"Retrieval in a French Station" option does not show. Why?

I think that going to the ticket window is always an option, whether it's listed or not; but I don't know for sure.

When I put three tickets into one order (a PREMS print-at-home and two others), I could not get the "Retrieve at a French station" option. When I split the tickets into three separate orders, I did get that option. If you're ordering multiple tickets, try getting them one at a time. In addition to ticket windows at stations, you can retrieve tickets from one of the ubiquitous SNCF Boutiques, which I find easier. You take a number and get to sit while waiting. Do remember to bring the credit card used for the purchase; I also brought printouts of the ticket orders, which made it even faster.

Thanks for you info.. I will do that

I recently picked up Bordeaux-Paris ticket at the Bordeaux station machine by inputting a 6-letter code I had gotten at the time I made my reservation, rather than my credit card number.

wow..that is new.. i've read that only cards with chip are accepted.. I might try that. The station that I will use is Gare de Lyon.

Warning,my experience has been that you can access the reservation in the machine by inputting the reservation code, but that the machine will STILL ask you to put in your (chip) card before it will actually print the ticket.

I got my ticket in Bordeaux by inputting my reservation code, w/o a chip card (which I did have anyway). But I wouldn't advise following my advice, because of the way it transpired. I made my reservations thru RailEurope (I know the complaints about them, but it was fine in this case), and I chose the option to print my tickets at home. So I got the PDF file by email, and for some reason I forgot to print the tickets (or they got lost in the shuffle). But I had saved the PDF file on my laptop, and if I needed to, I could have found a way to print them somewhere in France. But the RE web site said in one of their FAQs that if you lose your print-at-home ticket, you can print out another copy at the train station machine using the 6-letter code (which i had because I had the PDF file on my laptop). I just followed the directions on the machine, and it worked fine.

Yes. thank you... I will use "collection from Automatic Machine" and once I'm in France I will go to a boutique or train station and get it there.. Thanks all for your help.

FYI, that 6-digit code is ONLY from a travel agent (such as Rail Europe; there are others online). This won't work if you buy directly from the train company. (I know more about this subject than I ever wanted to...) Fernango, have you sent TGV an email yet? I'd start there (can't hurt). If the answer is what you want to hear, then bring a printout of that response! You MUST bring the credit card used to purchase the ticket with you! Bring a print-out of your ticketing information! That will be much more useful for the ticket agent to work through.

Eileen, thanks.. that is an excellent idea.. I just sent them an mail, hopefully they will respond. I havent' bought the ticket yet.. but it will be out for sale saturday..Hopefully they will respond by then.

Please let us know what you do/don't hear...

Update: I sent an email to them and they said I can retrive the tickest in a boutique for 8 euros.. They did not mention nothing about retriving it at the train station. So I bought the ticket and when I go I plan to try the train station first and if that does not work I will then go to the botique and show the email and pay the 8 euros. Thanks everyone for their input.