Ticketmaster scalping Radiohead tix

[justjohn]

So they charge you upwards of 25-50% in service fees and then stick it to you with the hard to get tickets. Absolutely ridiculous.

http://www.ateaseweb.com/2008/04/17/...ohead-tickets/

For one of the first times since completing its acquisition of TicketsNow, Ticketmaster has begun scalping tickets by directing fans of a sold out show to its TicketsNow auctions.
TicketNews.com reports that people who were looking for tickets on Ticketmaster, are now being directed to TicketsNow, a move that some ticket brokers feared when the acquisition was approved by the federal government in February.
Radiohead purchased ads in print and on radio to promote the sales of their concert tickets on Ticketmaster, but after those tickets are sold out on Ticketmaster, customers using the Ticketmaster website see a page with options (screenshot at ticketnews.com), with the “Find Tickets” link directing customers to TicketsNow, which is listed as Ticketmaster’s “partner site.” However, TicketsNow is a secondary ticket seller owned by Ticketmaster.
Ticketnews.com reveals that a source close to the situation, who requested anonymity, a TicketsNow executive helped assist with the sale of more than $1 million worth of Radiohead tickets on the TicketsNow website, which at a margin of 25 percent allowed TicketsNow to generate a gross of more than $250,000 from the deal.

[Coheteboy]

Yup, I witnesses this when I was trying to score tickets. I hate ticketmaster more than ever before now.

[aimster]

Another reason I call them TicketBASTARD.

Convenience charge? I see nothing convenient with adding another almost $20 to my ticket price.

[PEZZ Lightyear]

I think a strongly worded letter to Thom Yorke is in order...

Seriously.

Didn't Pearl Jam go to war with Ticketmaster before?

The artists may have no idea these kinds of rotten tricks are being played on their fans.

[Ginarella]

Yup, it crazy. I'm just wondering if it's worth going down to the stadium or venue to get the concert tickets rather than buying them at Ticketmaster?

[TheBuz]

The same site reports that Ticketmaster and TicketsNow are holding a broker meeting in Las Vegas. This activity is just going to get worse!
http://www.ticketnews.com/Brokers-me...rategy05813254

[SusieP.]

They're trying to monopolize their own monopoly? That's fair. Jerks.

I actually do need to look into some tickets, but I think I'll hit the box office instead.

[DisneyDan24]

I hate ticketmaster.

[Max Fischer]

I hate Ticketmaster too, but I LOVE Radiohead.

They are the most amazing group ever. They NEVER come to Arizona, but someday I will see them.

Good luck!

[I Heart Disneyland]

Another reason I call them TicketBASTARD.

Convenience charge? I see nothing convenient with adding another almost $20 to my ticket price.

Agreed. I detest their fees and their practices. Makes me sick.

This is why bands like Pearl Jam don't go through TicketBASTARD. (Love that name!) Pearl Jam is an exception though. Sadly. It's because they are in my cool city of Seattle!

[aimster]

Luckily most bands I like these days are little known ones that play smaller venues. If they play certain venues in St Pete, I can get tickets without the "convenience charge" at a local record store.

[aashee]

They've been screwing the public for years. I guess certain monopolies are allowable.

[aimster]

People have tried letter writing campaigns and it's sadly done squat. I'm not really a Pearl jam fan, but I admire them for taking a stand against Ticketbastard. I wish more bands would wake up and do the same. But these days, bands make the biggest chunk of their money from touring/merchandise.

[Coheteboy]

People have tried letter writing campaigns and it's sadly done squat. I'm not really a Pearl jam fan, but I admire them for taking a stand against Ticketbastard. I wish more bands would wake up and do the same. But these days, bands make the biggest chunk of their money from touring/merchandise.

In retrospect, I totally agree. But at the time, Pearl Jam was my favorite new band and I wanted nothing more than to see them live. Because of the whole ticketmaster thing, they didn't play live in my area and not for a long time. I kinda stopped being a fan.

I hate ticketmaster.


But.. what's LIVENATION? I've seen that they have deals with U2, Madonna, and others. Aren't they capable of selling tickets too?

[TheBuz]

This is a great video. Now, I understand why tickets are sold out to all the popular events. Ticketmaster is is corrupt!!!

http://www.ticketnews.com/Ticketmast...etsNow05814174