Using the Olympic ticketing website run by monopolistic Ticketmaster (owned by Live Nation Entertainments in California) has been described as USABILITY HELL.
Article is a work in progress
Once again the Olympic / Paralympic tickedting system has FAILED to world-wide condemnation.
As remaining tickets for the Paralympics are released for sale intending purchasers have experienced a whole gamut of frustrations with what should have been a Rolls Royce - all signing - all dancing - user friendly system.
After all Live Nation / Ticketmaster / LOCOG has had SEVEN years to build the system. Instead it appears that the Olympics system has been cobbled together by amateurs without any real appreciaiton of the basic concepts of good online selling practices. And it is obvious that no-one 'stress tested' it. Actually did anyone test it at all? It appears not.
Indeed it has been opined by many web professionals and hapless users around the world that the Olympics ticketing system is not and never was: FIT FOR PURPOSE.
Despite international condemnation when the Olympics tickets were on sale, there was two weeks between the Olympics and Paralympics. Yet even during this time NOTHING WAS DONE TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM.
Links below are only a few of the websites describing the deficiencies of the system.
Also Google search Wiki using search terms "ticketmaster wiki" and "ticketmaster wiki talk" - the Olympics are not the only issues with this monopolistic organisation.
BTW Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. is an American ticket sales and distribution company based in West Hollywood, California, USA, with operations in many countries around the world. In 2010 it merged with Live Nation to become Live Nation Entertainment. Live Nation was the organisation accused of dumping food and water at the Olympic BTLive Events in London. See separate Indymedia London article.
[In 2008] Ticketmaster has also been criticized from those who claim its fees are excessive, with forty British MPs signing an early day motion criticizing the company for overcharging and for the lack of transparency in its pricing structure - see link below.
How on earth did this company get the Olympic / Paralympic contract from LOCOG?
Original article on IMC London:
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
Evidence?
17.08.2012 14:46
I went on there yesterday and bought tickets with no problems. The only issue for me was that I had to use a Visa card but that is another issue.
Confused
armchair critic
18.08.2012 10:07
I would imagine that it is --> none of your business.
You don't work in this area or have any responsibility or authority, so keep your nose out.
anon