Ticket reselling
As a music fan this really winds me up. Here I am sat in front of my pc at the appropriate time to buy tickets, Fall Out Boy this morning, only to be told that they sold out whilst I was typing in my payment details. Now, other than SeeTickets having a rubbish booking system, what really gets me is seeing these tickets on e-bay a four hours later.
Here's a warning to all. These particular tickets are collect only with ID on the evening of the gig. So despite various claims from sellers that ebay buyers will get in, I really don't see this happening.
And my real moan, even hatred, is reserved for those scum who deprive genuine fans the opportunity to see their favourite bands at a reasonable because of their own greed. It amazes me as to how so many limited tickets end up being offered for re-sale so quickly after going on sale. As I said these aren't being bought initially by genuine fans.
Of course this situation is made worse by the greedy corporate touts such as GetMeIn and Viagogo.
Its time music fans were given the same level of protection against touts as football fans are.
Here's a warning to all. These particular tickets are collect only with ID on the evening of the gig. So despite various claims from sellers that ebay buyers will get in, I really don't see this happening.
And my real moan, even hatred, is reserved for those scum who deprive genuine fans the opportunity to see their favourite bands at a reasonable because of their own greed. It amazes me as to how so many limited tickets end up being offered for re-sale so quickly after going on sale. As I said these aren't being bought initially by genuine fans.
Of course this situation is made worse by the greedy corporate touts such as GetMeIn and Viagogo.
Its time music fans were given the same level of protection against touts as football fans are.
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Touts are scum feeding off genuine music fans.
My blood boiled when I saw how much the tickets were being sold for on eBay.
Yes.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2264045/Rihanna-Rolling-Stones-Justin-Bieber-Are-fans-ripped-called-secondary-ticket-websites.html#axzz2JgGfA3mR
I did read somewhere last year that some big name aritsts have stakes in the reseller sites so they get an extra cut of their own ticket sales
Wasn't there a documentary on this in the last year or so where somebody went undercover and went to work at Viagogo?
Viagogo tied to gain an injunction to prevent it but lost
It's on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlnL8drSdw
I wrote to the department conserned, asking why dont they just make it agains the law to sell tickets 10% above the ticket price
I even pointed out, that I think some empoyees at ticketmast keep tickets aside for family members who then sell them on ebay, and one seller I had notice had tickets for mani street preacher at king tuts glasgow, which hold just under 500..this concert was sold out in seconds, yet this seller had 4 tickets, straight on to ebay for bidding
so if you couldnt go, you coulkd at least sell the ticket, but not make a return on the ticket, the most you would get back on the ticket would be £25 ticket returns £2.50
The reply I got from the governement, we thank you for your query, but at this time, the ticket agencys, are self relaugated, and will do there best to tackle ticket touting
Anyway, I think touts probably know every way on how to overcome genuine people who want to attend gigs and take advantage.
As for buying tickets for presents you would supply the names of the person(s) who they were intended for at the time of booking.
As the ticket agencies also own Viagogo, GetMeIn etc, they are part of the problem. The channel 4 doc showed "back door" dealing was rife and considering the profit margins involved self regulation isn't going to work.
In fact it's the emergence of organisations such as Viagogo and GetMeIn that are making this problem worse. Now traditional touts don't ask to risk begin stopped/questioned by the police outside a venue, they can simply stay at home at count the profit, all thanks to these corporate touts.
Why can't people resale them as opposed to any other product they own?
Shady practices such as the promoters holding tickets back for Viagogo aside, I don't see the problem.
Note that the price can go down as well as up, tickets to Leona Lewis's concert were going for well below face price a year or so back.
I'd be more interested in laws on stupid transaction fees, which as that Daily Mail article shows, can easily contribute £100-£200 to the price
Because each gig is a one-off. Usually, there will be other dates, but that combination of date, artist and venue is unique. Most people cannot afford to track around the country for gigs, so they have to go to the nearest one to them. If some arse-faced tout has bought up all of the tickets for that particular date, they can't go, unless they have megabucks for inflated resale prices.
Touts and resellers add no value to the ticket sale process and are damaging the confidence of the gig-going public.
And that is the problem in a nutshell.
How can "self-regulation" by the industry be impartial when the ticket agencies have a vested interest in the resale market?
After all the press was self-regulating and that worked, didn't it?
The only regulation that works is both independent and with the power to act.
Glastonbury have got it right by having to log your interest first, then when the tickets are available they have your photo on them and cannot be transferred.
Wouldn't work.
Could work. Although along with this they should stop the ridiculous practice of putting tickets on sale for concerts 18 months in the future.
It is annoying. Buying tickets is not a fun experience!
I appreciate that some people for whatever reason might need to sell tickets they had every intention of using but in general I just hate the way it works just now
I think a fan who had every intention of going would be happy covering their costs knowing other fans can now go. A bit different to buying tickets with no intention of going just to rip real fans off.
Because usually demand will outstrip the supply leaving genuine fans to miss out.
It can't be right that someone who has no intention of going to a gig can be allowed to buy up to 8 tickets.
But as i always think the ticket companies don't care as long as they get rid of their allocation, they're not bothered who gets them.
That's obviously just some nutjob though. Who knows if they even had the tickets.
These are both excellent ideas. Thank you for posting!
I am glad I don't go to tours so much nowadays. I prefer musicals and have just booked to see Jesus Christ Superstar at the NIA in October! No hassle at all to get a couple of tickets! It is booked up but we decided to get VIP tickets which weren't much more than the original price.
How can Viagogo start selling them on the 20/02 though when the pre sale is on the 21/02 and general sale on 23/02? I'm confused
Because, Viagogo, owned by the original ticket sellers know they will get an allocation, "via the back door". This was shown in the C4 documentary last year. The one that Viagogo tried to get an injunction to prevent it being broadcast.
Basically the current system is broken and corrupt and only serves the ticket sellers. However as a large part of the gig going public are under the voting age there are no votes in doing anything to rectify the situation, so our beloved politicians don't give a damn!