TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2005- UPDATE – BOBBLEHEAD TROUBLES!

Good morning everyone! I have to again apologize for not posting today. I worked on the site last night until 9:00, when the final episode ever of HBO’s Six Feet Under was on. It was absolutely incredible, and they ended it perfectly! But it got done at about 10:15, and I was exhausted, so I decided to just go to bed. I wanted to wake up early this morning to post something, but I jus could not get out of bed. So, I promise, completely promise, that there will be something of substance tomorrow. Also, I was working on a photo album page talking about the Twins games we were at. We got a bunch of great pictures of the players, some from the game, etc. What I am doing with that is using the pictures to talk about the weekend. Some captions will be simple, others will talk about some more in depth Twins thoughts. I think you’ll enjoy it, but to organize that took longer than I had hoped.

But I did see an article on the Bobblehead Give Away on Sunday in today’s Strib and wanted to briefly comment on it. In an article called “Bobble, Bobble, Promo Hobbled” many fans allege that there is no way that the Twins actually gave away 10,000 bobbleheads. Many stories were given of people who normally get there in time for bobbleheads did not get one this time.

Had I actually posted my weekend thoughts on time, you would have read my thoughts on this whole thing. I do believe that there were 10,000 bobbleheads given out. I have no question in that. Here is my story. My sister and I got to the Dome at about 9:00 Sunday morning and got into line. We were wrapped around and quite a ways from the gate. We were at a distance similar to where we have been at previous bobblehead giveaways, so we thought we had a good chance but in no way were taking it for granted. We spent the time standing around, talking to some people around us. At about 10:30, the two gentlemen in front of us started talking about their families. The first man said that his family was coming and would hopefully be there by the time the gates were opened (shortly after 11:00). He had their tickets, but if they didn’t get there in time, he was going in! The second man said that he didn’t even have his tickets, that a member of his family was bringing tickets. Well, as time went on and it got to be about 10:50, the first man’s family showed up. It was his wife, and another couple, and five kids! My sister and I just looked at each other and bit our lips. Soon after, the other man’s tickets finally showed up. They were brought by a group that included his daughter and her boyfriend, and another relative and her boyfriend.  

That is twelve people who showed up and essentially cut in line in front of us. My sister was clearly getting upset, and the people behind us were putting up a strong front, but they were mad too.

Now, I am happy to mention that we both did get bobbleheads. I am glad because had we not, my same story could have come across as bitter and that my angst was the result of not getting a bobblehead. That isn’t the case. However, as we approached the gate, one of the ticket takers said that they had just opened the last box of bobbleheads. In other words, some people maybe just ten people behind us did not get a bobblehead.

So, when I read about the man who counted 180 people in front of his when he got there at 8:00 in the morning, that is probably true. However, it is entirely possible, using just the small sample of additional people that showed up in front of us, that by 11:00, there were even 300 or more people in front of him.

That is a problem that I have noticed in previous bobblehead giveaways. It would be nice of the Twins somehow could come up with some rules for this. It would be nice if they could organize the lines and comment that once you’re in line, that’s where you are. No budging. No cutting. No allowing people to stand with you or in front of you. It isn’t fair to the people behind us that did the right thing, that waited patiently in line, for people who got there five minutes before the gates opened and stole a spot or 12. And it gets worse once the gates open. People who have just been lingering just budge wherever they feel like it. I don’t know that there is a way to police any of this. Extra security? Bouncers? I don’t know what the answer is.

With previous bobblehead giveaways, they gave away 10,000 of just one Twins player. This bobblehead give away was different and I love the concept. In honor of their 1965 AL Champion Twins team, they gave away 1,000 each of ten different players from that team. Clearly the incentive to get a bobblehead is greater. Instead of giving away 10,000 Joe Nathan bobbleheads, they gave away 1,000 Harmon Killebrews, and 1,000 Tony Olivas, and 1,000 Zoilo Versailles, and 1,000 Camilo Pascuals, and 1,000 Jim Kaats, and 1,000 Earl Batteys, and 1,000 Jim Perrys, and 1,000 Jim “Mudcat” Grants, and 1,000 Frank Quilicis, and 1,000 Bob Allisons. But simple supply and demand economics tell us that these bobbleheads will be far more valuable than previous giveaways, especially the bigger names. Just looking at ebay now, I see some impressive prices. A Harmon Killebrew is sitting at $173.50. A Bob Allison is at $202.49. A Camilo Pascual is at $100. Another Killebrew is at $200. I got Jim Perry, and I see one of those that has already had 11 bids and is at $55.

The article talks about people who were given light-rail and game tickets just to stand in line for them in return for the bobblehead. There are other incredible scam artist stories in the article. How do you stop those types of things, and really, those types of people?

Like I said, I am happy that I got my bobblehead, and I’m happy that we didn’t budge, or get pushy as so many did. It is a great giveaway by the Twins. But questioning the Twins and their marketing department is not right, and it’s not fair. Questioning some of the people that will do anything to get a bobblehead… maybe that is where the blame should be put!

OK, enough on that rant. Again, stop by the site tomorrow and I’ll hopefully have something worthy of your time! Until then, please head over to Stick and Ball Guy today where he celebrates his one-year anniversary! As I have said a number of times, SBG’s site is at the top of my daily reads, and I would recommend everyone who hasn’t already to bookmark his site!

OK, I am going to end this and ask that you have a great day!