Comments on: Swindler On The Roof? http://sarahsturtevant.com/wordpress/branding/swindler-on-the-roof/ A tasty blend of online marketing ideas, tips and tactics for industry Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:39:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: SarahSturtevant http://sarahsturtevant.com/wordpress/branding/swindler-on-the-roof/comment-page-1/#comment-30 SarahSturtevant Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:40:18 +0000 http://sarahsturtevant.com/wordpress/?p=406#comment-30 Adam, it's really hard to believe how poorly Mirvish has been handling all these customer complaints! I am a subscriber to the the Mirvish e-newsletter and we were informed by email before the performance that we could make alternate arrangements if we wished prior to our theatre dates (and only after several of us complained upon learning via other online sites that Topol wasn't to appear). But I'm not sure how you would have known about the Topol switch unless you got that email. Customers should not have to be so vigilant to ensure that the "goods" they ordered will be delivered. You're right, that's not how loyal customers should be treated. I hope Mirvish gets the message soon! I find it amazing that given the feedback about Harvey's performance, Mirvish recently announced he was coming back in the summer for a repeat performance "due to popular demand"! Bizarre. I'd imagine one other recourse for a refund might be involving the Ontario Ombudsman ... you likely would have a bunch of peeved theatre supporters out there if you decide to go that route! Adam, it's really hard to believe how poorly Mirvish has been handling all these customer complaints! I am a subscriber to the the Mirvish e-newsletter and we were informed by email before the performance that we could make alternate arrangements if we wished prior to our theatre dates (and only after several of us complained upon learning via other online sites that Topol wasn't to appear). But I'm not sure how you would have known about the Topol switch unless you got that email.

Customers should not have to be so vigilant to ensure that the "goods" they ordered will be delivered. You're right, that's not how loyal customers should be treated. I hope Mirvish gets the message soon! I find it amazing that given the feedback about Harvey's performance, Mirvish recently announced he was coming back in the summer for a repeat performance "due to popular demand"! Bizarre.

I'd imagine one other recourse for a refund might be involving the Ontario Ombudsman … you likely would have a bunch of peeved theatre supporters out there if you decide to go that route!

]]> By: Adam Rachwal http://sarahsturtevant.com/wordpress/branding/swindler-on-the-roof/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Adam Rachwal Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:01:52 +0000 http://sarahsturtevant.com/wordpress/?p=406#comment-27 Here's my story. I had been awaiting this play for a year. I purchased 4 tickets as christmas gifts for my family and went to see it on January 2nd. (note that I have not checked any advertising about this performance since somewhere in late September when I checked a few reviews about the performances in US). My whole family was shocked when Mr. Harvey aka Topol came out on stage and opened his mouth. The next 3 hours were the worst I have ever experienced in a theater. The moment I came home I called MasterCard to ask for the procedure of getting a refund. They advised me to first contact the merchant. I have. I got replies back from Laura Gladwell of TicketKing. Like you guys, she offered me tickets to Sound of Music which I have already seen. I replied that fortunately I had seen the play which was just amazing and that I sitll insist on getting my money back. She declined. The argument is that I had seen the play. I don't get it. Let's say I order a desktop computer from Dell and Dell sends me a Laptop. I'll call in and they will tell me "Sorry, we've run out of desktops but you got a Laptop and it is a computer afterall." Is that right? Mirvish, TicketKing, Laura Gladwell, that is not right. That is not how customers should be treated. I have spent a few thousand dollars on Mirvish theater productions over the last 10 years. I have seen good plays and bad plays. I never complained because that's subjective. But advertising Topol and delivering Harvey is not subjective. Here's my story. I had been awaiting this play for a year. I purchased 4 tickets as christmas gifts for my family and went to see it on January 2nd. (note that I have not checked any advertising about this performance since somewhere in late September when I checked a few reviews about the performances in US). My whole family was shocked when Mr. Harvey aka Topol came out on stage and opened his mouth. The next 3 hours were the worst I have ever experienced in a theater. The moment I came home I called MasterCard to ask for the procedure of getting a refund. They advised me to first contact the merchant. I have. I got replies back from Laura Gladwell of TicketKing. Like you guys, she offered me tickets to Sound of Music which I have already seen. I replied that fortunately I had seen the play which was just amazing and that I sitll insist on getting my money back. She declined. The argument is that I had seen the play.

I don't get it. Let's say I order a desktop computer from Dell and Dell sends me a Laptop. I'll call in and they will tell me "Sorry, we've run out of desktops but you got a Laptop and it is a computer afterall." Is that right?

Mirvish, TicketKing, Laura Gladwell, that is not right. That is not how customers should be treated. I have spent a few thousand dollars on Mirvish theater productions over the last 10 years. I have seen good plays and bad plays. I never complained because that's subjective. But advertising Topol and delivering Harvey is not subjective.

]]> By: Mike http://sarahsturtevant.com/wordpress/branding/swindler-on-the-roof/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Mike Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:47:48 +0000 http://sarahsturtevant.com/wordpress/?p=406#comment-25 Yes thanks for your review. Glad I got my refund as well :) Made the right decision looks like. Yes thanks for your review. Glad I got my refund as well :) Made the right decision looks like.

]]> By: SarahSturtevant http://sarahsturtevant.com/wordpress/branding/swindler-on-the-roof/comment-page-1/#comment-24 SarahSturtevant Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:25:09 +0000 http://sarahsturtevant.com/wordpress/?p=406#comment-24 Ouch! Carrie, thanks for your comments. I'm sorry your experience was so awful at the show. Have to admit now, though, I'm happier than ever that I didn't give Harvey a chance when I heard he was replacing Topol the production. I was pretty quick to spend my $633 ticket refund on Christmas gifts! Your honest perspective may help keep other ticket holders from hestitating before demanding a refund! Hope you experience a better performance in Toronto next time! Ouch! Carrie, thanks for your comments. I'm sorry your experience was so awful at the show. Have to admit now, though, I'm happier than ever that I didn't give Harvey a chance when I heard he was replacing Topol the production. I was pretty quick to spend my $633 ticket refund on Christmas gifts! Your honest perspective may help keep other ticket holders from hestitating before demanding a refund! Hope you experience a better performance in Toronto next time!

]]> By: Carrie http://sarahsturtevant.com/wordpress/branding/swindler-on-the-roof/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Carrie Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:51:33 +0000 http://sarahsturtevant.com/wordpress/?p=406#comment-23 Harvey Fierstein cannot sing a note. He butchered every song in the show. Not only that, his delivery of classic lines was almost an afterthought, and his tempo was off. To see him raise his poor excuse for a voice in anger and frustration to the other characters was like watching a toddler with laryngitis have a tantrum. Even meek and mild Motel has no reason to fear Harvey's flamboyant Tevye. In the attempt to make the role his own, he made a mockery of it. The actor playing Lazar has played Tevye before and would have been a much preferred choice over Harvey. The decision to cast a big name instead of a better match for Topol was a huge mistake. The rest of the cast was fine, but ion still not the best I've seen. Granted, I'm sure performing next to H.F., knowing the audience was grating on every word he uttered, couldn't have been easy. Still, the pace felt rushed and I'd rather seen a scene dropped or shortened than feel like they're rushing through the numbers. It was the only performance I've been to in Toronto where there was no standing ovation given. Harvey Fierstein cannot sing a note. He butchered every song in the show. Not only that, his delivery of classic lines was almost an afterthought, and his tempo was off. To see him raise his poor excuse for a voice in anger and frustration to the other characters was like watching a toddler with laryngitis have a tantrum. Even meek and mild Motel has no reason to fear Harvey's flamboyant Tevye. In the attempt to make the role his own, he made a mockery of it. The actor playing Lazar has played Tevye before and would have been a much preferred choice over Harvey. The decision to cast a big name instead of a better match for Topol was a huge mistake. The rest of the cast was fine, but ion still not the best I've seen. Granted, I'm sure performing next to H.F., knowing the audience was grating on every word he uttered, couldn't have been easy. Still, the pace felt rushed and I'd rather seen a scene dropped or shortened than feel like they're rushing through the numbers. It was the only performance I've been to in Toronto where there was no standing ovation given.

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