requested paper tickets, and those showed up Friday. I've already forwarded some tickets with the STH site and printed a preseason game off to see what it looked like. The process was very smooth for all parts. The tickets aren't the nice glossy ones, but that doesn't bother me.

When you email tickets to someone, you have the option of including the price or not. I believe it's the price paid, not the door price that's on the hard copy tickets. When the person receives the PDF from a forwarded ticket, their name is now on them. They also have the option to forward it to someone else, and there are no fees involved. Once you forward the tickets from your account, you no longer have access to them, and if you did have hard copy tickets, those are no longer valid, as the bar code is changed.