JEW Make the Call: Dodgers customer service line edition

[Dan Druff]

This is a results question, rather than a "what do I deserve" question.

I took Ben to a Dodgers game last night. They have had promotions all week. Last night's promotion was Dodgers hooded sweatshirt night. The night before was Will Smith (the catcher, not the Oscars slapper) bobblehead night.

I knew the bobblehead night would be super popular/expensive, but I didn't expect hoodie night to be quite as bad.



The Dodgers had won 7 games in a row, and this inspired a sudden wave of people purchasing tickets. This also caused a spike in price, and my usual trick of waiting until game day didn't work, regarding getting the best deal. I saw this spike happen and quickly bought two (very good) seats for $136 each, which was about $20 more than I would have paid for even better seats at the low point the day before. I expected them to go for about $85 each, had this spike not happened.

Anyway, I thought I left enough time to get to the stadium in time before the hoodies ran out. For some reason, they usually carry 40,000 of these promotional items, despite the stadium having a 56,000 capacity, and despite these nights often selling out. I thought we easily were going to make it, as I was one mile from the stadium at 6:35, which was a full 35 minutes before game time.

Nope! Horrendous traffic getting into the stadium made it that we didn't get parked until 7:15 (5 minutes after game time), and didn't get into the stadium gate until about 7:25. The hoodies had just ran out -- I saw other guests standing around near the entrance holding them. Sad!

This pissed me off, because it was the 3rd consecutive time I failed to get a promotional item, due to in-stadium traffic.

I called the fan services hotline from my seat, not expecting much. I told them the truth -- that it's been 3 consecutive times I didn't get the promotional item, and that stadium-related traffic caused it. I stated that it's frustrating they only carry 40,000 items on days where well over 50,000 fans are expected, and that these games are always more expensive because of the item which I don't end up getting anyway.

What ended up being the result of that phone call?

[Dan Druff]

Three side notes:

- I used to be able to breeze into Dodger Stadium and avoid the traffic. I manually broke out online maps and figured out "secret" routes into the stadium -- ones which don't involve major streets going in. They worked like a charm for years, but unfortunately the Waze app and similar apps learned them, and now everyone uses those same routes. There's no more "secret" route in which can avoid traffic. Sad!

- The Dodgers lost 3-1, only getting 2 hits all game, one being an infield single. The run scored on a groundout after a wild pitch, so even that wasn't particularly exciting. I've been going to Dodger Stadium since 1976 (even when I lived in Vegas), and I had never seen a game where the Dodgers got 2 hits or fewer.

- This was Kenley Jansen's first game ever AGAINST the Dodgers. I broke out my phone to record the expected booing and/or wild cheering of him, but neither occurred. I recorded light cheering and no booing. However, someone else in a small Dodgers Facebook group I'm in was also at the game, and complained about a ton of booing. She was in a different part of the stadium, but I'm surprised we had such different perceptions. I just re-watched the video, and indeed I can't hear a single boo. Jansen pitched very well and got the save.

[Texter]

Don’t know how it works at Dodger stadium but whenever I’m in the company suite at Toyota Center, if there is a giveaway the suite gets a stack of them, so there are usually plenty of leftovers.

[Ballhawknet]

Are you waiting to leave for game until you secure tickets ? If so that's mistake number 1. The thought of you waiting until last minute all
the time to save a few bucks vs going early to let Ben enjoy some batting practice or trying to get autographs makes me sad

Spend the $$$ get there early ... avoid the long lines and enjoy a Dodger Dog or 4 while your son takes in bp and does kids stuff.



So no, I vote you deserve nothing and what you should have done instead of complaining is just thrown a 20 at someone and there's your hoody.

[Sloppy Joe]

Since it's results based, I'm guessing they just gave it to you, probably costing staffers free allocated stuff because some entitled jackass shows up late wanting some hoody stamped with advertisements.

Great use of time out with your son.

[Dan Druff]

Are you waiting to leave for game until you secure tickets ? If so that's mistake number 1. The thought of you waiting until last minute all
the time to save a few bucks vs going early to let Ben enjoy some batting practice or trying to get autographs makes me sad

Spend the $$$ get there early ... avoid the long lines and enjoy a Dodger Dog or 4 while your son takes in bp and does kids stuff.



So no, I vote you deserve nothing and what you should have done instead of complaining is just thrown a 20 at someone and there's your hoody.

I usually buy tickets about 6 hours before game time, as that's when the best deals are to be had. This game I bought the night before because it was unexpectedly popular (see OP), and I noticed that inventory of "good" seats was running unusually low just as the game on the day before was ending. So I purchased the seats right then, a full day before the game.

As someone who goes to a lot of games yourself, clearly you know the huge variance on Stubhub regarding prices, where often you can get great seats for the same price everyone else paid for mediocre/bad seats. So it's not just a matter of saving a few bucks. With that said, I rarely buy as I'm leaving for the game, because that's not the optimal time to do so in most cases.

I don't live close to Dodger Stadium, so it's a trek to get over there, and it runs right into rush hour traffic. If I were to leave earlier, it would be even worse, as I'd run into LA between 5 and 6. That's the one sucky thing about going to Dodgers games -- the drive there. I can get out of the stadium quickly (without leaving the game early), so going home is typically a breeze.

I actually did throw a 20 at people to get the other promo items when they ran out, and it worked. However, I was tired of having to do this, especially because Dodger Stadium is notoriously bad regarding the way they organize traffic and parking. I was less than a mile from the stadium with 35 minutes to go before first pitch, and still ended up in there late.

This was the first time I ever called the Dodger fan service hotline, and decided I'd take a shot, because this has happened so many times in a row. Honestly their biggest fail is only stocking 40,000 items when they know there's a high chance 50,000+ people will be showing up to claim them. Why cheap out like that?

I wasn't planning to put a lot of time or effort into the phone call. If it failed, I was going to give up.

I'll wait a little before posting what ended up happening.

[limitles]

[Sheesfaced]

This was the first time I ever called the Dodger fan service hotline, and decided I'd take a shot, because this has happened so many times in a row. Honestly their biggest fail is only stocking 40,000 items when they know there's a high chance 50,000+ people will be showing up to claim them. Why cheap out like that?

I wasn't planning to put a lot of time or effort into the phone call. If it failed, I was going to give up.

I'll wait a little before posting what ended up happening.

Are you seriously asking this question? It’s marketing 101. Create scarcity to increase demand. Teams have been doing it forever at live sporting events. “First 10K fans etc. get promo item.” And by encouraging people to get there earlier they spend more money in the park on alcohol, food etc. It’s just good business.