TIFF ticket buyers frustrated by website problems
'Literally when I went online, the links weren't working,' says TIFF festivalgoer
Tickets for The Toronto International Film Festival went on sale Sunday morning, but those wishing to purchase tickets from TIFF online were left frustrated by a buggy website and not being informed of third-party sellers.
Lucy Todish, who has "been going to TIFF forever," said the festival's website has never been "very function-able" but hoped changes made this year would lead to some improvements.Â
"Literally when I went online, the links weren't working and I ended up having to phone a live operator to buy my packages," she said.
Todish was on hold for 39 minutes, and drove another 45 minutes to speak with somebody in person.
Her experience was mirrored by many who aired their frustrations on social media.
<a href="https://twitter.com/cameron_tiff">@cameron_tiff</a> I've been attending TIFF as a regular customer for 6 years and this is the worst experience I've ever had with buying tickets.
—@TheShawnNovaSo glad I was able to buy my TIFF tickets last week, the website is horrendous this year and everyone seems frustrated đđ»
—@jonsimogood morning everyone except people who successfully got tiff tickets
—@annaswnsnThere is nothing more stressful then trying to get TIFF tickets!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TIFF16?src=hash">#TIFF16</a> <a href="https://t.co/Rz5Jc5s06C">pic.twitter.com/Rz5Jc5s06C</a>
—@Hailey_Granti've spent over two hours on the TIFF site thus far - please let there be a god and PLEASE let him allow me to access these tickets
—@nicolelandryyTodish was able to get her hands on some tickets but says the purchase was not perfect.
"I have my tickets, it's a TIFF Choice so I don't really have the movies that I wanted to see," she said, adding that TIFF booked a screening just half an hour after another, which she says she can't attend and has to give away the tickets.
Hot tip for everyone trying to get <a href="https://twitter.com/TIFF_NET">@TIFF_NET</a> tickets. Just log in to <a href="https://twitter.com/TicketmasterCA">@TicketmasterCA</a> & search for the film title. Worked for me! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tiff16?src=hash">#tiff16</a>
—@suesthegrlWhen informed she could have bought tickets from third-party seller, Ticketmaster, Todish said she "had no idea" that was possible.
"It's a little annoying, a little frustrating because I spent a lot of money," she said.