Audience Rewards - Total Scam?/ TELECHARGE

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 7:04pm

Have been fortunate enough to have accumulated what seems to be a substantial number of points from Audience Rewards via Telecharge over the years...

Thought it would be a great time to start cashing those points in...went to the website to see what was avail and was elated to see SOME LIKE IT HOT and LEOPOLDSTAT on there.  I didn't realize I then had to call - soooooooo after waiting 13 minutes finally got through (note to anyone working at Telecharge - maybe think about making the hold music current - I heard music and an advert for DIANA) 

Anywho - when I finally got in touch with a live actual human and decided to use all of my points for a pair of tickets to see SOME LIKE IT HOT.  I had the most updated map up from Telecharge and knew exactly where I wanted to sit....welp, AUDIENCE REWARDS totally failed me.  They could only offer seats in the back (that ain't front orchestra) of the house...I then asked to for Mezz - and again they could only offer up back of Mezz

What kind of total scam is this?  Here I am after Broadway going for 20 years using Telecharge and thinking I could actually get a discount.   What a total scam.   

Broadway is ridiculous and will become extinct if this kind of stuff continues - why spend full price when one can get TDF or Today's Tix?  And stupid me for thinking that you know, I could actually get the tickets apparently being offered.  Total greed making theater inaccessible. 

Is this why so many shows aren't using Telecharge any longer and now using Seat Geek?

I am so bummed out - it is SO absurdly expensive to go to the Theater and after thinking I had some "cushion" some sort of savings - welp, you don't.  

and Producers who are complicit are helping to drive the nail into the coffin.  

I am pissed off.  

 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 7:36pm

Oh come on. Just because seats are available doesn't mean they are available for award redemption and which seats are often changes based on supply and demand.

When I go to use a discount code from any source, I certainly don't expect I will get the exact seat I want even if not a single seat in the house is sold.

The powers that be decide which seats are afforded discount or reward redemption as they see fit ... the same as just about every other industry including hotels, airlines, et al. Not the fairest system?  I guess one can make that case.  But a scam?  Hardly IMHO.

Updated On: 9/26/22 at 07:36 PM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 7:44pm

Not a scam at all, and I've sat in many great seats through them, often for free/just points. Generally, only the online redemptions are the ones that offer the best deals, though, and those seats are held back for that purpose. The ones you have to call them for are limited by what's available online at a particular price level, but, still, it says clearly on the website where the seats are located. Also, they deal with several different theatre owners, so not sure why Telecharge was dragged into this rant, since I don't believe anyone will let you just pick your seat, regardless of how entitled you think you are.

Most recently, I got a $249 seat for The Hours at the Met for 1000 points plus $60, so I continue to be very happy with Audience Rewards.

Updated On: 9/27/22 at 07:44 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 8:12pm

You're acting ridiculous. Audience Rewards, like everyone, got F*CKED during Covid. And yes, everything is more expensive and it will cost you more points. Both are popular shows and possibly OTHER PEOPLE called about them before you and they got better seats. It's not a scam, they are wonderful, and waiting 13 minutes when people waited 6 hours during pandemic unemployment? Have a seat, brah. 

Bitching about a free service. Imagine?

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 8:24pm

Sutton Ross said: "You're acting ridiculous. Audience Rewards, like everyone, got F*CKED during Covid. And yes, everything is more expensive and it will cost you more points. Both are popular shows and possibly OTHER PEOPLE called about them before you and they got better seats. It's not a scam, they are wonderful, and waiting 13 minutes when people waited 6 hours during pandemic unemployment? Have a seat, brah.

Bitching about a free service. Imagine?"

You’re a mean person. Consider trying to be kind and spreading positivity instead of constant negativity, nastiness, and rude sarcasm. I pity you.

 

Vernon, I get your frustrations. I’ve just been sitting tight and waiting for discounts and so far it’s been working out pretty well. TDF has been great.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 8:49pm

TDF is for sure the way to go these days. Heck even in pitch going to the booth just to avoid the insane ticketing fees seems worth. 

At the end of the day I guess the question becomes which service would I rather support and I’ll take the Theater Development Fund over Ticketmaster or Seat Geek any day of the week. 

[LexiGirl]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 9:10pm

I had a lot of points saved up and thought about using them for tickets, but since I’m really picky about where I sit, I didn’t want to chance getting seats that I wasn’t happy with. I decided to just cash most of my points in for gift cards to Sardi’s and Glass House Tavern. At least I can get some nice meals before my upcoming shows. They came in the mail really fast, too.

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 9:28pm

I've redeemed from Audience Rewards plenty of times and have never had anything less than a great experience with them. They've been very direct and helpful every time I've engaged with them.

 

[veronicamae]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 9:31pm

While frustrating, as others have stated, it is not a scam; the terms are clearly stated where you obtained the information on having to call them; I've copy and pasted it here for you:

Terms & Conditions
Audience Rewards reserves the right to change the availability, participating performances, seat type, number of points required, and related fees for this award at any time without notice. Reward price quoted is a per ticket price. No refunds, cancellations, or exchanges are permitted and all award redemptions are final. Members can purchase additional seats at the time of redemption, however based upon availability seat locations may vary. Members must have the required number of points in their account to reserve this award. Members can purchase additional points at the time of redemption through the call center.
~~
Audience Rewards also lost almost its entire staff during COVID; I believe they were down to literally 1 or 2 people, and while Broadway has been back for a whole year, all adjacent industries are still recovering and fighting the uphill battle of restaffing when revenues aren't what they used to be and salary demands are [rightfully] higher than they used to be.
~~
Regarding shows using SeatGeek vs Telecharge vs Ticketmaster - Shubert theaters use Telecharge because Shubert Org owns Telecharge. Nederlander theaters use Ticketmaster because that is their ticketing partner. And Jujamcyn theaters opted to try SeatGeek, which proved to be not without a lot of challenges both in terms of user experience and having to learn how to ticket for Broadway houses (it was a bumpy early start). Further, members from each of the 3 theatre owners are on on the Board of Audience Rewards, so none of them are leaving any platform because...of Audience Rewards?

Updated On: 9/26/22 at 09:31 PM

[MysteriousLady]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 9:40pm

<< Moderator removed reference to deleted post >> 

To Vernon:  it's truly not a scam. They've never just let you sit wherever. It's first come first served, but I've had great experiences with Audience Rewards and been able to score some great seats for good discounts. 

Updated On: 9/27/22 at 09:40 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 10:17pm

I’ve always been lucky with Audience Rewards. I’m sorry you had a bad experience. When I’ve called they’ve always been good about giving me the seats I want. I often quote them seats I see online and they have been good about securing them for me. Most of the employees seem to be theatre fans and I always have nice conversations with them. 
 

If I happen to get a rep who seems unsure or isn’t seating me in areas I like, I just tell them I’m going to think about it and call back. I don’t use my points if I am not getting a seating area I desire. 
 

They’ve always been super helpful and generous. Once I spent a lot of points on a front orchestra ticket that ended up being partial view. They refunded my points. They also gave me some points as I wasn’t aware that if you buy tickets at certain box offices you don’t receive points. 
 

I am always grateful for their kindness and customer service. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 12:05am

I've had nothing but good experiences with AR. I'm not always able to get what I hope for......but that's life.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 12:35am

I really think people need to chill a bit calling anything that disappointed them a scam. It's obviously not a scam and you would likely have bought those tickets anyway even if AR didn't exist to award points as a bonus. You didn't pay anything for those points. You got them for free.

I haven't redeemed a bunch of points. I typically do rush and lotteries and don't live in NY. But the 4 or 5 times, I've redeemed my points for tickets, all on-line, it's been a smooth and quick process. The confirmations came a day or two later and I've never been disappointed with the seats. I also didn't go into it thinking I would be able to select the exact seat I wanted. Sounds like the real problem might have been that your expectations were not realistic.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 6:12am

I've only had great experience with Audience Rewards.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 9:07am

Just because you weren’t offered the seats you wanted doesn’t make it a scam. You are purchasing/redeeming via Audience Rewards, not Telecharge, so you are subject to their inventory. 

[nealb1]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 10:09am

Been a member of AR for many, many years now and have yet to have a bad experience.  Have gotten many great seats for $49 and points.  And, in reading your post, I don't find the "scam" part that you are referring to.  Chill out.  We aren't curing cancer here.  

Betty72, you are so right.  All of the reps that I've spoken to on the phone with AR are extremely friendly, helpful and never had a bad experience with.  

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 12:27pm

I've had several great experiences with Audience Rewards. The only thing I don't like is that you often have to call and do it over the phone, when I would prefer to just do it online with a code. But, the people I spoke with were always nice and it never took more than a few minutes. 

[A Canadian in NYC]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 3:40pm

I’ve redeemed points many times and always been really happy. Last one was front mezz seats for Moulin Rouge. They were awesome seats and I didn’t have to pay full ticket price!  

[Age_of_Mendacity]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 11:12pm

I know it's been awhile since the initial post, but just wanted to say sometimes Audience Rewards really comes through. Today they listed 8 tickets for Topdog/Underdog's opening night for 2k points (2.5k if you don't have VIP/Gold) + $42. The tickets were in the Rear Mezz on the sides, but not a terribly bad deal!

[Big Apple2]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 7:00pm

I just scored 2 right orchestra seats Row G, Seats 2 & 4 for Moulin Rouge for early November.  Cost was 1000 showpoints + $69.  Great redemption, IMO.  It was my first one too.  Can't complain.

[nealb1]

Posted: 10/17/22 at 10:11am

Got a $49 ticket/1,500 points for "Moulin Rouge" for Sunday, 11/20 - row G in the orchestra.  Fantastic!

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 10/17/22 at 8:26pm

I've been using Audience Rewards for several years now and have had nothing but great experiences. I even was able to redeem for some of the new plays coming in this season. Not a scam at all.

[nealb1]

Posted: 10/28/22 at 3:20pm

Just got a $48 AR ticket for "Some Like It Hot" next month - Orch row L, seat 2, right on the aisle!  FANTASTIC!

[Melissa25]

Posted: 10/29/22 at 1:01am

Akimbo is 8000 point plus $98. 
 

LOL.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/29/22 at 11:59am

Once again, proving Audience Rewards is not a "scam". Thank you, Neal.