Phillies Phestival Success Thread

[cyberer]

Just saw there are 2 threads- Philliesman made one under "In person succesS" subforum. Just FYI to all.

[philliesman]

Here's the link to see the other thread and what I got:https://www.sportscardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1415147

But to add to the debate here, I was just annoyed that I passed the D Brown station 4 times and the first 3 times I witnessed (asked once saw 2 other people ask) and the lady at his station said they weren't going to take cash donations this year, after going to the Blanton and then Polanco station and getting them I assumed that it was just the Brown station that wasn't going to take them. For all I knew he had to go early and so they were gonna get the ticket people through and let him leave. but the 4th time I went there were 3 rows of people with cash in there hand. However, at that point I had no cash (a highschooler only can have so much spending money) and tried to see if anyone would buy the Oswalt bobblehead I got in a grab bag for $10 but it didn't work. So I left with a good first impression and only that one complaint.

[druce26]

I'll try to post pics of my successes when I get the chance. I've been meaning to update my photo bucket anyway. I usually get down there early to wheel and deal a little, but I didn't have anyone to watch my kids until about 4, then was saddled with my nephew until around 6. Oh well, I'm still happy with how I did. It definitely seemed like they opened up the lines for donations alot earlier this year. I was doing the donation thing by 7:15. I screwed the poach and should have gotten in the Rollins line. I heard Utley was doing donations for awhile too. I waited for Ricky Bo for a good 15 minutes to sign a 96 All Star ball, and that put a wrinkle in my night. Oh well, what are you going to do?

[cyberer]

Yeah, I have no basis for comparison, but from waht I have heard they only used to do the donations for like 10-15 minutes at the end, they had them opened MUCH earlier this time.

I think it is because they stopped doing the ticket trade-ins. So whereas before there were higher numbers of the "good" tickets around it took longer to get through the tickets. Now that they randomized everything they made it so there are the same number of tickets in circulation for every station "good" or not. Just a thought.

Philliesman, I know the high school thing is a drag for money, but for gods sake try to bring 50 bucks birthday money next year just in case! It stinks to miss out like that. Still a good first effort for you under the cirumstances.

[ttmtrader101]

I wish I lived close!

[laf7uc1]

Nice stuff. I like the SI and all the trades lol. Pretty crazy but a nice haul. Congrats.

[Eddie_2]

I understand your frustrations 100%, and I said in my posts that I was ridiculously lucky, so don't worry- I know you didn't intend to offend me and I took no offense at all in your saying I had "dumb luck." I did have dumb luck!

However, I told my girlfriend, to a large extent I made my own dumb luck. I got there 3 hours early, the line was literally 3 city blocks long (it went the whole length of the stadium and more), and I walked up and down the line continuously saying what I had and what I was trying to deal. This is where you would have seen that there WERE a lot of fans floating around. They weren't being vocal, they were quietly waiting in line, but if you called out a number or name they needed, they would speak up and you could deal.

Once you got inside it was impossible to trade with anyone but dealers, so this is probably where you ran into problems. The other thing I did which really worked was to get the cell numbers of everyone that I approached on Craigslist to buy and sell tickets from. So I had a network of about a dozen people that I was continuously texting saying what I had and what I needed (that's how I brokered the Rollins for Utley deal).

I also came prepared- I brought 30 or more autographs from my collection- some certified and some not- and a printed list of everything I had that I would hand to people and ask to trade for tickets. This worked really well in getting me hamels and I will do this again next year.

The fact that you couldn't trade Polanco for Stutes is OUTRAGEOUS regardless of whether it was a dealer or a fan or even if it was Michael Stutes's mother- ANYONE SHOULD DO THAT TRADE. I think you got pidgeonholed with who you could deal with, and by getting there early and being loud and approaching hundreds of people in line I got what I needed. Dumb luck certainly played a factor, but you have to put yourself in position to benefit from a little luck. It wasn't pretty, but it worked.

The way the Phillies design this program is it favors those who spent the 300+ dollars to buy like 15 admission packages because they know they can sell the tickets and/or the autos for WAY more than that. If they just let everyone in and get in a line, it would certainly be more hectic, but it would level the playing field between fan and dealer- a ticket is a ticket is a ticket. This favors people that bought every number (and several people I talked to had every number).

Thank you for recognizing that I am a fan and that my success was a good-faith effort for my collection of a team that I love. I can assure everyone that profiteering was everywhere and I think you got the short end of that.

I am thinking about writing the Phillies a registered letter voicing my concerns above- about how this favors the dealers who buy all the tickets and are just making a quick buck. They wouldn't change anything I'm sure, but a registered letter is a major pain in the butt to a big business, because they are pretty much obligated to respond.

I would include in this letter what you said about your experience, as well as anyone else that had a bad time.

Eddie, I think you did really well and should be happy. However I can see why you are so angry. I hope that you don't think I'm rubbing anything in your face or saying "look what I got!" I hate the reality of this hobby as much as the rest of you all.

I am anxious to hear from Philliesman and a few others who went to this thing to see how they made out and if they have the same vibe.

Thanks for the nice reply. I've been out the last couple of days, so I haven't been on here as much. Both my dad and my brother were saying the same thing to me, that I should be happy about landing Lee and Howard. It's just the dealer people get under my skin. I really liked what you put here...

"The fact that you couldn't trade Polanco for Stutes is OUTRAGEOUS regardless of whether it was a dealer or a fan or even if it was Michael Stutes's mother- ANYONE SHOULD DO THAT TRADE. I think you got pidgeonholed with who you could deal with, and by getting there early and being loud and approaching hundreds of people in line I got what I needed. Dumb luck certainly played a factor, but you have to put yourself in position to benefit from a little luck. It wasn't pretty, but it worked."

I loved reading this. Personally, this is what really cause me to get ™™™™™™ and rant my head off. I thought I was being nice by offering Polly for the lower level guys and these dealers called me out for being unfair. That just ticked me off to no end.

BTW...any chance were you wearing the home Utley jersey with black sunglasses?

[cyberer]

Lol yeah I was wearing pinstriped utley jersey, a red cap and black sunglasses. Why do you ask?

[cyberer]

By the way I had the jersey open and a white undershirt underneath if that helps.

[druce26]

That's pretty funny. I definitely saw you make a deal in the Cliff Lee line before I got out of it. It was a cash exchange, and it had me wondering for a second if it was you.
Also, Best of Luck to JC Romero. They go nowhere in 07 or 08 without him.