For someone who doesn't like baseball anymore (another story), even I LOVE this A’s team. It’s easy to be dissatisfied with an organization run by an owner set on cutting costs and relocating; but when great baseball sprouts from a group of rookie contracters and castoffs that earns the MLB’s smallest payroll- I notice.
Well, my best friend did. I thought it was another AAA team posing as major-leaguers while stuck in the Wolfe-Beane relocation purgatory. My friend convinced me this band of underdogs was special- something to prove with nothing to lose. He was so sure that he bought tickets to the final 31 home games- and so began the Anti-Movement Movement to keep the A’s in Oakland. This is the bizarre tale not of A’s success, but of that purchase.
With 81 home games, 31 games is over a third of a season and costs over $800 for a pair of bleacher seats- no small investment. One would imagine that such a large order would come with a discount.
My friend asked a ticket sales representative about a package. With the intonation and slow nod of a seedy salesman who wants to be your bro, the rep said, “Yeaaahhh, I can’t get you tickets for this season but what I can do is put you on our waiting list for 2013 season tickets, with a deposit." But that's next year, I want tickets for this year! "Yeaahhh, we’re kinda focusing on next year.”
What?! The A’s are playing their best baseball since 2006, the time is now! Wouldn’t a Playoff Push Package be a good way to promote the current success and boost sales? Instead of asking for contact info to follow up with lame calls (which my friend didn't answer), shouldn’t the rep ask (or at least pretend to ask) a supervisor if they can offer group pricing or some other discount or added value for someone making such a large purchase. How long would that take? That awareness could go a long way in showing the customer he matters.
Confused but undeterred, my friend went to the ticket window and ordered. The ticket ops lady said, “So are you like a real fan or a bandwagoner?” Really?!
Good tactic- belittle a customer and challenge his fandom just as he is about to drop $800. The problem is 1) he didn’t think it was sarcasm and 2) if it was, then it wasn’t funny 3) as much as I love sarcasm, it has no place in sales. How about a sincere “thank you for your support, is there anything else I can do for you”? If one must joke, why not say “welcome aboard the bandwagon” followed by a chuckle. Even that may be pushing it.
The sad part is that the A’s have enough trouble attracting fans without the employees scaring off the ones who do show. I can't judge the ticket sales office on this single experience, but I will say that there’s only one first impression and two staffers shit the bed. To all the A's sales reps- please sell some tickets with integrity and help keep the A's in Oakland.
Although the ticket sales office may have missed an opportunity to properly serve a loyal customer and promote one of the best second half finishes imaginable, the story of the regular season ends well. Vegas had the A’s winning 71 games but they caught lightning in a bottle with pitching (2nd in AL with 3.48 ERA, best since 1990), homeruns (led ML with 112 after All-Star break), 14 walk-off wins, and the Bernie.
I recommend the ticket sales office sell playoff tickets to the bandwagoners lining up for 2013 season tickets.
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