I can't offer a direct answer to the question about East Croydon, but I'm
almost 100% sure that buying tickets through the website is almost
certainly not going to get you the best possible seat option.

I have been exasperated that every time I purchase an advance ticket
through the Virgin website, that I get a seat without a window, without
fail. There have been more than enough instances where I get a ticket
without a window, and directly behind, all 4 seats (window and aisle) are
unreserved. This isn't a problem when I get there first, and can just sit
in the better seats, but I don't always get that option. After quizzing
the guard on the day, he first gave me the spiel that I was given the
"best available", and when I pointed out the empty seats behind, he said
"your only real option is to go to the window at Euston, they will give
you the best seats". A pretty awful solution, but it showed to me that I
can never rely on the website to get the seats I'm looking for.

In summation, I don't know if you'll get what you want at East Croydon,
but ultimately, you'll probably be best served to go along to the window
and try it - that's often the only test for these sorts of things.

On Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:37:58 -0800, Hobbyist wrote:

I live in Croydon and wonder, does anyone know whether the ticket office
at E. Croydon will be able to reserve me a seat on that day for a fee,
if one is available and I take my tickets?