NLDS and NLCS Tickets

by Heldtski on Oct 8, 2007 6:01 PM CDT Comment 28 comments

I purchased tickets for game 4 of the NLDS, and I also was EXTREMELY lucky to get 11 tickets to 3 games of the NLCS.

Well, I guess lucky isn't the right word....it just adds to the dissapointment that I was this close to watching a playoff game at Wrigley Field....

...Anyways, How do the Cubs go about issuing a refund for the games. Is it automatic, do I need to contact them, do I need to send in the tickets of games that never will happen?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Can I get a refund for game 3?

I didn't see much of a game

by gocubs40 on Oct 8, 2007 5:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

reply

For some very stupid reason, you have to mail the tickets back to the Cubs. Why they don't just credit your account, considering that EVERYONE paid with a credit/debit card is beyond me.

Make sure you ship them UPS and get signature confirmation; I wouldn't put it past this organization to try and screw their fans in yet another way.

by kanderber on Oct 8, 2007 6:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No, they won't do that.

MLB is in charge of these tickets, not the Cubs, although the Cubs are the ones issuing the refunds. It's always good to get signature confirmation on items like this -- in fact, I'd recommend USPS certified mail or FedEx.

But you WILL get your money back, probably less some of the fees. However, that's the case for EVERY team, not just the Cubs.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 8, 2007 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

On this site,

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/tickets/ps_refund_2007.jsp#cubs

It tells you the same thing--to mail in your tickets to get a refund. But I could have sworn that on the days postseason tickets went on sale, it said that you didn't have to return the ticket to get a refund. How annoying!

by lapetino on Oct 8, 2007 7:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

How stupid are they

I bought the ticket online and charged it to my credit card. The Cubs did not make the next round so the ticket can't possibly be used. It's an e-ticket. Why the hell don't they just put a credit on my card?

I can only assume they know a certain number of tickets won't be returned so they can screw the buyer. Thanks Bud, I'm sure glad you'll be helping select our next owners. With our luck they'll be as sleazy as you.

It's not to late to go to Soto.

by tharr on Oct 8, 2007 8:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's an e-ticket

Exactly. So, what, I'm supposed to print out the electronic tickets, put them in an envelope, and send them to Wrigley Field? What the hell?

[I knew lucking out on those NLCS tix in the VWR could only turn out ugly]

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Oct 9, 2007 3:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

In order to get in the game if it was played, you would have had to PRINT OUT THE TICKET ANYWAY...so whats the big deal. I just don't understand it.

Kasey

by kaseyi on Oct 9, 2007 6:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But the game isn't being played

so the unique bar code scan is not required. They know who bought which tickets. They could do an automatic refund just like any other company. There are no "goods" to return.

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Oct 9, 2007 7:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe I'm just to old...

to understand what the big deal is. In 84 you had to physically turn in your tickets to a Talman Home office for a refund. In other years, my season ticket account was refunded, but I am a season ticket holder and as one I do expect special handling. Especially since they are going to apply the refund to my account for next year.

Just mail in the tickets. You will get your refund. It might not be immediately, but you will get your refund.

by kaseyi on Oct 9, 2007 8:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

MLB and the Cubs take us for granted and pinch every penny they can out of us. Given what we just watched on the field, I'd quit the Cubs if I could.

by paulucla on Oct 8, 2007 10:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't blame MLB

Other teams (e.g. Cleveland) state that they will automatically credit a credit card for any game not played. It's a Cubs issue. Just like them using a VWR instead of a lottery.

Geo! (clap-clap-clap) Soto! (clap-clap-clap)

by zambranofan on Oct 9, 2007 7:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I called yesterday afternoon to

check if we needed to send them in. The woman I spoke to said they were currently in meetings to decide the best way to refund. I had tickets to the cardinals game that was rained out and they sent an email regarding refunds for that game. I assume they will send out an email with the information for post season ticket refunds once decided.

by brbrocc on Oct 9, 2007 6:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

not every team

No, not every team does it this way. Most (if not all) teams simply refund your card, because that's the easiest way for all parties involved.

Having fans mail them back doesn't make it easier on anyone. It simply allows the Cubs to pocket the money of those people who forget to return the tickets by the deadline.

Crooks.

by kanderber on Oct 9, 2007 7:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

As pointed out, all people in the VWR had to use a debit/credit card and all received print-at-home tickets - where there is no accountability needed, as someone can simply print off as many as they want... but only one barcode scan gets in. How would they prevent someone except from the original holder get the refund? By putting it on the card of original purchase. So what was the point of sending in a piece of paper?

For season ticket holders, they all had to also pay with a card also, but actually received 'real' tickets. The standard thing for organizations (like the Spurs have done) is to simply credit the account for the games not played and let the fan do what they want with the original tickets.

Making people send the ticket in does NOTHING except punish those who aren't able to send a refund in on time, as well as the countless man-hours saved of Cubs staff having to go through each ticket envelope one by one.

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Oct 9, 2007 7:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Minor note

Not everyone in the VWR got e-tickets. You could also request FedEx delivery of printed tickets.

Geo! (clap-clap-clap) Soto! (clap-clap-clap)

by zambranofan on Oct 9, 2007 8:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It sounds ...

... based on the comment posted above (about the phone call made to the Cubs' offices), that they have been getting numerous complaints about having to send the tickets in. What probably happened is that they simply decided to have the same policy they had in place in 2003, when print-at-home was not an option.

Now that it IS an option, this becomes cumbersome and silly. It also opens the door to potential fraud; what if someone prints out ten copies of print-at-home tickets and sends them in under ten different names? That increases the amount of work they have to do in order to get the refund to the right person.

I have a feeling they're going to announce a change in this policy. Crediting the credit card is easy, saves them time and money, and makes it easier on the people who have tickets.

Stay tuned.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 9, 2007 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The whole process

is flawed. How bright are the planners not to plan for this eventuality? They knew there was a 50-50 chance the tickets wouldn't be used and yet they're now discussing how to deal with the problem.

I'm tempted to call Amex and have the charge taken off my card. Then the Cubs will have to do the work to straighten it out.

It's not to late to go to Soto.

by tharr on Oct 9, 2007 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The entire process was flawed...

... from the time they decided NOT to have an email lottery -- that gave most people NO chance once the VWR's came up -- to the way they are handling refunds.

It's a couple of keystrokes on a computer to do the refunds. That, in fact, saves the Cubs and their employees a ton of work in opening the envelopes, etc. Plus, that gives people a souvenir to keep, like we have as season ticket holders.

I hope they change this in the future. I don't know how far you'll get with Amex -- most credit cards won't credit you unless you didn't get what you paid for, and you did get the tickets -- but let us know.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 9, 2007 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tickets.com Said...

I called Tickets.com yesterday and they said they were waiting to hear from the Box Office about what to do. To have us have to pay extra costs to ensure proper return delivery of the tickets they'll just toss out is ridiculous.

Also it's a few ball clubs that listed to return the tickets to them, so those blaming the MLB can stop. Most organizations say to NOT return them the tickets at all, that they'll auto credit your credit card.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/tickets/ps_refund_2007.jsp

Sad thing is they actually shipped me my NLCS tickets I ordered on Friday, FedEx tried to deliver yesterday. I figured they'd wait an extra day to see the outcome of the series, so now I'm out also overnight shipping fees for tickets I can't possibly use.

by McCarron on Oct 9, 2007 8:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Automatic Refund

I called the cubs ticket office this morning and they said that my NLCS tickets will be automatically refunded despite what it says on the web-site.

I am still a bit confused but all I know is that I want to keep my NLCS tickets to remind me of what could have been...

by mph3 on Oct 9, 2007 10:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

As a season ticket holder...

... I have an entire strip of these tickets. <sigh>

I've also got unused tickets from 2001, 2003 and 2004.

Enough. Next year I want to use every single one of them.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 9, 2007 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I got those plus

89,98 and some in between I think. You can sell them on eBay
for $5.00- $10 if you really want to. I just keep them around for a good laugh or cry

"It's the Cubbies. There's always a vibe. It's the greatest vibe in baseball." Greg Maddux on Cub fan's optimism even after the 06 debacle.

by jessica on Oct 9, 2007 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

NLCS refunds

There is now a news release on the Cubs site which states:
"Customers who purchased tickets on Oct.4 for the National League Championship Series will automatically receive a credit on the charge card used for those tickets. All refunds will include a full refund for the ticket price, facility fees and per-ticket fees."

So I gather by this that we don't have to spend another $10 to send the print-at-home tickets via registered mail. You'd think a professional organization would have all sides covered before the Playoffs even started.

After yesterday's debacle regarding what was happening with the refunds, I decided to officially inquire about the charges to my AMEX card just in case.

by WBdogs1 on Oct 9, 2007 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

FYI

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071009&content_id=2258766&vkey=news_chc&a mp;fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

For customers in possession of tickets for "Home Game 2" or "Home Game 3" of the Division Series, those entire tickets must be sent to the Chicago Cubs for refund along with their name, address, and daytime phone number. Send to:

Chicago Cubs Ticket Office
1060 West Addison
Chicago, IL 60613

Customers who purchased tickets on Oct. 4 for the National League Championship Series will automatically receive a credit on the charge card used for those tickets.

All refunds will include a full refund for the ticket price, facility fees and per-ticket fees.

The Chicago Cubs will not be responsible for mailed tickets not received, unless proof of receipt by the Cubs is provided. Failure to claim said refund by Nov. 30, 2007, will constitute a waiver of all right to any refund and/or credit will be deemed an irrevocable assignment of said rights including the right to a refund of any amount paid for this ticket to the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs recommend sending tickets via certified mail or other tracking services.

by kanderber on Oct 9, 2007 7:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I really hate the Cubs right now. Like, I seriously want to QUIT the Cubs completely. Yes, I grew up a Cub fan, and that should never end, but this is a BUSINESS from their standpoint, and they obviously could care less about the customer.

by paulucla on Oct 10, 2007 12:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

whoa

time to chill, friend. be cool!

by lapetino on Oct 10, 2007 7:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

1800THECUBS

They claimed they are waiting for the CUBS for direction on when to refund. What a yarn? Everyone who reads this take a minute to call and harrass them. I am going to do it right now.

Hey.....Cubs win!!!

by Hammer on Oct 11, 2007 11:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Refunded

My AMEX account has been refunded $318.24 out of $324.24 for my four NLCS Cubs Game 3 tickets. Just $6 wasn't refunded. I have canceled my AMEX inquiry. Hopefully the Cubs management has learned from this experience and will set out an acceptable refund policy prior to future Post Season games.

by WBdogs1 on Oct 14, 2007 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs