Loyal Jersey City Desk readers will remember the dust up a while back over the Bruce Springsteen tickets magically being unavailable for his shows at the Izod Center because Ticketmaster was releasing them to their subsidiary TicketsNow before they went on sale to the public. You'll recall that scam drew all kinds of national attention to Ticketmaster's shady business practices. After New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram threatened all kinds of investigations and legal action Ticketmaster said "OK, we'll never do that again and we're sorry."
It looks like Ticketmaster was crossing their fingers behind their backs. It's happening again.
But of course to Ticketmaster it's NOT the same kind of thing because they kinda sorta aw shuckins only really truly promised to not hoard tickets to their subsidiary pertaining to shows ONLY at the Izod Center.
According to the Star-Ledger:
Tickets for the Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 2 concert at Giants Stadium -- billed as the final concerts before the football stadium is torn down -- go on sale through Ticketmaster on Monday. Ticket prices range from $33 to $98.
But as of last Friday, on-line brokers at eBay, CheapTickets, SelectATicket.com and Abby's Tickets ("Your source for sold out events") have posted hundreds of seats -- many described by section and row -- for the three concerts. A pair in section 125, row 42 for Oct. 3 are going for $2,200, while a general admission ticket (on the floor) for the Sept. 30 show is going for $385.
Amazing, really. It's high time Congress involve themselves. This is an anti-trust issue to say the least. People are getting out and out screwed over for not just concerts but sporting events, and anything else Ticketmaster sells seats to. How is it legal to have a computer model of all seats to all venues in America so all your machine needs to do is read the code and spit out the tickets and STILL charge 7$ for a 'convenience charge'? It costs them pennies to print the tickets and by any account they make a thousand percent on a fee for nothing really.
Go kick their ass Anne Milgram.
Get 'Em Ms. Milgram.
ReplyDeleteSOMEBODY needs to teach Ticket Master with either a HEFTY fine or a suspension at best that cheating the American Public is NOT in their best interest.
In today's tough times, who's going to pay the outrageous amounts they are charging??
If everyone that purchases tickets to ANY event would just boycott them and put them out of business, that would show them, now wouldn't it???
But then Johnny would never get to see any of his favorite bands or his Red Wings when they play at MSG and the Rock next year. I'd rather just see their board of directors beheaded in the public square
ReplyDeleteI can clearly state that Ticketmaster is not a part of this. They never sold to relellers before the onsale. Most of these ticket listings are fradulant, especially ones that have a row and seat location, unless they were recieved directly from the performer. The performers do that all the time to get more money.
ReplyDeleteDon't believe me? http://springsteeninformationcenter.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/bruce-springsteen-more-springsteen-ticket-woes-in-nj/
Orbitz completely made up those tickets.
"In today's tough times, who's going to pay the outrageous amounts they are charging??"
ReplyDeleteTicketmaster has no say in the prices of the tickets, except for a small convenience fee. The ticket price is determined by the artist, the venue fees are determined by the venue, the ups and mail fees are determined by, you guessed it, ups and the post office. Complain to your artists and beloved venues that they are charing $300 for a seat, then stop buying from that artist. It is not ticketmaster you need to boycott, but the artists who have decided that they want/need all that money. You don't see Springsteen living in the middle class do you?