F**king Ticketmaster

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
05/21/2014 at 12:24 • Filed to: rant

I'm booking events for our family trip to DC in a couple of weeks, and we are planning to tour Ford's Theatre (where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated). You can get free tickets on the day of your tour, but you have to get there early (8:30) and there are a limited number of tix available. Or, you can buy tickets in advance, but only through Ticketmaster. The tix are $5, but TM charges $4.75 for the service, effectively doubling the cost of an otherwise free ticket. Bastards.

Here's a Mixmaster for listening to me complain about Ticketmaster.

DISCUSSION (16)

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > ttyymmnn
05/21/2014 at 12:29

I hate ticketbastard with a passion. I hardly ever go to an event that needs tickets, but when I do I try to find some way to not have to pay their fees (which sadly never works). Why do I have to pay extra to print at home when I'm using my own ink and paper?!

William Byrd > ttyymmnn
05/21/2014 at 12:31

Lots of good stuff to do in DC, what else is on tap?

macanamera > ttyymmnn
05/21/2014 at 12:31

First time in DC?

Reigntastic > ttyymmnn
05/21/2014 at 12:32

Is there any way to buy tickets over the phone by calling the tour company directly, or by visiting the website for Ford Theatre? Ticketmaster fees are just a front for the venue owners, the fee money goes directly in their pocket, and Ticketmaster takes the heat for them. Thanks Ticketmaster!

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > ttyymmnn
05/21/2014 at 12:33

that is pretty stupid. We should do another DC area oppo meet while you're here!

Jagvar > ttyymmnn
05/21/2014 at 12:36

You going to hit up Katie's Cars and Coffee in Great Falls, VA while you're in town?

The Compromiser > ttyymmnn
05/21/2014 at 13:06

Must've Changed the rules. We just wandered in after the Hoover building. pretty cool though.

Bad Idea Hat > ttyymmnn
05/21/2014 at 13:09

Do you remember when there was going to be major backlash against Ticketmaster? Pearl Jam and all?

Me neither!

ttyymmnn > Bad Idea Hat
05/21/2014 at 13:27

I remember that, but I think they just said "Fuck it" because they couldn't sell tickets any other way. Even for them, it's about money.

ttyymmnn > Jagvar
05/21/2014 at 13:28

Probably not. Taking the boys to DC for the first time, and we want to hit all the DC-ey sort of stuff. Sounds like fun, though.

ttyymmnn > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
05/21/2014 at 13:58

It's a "convenience fee." It's more convenient for you, so you have to pay to be convenient.

ttyymmnn > William Byrd
05/21/2014 at 14:00

Evening walking tour of the Mall, A&S Museum, National Archives, Museum of Natural History, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington Monument, maybe a tour of the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, Udvar-Hazy Center. And there is a bit of time to add more.

ttyymmnn > macanamera
05/21/2014 at 14:02

Not for my wife and me. Before we were married, we both lived in Norfolk, VA (we're talking high school/college years), so DC was relatively close. I went for the first time in 1976, the summer that the Air & Space Museum first opened. I've been there a few other times for school trips or other outings. This is the first time my boys (aged 11, 8 and 8) have been.

Gen.Fatassery > ttyymmnn
05/21/2014 at 23:20

Ok, I'll be that guy. You don't want to get to the place early enough to free guaranteed admission, so you want to use an online ticket broker to avoid that inconvenience. That ticket broker in addition to having to kick back a percentage to the venue/artist/promoter (usually around 40%) they have to pay for the infrastructure of said service all while making a little bit of a profit. Seriously, you people bitching about Ticketmaster (which is really Live Nation) act like they are rolling in money. They grossed 6 Billion last year with a loss of $36 million; that should give you an idea of how much money the promoters/acts/and venue demand in kickbacks. Now I understand that I am fighting against a wave of entitlement (everything that someone creates to make my life easier should be free) but sweet fucking christ man, if you don't want to pay for the convenience of not having to wait outside early, then Go. Wait. Outside. Early.

ttyymmnn > Gen.Fatassery
05/22/2014 at 00:11

Thanks for your reply. It's not a sense of entitlement. I'm more than willing to pay the $5 per person that the venue charges for an otherwise free ticket to guarantee myself an admission and not have to stand in line. What I balk at is the fee that essentially doubles the price of that admission.

Gen.Fatassery > ttyymmnn
05/22/2014 at 00:20

The price of the ticket goes 100% to the venue. The service fee gets split up and TM/LN gets about 50% plus or minus. So the company that sets up and maintains the service gets around $2.30 or so per ticket all so you don't have to get up early for tickets. So for a family of 5 you are paying TM/LN $11 for that convenience. That seems reasonable to me. What do you think would be fair?