Of course you can be as juvenile as you want, on BWW or anywhere else, but that comes at a cost - you get judged by that. If you're comfortable calling someone a bitch simply because you didn't get the discounted tickets you feel you're entitled to - using language against the rules of this board, btw - what does that say about how you might behave in public, how you feel about rules, and your character in general? I'm sure you and you friend are nice people, but do you get what I'm saying, how that might color how people view your side of the story?
Look, if it happened the way your friend said, if the box office woman truly refused to sell your friend rush tickets that were available,
for NO reason, just because she didn't feel like it (do you see how crazy that sounds?), she should file a complaint. The Shubert organization will surely want to know that they have a box office person turning away customers. Here, I'll even get you started:
Shubert Organization Theatre Operations
Attn: Peter Entin (box office complaint)
234 West 44th St
New York, NY 10036
I don't think your friend is making up the entire story, I just think there's more to the story than she's telling. It isn't easy to get a job like box office staff, and you don't get there by turning away even discounted customers just because. That's not simply rude, it's insane. Actually, Dancin'thrulife's recounted experience leads me to believe that there is or was some confusion about the rush policy, though I'll assume dancin'throughlife's "exact same answer" had to do with rush only being sold when the box office opened, not that the woman said it wasn't the theater's policy, it was HER policy.
That's the sticking point for me, not that the box office person was rude (anyone can have a bad day), but that your friend says this woman withheld tickets solely because she didn't feel like selling them, for no reason at all and what's more, proudly told a customer that she was overriding theater policy in order to put her own in its stead. It just makes no sense. Why didn't your friend ask to speak to a supervisor at that point, if she thought box office personnel was blatantly flouting the theater's policy?
"I hope you never have a bad ticket-buying experience. Because you're VERY lucky you haven't thus far." Actually, Rocks, I think my attitude and approach might be a factor in my "luck". 30 some-odd years of frequent ticket purchasing without a bad incident isn't sheer luck. I make it easy for them to treat me well. I try to go to the box office during the slower times, when there's no line, and so no pressure to get past me to the next customer. I familiarize myself with the layout of the theater (which is usually up in the lobby somewhere in any case) and am clear on what I want. I am polite, friendly, and not demanding. I always begin with a very brief pleasantry, even if it's only, "Hi, how are you today?". I treat them like human beings. I have my money or credit card at the ready. If I must go during a time when there are lines, I am brief and to the point. So, no, I don't think it's sheer luck that I've had good box office experiences. I've witnessed rudeness from box office people. I've just never experienced it. Yes, they are there to serve you, but they're people too, and I see far more abuse of box office people by patrons than the other way around.
Anyway, again, I am sincerely interested in hearing your follow-up on this, but one suggestion? If you do file a complaint (and I think you, or rather your friend should), don't call the box office woman a bitch.
Updated On: 10/19/10 at 12:17 PM