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From Serious Eats

The Fest: Our Humblest Apologies to All

@ beratedlime

Try emailing info@greatamericanfoodandmusicfest.com

This email supposedly goes to Jim Levine, the other organizer of this event. Maybe they will get you instructions on how to obtain that refund. I was lucky I didn't put any money on that wristband.

Thanks again SE for all the helpful info you all been keeping us up to date with regarding refunds! Glad you are on top of it.

P.S.

The story actually made Mornings on 2 (KTVU) today.

From Serious Eats

The Fest: Our Humblest Apologies to All

Yes, it seems like once again we are left to fend for ourselves. For refunds:

If you bought your tickets online:

Call LiveNation at 888-598-4299, they want your 9 digit order number that should start with a 1. They wanted to help me and they already know the situation but I unfortunately bought the tickets directly from the box office.

If you bought your tickets at the Shoreline Box Office:

Call 650-967-3000. Supposedly they are giving refunds also, but I keep getting a ringing phone. They must be looking at the lines and not wanting to pick up.

This was my main gripe of the weekend. Not one official took charge. Not one official started lining people up. Problems happen, I understand that, but the true test is how you handle the situation and alleviate the problem. You had two Ushers for every isle making sure no one sits in the VIP sections of the theater, and there was only a handful of VIP's actually sitting in that section. Can't one of those ushers instead hold a sign at the end of the line explaining what line it is. I am not going to name call anyone, or ask for any head on a platter, but someone in authority should have stepped up and made some decisions to help everyone. Just like the situation we are in now, we are left to tell each other that refunds are available.

From Serious Eats

The Fest: Our Humblest Apologies to All

I disagree with the fifteen minute waits after 4pm. My family and I were there from noon to around 6:30pm. After 4pm most of the food was sold out, and lines were still just as long. I witnessed the Katz's line go nowhere after the Bobby Flay demo, and then I heard the front of the line telling everyone they have to wait until 7pm to cook some more. Not the staff, your guests were telling each other.

Please do not try to spin this to make it look like people actually enjoyed this event after 4pm. By 4pm most of us were just hungry and exhausted. Settling for a small bagel and lox for $160.00 is not my idea of a great value. Money is tight right now, and for $160.00 my family and I could have stayed home in San Francisco, drove downtown, and been served at Burger Meister all under an hour and for much cheaper.

I am really disappointed and for the amount that we were charged it really should have been more organized and the event should have been better prepared. The most enjoyable part of the day was laughing with other people on how bad it is, and how ripped off we felt. Thank you Bay Area for being good sports and I met some good people, but we all had a common enemy that day and it wasn't each other.

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From Serious Eats

The Fest: Our Humblest Apologies to All

@ beratedlime

Try emailing info@greatamericanfoodandmusicfest.com

This email supposedly goes to Jim Levine, the other organizer of this event. Maybe they will get you instructions on how to obtain that refund. I was lucky I didn't put any money on that wristband.

Thanks again SE for all the helpful info you all been keeping us up to date with regarding refunds! Glad you are on top of it.

P.S.

The story actually made Mornings on 2 (KTVU) today.

From Serious Eats

The Fest: Our Humblest Apologies to All

Yes, it seems like once again we are left to fend for ourselves. For refunds:

If you bought your tickets online:

Call LiveNation at 888-598-4299, they want your 9 digit order number that should start with a 1. They wanted to help me and they already know the situation but I unfortunately bought the tickets directly from the box office.

If you bought your tickets at the Shoreline Box Office:

Call 650-967-3000. Supposedly they are giving refunds also, but I keep getting a ringing phone. They must be looking at the lines and not wanting to pick up.

This was my main gripe of the weekend. Not one official took charge. Not one official started lining people up. Problems happen, I understand that, but the true test is how you handle the situation and alleviate the problem. You had two Ushers for every isle making sure no one sits in the VIP sections of the theater, and there was only a handful of VIP's actually sitting in that section. Can't one of those ushers instead hold a sign at the end of the line explaining what line it is. I am not going to name call anyone, or ask for any head on a platter, but someone in authority should have stepped up and made some decisions to help everyone. Just like the situation we are in now, we are left to tell each other that refunds are available.

From Serious Eats

The Fest: Our Humblest Apologies to All

I disagree with the fifteen minute waits after 4pm. My family and I were there from noon to around 6:30pm. After 4pm most of the food was sold out, and lines were still just as long. I witnessed the Katz's line go nowhere after the Bobby Flay demo, and then I heard the front of the line telling everyone they have to wait until 7pm to cook some more. Not the staff, your guests were telling each other.

Please do not try to spin this to make it look like people actually enjoyed this event after 4pm. By 4pm most of us were just hungry and exhausted. Settling for a small bagel and lox for $160.00 is not my idea of a great value. Money is tight right now, and for $160.00 my family and I could have stayed home in San Francisco, drove downtown, and been served at Burger Meister all under an hour and for much cheaper.

I am really disappointed and for the amount that we were charged it really should have been more organized and the event should have been better prepared. The most enjoyable part of the day was laughing with other people on how bad it is, and how ripped off we felt. Thank you Bay Area for being good sports and I met some good people, but we all had a common enemy that day and it wasn't each other.

From Serious Eats

The Great American Food & Music Fest Is Today!

Why did I have to go to dinner after a Food Festival?

Like many of the other people out here, this event was a disaster.

First I have to hand it to everyone in the crowd for keeping level heads when it came to interaction with each other. It was strange how we were all just sort of laughing at each other after a while. Talking to each other and laughing at this catastrophe actually kept me level headed.

Here are some other fun things that happened:

Being told at the box office that they sold out of the "Family of 4 package" when it really is just a discounted price for 4 general admission tickets. So I pay $160.00 for four tickets.

The mass confusion of what the hell this wrist band is worth.

As I eat my "Katz's" sandwich, near the stage, watching the Katz's line and the BBQ line grow and then intersect each other.

Not knowing that the sandwich I am eating at 1pm will be the last thing I eat at a food festival.

Watching people settle for a bagel and water from a fountain.

The topper was, ordering an It's It from the concessions. Getting handed a cup of ice cream. Telling the worker that this isn't It's It, It's It has chocolate and cookies. She said, "this is it." Because of exhaustion and hunger we take the ice cream.

I want my refund.

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