• After the Frenzy

• Once tickets sell out, the only way to obtain tickets is through the Waiting List.
• Checks and/or money-orders must be postmarked by January 16, 2008 (two days² after the sale is likely to end) in order to be properly received and credited. If you wish to pay this way, please contact the Ticket Crew for mailing information. Please send all checks to:

  Team Wench, Inc.
  PO Box 604
  Savage, MD 20763-0604

• All tickets must be paid in full by January 21, 2008 (seven days² after the sale ends). Any tickets not paid for after seven days will be returned to the Ticket Pool.
• All multiple-ticket purchasers must provide a complete list of everyone in their party by January 28, 2008 (fourteen days² after the sale ends). Attendee lists should be sent to the Ticket Chair. It is the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure that their list is received in time. After the 28th, any unassigned tickets will be returned to the Ticket Pool and the original purchaser will have any "excess" monies refunded.
• After February 4, 2008 (twenty one days² after the sale ends), tickets purchased for another individual (named by the purchaser by the 28th -- see previous bullet) are considered gifts to that individual and will be treated as if paid for by the individual named on the ticket. At this point, the ticket is entirely non-transferable. If the ticketholder is unable to attend, the ticketholder (rather than the purchaser) may request a refund and the ticket will return to the Ticket Pool.
• Because of the Feast's refund policy, we require full/unique contact information for each and every ticketholder.

• VIP³Seating - LAST CHANCE TICKETS

• 2 sets (of four tickets each) will be sold via eBay multiple-item/dutch⁴ auction, lasting for seven days.
• Each winner (as indicated by eBay) of the VIP ticket auction will be permitted to bring three guests to the Feast. The auction winner must be present to claim the block of four tickets.
• Each VIP ticket will be subject to the same payment terms and conditions as explained in the rest of these rules, however there will be no refunds for VIP Ticket packages.
• The VIP ticket auction will begin before and end after the standard ticket sale. It is highly recommended that you purchase standard tickets if you are hoping to get the VIP tickets. Specific dates will be announced via the Team Wench Events mailing list.
• If either/both of the VIP packages are sold to (or if a VIP ticket is later assigned to) a standard ticketholder, the price paid for the standard tickets may, at the ticketholder's request, be applied to the VIP tickets, incurring no handling fee. In this case, the standard tickets will be returned to the Ticket Pool.
• VIP tickets will include
  • express check in;
  • reserved seating at a fully decorated table next to the stage;
  • early access to the buffet;
  • discounted Feast swag; and
  • a special bag of pirate booty.

• Return/Refund Policy for Standard Tickets

• Refund requests should be sent to the Ticket Chair.
• Refunds requested by February 4, 2008 (twenty one days² after the sale ends) will be credited back to the original purchaser, less a 10% handling fee to cover administrative fees (Team Wench does not turn a profit on this - but we won't ask the charity to eat the costs). These refunds will be processed within three business days of the request.
• Partial refunds (e.g., someone buys four tickets and only needs three) may be requested in accordance with the rest of this section. The handling fee will only apply to the ticket(s) being refunded, not to the original amount.
• Refunds requested after thirty days will be paid by check (made payable to the name of the ticketholder, less a 20% handling fee to cover increased administrative costs) and will only be sent to the address of the ticketholder (who is not necessarily the ticket purchaser).
• No refunds will be issued without unique contact information. If a refund request is received where no unique contact information exists, the Ticket Crew will make all reasonable efforts to obtain this unique information. In the interim, the refund will be held by Team Wench (less applicable handling fees) for 90 days, after which the entire refund amount will be considered a donation to the Feast.
• Absolutely no refunds will be issued during the latter two weeks of February. Any refund requested during this time will be processed beginning on March 1^st.
• All refunded tickets will be returned to the Ticket Pool.
• Refund requests received after February 16, 2008 (seven days prior to the Feast) will be refused. At that point, there is insufficient time to resell the ticket(s).
• That being said, if there are people who wish to attend the Feast and if the Ticket Crew has the time, efforts may be made to connect potential attendees with available tickets. See the example.

• Entry into the Event

• Everyone (participants and attendees alike) must be listed on the Guest List to gain admission to the Event. Bring your ID. You must have a valid government-issued photo ID that matches the name on your ticket or you will not be admitted. Even though it's BYOB, we'll still be wristbanding those of legal drinking age!.
• Souvenir tickets will be distributed at check-in on the evening of the Feast.

• The Waiting List

• Please send ONLY ONE email to get onto the Waiting List.
• Include your name, physical mailing address, best daytime and evening telephone number(s) to reach you, and your email address in your email request.
• The Ticket Chair will let you know if and when tickets become available.
• Any emails sent to the Waiting List address before tickets are sold out will be deleted without reading.

• The Ticket Pool

• Any tickets returned to the Ticket Pool, for any reason, will be offered for sale to those on the Waiting List.
• If you are on the Waiting List, please keep the Feast Ticket Crew updated with accurate contact information, especially as the date of the Feast draws near.
• As tickets become available, those at the top of the list will be contacted with the number of tickets available. When contacted, they may decide to purchase or refuse the tickets being offered.
• Those individuals electing to purchase must pay for their tickets within three business days and provide a list of the members of their party within three days after that. Obviously as the date of the Feast draws closer, these deadlines will be tighter.
• Payment may be made either by PayPal (payable to twtickets@teamwench.org) or by check (payable as above. Please note that Team Wench cannot be responsible for checks delayed by the U.S. Mail.
• If there are insufficient tickets available to satisfy a purchaser's request, his or her name will remain at the top of the Waiting List.
• Those individuals electing to refuse may, at their request, be re-added to the bottom of the Waiting List.
• Individuals whose tickets are returned to the Ticket Pool, either due to non-payment or through failure to provide a complete list of the members of their party will be automatically added to the bottom of the Waiting List.

• Summary of Updates/Clarifications

• After the Frenzy: Refunds requested after thirty days will be paid by check (made payable to the name of the ticketholder, less a 20% handling fee [...] ticket purchaser). [the only change was the "payable to" portion, bolded here for emphasis]
• After the Frenzy: Because of the Feast's refund policy, we will request full/unique contact information for each and every ticketholder.
• Refunds: No refunds will be issued without unique contact information. If a refund request is received where no unique contact information exists, the Ticket Crew will make all reasonable efforts to obtain this unique information. In the interim, the refund will be held by Team Wench (less applicable handling fees) for 90 days, after which the entire refund amount will be considered a donation to the Feast.
• Last minute Refunds: (As stated above, last minute refunds will be refused. That being said, if there are people who wish to attend the Feast and if the Ticket Crew has the time, efforts may be made to connect potential attendees with available tickets.)

Examples

1. Alice buys a ticket
   How to buy a single ticket, including check payment
2. Bob hates computers
   What happens when a technophobe wants to go to the Feast
3. David and his band of pirates
   Group sales
4. Isabel's dream comes true
   Upgrading from standard to VIP tickets
5. Good things come to John who waits
   Waiting lists work if you just give them time
6. Good news and bad news for Kim
   What can be done about last-minute refunds

Note: Every year, there are a new set of complaints about the way that ticket sales are handled, usually (though not exclusively) by those unable to get tickets of their own. We will likely never be able to break this cycle, but please keep in mind that we are doing what we can to ensure the most fair method of ticket distribution to everyone who is interested in attending.

¹Fixed Price Sale = no "bidding" required. You'll still need an eBay account, but just simply choose the number of tickets desired and use the eBay interface to purchase that number at the listed price-per-ticket. You won't be required to pay "extra" and you can't be outbid.

²Due Dates = All of these dates will be adjusted if ticket sales are not completed by midnight on January 14.

³VIP = Very Important Pirate

⁴Multiple-Item/Dutch Auction = both the highest- and the second-highest bidders will pay the amount bid by the second-highest. See eBay's explanation for more details. Bid early and bid often to ensure the best seats in the house!!