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View Full Version : Tired of Ticketmaster ripoffs?


mileyguy
06-04-2009, 05:21 PM
Hi everyone, I saw this on another message board and thought it might be something we'd all be into. Pass it on:

Hey, I assume I’m not the only one here who has tried to get concert tickets at some point and either been outrageously overcharged or just unable to afford the tickets because sites like Stubhub and TicketsNow mark up their prices. If you aren’t already aware, essentially what happens is that resellers get hold of huge blocks of tickets before the public has a fair shot at them, and then they sell them for much more than the original price. For example, tickets to a Springsteen concert at the Meadowlands in Jersey that were marked at $65-$95 were being sold for up to $2,000 only a few minutes after they went on sale! This is completely unfair to the fans.

Fortunately, there is a bill that has been introduced in Congress, HR 2669 (also known as the BOSS ACT) that would put restrictions on resellers so that we don’t get ripped off. The bill would require vendors like Ticketmaster to disclose how many tickets are available to the public, how many they are holding back from public sale, and gives the real fans the first crack at by making it illegal for brokers to purchase tickets during the first 48 hours after they go on sale! This would be great for all of us!

The bill has just been introduced, and if everyone could write their Congressman to urge them to support this bill, it would have a much better chance of being passed. You can find out who your Representative is here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml (https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml)



Here’s the letter I wrote to my congressman, you can use it as an example if you want:

Dear Congressman/woman **************___________,

As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to support the BOSS Act (H.R. 2669), recently introduced by Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ). The bill would protect fans’ rights during online ticket sales by requiring vendors like Ticketmaster to disclose how many online tickets are available and by making it illegal brokers and other resellers to buy tickets during the first 48 hours they are on sale, giving real fans the first chance for a change. It is time that there is some transparency and accountability when it comes to concert tickets.

As you are surely well aware, our country is in the midst of an economic recession. Now more than ever, the burden of unfairly high ticket prices is impossible for Americans to bear. I urge you to cosponsor this important bill, so that your constituents have access to information and fair prices when they are purchasing concert tickets online. Enough is enough! Thank you in advance for your support!

Sincerely,

Your name
Your address

SaintSaturn
06-25-2009, 05:43 PM
Hey, I just read this. I heard about it after the whole Springsteen thing (I'm a huge fan). It's so awesome that they called it The BOSS Act ;).

felan
06-26-2009, 08:26 AM
Yes they go way over the top. I will not be seeing Miley live.

RobertM
06-28-2009, 05:11 PM
Yeah, I dislike the way everything goes through Ticket Gouger too. It is almost like they are deliberately trying to see how much they can annoy people and get away with it.

The last time I bought tickets from Ticket Gouger I did it online. After going through the process of picking the tickets and setting up payment, I almost went postal when I saw on the summary screen the addition of a "convenience" fee and a "building facilities" fee. I thought, what the heck is up with that?!?!?! Doing business online should be more convenient for them. I mean, even notorious penny-pinchers like the banks encourage people to move more of their business online. If the banks appreciate the convenience of having people handle most of their transactions online, you'd think Ticket Gouger would do the same.

And what is this "building facilities" fee?!?! All costs should be built into the cost of a ticket. Why do they add this fee on afterwards? I mean, Safeway and Albertsons do not total up your grocery bill at check out and then add a fee for their building lease charge, the fuel fees it took to truck the groceries to the store, their employees' wages, etc. All those costs are calculated, and then a price set on their merchandise that provides them with enough of a profit to stay in business. Why don't ticket sellers do the same?

Aaaargghh!! If I could, I would avoid Ticket Gouger at all cost, but I don't have a choice. And I don't want to miss some awesome shows.

NancyDrew
06-29-2009, 12:59 AM
Yeah, it kinda sucks but I try to just enjoy the concert. (:

Jared Montana
06-30-2009, 07:21 PM
I agree. It's completely unfair!