Two weeks ago I took the Capitol Corridor from Great America (GAC) to Oakland (OKJ). GAC is not staffed and has two QT machines. I went to go purchase my ticket from the QT machine and both said "out of order". So, I had to purchase my ticket from the conductor on board. (And now I'm dealing with AGR to get the points).
A couple of other folks also boarding at GAC had already purchased and paid for their tickets on the website, and were going to pick up their tickets from the QT machine. Obviously they couldn't.
Upon boarding, the conductors were very rude to everybody who didn't have tickets. They gave them all the 3rd degree: "When did you buy your ticket? Why did you not pick it up at the QT, etc. They said they have to call via cell phone and verify all this and if they can't find the tickets they have to charge them again on board!
The conductors then had to call one of the staffed stations to verify all this. By the time I had gotten off the train, they still did not have answers.
So, what if they called a staffed station, and had them print out the tickets there? What if they were round trip tickets? How could the customer get their round trip ticket? What if the ticket agents steal the tickets and say we can't find the reservations?
What an absolute mess!