blonde poker forum

I wanted to post my experience of the first day of the festival in Bournemouth.  I rang the casino around 3pm today. I said I wanted some info on the event this evening. She said "How can I help you"  I said what time does it start, dress code and how many places does it hold and remain. Her answer was just what I needed. Dress code is casual, it starts at 7pm and it holds 70 or eighty runners. Great but how many seats remain. You need to arrive shortly after six as they are expecting a good turn out.

I jump in the car and head to Bournemouth. Ninety six miles on the GPS. I arrive just after six and enter the casino. My idea is to enter first and then go and get something to eat.  I go to the chap who seems to organise the buy in and give my name. He starts to look on the list. I tell him it wont be on it, as I had only rung earlier to assure myself that their was no problems. We are sold out. Wow I think ten past six and sold out. What a waste of a journey but oh well I will stay and update for Blonde. This is when it goes wrong

Who told you to come down as this event was sold out last night. WHAT now I'm annoyed. If It sold out this evening then it would be my fault, but to get bad info is infuriating. We have twenty seats for tomorrow and seven for Friday he tells me. Thanks but not much good for tonight. I then tell him that I was going to update the event for Blonde. Great let me get you my..sorry I forgot who he said but seemed to be his boss..he will be here in five minutes.

I sit around and wait for this chap to turn up. The nice thing about this is you get to meet new folks. I chat to one chap and discover that he has travelled from London on the train. He is waiting as he is first reserve. Forty minutes later and we are still waiting. At seven the chap announces the start of the competition. Hold on though their are empty seats. as the first hand is dealt he picks up the chips in front of the empty seats. He then announces that the player who has failed to turn up has missed his chance. He then tells the players who have waited that as the event has started no one can take the seat.....why have a reserve list.... why not let those waiting take the seats ..Crazy in my opinion.  The final insult comes some minutes later when I remind the chap that I am still waiting almost an hour after arriving. I was busy sorry was the response let me get him now. Jees I have had enough "No thanks" I will leave it . So no comp, no updates, no dinner and ninety six miles home to think about how it might have been handled better.  Answers on a postcard.

Customer Service at it's very best.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=24516.msg496831#msg496831

Did you buy in for tomorrow?

Classic Casino service. Been there done that etc.
Different casino but can I register for this tourney, yes no problem you just need to go upstairs, yes no problem you need to go downstairs, Oh I think you will need to wat for x and he arrives at 8, 8 arrives oh you can't register for that until tomorrow.  ;frustrated;

I aksed someone to buy me in tonight for tomorrow but didnt hear back so i just called the casino, the comp sold out 30 mins ago, aaarrrghhhhhhh!

I am number 1 reserve though! I hope i have better luck than the guy tonight!

Incidentally he told me the first few reserves got in tonight!

they did the strangest thing tonight. They added players to tables, making most ten handed. I was told even eleven handed but cant confirm this. That was good. What was annoying for the chap who was the first reserve, was that when the chips were removed for the player who failed to show, their was only nine players on the table and other empty seats.

I have to admit I did not buy in for tomorrow. It would go against how I felt to support poor service. I know the event is full now but I feel better for not playing tomorrow.

On a positive note the place had a good feeling about it. It felt like a university event. Lots of young guys talking about Tony G, Hellmuth etc. Jen will be in her element. A few players from Southampton perhaps ten in total. The rest locals. Flushy should do well as he will blend in.

I played the event tonight went out at 300/600/50 when kings were no good against queens AIP for a 16kish pot.

Anyway onto the event in itself, as IrishDenis said mostly locals, although I had Stephen Holden four to my left on my opening table, which was, for the most part very very passive and multiple limped pots and passive post flop play including a hand where i had 7h-4h (half wilson?), the river gave me a straight and my opponent who'd flopped trip 10s paid me off.

And Denis is right Flushy will have fun! Btw Flushy, Matt's mobile ran out of battery.

Yo Flushy, phone ran out of batteries, so couldn't call you... ARrghghghgh! Take your revenge on playing that bloody RoShamBo move I've been waiting on for 48hours+!!!

I reserved you a place on the first break (you were first resereve, as it was sold out when I went to the cashier). When I came back 2 hours later there were 2 reserves = James Dempsey, and J. Dempsey lol :D

After the game I noticed the card room manager was allowing someone to buy-in. Needless to say I jumped him, and took his space. He was most unhappy, but it means you are definitely in and owe me £220 ! :D

I won't be waking until the late afternoon lol, so can you text me when you've seen this so I know you've err.... seen it! :)

Cheers m8 you are a star, they are clearly not to experienced, he said there is a reserve list do you want putting on that i said sure, he said oh it turns out there isn't one yet you are the first name! Then they just want to circumvent the reserve list! Pure madness.

Awesome dude. I've seen this now. See you later on. 7PM START BY THE WAY!!! Don't turn up at 8pm Ram Vaswani stylee and expect to be able to play! ;)

I'll be there, don't worry about that!

My hotel is just a few yards from the casino, Bournemouth Roll?

You betcha. You invent the rules and I'll play lol.

I can't believe anywhere would be stupid enough to take chips off of a table when they had a reserve list.

No. Wait. Yes I can believe it.

God I can't wait to start working a comp again.

Yogi

We cant wait either Yogi ;)