PunBB
Ticketmaster/TicketsNow - Printable Version

+- PunBB (https://punbb.in)
+-- Forum: General Discussion - Hipbase.com (https://punbb.in/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Non Tragically Hip Discussion (https://punbb.in/forumdisplay.php?fid=9)
+--- Thread: Ticketmaster/TicketsNow (/showthread.php?tid=12192)

Pages: 1 2

Re: Ticketmaster/TicketsNow - MountainHip - 02-10-2009

Quote:The suit was filed on behalf of Henryk Krajewski of Toronto, who in September 2008 purchased two tickets for a Smashing Pumpkins show at Massey Hall from TicketsNow for $533.65, the court documents state. The tickets would have cost about $130 if they had been available from Ticketmaster.

This cannot be the basis of the lawsuit.
Unless - the inflated prices are being charged for tickets that are not being resold.
Ticketmaster has denied that.

The above argument is moot, and doesn't relate.

Basically, Ticketmaster is making double the service fee's, by selling the tickets twice. Albeit, the second sale is from a "3rd party" - they collect a fee twice for the same seat at the venue! Outrageous :censored

We can only hope this is the end to ticketmaster!
Those lawyers better be good!

Re: Ticketmaster/TicketsNow - grimes - 02-10-2009

If anything, I hope this lawsuit will bring enough attention how ridiculously outdated our ticket reselling laws are and lead to some modifications. The current system of making it illegal but not enforcing it does not work well for anyone except the scalpers. I'm fine with the concept of TicketsNow or Stubhub or any other such site - they allow consumers who missed out on the regular on-sale to buy their tickets online ahead of time, backed by a guarantee that the tickets are real. Lots of people would rather pay a premium for this service than take their chances with a shady-looking guy outside the venue. As long as ticketmaster is not taking tickets out of the public pool and selling them through Ticketsnow, I don't really have a problem with what they're doing. What they need to focus on are better ways to prevent the professional scalpers from getting the tickets in the first place. If internet on-sales are so easy to hack, maybe we need to go back to the days of box office line ups and wristband draws...

Re: Ticketmaster/TicketsNow - skippy the wonder dog - 02-11-2009

The lawsuit, as I understand it, alleges that Ticketmaster is facilitating sales of tickets to scalpers who resell through Ticketsnow -- essentially, selling blocks of tickets for resale through its own scalping hub.

Ticketmaster denies that they do this.

Of course, they also deny breaking the law, but admit it in internal documents.....

Re: Ticketmaster/TicketsNow - VioletlightHeron - 02-11-2009

skippy the wonder dog Wrote:From the Globe's story on this lawsuit:
Ticketmaster appears to have been aware of the legal issues posed by TicketsNow, which it bought last year for $265-million. In its latest quarterly report, the company warns that "Canadian provinces ... prohibit the resale of tickets at prices greater than the original face price. The failure of our businesses to comply with these laws and regulations could result in fines and/or proceedings against us by governmental agencies and/or consumers. ..."

This is interesting when you compare it to "Ticketmaster has said in response to prior complaints that the company's ticket-selling system is fair and doesn't violate the law."

You say one thing to the public, and another in your quarterly report? Mr. Ticketmaster, do you take me for a brainless lizard?

Well, to be fair to those heartless bastards, what you posted from TicketBastard's internal docs only mentions the obvious; failure to follow the law in Canada would result in painful results. What is alleged, and not proven yet in a court of law, is Ticketmaster deliberately setting aside blocks of tickets to sell on TicketsNow at rip-off prices. But given what has come out so far and what is sure to come out during the discovery process, the lawyers are going to have a field day with Ticketbastard and good for them. :thumb:

Re: Ticketmaster/TicketsNow - chris - 02-11-2009

Headline of the day:

"Live Nation to acquire Ticketmaster for $2.5 billion, plus $700 million in convenience charges."

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.fark.com/">http://www.fark.com/</a><!-- m -->

Re: Ticketmaster/TicketsNow - Lizard King - 02-11-2009

:lol:

Re: Ticketmaster/TicketsNow - skippy the wonder dog - 02-12-2009

And now those convenience fees are the subject of a second class action suit, filed today.

The argument seems to be that charging a convenience fee is equivalent to selling the ticket for more than its cover price, which would violate Ontario law.

Re: Ticketmaster/TicketsNow - grimes - 02-13-2009

skippy the wonder dog Wrote:The lawsuit, as I understand it, alleges that Ticketmaster is facilitating sales of tickets to scalpers who resell through Ticketsnow -- essentially, selling blocks of tickets for resale through its own scalping hub.

Ticketmaster denies that they do this.

Of course, they also deny breaking the law, but admit it in internal documents.....
If they actually do this then obviously they should face stiff consequences, and it would probably also be a matter for the criminal courts. The 2nd lawsuit is a little ridiculous in my opinion though. I hate paying convenience charges as much as the next guy, but suing them isn't going to stop it. Instead of breaking out that charge separately (so that we know how bad ticketmaster is screwing us) they'll just bury it in the cost of the ticket, so that they can't be accused of selling them "above face value." The end price to the consumer won't drop, and what little transparency we have now will be lost.