Audience Rewards - Total Scam?/ TELECHARGE

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.  

 

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.

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.
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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.
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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

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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!

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

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

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