Well, trying to get a ticket for #io13 sure was a failu ...
Posted on 2013-03-13, 43 comments, 176 +1's, imported from Google+/Chainfire

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... re. I've had several server errors, and when I finally got a ticket assigned, Wallet timed out. According to Wallet login, the ticket was paid for, but now that transaction has been cancelled: no ticket. Lots of people seem to be in this situation. There's a lot of anger going around at the moment.

If you're not a(n aspiring) developer (or have another good reason to be there) and you got a ticket just to grab the swag, go to hell. Last year, as soon as the swag was given out, a lot of people left the conference - if you are one of those type of people, you're ruining it for those of us who do actually want to be there for the content, and to meet and bond with like-minded developers.

I would almost hope they do not give out any swag at all this year, just to make sure next year the swag-hunters will not hog the tickets. But as I also wouldn't want to deny the target audience those perks, I'm not actually saying that.

From the people I know well, only two managed to get a ticket, one security researcher and one press. At the same time, devs from several major OEMs I know were not able to get a ticket either. And here's the kicker: in the Android Application Development IRC channel, where quite a few Android developers hang out, of all those who wanted a ticket and were chatting there around registration time, it seems only a single person actually managed to get one (and he can't stop rubbing it in, haha - I actually wouldn't be surprised if he's just trolling).

Undoubtedly, there'll be a few hundred extra tickets available through competitions you can enter and such, and maybe I'll have some luck there, but for now it seems I (and many I know) will not be going.

If you're going (and not for the swag): have fun !

EDIT: To make matters worse, several people are selling tickets now at markup ...

+1176
Arvid Gerstmann commented on 2013-03-13 at 15:49:

The truth!

Zoltan Fekete commented on 2013-03-13 at 15:49:

I'm sure that someone from Google god bless them is reading your post and could not agree more. For god sakes google send this man a gdmn ticket for the I/O.

Glen Shurtz commented on 2013-03-13 at 15:50:

Don't give up!

Mike Lewis commented on 2013-03-13 at 15:52:

Damn, if anyone should be going, it's you!

Stacy Devino commented on 2013-03-13 at 15:53:

I had the tickets and Google Wallet timed out. 

Wow, this sure makes me as a developer want to use Google Wallet!

They really should offer PRESALE TICKETS to anyone who has contributed to AOSP and/or FIXED Google Code. This is a bit of horse-dung because we can't even PAY to go!

I am making some phones calls. I am getting some dang tickets! 

James Sorensen commented on 2013-03-13 at 15:54:

One day Google may figure out how to process orders for nexus devices or I/O tickets........

Jonathan Schipper commented on 2013-03-13 at 15:54:

I was thinking much the same thing, I would be willing to give up the swag, although it's fun..

Anthony Stewart commented on 2013-03-13 at 16:02:

Damn dude you of all people should have a ticket. Hell Google should give you one for free.

Azzedine Bouleghlimat commented on 2013-03-13 at 16:05:

Do you think it would be better if they instead had a signup, and then Google picks who out of the signups deserves a ticket and give them the chance to buy one? It seems like it may solve the swag problem without getting rid of the swag (since it's meant to reward and encourage developers which I think is a good thing). But I think having to prove your worth to go may be unfair to some aspiring developers and be a nightmare to handle (no doubt people would be complaining that they were banned from IO because they didn't get a ticket). Plus I feel that kind of system kind of goes against Google's free and open ethos.

Hopefully they will figure this out, and everyone who deserves to go to IO gets to be there. Maybe they should hide secret codes in the talks to get the swag, so you need to pay attention to the talks to actually get it.

Aaron Swenson commented on 2013-03-13 at 16:07:

*paid

Kosta Stoupas commented on 2013-03-13 at 16:09:

That's why I set myself the goal of getting deeper into Android development and thus having a reason to attend the IO.

Until then there's a Google IO Extended where I live, also with free swag (shirts, coffee mugs, stickers...).

Harold S commented on 2013-03-13 at 16:11:

The solution is much more simple. Google just needs to raise the price to meet demand. If you have 30,000 people that want to attend and only room for 3,000, $900 is nothing to attend a conference. 

Jack the price up and you'll see the "swaggers" disappear. 

Sayed Mohasin commented on 2013-03-13 at 16:19:

I agree with Chainfire 100% and I'm also a big fan of you too (you absolutely deserve tickets) but some people who are going are going to spend upwards of 2 grand. At least I am. I could pay for all of the swag plus some with that money. I'm going for learning, and to experience the event. I think that is a legitimate reason. I guess I'm just defending myself here but that's just my 2 cents.

Magnus Kwan commented on 2013-03-13 at 16:21:

Same here. Got assigned a ticket but Google wallet timeout. Sigh.

jerrick Davis commented on 2013-03-13 at 16:34:

I'm going to try to get a press pass if I can I'll let you know

Simon Berry commented on 2013-03-13 at 16:37:

Not a dev, would like to be if I had the skills, not on the right continent for IO, but every year I tune in for the Keynote live streams to hear about the new developments, so even if the hall is empty I'll enjoy myself from here. Although the Swag hunters must be a pain, as it is an opportunity to get the gear upfront, it's a shame as the Android dev community needs these events to help provide support and updates for those of us not talented enough to write our own. Hope you and who ever else really could do with one gets a ticket eventually.

Richard Buchman commented on 2013-03-13 at 17:07:

Well that really sucks!!!!

Joe Philipps commented on 2013-03-13 at 17:10:

Would you like a lottery system instead?  I'm thinking along the lines of you can pay some limited, possibly nonrefundable amount to enter the lottery, and if you're chosen, you pay the balance of what may be due.  Or, the proceeds from the losing lottery payers goes towards what would have been charged for the present system for those who win the lottery.

At least this would mitigate problem of the herd trying to stampede through a(n electronic) 1m wide door.

BTW..."good job," +Google Wallet , you're not exactly instilling confidence in your users.

Also BTW, +Chainfire , I got some strangeness with order placement, cancellation, refunding, etc. when I went to buy SuperSU Pro.  I mean, all is OK, but it was...strange.

Harold S commented on 2013-03-13 at 17:14:

I am confused why anyone wants a lottery system. There are economic systems we have to mitigate the issue. Apple raised the price of WWDC and will probably do again so this year. Google needs to get on board, $900 is too cheap for IO - as seen by the demand and lack of tickets. Rationing isn't a solution. 

Joe Philipps commented on 2013-03-13 at 17:18:

+Harold Smith, that must be counterbalanced in terms of negative PR because of being thought of as profiteering.  I kind of think some will see that as a "because we can" fee.

Chainfire commented on 2013-03-13 at 17:21:

Well to be honest, any higher than $900 would be a stretch for me as well. Keep in mind that us Europeans already pay about $3000 in plane tickets and hotels to even get there (excluding the I/O ticket). Sure, if you live in the SF area, it's dirt cheap ...

Azzedine Bouleghlimat commented on 2013-03-13 at 17:23:

+ian fardoe I don't think they want to do that because that doesn't match with their principles. They want to be just as open to aspiring developers as they are to veterans. In fact, the swag is more important to the guy who hasn't had a hit yet, since they don't necessarily have the money to get newer devices. But trying to filter people who actually care about development from people who just want swag is hard. 

Maybe they should prioritise people who live further away, since the further you have to travel, the less likely you are to just be after loot.

Chainfire commented on 2013-03-13 at 17:27:

Seeing people reselling them now.

Harold S commented on 2013-03-13 at 17:30:

+Chainfire - I'll have to cough up a bit for flying as well (Not as much as you since I am stateside). But as far as any sort of conference goes, $900 is on the extremely low end. 

Even bumping it up a few hundred more would sort out a lot of people that just go to go. 

And I do sympathize with price being an issue for many. Should Google just limit it to devs? Perhaps. (I mean, what value is it to anyone who isn't developing??)

I haven't gone to WWDC in two years because it got stale. I hope IO is different. 

Azzedine Bouleghlimat commented on 2013-03-13 at 17:31:

+Chainfire I kind of assumed the fact that you required a G+ account might have meant that it would be tied to your google account to prevent resale. Guess I was wrong...

Christian Mäder commented on 2013-03-13 at 18:17:

They should only sell to people who have solved some kind of a puzzle upfront. Press will get their tickets either way..

Christian Mäder commented on 2013-03-13 at 18:22:

And for all this wallet timeouts,I guess Google has not yet heard of waiting lists and of paying when it is your turn, with no hurry at all.

Joe Philipps commented on 2013-03-13 at 18:32:

+Christian Mäder, waiting lists only add additional overhead (of maintaining it...as in what order do people get put on the list, what happens when those on the list change their mind, die, etc.).   It's far easier just to sell for the event itself.  The only issue they seem to have is one of either capacity or efficiency.

Azzedine Bouleghlimat commented on 2013-03-13 at 18:38:

+Joe Philipps I'm not sure if that is a problem though, since this isn't a concert or a sports game. The goal here isn't to sell tickets, otherwise they would just raise the prices owing to the crazy demand. The goal is to encourage development, so if they take the cheap option and don't have a waiting list they will be pouring their money straight down the drain in the form of hiring out a venue and giving devices to people who have no interest or intention of developing android. They should put in the effort to make sure the right people are going, even if it cost more, because that is how you get the most reward for Google and Android.

David Sellers commented on 2013-03-13 at 20:23:

That sucks for Dev's, hope everything works out.

nicola ceriani commented on 2013-03-13 at 20:33:

Pity some of the best dev like you cant go. Google should give tickets for free to many xda-dev and not only... you make android better for all of us

Albert Altman commented on 2013-03-13 at 20:39:

Damm it... F** Swag leeches!

Chainfire commented on 2013-03-13 at 20:47:

+nicola ceriani heh I don't even think XDA got press-passed this year. I know of lots of tiny news sites that did though ...

Bogdan Sladaru commented on 2013-03-13 at 22:13:

At least you can hope they'll give the stuff AT THE VERY END, so that those who go only for the "swag" have to wait and wait and wait :)

Caleb Allen commented on 2013-03-13 at 22:17:

+John O'Connor I was just about to say the same thing. You must be the owner of the account to join..

Joe Philipps commented on 2013-03-14 at 01:24:

+Alan Asgari, in protest? 

Ichson Tanamy commented on 2013-03-14 at 02:06:

+Chainfire i think google need to make some test for person who need buy a ticket , real programming code ..

Joe Philipps commented on 2013-03-14 at 04:20:

The problem with segregation like that is, that would make it that much tougher to break into the field.  Preferring only previously established developers makes it a self-perpetuating cycle, thus raising a barrier to entry.  It's not too unlike, well, we only hire experienced people...well how am I supposed to get experience if I can't get hired?  Similarly, how am I supposed to learn about developing if I can't go to an event which is supposed to be about learning development from other developers?  You said yourself  (paraphrasing) it's going to be on the Web but it pales in comparison to being there.  What's next, Google I/O certifications or entrance exams?  That's how colleges work.  I don't know if that's the best answer, but it is an answer I suppose.

fuff...good English...it's a dying art.

Frank Bouwens commented on 2013-03-14 at 09:57:

I didnt even make it past the waiting screen...

Andrew Ruffolo commented on 2013-03-15 at 15:20:

I emailed them about my experience. I haven't heard back yet, but the exact same thing happened. I don't care about the swag. I can afford whatever they give out anyway. I just published my first stops app and would have loved to participate in the conference to make my app and another one I am working on better. I had the same thing happen to me where it timed out during the payment and the transaction was reversed by Google. I asked my bank if they have a reason and they said it was due to a mismatch in the address, which I verified as being correct on both accounts (I get mail from both companies). Oh well, I had already bought plane tickets and paid for a room for the week. Now I get to enjoy San Francisco the whole time which isn't exactly a bad thing.

Chainfire commented on 2013-04-11 at 11:33:

Yay, I got an invite - I'm going :)

Frank Bouwens commented on 2013-04-11 at 11:34:

Take a lot of pictures ;-)!

Stacy Devino commented on 2013-04-19 at 23:49:

Aww... I am still in hosed land. 

I literally started calling People At Google... heads of divisions even. They can't even get access for themselves...

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