I didn't see this anywhere on the first two pages so apologies if this is a repost.

http://blog.ticketmaster.com/2010/08/23/first-things-first/

quote:

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Over the next few days we are rolling out a new way of presenting pricing and fees on Ticketmaster.com. Going forward, just like almost every other business in the world, we’ll tell you up front how much you can expect to pay for a certain ticket.

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quote:

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o Live Nation is putting its money where its mouth is, and introducing a new return policy in case you get cold feet. If you buy a ticket in a venue operated by Live Nation (http://bit.ly/97JJkV ), you now have three days to return it, up until one week before the show.

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I am a big fan of the first one because it is really annoying to get 5 minutes into a transaction and found out how much it's going to cost.

As much as I have historically hated Ticketmaster's policies, I have to admit I am impressed with their straight forward explanations on that blog.

I think upfront pricing is a great idea.

Maybe cell phone companies could try this!

I was against the merger but I have to admit the company has been much more consumer friendly since it happened.

i've said time and time again, if I just saw the bottom line and didn't know how much of it was base price/fees/tax/etc.. i would't have many qualms at all..

but it infuriates me to see a $20 ticket, but it ends up being $30.

if it was told it was $30, i wouldn't blink an eye..

quote:

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As much as I have historically hated Ticketmaster's policies, I have to admit I am impressed with their straight forward explanations on that blog.

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I totally agree and it's why I included the blog and not a news story about it.

I would love to pay fees at all but we all know that ain't gonna happen.

I went to see Aerosmith for $10. It's hard to hate the company after a deal like that.

I went to see Aerosmith for $10. It's hard to hate the company after a deal like that.

I actually Googled "how to avoid Ticketmaster fees" earlier today as there are 4 upcomming shows I need tickets for. 3 of them are at the same venue so I am just going to go to their box office and hopefully save around $60 in fees for 6 tickets.

And I agree with strat, if they just charged a flat fee up front, I would not be near as frustrated with TM as I am right now.

Here's what some industry people think about this subject.

http://www.velvetrope.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=726857&page=2&nt=2&fpart=1

meh, I don't really care what industry people say. I care what consumers like me say.

We all know the fees are NOT going away or even going down. I'll take knowing what they are up front as a nice change.

i don't even wanna know what are up front.. that's no better.. you KNOW there is a big fee on every tix.

like I said, I'd rather just see, tickets to XX, $39, and that's how much it is.

If the ticket is actually only $20, and they are getting $19 in fees.. so be it.. as long as I don't know about it.

I was at the Business of Sport Luncheon featuring Uncle Drayton, bob McNair, Clyde the Glide (speaking on behalf of Leslie Alexander) and President of AEG the group that owns the Dynamo among many other sports teams worldwide.

Needless to say the AEG president (whose name escapes me) had some VERY negative things to say about Ticketmaster. He said that he expects changes in the near future to how they do business.

Off everything said on Tuesday this was met with the most applause.

Just wanted to share.

Despite my dislike of TM, an honest question: What/where is the value-added to a venue by using TM? It can't cost that much to set up an automated, web-based ticket retail site so why do venues tolerate TM skimming up to 50% (my most recent experience - $28 per ticket + $14/ticket in fees)? People who buy the tickets are obviously willing to pay that amount so what prevents a place from bringing sales in house and keeping more of that money for themselves by simply charging a higher baseline price? Maybe I am unusual in that TM is never the first place I look for tickets. I always start at the venue website before being ultimately re-directed to TM so it is not the ticket buying experience on the consumer end that would change much.

i have a feeling contracts have something to do with it.

FWIW.. there are some venues in and around houston that decided to go with front gate tickets.. nice to see at least a little competition..

[This message has been edited by 62strat (edited 8/26/2010 12:26p).]

A $47 ticket to a recent show attended had fees added that brought the total to $62+ ... brutal.

That's very encouraging. I hate paying the $5 a ticket but it would hurt less to see it up front.

Now this new ticket choosing layout will make me absolutely happy to pay the service fee.

I have always wanted to select the exact seats. I would take seats several rows up that are on the aisle than have to sit in the middle in some venues. To be able to pick out the exact seats you want just like you are at the box office is exciting, and I've been wondering how long till ticketing agencies started to offer this.

I also noticed that the Rockets Flash seats site has that ability now to click on the exact seats you want that are available.

Still pisses me off when a ticket company charges me like $2 a ticket for the privilege of printing out my own tickets instead of having them mailed to me.

FLUCK Ticketmaster.

txaggie7.. live nation venues do this (ex. verizon wireless in houston).. they have been for years.

can't believe ticketmaster venues haven't caught up to that yet.. specially since the merger.

they also need to start doing no tickets/showing id at the door.
you buy the tickets, you show your id, they let YOU in + guests.
that would thwart scalpers big time.

[This message has been edited by 62strat (edited 8/27/2010 10:35a).]

They actually are starting to have paperless shows pretty sure John Mayer at superpages next weekend is paperless. Just swipe your card at the gate and the ticket taker hands you a seat locater. Pretty easy/efficient.