How to get tickets for SDCC 2012

[cobralalalala!]

I've been reading several articles and tidbits regarding Tickets for SDCC 2012. I've read a few times that the only way to get Tickets for 2012 is if you attended the con this year. If that's true, then essentially they are making SDCC into a private club or Private alumni. You can't go next year unless you went this year, and so on and so forth. And as for the exclusives? Well, we all just saw how that goes down. A few get lucky, and rest pay a 300% Markup on eBay. I just dropped over $300 on one Vehicle and two figures.

I've been trying to get tickets to SDCC for the last two years, unsuccessfully. They sell out faster than Zarana at HTS on a Monday. I was hoping to get passes this year, but now I'm reading about the garbage mentioned above. So, assuming this is true, I'm calling bullshit.

If anyone has solid information that is contrary to this, I would love to hear it, I need some good news. I would love to be wrong about this.

[CTGLinks]

Holy Hell......I wouldn't doubt it : (

[MAJOR BLOOD]

They sold about 2,500 tickets each day for early birds. They went in about 30 minutes I think. Maybe an hour each day. Most of the others go online I'm pretty sure. The price is going up to $170-$175 too.

I'll dig later when I get home. I don't see them not letting new people get these tickets. I guess anything is possible though.

[Jinx723]

WTH!!!
You mean tickets for SDCC 2012-2015 aren't sold out yet?
I gave up on SDCC a couple of years ago and I don't think I'll ever go again. Too many people and too much hassle to try and get sold out exclusive Joe stuff.

[JoeMama]

you have to login at exactly 11:30 on a Tuesday workday and try to get to checkout before everyone else or SDCC will take the tickets out of your shopping cart and tell you to go f#ck yourself.

[NeoDragonKnight]

The early bird tickets sold at the Con were very few and people had to line up at midnight and line up for hours DURING the con and missed out on a lot of stuff. Most of the tickets will be sold online, and that is hell too, if you think HTS was bad, SDCC ticket sales had to be cancelled TWICE on 2 seperate dates when they thought they had their capacity problems fixed, but most of us who have dealt with it with concert tickets, limited toy buys ect already know the game, you might get a ticket, you might not, not the end of the world.

[omgudied2]

Well if you pay 300% markup for the Toys are the Tickets 300% markup also on the net?

[Barefoot Jedi]

I've been reading several articles and tidbits regarding Tickets for SDCC 2012. I've read a few times that the only way to get Tickets for 2012 is if you attended the con this year. If that's true, then essentially they are making SDCC into a private club or Private alumni. You can't go next year unless you went this year, and so on and so forth. And as for the exclusives? Well, we all just saw how that goes down. A few get lucky, and rest pay a 300% Markup on eBay. I just dropped over $300 on one Vehicle and two figures.

I've been trying to get tickets to SDCC for the last two years, unsuccessfully. They sell out faster than Zarana at HTS on a Monday. I was hoping to get passes this year, but now I'm reading about the garbage mentioned above. So, assuming this is true, I'm calling bullshit.

If anyone has solid information that is contrary to this, I would love to hear it, I need some good news. I would love to be wrong about this.

I imagine there's somebody you can sleep with.

You just have to find out who.

Some Ticketmaster employee? I don't know how SDCC tickets are sold.

You're not bad-looking, C-La. Don't be intimidated. ;)

[vermillion21]

Might be no point in trying to attend the SDCC to get the toys, look what happened to these folks:

Not sure if this had been posted, but pretty funny...if you dont feel like watching it al goto the 11:12 mark

‪SDCC 2011: HASBRO disappoints fans on Preview Night‬‏ - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhEoeoDBVdg)

Unreal.

[Grendel]

The early bird tickets sold at the Con were very few and people had to line up at midnight and line up for hours DURING the con and missed out on a lot of stuff. Most of the tickets will be sold online, and that is hell too, if you think HTS was bad, SDCC ticket sales had to be cancelled TWICE on 2 seperate dates when they thought they had their capacity problems fixed, but most of us who have dealt with it with concert tickets, limited toy buys ect already know the game, you might get a ticket, you might not, not the end of the world.

This is close to the truth.. I have my tickets for next year 4 + preview. The way I got it.......friends well actually a guy I met at the con and hooked up with H exclusives camped out at 11PM for next day and let me join him at 4am. Tickets went on sale at 9ish. there were people in line that were "privileged" to purchase 4 1 day passes. It is getting ridiculous to purchase passes thank god I'm Military and don't have to pay the $175. for the 4 day. They did the line-up this year so there would be more available online

[MLos1]

SDCC comic con looks like some bizarre version of hell.

[NSA]

They did do limited 2012 pass sales each day for people with badges. Sunday was the day to do it, all my friends got passes easily. Thursday and Friday the line started around midnight!

Last year ALL preview night tickets sold out @ the convention, with none available online. This year they reserved most of them for online sales (In the Fall). So it'll be some random day, and you log in and try and get passes.

Better than last year actually, except for the price increase (Though when they keep selling out every year, what do you expect).

[NeoDragonKnight]

Also note that is impossible to scalp or sell your online ticket prior to picking up your badge, you MUST show ID when you pick up your badge (whos line is anywhere between 1-3 hours) and it MUST match your information you entered when buying the ticket. When buying online you can buy multiple but you must enter the names and addresses of the people you are buying for, so you can't enter fake names and addresses as you would just be throwing away your money as you could never redeem them without a matching photo id. This of course does not stop people from selling their passes after they pick up the badge but then the time you line up and the money investment you had 7 months earlier getting the ticket probably wouldn't be worth it. The tickets are also non-refundable.

[The Batman]

Fuck SDCC. Buy the time you buy your ticket, get transportation and your hotel... you might as well just sit at home and pay Ebay prices and not have to rub elbows with a bunch of people. I will never go to SDCC and I don't care if my whole trip was paid for. I ain't fighting with all those damn nerds!

[NeoDragonKnight]

Might be no point in trying to attend the SDCC to get the toys, look what happened to these folks:



Unreal.

To be fair this was preview night which was only open for 3 hours (less if it took time for the folks to pick up their badges during these 3 hours). Yes, they should have gotten tickets for the next day, but at the same time they should have judged their time better as the window was so short. Also the employees there are just convention staff and just doing their job in clearing people out of the hall, they have nothing to do with HasbroToyShop or giving out the tickets, when I lined up the next morning the same staff in this video were very nice to us and organized and managed the lines very well with no problems.

[NeoDragonKnight]

Fuck SDCC. Buy the time you buy your ticket, get transportation and your hotel... you might as well just sit at home and pay Ebay prices and not have to rub elbows with a bunch of people. I will never go to SDCC and I don't care if my whole trip was paid for. I ain't fighting with all those damn nerds!

Ya the lines were brutal...easily the worst part of my trip (which included Vegas and LA before SDCC :) and a 1.5 hour line up to get on the Jurassic Park ride at Universal studios)
If you are just after toys, for sure just pay the ebay prices, it is cheaper (when including costs) and less annoying. But if you enjoy other toys, comics, movies, tv shows, art, cartoons...I highly recommend going at least once, there is tons to see.

[CookSux]

It's real easy actually... just work on a television show and you'll get one. That's what I did for the last three years. lol

[solid.wii]

It's real easy actually... just work on a television show and you'll get one. That's what I did for the last three years. lol

What TV show if you don't mind telling?

[UMAN]

Screw all that. Next year's Coil Con will be the place to be. SDCC is turning into a monster anyway.

[spazzy]

going to turn into a exclusive club..only people there the previous year can go, no more outsiders...think it is time for them to expand again.

[Griff]

SDCC is actually starting to lose some sponsors. they had a story on the news about that...i can't remember who didnt show up who ususally did btu i heard it was a couple big companies or something. If thats true is this the begining of the end for SDCC as we know it?

[NSA]

Doubtful.. I am sure some companies bailed, but I imagine there will be others to take their place. As long as they keep selling 200k tickets.. There will be companies that will want to showcase their products.

I know a lot of small artists are leaving comic con, but I doubt they are much of a draw for the vast majority of attendees these days. Whether that's good or bad is subjective.

I believe it's locked into San Diego for the next year or couple of years, it'll be interesting to see what happens when they move. I anticipate more of the status quo while it remains in San Diego though. Like anyone else, they live and learn for next year.

[Cacadooky]

me and my wife want to go, but it sounds crazy to get tickets! but ill still try! up here in NOR CAL we have " SAC CON" alot smaller but very fun i picked up lots of POC figs like, low light, shadow tracker, IG.etc..

[Griff]

me and my wife want to go, but it sounds crazy to get tickets! but ill still try! up here in NOR CAL we have " SAC CON" alot smaller but very fun i picked up lots of POC figs like, low light, shadow tracker, IG.etc..

Sac Con...man...theres a goof. At least its remianed consistant though i rememebr there used to be lots more sellers out there than in past years

[NeoDragonKnight]

I have a short blurp from J Scott Campbell and what he thought about how SDCC has been changing in my sdcc picture/diary thread

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-joe-conventions-get-togethers/135862-ndk-sdcc-2011-pic-heavy.html

I agree that its starting to move away from a "comic" con.

[cobralalalala!]

So, what I've gathered from this thread is that;

1. While they did sell many passes at the Con, the majority will be sold online, probably some time in Fall.

2. Preview night sucks

3. I'm not a bad looking guy, LOL!



That means I have a chance to go next year, very cool! I'll be honest, a big part of it is getting the toys, but I also want to attend some panels, see new and upcoming products, and check out some exibitors.
I agree that if you just want the toys, you might as well save some time and money and go to eBay. Thanks for the info everyone!

[Southzen]

It speculated and rumor has it that that Las Vegas is making a bid when the contract is up. As for SDCC dying, I am sure some sponsors pulled out. Not as many movies and tv shows showed up this year. The sell outs really didn't start becoming annoying until Twighlight (I loath that property before anyone assumes anything). From what my wife tells me, there are two movies left, which means one more SDCC with the insane Twi-chicks buying every ticket they can. If you look at it one way, by the time you pay for tickets, food, drinks, plane flight, hotel, etc, you might actually be saving money, time and head ache pre-ordering on ebay, and then hitting up HTS and Mattycollector after the show hoping to get lucky. As a friend said it, getting what you want from the companies themselves after con is like winning an unlikely prize. Hope everyone who truly wants to attend is lucky next year. If you are going just for the toys, you are missing out on the charm of the show, the thousands of other fans.

[NSA]

Are there even still comics there?? Haha this yeah I didn't even venture to that wing of the exhibit hall.

I think it's just a cultural shift, nerds can be nerds without comics but comics are having a hard time existing without the nerd base (myself included). There are just too many other things keeping people's attention these days. (whole other discussion!)

They should call it the pop culture con!

[Quartermaine]

Fuck SDCC. Buy the time you buy your ticket, get transportation and your hotel... you might as well just sit at home and pay Ebay prices and not have to rub elbows with a bunch of people. I will never go to SDCC and I don't care if my whole trip was paid for. I ain't fighting with all those damn nerds!

I was there for the fourth time, and I agree with The Batman. The Con experience isn't what it used to be. its only about exclusives. I would gladly pay my $125 to an online dealer for my exclusives rather than put up with the SDCC. It just isnt worth wasting an entire day in line for hasbro. I thin the exclusives are great, and I will buy more (as long as they arent repaints). The blame lies with the SDCC Staff, and with Hasbro.

THe SDCC Staff have no consistent method of dealing with this, These logistics need to be discussed, and for heaven's sake: COMMUNICATE WITH EEACH OTHER! There were a handful of security people and SDCC floor staff that were trying, but hasbro doesnt participate in making sure their part is covered. SDCC Floor staff needs to work this out with all exclusive offerings before next year.

Hasbro needs to take ownership of this. There is one woman who is there every time and she tries to be fair, but overall, she gets no coordination from the ticket issuing peeps upstairs. The disconnect comes in when they issue tickets with no explanation or coordination with the actual HTS selling booth. Issue color coded numbers and collect them downstairs. Recycle them after lets say 10 colors, in groups of 100? then you can float a damned flag. Line up in order, in your color group. Hell, Dont even let people get a number until they are ready to line up for the next group. There are ways to handle this. But effort and thought must be expended, and HTS and SDCC needs to lead the change before next year. They are the main reason I have been attending.

Our option, girls and boys, is to boycott HTS at the con. If they have no lines, they dont sell, and they have to unload it all at HTS online....

When we vote with our dollars, people pay attention.

The Harbro Staff

[Quartermaine]

I want to see officer level memberships at the GIJCC have exclusive access to the SDCC items. That would be freakin amazing. THere isnt a good reason the SDCC should have better than the club.

[CookSux]

What TV show if you don't mind telling?

Just a small animated show on a cable network.

[Griff]

Just a small animated show on a cable network.

Team Umizumi? ha ha

[Xenos]

I was there for the fourth time, and I agree with The Batman. The Con experience isn't what it used to be. its only about exclusives. I would gladly pay my $125 to an online dealer for my exclusives rather than put up with the SDCC. It just isnt worth wasting an entire day in line for hasbro. I thin the exclusives are great, and I will buy more (as long as they arent repaints). The blame lies with the SDCC Staff, and with Hasbro.

THe SDCC Staff have no consistent method of dealing with this, These logistics need to be discussed, and for heaven's sake: COMMUNICATE WITH EEACH OTHER! There were a handful of security people and SDCC floor staff that were trying, but hasbro doesnt participate in making sure their part is covered. SDCC Floor staff needs to work this out with all exclusive offerings before next year.

Hasbro needs to take ownership of this. There is one woman who is there every time and she tries to be fair, but overall, she gets no coordination from the ticket issuing peeps upstairs. The disconnect comes in when they issue tickets with no explanation or coordination with the actual HTS selling booth. Issue color coded numbers and collect them downstairs. Recycle them after lets say 10 colors, in groups of 100? then you can float a damned flag. Line up in order, in your color group. Hell, Dont even let people get a number until they are ready to line up for the next group. There are ways to handle this. But effort and thought must be expended, and HTS and SDCC needs to lead the change before next year. They are the main reason I have been attending.

Our option, girls and boys, is to boycott HTS at the con. If they have no lines, they dont sell, and they have to unload it all at HTS online....

When we vote with our dollars, people pay attention.

The Harbro Staff

I think what they need to do instead of giving out tickets with a time window, they should give out numbered tickets. Then they could have a big board at the start of the booth that says "now serving numbers x through y". If you aren't there when your number is called, too bad for you, you have to try again the next day.
One thing that was annoying this year was that I got in line for the ticket to get in line at 7:30 AM and I got in the first batch of tickets for the day. However, there were people behind me in line that also got in on that batch, and they could very easily get ahead of me in the actual booth because it was such a madhouse until they set up an actual line. Giving people an exact number that gets them in the line would get rid of all those problems, and it seems to me that it would make it easier on the staff too.

[UMAN]

Team Umizumi? ha ha

My Japanese half-sister?

[evopete]

that Vido that verm posted is exactly the madness everyear... this confirms that PRE-VIEW night is not something I will do.. I will get a thurs and Friday pass... any day pass Friday and nothing... I dont care if I spend 2 days in line.. I want my figures from the CON at price... and then I can enjoy the show, which is lots of fun.. especiall if you like shopping..... for toys and comics

[mr pawn]

might be no point in trying to attend the sdcc to get the toys, look what happened to these folks:



Unreal.dammmnnn troy and his mom was getting pissed off, i told him it would be a pain in the ass getting those joes

[NSA]

I think what they need to do instead of giving out tickets with a time window, they should give out numbered tickets. Then they could have a big board at the start of the booth that says "now serving numbers x through y". If you aren't there when your number is called, too bad for you, you have to try again the next day.
One thing that was annoying this year was that I got in line for the ticket to get in line at 7:30 AM and I got in the first batch of tickets for the day. However, there were people behind me in line that also got in on that batch, and they could very easily get ahead of me in the actual booth because it was such a madhouse until they set up an actual line. Giving people an exact number that gets them in the line would get rid of all those problems, and it seems to me that it would make it easier on the staff too.

The problem is they only have so much space to have people waiting around. If you didn't have a sectioned off line area it'd get too crowded/congested and the fire Marshall would shut it down.

Maybe they could corral everyone with a ticket into an area, but that just seems like way more work than its worth.

I thought from Thursday morning on they did a fine job with line management, there was some issue with the Thursday tickets saying "After 10AM thursday" which meant anytime/day afterwards.. but they fixed that by Friday.

It's a learning process, again, it was better than last year FOR SURE.

[mr pawn]

Can't wait to get my ticket

[MLos1]

hts.com hah...j/k

[mr pawn]

I want to go next year very bad, but have been watching videos of this years, and, it looks like a really really big pain in the ass

[Black Rose]

It does look like a pain in the ass.

[cobralalalala!]

I want to go next year very bad, but have been watching videos of this years, and, it looks like a really really big pain in the ass


Sure seems that way. I definitely want to go next year, but I'm hoping that if i get tickets, I don't spend the entire Con in line. Id like to walk around and check out the booths, sit in on some panels etc.

I think the best solution is for SDCC to coordinate with toy companies that have made exclusives. After you buy your ticket, you can go to a site to pre-purchase 1 of each exclusive that you want from Hasbro, Mattel etc. Then you can stop by and pick up your stuff at any time during the con. You show your pass, they look you up in their laptop and see what you have purchased.

[NSA]

I think the best solution is for SDCC to coordinate with toy companies that have made exclusives. After you buy your ticket, you can go to a site to pre-purchase 1 of each exclusive that you want from Hasbro, Mattel etc. Then you can stop by and pick up your stuff at any time during the con. You show your pass, they look you up in their laptop and see what you have purchased.

The problem with that is they have to make 200,000 or something of each exclusive,.. in case everyone wants one. If they only made X amount but Y amount wanted them.. you'd still have angry people.

The problem is, none of the exclusives would sell 200,000! Nothing is that popular.. so where do you draw the line?

Sideshow does pre-ordering for their exclusives.. which works I guess, but they still sell out BEFORE the con even happens, which would lead to MORE bitching and moaning..

I don't see a sure-fire way, since they are exclusives they are going to be inherently limited, otherwise it kind of defeats the purpose.

[NeoDragonKnight]

Matty did pre-ordering this year and it worked out great. I didnt have to worry about lining up or even picking it up on the first 2 days. I picked up my order at the hotel next door on the saturday. They didnt have my Delorian but told me they would ship it to my house. This is something Hasbro needs to get on board with, it makes things much easier for everyone.

[mr pawn]

I agree on all points, when there are 150 thousand people going to a convention, and half of those are scalpers, i don'tsee any way of fixing the problem, only way is for less people to go and stand in line, if i go next year, it will be to enjoy the panels and vendors. If there is a line for a exclusive item i want, its going to have to be short,i will not waste my time standing in long lines

[CobraElite]

I've always wanted to go, but after reading this I'm beginning to wonder if I should just stay home. Sounds like a disaster! I was thinking about trying to get tickets next year but I think I'll just save the money and buy online. Wow, that video posted looked crazy!