Printable View
I run an IT consultancy and teach it in a uni and their level of service is probably something i would use as a case study for students just to scare them. It's 2015 there are so many solutions out there, and if my guys could fix up a server that could handle 4k concurrent users without a sweat within a few days I wonder what sort of people are they using?
Are they using sickly hamsters?
Maybe they are using the server host I use for this site... no wait, at least you can eventually get on here. :p
I have it from a very reliable source that this is the head of their IT dept.
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psegitppn0.jpg
but this guy can use a laptop to register for Bing insurance while parachuting out of a plane with one arm tied behind his back, register the insurance, activate his parachute and then beat the laptop to the ground without breaking a sweat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Demonac
he's a pretty skilled chimp.
It's just about the start of the Texas work day, with it almost being 9am there right now.
The registration page seems to be allowing for logging in, but won't go any further than that at this stage.
It could be a good sign.
Just like last night, get yourself ready by logging into the club store first and making sure that you've watched the instructional video.
It was allowing that all day.... Kept getting my hopes up when the refresh took nearly a minute some times, but no sneaky registration so far!
It's live again... but for how long.
So much for fixing it. It's slower than it was yesterday, and we wouldn't have as many Americans trying yet, as the West Cost states are only just waking up.
i don't know how you kids do it, seriously, A+ for patience and commitment.
I just got a "runtime error"...
Quote:
Runtime Error
Description: An application error occurred on the server. The current custom error settings for this application prevent the details of the application error from being viewed remotely (for security reasons). It could, however, be viewed by browsers running on the local server machine.
Details: To enable the details of this specific error message to be viewable on remote machines, please create a <customErrors> tag within a "web.config" configuration file located in the root directory of the current web application. This <customErrors> tag should then have its "mode" attribute set to "Off".
Is anyone else having it timeout? I've tried for the last five minutes to click the attending registration button, bupkus.
Aaaaand, it's been turned off again. :rolleyes:
Sheesh, you'd think they'd test it before they start it... and if they do, then there must be something they aren't testing for this to keep happening.Quote:
We have temporarily turned off the 2015 BotCon
Registration due to the load issue.
We are working with the service company
to correct this problem.
And here I was thinking that it would be great to have a US morning registration, so that we get in before many of the Americans are up or aware of it starting.
Still could be soon... according to their facebook page... if "soon" has any meaning from them anymore.
Quote:
Programmer said we were we good to go. Stand by.
Rego is back up - but it's still taking forever to load
EDIT: and now it's down AGAIN. This is now kind of hilarious.
I just got the email they sent before they opened it up... 15 minutes after its sent time, and therefore after it was shut down.
Ah, and just as I was typing this, the followup email saying it is again closed has arrived.Quote:
We have now turned the registration system back on. We have been assured once again that it will work this time under load. It may take a few minutes for successive servers to spool up so I have made the time out 20 minutes. This will keep items in your cart until you finish or the registration times out.
This would be so funny if it wasn't affecting us Transfans...Quote:
The application has crashed after no registrations have been processed. We will go back to the programming serving company. We are very upset as well and will be taking action.
We will have registration. I know you are worried and we understand.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/kitty.jpg
I'm not getting any emails from them whatsoever, so perhaps their system is so overloaded its still sending them out in batches. But I'm not getting the FSS emails either, though its a verified email address I get emails without fail
Does anyone else think that it won't come on today?
Two of the emails yesterday ended up in my spam filter... so maybe they are on a blacklist somewhere on your system?Quote:
Originally Posted by reillyd
Yeah... it sounds like they are back to square one with their software, so I don't think it will be any time soon. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by reillyd
It is now just over 21 days on their countdown clock (which counts down to the Thursday evening 6pm "official" launch of the convention)... so if it gets any closer, I think they might resort to using the old system, as they did for this year's JoeCon. (they wanted that convention done through this new system as well, but couldn't get it to work... so I don't see why they are so surprised and upset at others about it not working)
The old system is one that might be more work for them, especially with the added Welker VIP pack option, but they just have to cut their losses for this year and fallback to that backup option, as they are doing more damage to their reputation (what's left of it) by prolonging this nightmare.
They appear to be giving it another try soon, but don't sound very confident.
Quote:
I apologize for the errors our vendor continues to cause us. Since they are our vendor, we take complete responsibility. We are going to try one more time with this system. They are doubling the servers we will be starting with from the last round.
To lighten the load slightly, we will only start with Attending packages. We have Non-attending sets and loose sets set aside for you guys and will allow Non-attending registrations after the load is past for the attending items. The Non-attending packages are turned off so there is no way you can pick one. Please wait until we give you the go-ahead.
If for whatever reason this system fails again, we will do registration a completely different way which is a semi manual system.
Registration retry email coming in a bit.
I hope it's soon, I've been awake for 25 hours now (damn you work!), I really would like to get some sleep
The link for registration is back up on the botcon website a couple minutes ago... but still isn't loading up for me yet.
From their facebook...
Hopefully they keep their word, and if it fails again, they put it to bed for today and come back another day with a backup.Quote:
They have spooled it up as fast as they can go. Hopefully this works or we will look at a totally different alternative. Last shot on this system.
Site is back up, looks fine. Got to the part to enter my credit card details really quickly.
All this extra time has made me rethink this purchase and I don't think I should buy any of the packages on my income. I'll just purchase on site registration over the weekend and check it out.
Good luck to everyone going!
Some people on TFW are registering quite easily... but the page won't even load up for me. :(
Try using a US based proxy server. I just did, and it took less than 2 minutes.
Especially if you have something like TOR onion router already installed. Heaps faster.
I'm still waiting for my regular ISP's proxy server to connect to the site.
It wouldn't connect on firefox or on my phone, but I managed to get it working on Explorer... which is sad to see that browser working where the others had failed.
I just got the acknowledgement email that had all the items I bought, but notes that it still needs processing.
I didn't see the Custom Class toy... I must have missed it in the rush to get through before it crashed again. And the only option to change anything at the end was to start over, and I didn't want to risk doing that.
I also ended up with the wrong t-shirt size (in the rush)... so I'll see how much can be edited or added to an existing order.
Glad you got through. I was talking to Grant trying to place an order for him, but it sounds like he was able to get in on his computer.
I forgot to add a assembled class toy (in case I muck it up), but worse case scenario I'll buy one on ebay if its a decent figure.
Fingers crossed for luck that the credit card processing goes smoothly.
The old version allowed you to add to an order... but this one appears to require you to completely register again, including getting a boxset just to add on other items.
So I got the Wednesday tour and thursday custom class, with the Golden Ticket and a loose set. (and t-shirt)
With the $7 processing fee, that came to US$1386.
Minus the shirt & loose set I got the sameQuote:
Originally Posted by griffin
I had another look at the instructional video, and the custom class toy was supposed to be on the page with the t-shirt and hat, but I remember that it wasn't there because I waited nervously as the images for the t-shirt and hat loaded up, and that was all on the souvenir page.
Something they messed up, which they will have to fix I guess... and figure out a way for us to add on items.
Well, that's three of us going... if the payments process in the end.
(I won't relax until I get the receipt for payment or confirmation of attendance).
Another long night, but finally it is over... with just 19.5 days until the start of Wednesday events. (or just a mere 13 days before I fly out)
Since I don't have facebook to ask, I've emailed them about adding on items without having to re-register, as there was an answer on the FAQ about adding on people to a registration requiring them to ring up the office to do it because this new system doesn't have the ability to add-on like the old system did. (the old system had the first page option of "no boxset" for people to add on extra items later)
I think the Custom class toy shouldn't sell out this year during registration (the last two years they had stock left in the Club store at the convention), and even if it does, I can live without an unpainted version now that I should be in the Class. (I just like having a "before" and "after" of my attempts at customising a toy)
Gah.... They turned non attending off!
I hate unknown wait times :-(
Also, iPad on home network won't load page, but iPhone on data will..
If you are going it's worth at least getting the primus pack for the extra access. Traveling all that way and not seeing all of the convention would bea bit of a waste. You could always sell your box set to recover some costs.Quote:
Originally Posted by jop
I asked by email...
And got this reply...Quote:
Once registered, is it not possible to add items with this new system, like you could with the old system?
So if you are attending and you forgot something or want to add on something extra later (like the Custom class toy or an extra boxsets/loosesets, or had second thought about a class or tour), you have to ring up their office during their office hours (our midnight to about our 8am - Eastern Australia Time).Quote:
That’s in version 2 so for this year, just call next week and admin can add the items for you.
0011-1-817-448-9863
So next year we will probably be going through the same hassles then, as their planned "version 2" is to allow people to add on items themselves, and they won't work on it until it is time to start registration next year, and then all the bugs will delay it for weeks again.
I couldn't see anything on the botcon facebook or twitter, so I don't know if this is true (because you can't go back into this new registration program to see what is sold out)... but one person claims that 3 hours after registration started, they had sold out of the Thursday Custom Class and the Friday Welker tickets.
If true, it is expected, as the Thursday class sold out first last year (ever since they started selling the unpainted figures, people weren't as keen to be in the Wednesday class to be the first to get the toy)... while the Friday Welker tickets would be the better option, as you are less likely to miss out on any panels on Friday, as they only have them in the morning (the Dealer Room opens in the afternoon), and the Hasbro panel is not going to be on Friday either... but often is on Saturday.
I am surprised that the Welker tickets sold out so fast (if this is true)... but I guess if you are someone who wants a Megatron toy signed by him, this was the only option, and they only have about 100 VIP passes for each day (I recall them saying that it would be a little over 200 in total).
What I'm not surprised about, is not selling out on the first day... or even any mention about how well they did on the first day like they usually say in past years.
And the first day is when they do most of their business, even if this wasn't a last minute start - if they don't get at least half of their attendee packs sold on the first day, they aren't likely to sell out at all.
As they've said before at their BotCon panels, the first day of any of their items (toys & Con) is where they hope to sell out... because after that, it is a struggle to sell what's left.
It should mean a lot of non-attendee sets for the rest of you who wants one.
I hope they don't sell out of the bagged figures, I really want to buy a set, I didn't have the cash when I registeredQuote:
Originally Posted by griffin
Thanks for the advice Ultra, never thought about scalping the box set. Anyways, I've recently moved to the US and will be working here for the 2 years, so happy to just go for the weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraMarginal
It's nice to be able to order from amazon and toys r us US site for once!
That's the thing really... if you have no interest in any of the toys and the boxsets sell out, you will be guaranteed to be able to resell yours at the full ($409) price you paid (and more), and end up getting all-access to the convention for free - including the extra day and evening events that are not available to walk-ins, who would end up paying more than you did just to end up with limited access. And with the bonus Attendee figure and the Club Membership toy that you'll get next year to sell on top of the Boxset, you will actually be making money from attending.
And even if you have to discount your boxset by a little to get it sold (if it was a failed year and the Club has heaps of boxsets left unsold), you should still be able to sell it off for no more than $100 off, and still make up the difference with the bonus Attendee toy and Membership toy... and even if all that doesn't sell to make up the difference of the boxset, you would still be paying less than a walk-in would for both "walk-in days" (Saturday & Sunday), plus you have access to the extra day (Friday) and all the evening events.
So if you have the money on-hand to afford it (because you won't get it back for a couple months), and you have no interest in any of the FunPub toys, there is a financial benefit to registering over being a walk-in... which could make you a fair bit of money if it is a popular year (or at the very least if it isn't a popular year, it will cover your Registration cost and you'd spend the entire 3 days there for free).
For those going, or buying a non-attendee set, check out you orders page on the eventman site after a couple days - if the money has finally gone through, it should show a dollar sign on the order listing, and on the order summary page it should say "approved" at the bottom with an option for "credit" next to the Delete.
I was hoping for Flywheels,
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cybercast Podcast
Assuming you don't go nuts in the dealer room or buying signed prints from comic artists ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by griffin
:o:cool: