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#360
by
K8B
on 14 Jun, 2011 19:04
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Here's a question, to which I'd assume the asnwer was yes, but...
Is there WiFi access at the various viewing locales at KSC?
No, & when there are tons of people there is barely cell service.
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#361
by
gchockry
on 14 Jun, 2011 19:18
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Here's a question, to which I'd assume the asnwer was yes, but...
Is there WiFi access at the various viewing locales at KSC?
No, & when there are tons of people there is barely cell service.
KSCVC does not offer public WiFi. You have to bring your own via personal hotspot or smartphone data plans. The various service providers have spotty coverage, especially with thousands of people concentrated in one area.
For my personal hotspot (Virgin Mobile via Sprint), I get a strong connection at the Apollo/Saturn V building. The Visitor Center is spotty at best and non-existent when standing in line. The Causeway was the same.
Someone near me at the Causeway had good connection on his BlackBerry via Verizon. I clued him in to NSF (and SFN).
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#362
by
Andrewwski
on 14 Jun, 2011 20:02
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Ran into a lot if instances of poor 3G coverage, likely due to the network being overloaded, during STS-132. Our ATT iPhone had great phone signal in the causeway bus boarding area, but virtually no 3G service. Verizon Blackberry was only a bit better...it did have 3G service, but was very slow.
Once getting to the causeway, the signal was generally good enough. There were times it dropped, but it wasn't bad.
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#363
by
stuart_wildcat
on 14 Jun, 2011 22:40
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They aren't available yet. They are anticipating getting 6 tickets when they go on sale.
Some outrageous launch ticket prices out there on fleabay already!
10 NASA CAUSEWAY Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch STS-135 $5,999.99
Free shipping
8 NASA CAUSEWAY Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch STS-135 $4,999.99
Free shipping
7 NASA CAUSEWAY Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch STS-135 $3,999.99
Free shipping
These are from the same seller and they have posted many more in the same price range.
How could they ever get so many?
No surprise some of us didn't get anything.
I expect the same will be done with the transport companies.
There is definitely something wrong somewhere along the line.
I would agree that the best way to deal with eBay is to use the "report item" feature of a particular listing.
I think the biggest issue here is that the current listings are most certainly in violation of ebay policies if the listing was created before Monday 6/13 6AM Pacific time (ebay uses Pacific in listings). This is the earliest ANYONE could have confirmed tickets because even the tour companies have not sold them yet.
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#364
by
DrGuano
on 15 Jun, 2011 01:32
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Perhaps we should show some compassion for the ebay profiteers. After all, once Atlantis launches, they will only have their other sources of income (ponzi schemes, towing cars, foreclosing mortgages, loan sharking, selling dodgy used automobiles etc.) to fall back on.
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#365
by
Sarah
on 15 Jun, 2011 04:49
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To promote safe selling of event tickets on eBay and to make sure the sales follow all laws related to tickets sales, we've developed standards for professional conduct for selling tickets on eBay. This standard neither replaces nor dismisses eBay's general seller rules and policies, but rather supplements those rules. Sellers need to follow these guidelines when selling tickets on eBay.
1) I agree not to sell, trade, produce, or advertise tickets that I do not have in my possession. FAIL!
2) I agree not to sell tickets when the ownership is questionable or when I do not have the right to resell the tickets.
3) I agree not to participate in any way in the advertisement, sale, or trade of any ticket using any deceptive practices including, but not limited to, false or misleading claims of sales scarcity, face value, or current value.
4) I agree to promptly refund the purchase price for any ticket which has been deemed by the venue to be counterfeit or unacceptable for gaining entry to an event.
5) I agree to abide by all federal, state, and local laws relating to the tickets sales.
Reporting the auctions won't do any good. The complaint from people is that these ticket brokers got so many tickets. They are still going to get those tickets even if the auction is reported. Also if it is reported they'll just relist the auction when they get the tickets. So you don't really accomplish much.
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#366
by
SkierDude
on 15 Jun, 2011 10:18
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My understanding is PayPal doesn't release the money until positive feedback is received. I seem to recall this being a big issue a year or two ago. Sellers were upset because they'd only get their money if there was positive feedback. Buyers were upset because if they wanted to give an honest review (i.e., less than stellar seller), they couldn't without screwing over the seller. Unless the item (tickets) are forged or don't arrive, I still want the seller to get his/her money.
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#367
by
SkierDude
on 15 Jun, 2011 10:21
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Still trying to determine how I get an extra placard. I know this was mentioned 2 pages ago or so, but nothing clarified for sure. Is it still the case that I can go to the VC customer service desk the day before launch, show my ticket and ask for a placard? Thanks.
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#368
by
janmb
on 15 Jun, 2011 10:40
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Still doesn't explain how they get them (and so many) in the first place. The (bus) tour companies are reporting they didn't even get theirs yet.
None of the advertisers on ebay has any actual tickets yet either. They are advertising tickets they anticipate getting their hands on later. Nothing more to it than that.
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#369
by
janmb
on 15 Jun, 2011 10:43
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The main problem in all of this is the ridiculously low rates KSC is using for their direct sale tickets. With more sensible pricing (at least 10x of what they currently have), you wouldn't be facing the rate of 1000 buyers per available ticket
Keep in mind until the end of the program, people were pretty blase about the opportunity and it wasn't even necessary to have a lottery for the tickets, and with the delays in the recent launches, there were opportunites to get tickets. I disagree, the pricing is fine--just unique situation has created the demand. You don'tr know what you've got 'til it's gone mentality.
True enough, the end-of-program-omg-I-have-to-catch-this-before-it's-too-late effect certainly is the main problem here, but never the less could been handled far better by upping prices and not just ammending the way tickets are distributed.
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#370
by
janmb
on 15 Jun, 2011 10:46
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Blimey, those Ebay resellers are cheeky sods. Love the "free shipping" incentive on a 6K purchase of tickets 
He he, yeah I was thinking the same... Free shipping - what a boost!
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#371
by
Ford Mustang
on 15 Jun, 2011 11:04
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I'd actually feel bad for a family who has that much money and would buy them only to get scammed.... Just saying.
Back to the thread now...
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#372
by
SkierDude
on 15 Jun, 2011 11:25
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Hi. A buddy of mine got in the lottery that's today. Causeway is all sold out, so he's going to try to get VC or HOF tickets.
Having never done this before, we're kind of wondering what to expect. I imagine 50,000 people trying to get 5,000 tickets and the server crashing and it taking forever. Then again, this is NASA, so I'd guess they have really good servers that can handle the 9 am rush.
But, once he's in the "store" what can we expect?
Thanks.
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#373
by
janmb
on 15 Jun, 2011 11:54
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I'd actually feel bad for a family who has that much money and would buy them only to get scammed.... Just saying.
Back to the thread now...
Ticket sales processes is a topic that necessarily belongs in this thread.
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#374
by
janmb
on 15 Jun, 2011 11:57
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Hi. A buddy of mine got in the lottery that's today. Causeway is all sold out, so he's going to try to get VC or HOF tickets.
On the topic of VC/HOF viewing locations, can someone help me understand why anyone should prefer either of the two compared to road-side viewing along the mainland-Merrit causeway? More or less same distance, FAR better view.
Personally I'd even take Port Canaveral over VC and HOF, but that's my opinion. The point is that there are, in my opinion, several publicly accessible locations that are better than VC and HOF.
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#375
by
msc
on 15 Jun, 2011 12:52
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The main problem in all of this is the ridiculously low rates KSC is using for their direct sale tickets. With more sensible pricing (at least 10x of what they currently have), you wouldn't be facing the rate of 1000 buyers per available ticket
Keep in mind until the end of the program, people were pretty blase about the opportunity and it wasn't even necessary to have a lottery for the tickets, and with the delays in the recent launches, there were opportunites to get tickets. I disagree, the pricing is fine--just unique situation has created the demand. You don'tr know what you've got 'til it's gone mentality.
True enough, the end-of-program-omg-I-have-to-catch-this-before-it's-too-late effect certainly is the main problem here, but never the less could been handled far better by upping prices and not just ammending the way tickets are distributed.
I have to strongly disagree. It shouldn't cost anything to see a public event on government property. But the ticket process is a necessary evil for security and crowd control. I'm sure the cost barely covers KSC's costs in operating the ticket system and providing transportation to the causeway. Moreover, the tickets are good for admission on another day, further evidence that there's no profit motive at play at all.
Nor should there be. Raising the ticket prices for the most in-demand launches doesn't discourage ticket scalpers; just check ebay around the Super Bowl or the Final Four. Raising the ticket price only eliminates the affordability for the average folks.
The lottery is the only fair and proper way to do it. (And it is also the way that Super Bowl and Final Four tickets are sold as well).
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#376
by
debrarr
on 15 Jun, 2011 12:57
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On the topic of VC/HOF viewing locations, can someone help me understand why anyone should prefer either of the two compared to road-side viewing along the mainland-Merrit causeway? More or less same distance, FAR better view.
Personally I'd even take Port Canaveral over VC and HOF, but that's my opinion. The point is that there are, in my opinion, several publicly accessible locations that are better than VC and HOF.
Personally, coming all the way from the UK, I'm quite excited for the whole launch as an event, and hoping that there will be some cool launch day presentations and activities/appearances. It just feels like a brilliant place to experience the final shuttle launch.
The 60 seconds or so you're actually viewing the launch will be the most spectacular moment of the day, for sure, but it's the end of an era and I'm more than happy to experience that in a place like KSC.
Even if it means I miss the very first moments of launch for the trees.
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#377
by
beef5stew
on 15 Jun, 2011 13:19
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Well that was easy. The purchase process went quite smoothly. GOt in right about 9am, bought VC tickets and dine with Astronaut tickets, put in the credit card number and done. REally was hoping for causeway, but it's not to be.
Congrats to Keyman and Endeavour Forever.
Beefstew
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#378
by
john_raiders
on 15 Jun, 2011 13:20
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Yo
That was easy, straight in and bought them.
John
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#379
by
rdale
on 15 Jun, 2011 13:33
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My understanding is PayPal doesn't release the money until positive feedback is received.
That's incorrect. Paypal is immediate.
