Ticketmaster - Run by the Devil or Upstanding Business of Talented Professionals

BrotherVoodoo

(I'm leaning toward the first option)

How in the bloody hell has ticketmaster managed to hold on so long being such a fundamentally aweful business. I was given a ticketmaster gift card last chirstmas (I didn't ask for it) and had proceeded to recently use all but 10 dollars of it. Now I was looking to purchase a 20 dollar ticket for an upcoming show. Said ticket could be purchased at a local record store for face value + 1 dollar. Ticketaster was charging face value + 12 dollars. That effectively makes my ticketmaster gift card completely worthless.

Convenience charge = 4.50
Facility Charge = 1 dollar
Some other charge = 6.50 dollars

Gah!

Anyone else have fun ticketmaster bizarro economics stories?

mrdobalina

BrotherVoodoo wrote: »

(I'm leaning toward the first option)

How in the bloody hell has ticketmaster managed to hold on so long being such a fundamentally aweful business. I was given a ticketmaster gift card last chirstmas (I didn't ask for it) and had proceeded to recently use all but 10 dollars of it. Now I was looking to purchase a 20 dollar ticket for an upcoming show. Said ticket could be purchased at a local record store for face value + 1 dollar. Ticketaster was charging face value + 12 dollars. That effectively makes my ticketmaster gift card completely worthless.

Convenience charge = 4.50
Facility Charge = 1 dollar
Some other charge = 6.50 dollars

Gah!

Anyone else have fun ticketmaster bizarro economics stories?

A recent Planet Money podcast (NPR) had a whole story about Ticketmaster and why they do what they do, economically speaking.

I'll see if I can find a link.

edit: no direct link, but it was one of the last two.

deadonthestreet

That's not near the worst of it. They sell the best tickets to themselves and then effectively scalp them at way above face value. I have no idea how it is legal.

localhjay

deadonthestreet wrote: »

That's not near the worst of it. They sell the best tickets to themselves and then effectively scalp them at way above face value. I have no idea how it is legal.

yeah, i read about a few articles about certain artists protesting the use of ticket master and live nation due to their awful scalping practices. it's a good reason to be pissed, as the best tickets go to rich kids and not the real fans :?

Unknown

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Improvolone

Local H Jay wrote: »

deadonthestreet wrote: »

That's not near the worst of it. They sell the best tickets to themselves and then effectively scalp them at way above face value. I have no idea how it is legal.

yeah, i read about a few articles about certain artists protesting the use of ticket master and live nation due to their awful scalping practices. it's a good reason to be pissed, as the best tickets go to rich kids and not the real fans :?

I get your point, but rich kids can be real fans.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

Hedgethorn

And to think, Smithers, you laughed when I bought Ticketmaster. "Nobody's going to pay a hundred-percent 'service charge.'"

It's a policy that ensures a healthy mix of the rich and the ignorant, sir.

Couscous

mcdermott wrote: »

Improvolone wrote: »

Local H Jay wrote: »

deadonthestreet wrote: »

That's not near the worst of it. They sell the best tickets to themselves and then effectively scalp them at way above face value. I have no idea how it is legal.

yeah, i read about a few articles about certain artists protesting the use of ticket master and live nation due to their awful scalping practices. it's a good reason to be pissed, as the best tickets go to rich kids and not the real fans :?

I get your point, but rich kids can be real fans.

Yeah, I've never really bought the idea that being willing to camp outside the mall is a bigger sign of devotion than being willing to pay more for the ticket. I make over $25 an hour. It's much cheaper (and or a better use of my limited leisure time) for me to just buy them.

So yeah, both rich kids and adults with real jobs can be real fans.


EDIT: I did camp outside a couple malls in my day, though.

Besides, real fans camp out in front of their computer waiting for tickets to become available.

shryke

Ticketmaster - Run by the Devil or Upstanding Business of Talented Professionals

There's a difference?

Couscous wrote: »

mcdermott wrote: »

Improvolone wrote: »

Local H Jay wrote: »

deadonthestreet wrote: »

That's not near the worst of it. They sell the best tickets to themselves and then effectively scalp them at way above face value. I have no idea how it is legal.

yeah, i read about a few articles about certain artists protesting the use of ticket master and live nation due to their awful scalping practices. it's a good reason to be pissed, as the best tickets go to rich kids and not the real fans :?

I get your point, but rich kids can be real fans.

Yeah, I've never really bought the idea that being willing to camp outside the mall is a bigger sign of devotion than being willing to pay more for the ticket. I make over $25 an hour. It's much cheaper (and or a better use of my limited leisure time) for me to just buy them.

So yeah, both rich kids and adults with real jobs can be real fans.


EDIT: I did camp outside a couple malls in my day, though.

Besides, real fans camp out in front of their computer waiting for tickets to become available.

And then get beat by the guys who buy all the tickets within 10 nanoseconds of them being available and then scalp them.

Lord Of The Pants

Hedgethorn wrote: »

And to think, Smithers, you laughed when I bought Ticketmaster. "Nobody's going to pay a hundred-percent 'service charge.'"

It's a policy that ensures a healthy mix of the rich and the ignorant, sir.

HappylilElf

mrdobalina wrote: »

BrotherVoodoo wrote: »

(I'm leaning toward the first option)

How in the bloody hell has ticketmaster managed to hold on so long being such a fundamentally aweful business. I was given a ticketmaster gift card last chirstmas (I didn't ask for it) and had proceeded to recently use all but 10 dollars of it. Now I was looking to purchase a 20 dollar ticket for an upcoming show. Said ticket could be purchased at a local record store for face value + 1 dollar. Ticketaster was charging face value + 12 dollars. That effectively makes my ticketmaster gift card completely worthless.

Convenience charge = 4.50
Facility Charge = 1 dollar
Some other charge = 6.50 dollars

Gah!

Anyone else have fun ticketmaster bizarro economics stories?

A recent Planet Money podcast (NPR) had a whole story about Ticketmaster and why they do what they do, economically speaking.

I'll see if I can find a link.

edit: no direct link, but it was one of the last two.

#88 the one right before the most recent. The description makes if fairly obvious if you subscribe to it.

mrdobalina

HappylilElf wrote: »

mrdobalina wrote: »

BrotherVoodoo wrote: »

(I'm leaning toward the first option)

How in the bloody hell has ticketmaster managed to hold on so long being such a fundamentally aweful business. I was given a ticketmaster gift card last chirstmas (I didn't ask for it) and had proceeded to recently use all but 10 dollars of it. Now I was looking to purchase a 20 dollar ticket for an upcoming show. Said ticket could be purchased at a local record store for face value + 1 dollar. Ticketaster was charging face value + 12 dollars. That effectively makes my ticketmaster gift card completely worthless.

Convenience charge = 4.50
Facility Charge = 1 dollar
Some other charge = 6.50 dollars

Gah!

Anyone else have fun ticketmaster bizarro economics stories?

A recent Planet Money podcast (NPR) had a whole story about Ticketmaster and why they do what they do, economically speaking.

I'll see if I can find a link.

edit: no direct link, but it was one of the last two.

#88 the one right before the most recent. The description makes if fairly obvious if you subscribe to it.

Ah....probably should have launched iTunes. Party foul, Mr. Dobalina.

BrotherVoodoo

mrdobalina wrote: »

Mr. Dobalina.

Mr. Bob Dobalina
...
I haven't done that yet.