Absolutely! They do encourage it. Why wouldn't they? Ticketmaster earns a fee for each ticket sold. But, you're incorrect in saying that Ticketmaster knowingly has tickets held that are not sold. What you're failing to understand is that Ticketmaster has no say in what seats are being held. The promoters/venues "own" those seats. Ticketmaster does not own them and therefore is not able to put them on hold. That's the promoters decision. Ticketmaster is not in the business of promoting shows or sports events or anything else. They are essentially a ticket printing service. So therefore, Ticketmaster will never make an "announcement" about any show. It's not Ticketmaster's event to make an announcement about. They have no right to make an announcement. Now, when one tries to buy online and are unable to there is a message that explains the numerous reasons why you are not able to purchase tickets. One of those reasons is that the event "may" be sold out. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are sold out. It might not be based on a technical glitch or the event creator didn't build the event properly. In some cases, Ticketmaster is only given an allotment of tickets to sell and the rest is sold directly through the promoter such as Clear Channel/Live Nation. So again, the main gripe should be directed towards the promoter and not the ticket printer. Another thing that amazes me is that people are upset about holds. The holds don't belong to the public, they belong to the promoter. If I have 30,000 pairs of shoes that I am selling, do I not have the right to "hold" 50 pairs and not sell them? Shouldn't I have the right to give them away to clients or give them away through a radio promotion? The general public doesn't have the god given right to have the option or ability to buy tickets from a promoters holds. The promoter does, however, have the right to print the tickets being held and then turn around and burn them if he wanted to. Not very smart but basically the promoter can do anything they want , within reason of course, and Ticketmaster has no say whatsoever.
Peace!
In most cities where it is NOT illegal to scalp tickets you'll find it is actually illegal to scalp on the venue property.
For cities where it IS illegal then by doing it in auction form it is no longer considered scalping and the reason for that is that the demand is driving up the price and not the person selling it.
Auctions may suck, but it's not Ticketmaster you should be upset at. Ticketmaster doesn't tell the promoter that he/she should have their tickets set at so and so price. The promoter would laugh and ask what right Ticketmaster has to tell me what price my tickets should be. The promoter sets the auction price. Ticketmaster doesn't tell the promoter to hold the front rows. Ticketmaster has zero say whatsoever in these decisions. The promoter tells Ticketmaster what the prices will be and what seats they would like to be held. Don't be mad at Ticketmaster for something they have no control over. Be mad at the promoters who are greedy and want every penny they can get.
Also, regarding the secondary market. Whether you use Ticket Liquidator or Stub Hub or whatever you are absolutely "not" guaranteed the ticket will be valid. Ticketmaster has the ability to 110% guarantee that the ticket you buy is 110% valid. Nobody, and I mean no one can make such a guarantee with total certainty that it will not come back to bite them on the seat of their pants.
It really depends on who the promoter is for the event. In cases where Clear Channel/Live Nation are the promoter then you may have all kinds of additional charges added on to the face value. Each time a credit card transaction occurs Ticketmaster is charged a fee by the credit card companies. Just like going to Sears. Sears is charged for each transaction as well. When the concert has passed and it is time to "settle" Ticketmaster cuts a check to the promoter minus the credit card fees charged by the credit card companies. So what promoters are now doing are adding that transaction fee to the service charge fees which forces the consumer to pay for those credit card fees. In addition, the venues are wanting a piece of that action as well by charging what is called a "facility fee". Some like to call them parking fees or facility management fees. This can be anywhere from $1 to $5 depending on the venue.
Okay, so aside from all that Ticketmaster has mailing (USPS, UPS, FedEx etc.) costs and of course employee costs. Ticketmaster can't mail for free. It would be nice, but certainly not going to happen. If you pick it up thinking you may save a few bucks then as you found you are charged for picking it up as well(except for picking up at the box office - they generally don't have service charges). But, you have to factor in again that there are operating costs and equipment costs to cover in order for you to have the convenience of going to your neighborhood grocery or music store. Now since that can be inconvenient these days with the ease of purchasing on the internet. So now we come to "print-at-home". Think to yourself why they call it a "convenience charge". It used to be called service charge, but anyway. The technology to allow you to print at home without having to drive anywhere wasn't free technology. It cost more money than I'll ever see in my life to create this technology and to implement it. It's my personal opinion that $2.50 + tax is reasonable to print at home if it means I didn't have to get in my car and drive somewhere.
It's not of my belief that Ticketmaster executives are sitting around a table trying to figure out yet one more way to screw the public. Ticketmaster already has a bad reputation albeit mostly based on incorrect and false preconceived notions, but you can't truly believe they want their reputation to get worse, do you? I don't think you do.
Is it possible that Ticketmaster has this reputation because the general public just plain doesn't understand? I guess we'll never really know for sure. Like I said in yesterdays posting. Most have already made up their minds and there is no changing that. I would just like to open a few eyes and maybe cause a few to think before they comment.
Sorry, for the long novel. I just feel strongly about it because I know truth. I welcome all questions and comments. I'll try to answer them as accurately as possible and if I don't know the answer then I will find out for you. I have connections.
Peace!!
First of all, in response to the person who said that auctions are old news. You couldn't be more correct. Auctions have been occurring for months now on Ticketmaster. The author needs internet access on his deserted island.
Okay, moving on...
The vast majority of you are just plain incorrect. It amazes me to read all of your exaggerated testimonials and especially the complaints you claim that are Ticketmaster's fault when in real life Ticketmaster has nothing to do with them. Why people feel that Ticketmaster should just print tickets for free is way beyond me. Do you really believe that Ticketmaster sets the ticket prices? Do you really believe that Ticketmaster gets all the proceeds in an auction? Some idiot wrote about a $40 service fee for a $25 ticket price. Do you really believe that? If you believe the things you read in a forum or message board about Ticketmaster then you are highly confused since 90% are false. This is not an attempt to persuade you to view Ticketmaster in a better light. After all, you can't cure stupid, but you can cure ingnorance. Besides, most have made up their minds regardless of their actual knowledge on the subject.
I will say this though...
Please educate yourself before making such ignorant and false claims. It makes you look stupid to the ones who actually know the truth.
Slashdot Mirror
Absolutely! They do encourage it. Why wouldn't they? Ticketmaster earns a fee for each ticket sold. But, you're incorrect in saying that Ticketmaster knowingly has tickets held that are not sold. What you're failing to understand is that Ticketmaster has no say in what seats are being held. The promoters/venues "own" those seats. Ticketmaster does not own them and therefore is not able to put them on hold. That's the promoters decision. Ticketmaster is not in the business of promoting shows or sports events or anything else. They are essentially a ticket printing service. So therefore, Ticketmaster will never make an "announcement" about any show. It's not Ticketmaster's event to make an announcement about. They have no right to make an announcement. Now, when one tries to buy online and are unable to there is a message that explains the numerous reasons why you are not able to purchase tickets. One of those reasons is that the event "may" be sold out. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are sold out. It might not be based on a technical glitch or the event creator didn't build the event properly. In some cases, Ticketmaster is only given an allotment of tickets to sell and the rest is sold directly through the promoter such as Clear Channel/Live Nation. So again, the main gripe should be directed towards the promoter and not the ticket printer. Another thing that amazes me is that people are upset about holds. The holds don't belong to the public, they belong to the promoter. If I have 30,000 pairs of shoes that I am selling, do I not have the right to "hold" 50 pairs and not sell them? Shouldn't I have the right to give them away to clients or give them away through a radio promotion? The general public doesn't have the god given right to have the option or ability to buy tickets from a promoters holds. The promoter does, however, have the right to print the tickets being held and then turn around and burn them if he wanted to. Not very smart but basically the promoter can do anything they want , within reason of course, and Ticketmaster has no say whatsoever. Peace!
In most cities where it is NOT illegal to scalp tickets you'll find it is actually illegal to scalp on the venue property. For cities where it IS illegal then by doing it in auction form it is no longer considered scalping and the reason for that is that the demand is driving up the price and not the person selling it.
Auctions may suck, but it's not Ticketmaster you should be upset at. Ticketmaster doesn't tell the promoter that he/she should have their tickets set at so and so price. The promoter would laugh and ask what right Ticketmaster has to tell me what price my tickets should be. The promoter sets the auction price. Ticketmaster doesn't tell the promoter to hold the front rows. Ticketmaster has zero say whatsoever in these decisions. The promoter tells Ticketmaster what the prices will be and what seats they would like to be held. Don't be mad at Ticketmaster for something they have no control over. Be mad at the promoters who are greedy and want every penny they can get. Also, regarding the secondary market. Whether you use Ticket Liquidator or Stub Hub or whatever you are absolutely "not" guaranteed the ticket will be valid. Ticketmaster has the ability to 110% guarantee that the ticket you buy is 110% valid. Nobody, and I mean no one can make such a guarantee with total certainty that it will not come back to bite them on the seat of their pants.
It really depends on who the promoter is for the event. In cases where Clear Channel/Live Nation are the promoter then you may have all kinds of additional charges added on to the face value. Each time a credit card transaction occurs Ticketmaster is charged a fee by the credit card companies. Just like going to Sears. Sears is charged for each transaction as well. When the concert has passed and it is time to "settle" Ticketmaster cuts a check to the promoter minus the credit card fees charged by the credit card companies. So what promoters are now doing are adding that transaction fee to the service charge fees which forces the consumer to pay for those credit card fees. In addition, the venues are wanting a piece of that action as well by charging what is called a "facility fee". Some like to call them parking fees or facility management fees. This can be anywhere from $1 to $5 depending on the venue. Okay, so aside from all that Ticketmaster has mailing (USPS, UPS, FedEx etc.) costs and of course employee costs. Ticketmaster can't mail for free. It would be nice, but certainly not going to happen. If you pick it up thinking you may save a few bucks then as you found you are charged for picking it up as well(except for picking up at the box office - they generally don't have service charges). But, you have to factor in again that there are operating costs and equipment costs to cover in order for you to have the convenience of going to your neighborhood grocery or music store. Now since that can be inconvenient these days with the ease of purchasing on the internet. So now we come to "print-at-home". Think to yourself why they call it a "convenience charge". It used to be called service charge, but anyway. The technology to allow you to print at home without having to drive anywhere wasn't free technology. It cost more money than I'll ever see in my life to create this technology and to implement it. It's my personal opinion that $2.50 + tax is reasonable to print at home if it means I didn't have to get in my car and drive somewhere. It's not of my belief that Ticketmaster executives are sitting around a table trying to figure out yet one more way to screw the public. Ticketmaster already has a bad reputation albeit mostly based on incorrect and false preconceived notions, but you can't truly believe they want their reputation to get worse, do you? I don't think you do. Is it possible that Ticketmaster has this reputation because the general public just plain doesn't understand? I guess we'll never really know for sure. Like I said in yesterdays posting. Most have already made up their minds and there is no changing that. I would just like to open a few eyes and maybe cause a few to think before they comment. Sorry, for the long novel. I just feel strongly about it because I know truth. I welcome all questions and comments. I'll try to answer them as accurately as possible and if I don't know the answer then I will find out for you. I have connections. Peace!!
First of all, in response to the person who said that auctions are old news. You couldn't be more correct. Auctions have been occurring for months now on Ticketmaster. The author needs internet access on his deserted island.
Okay, moving on...
The vast majority of you are just plain incorrect. It amazes me to read all of your exaggerated testimonials and especially the complaints you claim that are Ticketmaster's fault when in real life Ticketmaster has nothing to do with them. Why people feel that Ticketmaster should just print tickets for free is way beyond me. Do you really believe that Ticketmaster sets the ticket prices? Do you really believe that Ticketmaster gets all the proceeds in an auction? Some idiot wrote about a $40 service fee for a $25 ticket price. Do you really believe that? If you believe the things you read in a forum or message board about Ticketmaster then you are highly confused since 90% are false. This is not an attempt to persuade you to view Ticketmaster in a better light. After all, you can't cure stupid, but you can cure ingnorance. Besides, most have made up their minds regardless of their actual knowledge on the subject.
I will say this though...
Please educate yourself before making such ignorant and false claims. It makes you look stupid to the ones who actually know the truth.
Jeez....unbelievable!!!