As fully paid-up Premium member to NPGMC since early 2002, I'm both quite furious and distraught. I received absolutely no email notification from NPGMC about the European tour until yesterday (26th September)!! And now the pre-sales for the gigs I want to see (namely Dublin on 10th October, but also Paris) are over. NPGMC seem to not care the slightest (Below is the correspondence I've had with them). They have not replied to my most recent email asking them to check their database to make sure my address was not left off by accident - they simply don't seem to be bothered at all. I'm not sure how my address might have been omitted, but I definitely received no emails and my email server has been working perfectly every day.

Has anyone else had the same experience? Or can someone help me out on getting a ticket with laminate entrance into the rehearsal and aftershow in Dublin? I can't believe that I might end up missing these opportunities, as it was one of the main incentives in joining the NPGMC. I'm pretty damn annoyed.

Hoping someone can shed some light on this,

Thanks,


AJ



From: Aebhric Coleman
Date: Thu Sep 26, 2002 04:13:12 PM Europe/Dublin
To: npg@gage.com
Cc: npgmc@npgonlineltd.com
Subject: European Tour Tickets - Ireland/France

Dear NPG Music Club,

I just got today a mail informing of the extra Rotterdam show added on November 2nd, and immediately checked the website concerts section to find to my massive surprise that an extensive European tour has been organized for October. I am of course completely delighted, but quite amazed that I never received any previous email to indicate that a European Tour was happening.

I am therefore quite distressed to find that most of the pre-sales for the concerts are already over - particularly the ones for Dublin and Paris, where I live and want to go to all concerts (together with perhaps other European venues). I checked the site 3 weeks ago, and there was no indication that upcoming concerts were a possibility, and presumed that being a Premium member for sure I would receive a simple email informing me of such a tour whenever it was going to be organized.

So, basically, I'd like to know how come no email was sent out originally informing Members of the Tour? But more importantly, if at this point you can arrange for me to purchase 2 pre-sale tickets (with laminate entries for the rehearsal and after-shows) for the Dublin 10th October concert.

One of the main reasons I signed up for the Premium service was of course this "pre-sale" component of membership. For me, this is what makes being a member a massive factor and worth the money. I would therefore be extremely disappointed if after becoming a member, I end up going out to Ticketmaster and buying a ticket like everyone else and missing out on a rare opportunity to see the rehearsals and aftershows.

I trust therefore you can help me out with this. As the concerts are soon, I would appreciate your response as soon as possible, and I will then precede to order the tickets as per your instructions.

Thanks in advance,


Aebhric Coleman





THIS WAS THEIR RESPONSE:



From: NPG Music Club
Date: Thu Sep 26, 2002 07:01:10 PM Europe/Dublin
To: Aebhric Coleman
Subject: Re: European Tour Tickets - Ireland/France

Hello

Sorry, all the presales r over. We did send out several emales regarding the tour and the info has been up 4 several weeks.




AND MY RESPONDING EMAIL TO WHICH I AWAIT AN ANSWER:



From: Aebhric Coleman
Date: Thu Sep 26, 2002 08:50:58 PM Europe/Dublin
To: NPG Music Club
Subject: Re: European Tour Tickets - Ireland/France

Hi,

Thanks for your reply (enclosed below). Your brief reply however I find a bit abrupt. I did not receive any of these earlier emails you said were sent out - Nothing. If I had, I would have ordered my tickets immediately without problem and would not be writing to you. Therefore, perhaps my address was accidentally omitted from these mails? Can you check this on your database - or confirm to me an email was sent to my address? I feel as a Premium member I deserve a proper clarification as to why I was not sent such important emails. I really received no notification about the European tour until today, and am therefore gutted that I appear to have missed the presales. If there is anything you can do to allow me purchase simply 2 tickets for the Dublin concert (including the laminate entrance for rehearsal and aftershow, as is offered to all Premium members), this would really be much appreciated. I have been waiting years to see Prince perform again in Europe.

Hoping that you can take some moments to research my query a little further, and come up with a solution,

Best wishes,


Aebhric Coleman

It is not a good idea to post your correspondence here. I am sorry to hear about this, but nothing will be solved by posting here. In fact, you may get yourself into trouble with them for posting private correspondence.

They are right about having that info there for a few weeks now. I'm surprised you didn't get any emails about the tour at all, because even i did--and i live in the US. Have you checked your acct info and email you entered?
They sent me club wide emails about the tour on Sept 11, 14, and 25 and August 8th briefly telling us there would be a European tour.

Regardless, the concerts section of NPGMC.com clearly has had the info you need. Sorry AJ.

I can see why you would be upset, I have had to e-mail them about the same problem, although I have received the majpority of e-mails there have been a few which I haven't received (and yes my NPGMC profile has been correct throughout all this time). I have also been having problems with my address, I have sent them so many e-mails about this because I have still to receive my 'One Nite Alone' cd which I have now been told won't go out again until the second cd is sent.
Having said that I had no problem in receiving items which I ordered from the retail section.
I just feel there are a few points they need to deal with but apart from that I am happy to be a member and will carry on being a member.

what the hell did you want them to say!?

FACT - the presales are over
FACT - they did send out several emails
FACT - the concerts section has had the info for weeks

You could have even come on THIS website you are whining on right now and found out all about the presales for god's sake. You missed the boat, be a grown-up and accept it.

There does seem to be a problem with the way NPGMC send out there emails, lots of people get correspondence from the club dumped straight into their 'trash' folder.

I can't get mass emails from them in either my yahoo or hotmail accounts - so I have to use my work address.

This could be the cause of your problems...hope they can sort you out.

*peace*

Om

maybe you had your mailbox full? in this case it is possible that you didn't receive their mails...you said you received them only yesterday...check the dates of the mail, i'm sure they're from weeks ago. sorry again!

Can i just sympathise with u about npgmc and how unpersonal they can b, i missed the presale also, due 2 the fact i couldnt access the site, it was just impossible the site wouldnt load and secondly (and more less of a problem really) was that the media reported only 2 prince shows in london, not ireland (whre im from) and i also neva got a mail about the concerts! i have mailed them but got a short answer of the presale is over sorry the presale didnt work out 4 u! i accept rules r rules etc etc but doesnt any1 agree with me that as fully paid members, shouldnt we b offerd ticks/passes for more than just 2 days or in fact have a seat reserved for mayb 5 days or so and if u dont reply or buy the ticks then it should b taken as a signal that u r not attending the show, i mean we pay are 60-70 quid a year, and most of us pay it 2 gain access 2 soundchecks etc etc, there must b a easier way 4 the distrubution of passes/ticks??? i got ticks 4 the show so im still gonna c him but i would so dearly have loved to been able 2 go to the sound check etc as well, but cest la vie as they say! npgmc whres my cds???

If the emails were dumpled direct to your trash folder is absolutely nothing to do with NPGMC, why not check to make sure NPGMC have your correct email address etc etc and stop pointing the blame before you have the facts.

I had the same problem. Absoluetly no emails since the beginning. They weren't in the trash folder and the email I gave is correct.

No email tix confirmation either. I think it's pretty light for a so called "club premium member".

The problem is on their side.

V-G

At September the 12th NPGMC anounced the tour. On the 26th you discovered it. I think you should check the website more often. And read prince.org or alt.music.prince for the rumours. You can't trust on emails. You've got the proof. Don't want to be rude but that's my opinion.

DonnieDarko said:

I have my tickets, but I think the NPGMC is simply not good enough.

FACT - The sales were a shambles
FACT - Many, including me have not recieved emails
FACT - The gap between actual dates and sale was very short. People shouldn't have to check a crap site every day, not when you have paid for a servce.

They need to sort the emails out. I have correct details on my profile, no filters, yet I haven't had an email for ages, while others have.

I think this is a lesson for you to read your emails and this site. Everyone knew that a tour was coming at least 4 weeks ago. Officially 3 weeks ago.

SquirrelMeat said:

I have never received and email from Ticketmaster announcing a concert, yet I managed to make it to a LOT of concerts thru buying tickets on that site. Take some responsibility and get off your ass! You visit Prince.org, you could have found out here as well as the NPG site. There is no excuse except laziness and sour grapes.