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Is TicketMaster evil?

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For most events in the US, Ticketmaster seem to have a monopoly.  You can buy tickets on the web, but you have to go through ticketmaster.  I don't really mind that, what I do mind is Ticketmasters insane, let me screw you pricing additions.  Take for example The Blueman show in Boston.  Tickets for Blueman can either be bought at the theatre or via Ticketmaster, no other options exist.  So if you want to plan ahead you'll probably buy them on Ticketmaster.    So lets say you buy the most expensive ticket that's $62.  Then ticketmaster get involved with their convenience charge, wait for it, the convenience charge is $10.55!!! Yes you read that right, $10.55!  What does that "convenience charge" pay for?  Allowing you to buy the ticket by internet of phone.  Seriously, this is nuts, being able to buy from the internet should be saving you money, less staff to manage ticket booths etc.

Ticketmaster is a monopoly and they should be investigated in my opinion.

Comments

Gravatar Image1 - Same here in Blighty. And I believe they were investigated, to no avail. The whole ticketing thing is a cartel. Scummy bastards the lot of them, but they clearly have something on most of our MPs hence lack of action.

Gravatar Image2 - They're a pain to deal with as a performer, too. I used to be in a singing group in Albuquerque, and the one time we sold tickets through them it was a ridiculous hassle. I had begged the other guys to just let me sell the tickets via our website, since I was hosting it on Domino anyway and already had the Paypal integration set up, but they assumed it'd just be easier to use Ticketmaster. Instead: epic fail.

Gravatar Image3 - Yeah, TM pays arenas and venues to get "exclusive" deals, then passes those costs on to the people who actually want to attend the event.

BTW you can blame Microsoft for this as well, since TM is one of the things that Paul Allen bought with the money he made at MSFT

Gravatar Image4 - Yes. They're evil. But it's about to get worse: Google Ticketmaster Live Nation.

Gravatar Image5 - TicketMaster surcharges are beyond ridiculous. What's even worse is that TicketMaster runs an auction site called TicketsNow. Does that sound like a fair system, or one that TM could manipulate at the expense of fans?

Recent example demonstrates the problem inherent in this setup. When Springsteen tickets went on sale at TM, some fans were redirected to TicketsNow...even though tickets were still available at face value. See these two links:
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Not to mention the opportunity for TM to transfer tickets to TN before fans have a chance. Maybe it's just me, but it's not much of a stretch to envision TM doing just that.

Of course TM spun the launch of the TN site as fighting scalpers. Um, yeah. By becoming one themselves.

Gravatar Image6 - Please avoid using Ticketmaster: Crooked baron parasites. The fees are outrageous and obscence (30% to 50%).
Join many of us who just refuse to pay the extortion, and we'll gain traction.
Thanks

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