4 ms·

Ticketmaster has these kinds of fees. How come the mob hasn't been successful at pressuring them so far?

by coryl 15y ago

Terretta 15y ago
You mean apart from where Ticketmaster is now having to refund these fees for years past? http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-12-01/tech/30462126_1_ticketmaster-ticket-order-credits http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-12-01/tech/30462126...
- missrobot 15y ago
  Yes--although according to the article, "Ticketmaster can continue to profit off transactions — they just have to say they're doing so on their website." Plus, as far as I understand it the settlement is a coupon award, meaning you get $1.50 back the next time you buy from Ticketmaster. So if you decided they were in fact deceptive and you don't want to give them your business again (difficult if you ever want to see another concert, I agree), you get nothing. I'm not an expert on class action lawsuits but this whole thing seemed like it didn't benefit the consumer much, but was worth multi-millions for the firm bringing the suit.
  - zem 15y ago
    i believe that the general point of class action suits is to punish the company rather than to benefit the individual consumers.
ianferrel 15y ago
Possibly because they implemented them before social media provided such a quick backlash. We can all get upset about Verizon right now and spread the word very quickly in response to the recently announced change. It's much harder to foment a spike of reaction about ongoing bullshit fees at Ticketmaster.
ntkachov 15y ago
My guess is because it isn't a day to day impact for most people. With Verizon, BOFA,and Netflix, it was a monthly charge for most people. People who use TicketMaster arn't billed monthly so a one time charge isn't that big of a deal. Also what ever that fee is is nothing compared to the $5 tax on nachos.
mikeash 15y ago
I'd say it's because Ticketmaster sells a luxury good. People who don't like their fees can just stop paying them, and people who really want to see shows will pay them. Banks and phones, on the other hand, are more or less essentials which everyone has to deal with.
jeffclark 15y ago
Ticketmaster works for the venue, not the event. If a band wants to play in Boston's TD Garden, they must sell their tickets through TicketMaster. For the most part, ticket revenue goes to the event. Fees go to the venue. It's in the best interest of TM and the venue to charge more. StubHub rakes from both sides of the secondary ticket market just because they can. (plug: I'm trying to change this, slowly but surely, with my own project: http://www.boxrowseat.com http://www.boxrowseat.com)

Ticketmaster has these kinds of fees. How come the mob hasn't been successful at pressuring them so far?

by coryl 15y ago

Ticketmaster has these kinds of fees. How come the mob hasn't been successful at pressuring them so far?

You mean apart from where Ticketmaster is now having to refund these fees for years past? http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-12-01/tech/30462126_1_ticketmaster-ticket-order-credits http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-12-01/tech/30462126...

missrobot 15y ago
Yes--although according to the article, "Ticketmaster can continue to profit off transactions — they just have to say they're doing so on their website." Plus, as far as I understand it the settlement is a coupon award, meaning you get $1.50 back the next time you buy from Ticketmaster. So if you decided they were in fact deceptive and you don't want to give them your business again (difficult if you ever want to see another concert, I agree), you get nothing. I'm not an expert on class action lawsuits but this whole thing seemed like it didn't benefit the consumer much, but was worth multi-millions for the firm bringing the suit.
- zem 15y ago
  i believe that the general point of class action suits is to punish the company rather than to benefit the individual consumers.

ianferrel 15y ago

Possibly because they implemented them before social media provided such a quick backlash. We can all get upset about Verizon right now and spread the word very quickly in response to the recently announced change. It's much harder to foment a spike of reaction about ongoing bullshit fees at Ticketmaster.

ntkachov 15y ago

My guess is because it isn't a day to day impact for most people. With Verizon, BOFA,and Netflix, it was a monthly charge for most people. People who use TicketMaster arn't billed monthly so a one time charge isn't that big of a deal. Also what ever that fee is is nothing compared to the $5 tax on nachos.

mikeash 15y ago

I'd say it's because Ticketmaster sells a luxury good. People who don't like their fees can just stop paying them, and people who really want to see shows will pay them. Banks and phones, on the other hand, are more or less essentials which everyone has to deal with.

jeffclark 15y ago

Ticketmaster works for the venue, not the event. If a band wants to play in Boston's TD Garden, they must sell their tickets through TicketMaster. For the most part, ticket revenue goes to the event. Fees go to the venue. It's in the best interest of TM and the venue to charge more. StubHub rakes from both sides of the secondary ticket market just because they can. (plug: I'm trying to change this, slowly but surely, with my own project: http://www.boxrowseat.com http://www.boxrowseat.com)