Death of a Salesman -Ripped Off

[mhborell]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:07am

Bought tickets, made travel plans, ready to go to the Big Apple. Just heard that my tickets are not being honored but are being given to critics. Lost out on airfare and most importantly special time with my kids hoping to expose them to great American theater. I guess the producers judge success differently.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:09am

Oh please- the show isn't sold out just buy some other seats for the same performance.

[Baiseur82]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:13am

I'm confused as to why the producer would not have just offered you different seats to the performance. Maybe placate you with free t-shirts or something. It seems strange that if they are truly not sold out for this performance it would make a lot more sense just to move your seats.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:24am

Unfortunately that's just not how it works/ you have to read the fine print on the back of your ticket/ when shows are cancelled or seats pulled for whatever reason, the patron is automatically issued a refund and it's up to the patron to rebook.

[mhborell]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:25am

Called and the only seats that were offered for that performance were back of the mezzanine at the side. I was offered my money back but nothing else.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:25am

Back of the mezz isn't bad for that theater. You've already made your plans so get the tickets and go enjoy the show.

[mhborell]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:30am

I guess I get it but TeleCharge was very clear that it was a final sale - etc. I planned a lot of travel around this event - a waste of over a thousand dollars. Most upsetting is that I wanted to expose my son to theater and the only play he ever had interest in seeing was Death of a Salesman as he read in in high school.This was a special father/son cultural moment that took a lot of planning and now is lost - Sucks --

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:32am

Why does it suck? They have seats available so you can still go and take your son. I don't really see the big issue here.

[Baiseur82]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:41am

Michael that's really interesting. I never thought to read the fine print before. I am also a bit surprised that the producers did not have some tickets set aside for the critics. I have certainly never had this happen to me and I'm sure that it is quite an annoyance but if they still have tickets why not buy new tickets and still enjoy this great trip with your son mhborell?

[mhborell]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:43am

There is a huge difference seeing a show from the middle front orchestra - where I bought my tickets - and being moved to the right hand corner of the back of the mezzanine, I wouldn't have purchased tickets to the mezzanine - to me it's a very big deal - from "hey, I got us (and paid for) great seats to "we got seats - ****ty ones" I chose the weekend based on best seats available - not any seats available. I would have made plans for a different date.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:46am

Well first off that's a relatively small theater so those seats aren't "SH*Tty". Maybe they're not amazing seats where you can smell Hoffman's pits, but you'll still see the show and have a great view of it.

But if you want to let the $1000+ you say you already spent on airfare go to waste just because you're not sitting in the orchestra anymore, it's your (and your sons) loss.

There's lots of us who sit in the mezz and sometimes even (God forbid) the balcony for shows and we get just as much out of them as if we were front row center.

[mhborell]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:46am

They don't have any decent seats available - and they didn't offer any accommodations. It was ****ty seats or money back - we don't live in NYC and scheduling another date is not easy and I will incur additional expense.

[mhborell]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:51am

I"m not a theater snot, but, I believe that if I purchase seats well in advance, I should get what I paid for. If you purchased a designer suit for $1000 and paid for it and then was told that it was it was really a $250 suit but you should be happy because most people can't afford a $250 suit, you may stop and question that equity of the transaction.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:55am

Binoculars.

[LegallyBroadway2]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:57am

Truly, you should contact the ticket service. This is actually kind of ridiculous.. and for an evening like this, for you and your son, yeah seating matters.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:57am

Your analogy makes no sense. But it doesn't matter. You're going to let your $1000+ plane tickets go to waste just to spite the show, so none of this even matters anymore.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 1:03am

from Theatermania:

Posted by: mridley2 11:44 pm EST 03/01/12
In reply to: Outrageous DEATH OF A SALESMAN cancellation!!! - Chuck 11:36 pm EST 03/01/12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Wow. that is upsetting. And really poor planning by the producers.

I can't comment on the legality (though i'm sure it is legal if not rude to patrons) but I can proffer an opinion as to why they've had to do this.

Most likely they're still making "considerable" changes and expect this to continue in the next days (week?)? Thus they have to reduce the number of press performances before opening on the 15th since they do not expect the show to be "frozen" until later than originally expected. So they now need to accommodate the same amount of press in fewer performances. Keep in mind they're doing 1 month of previews so changes are definitely being made during this period.

[tking001]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 1:26am

mhborell I sent you a pm

[Tom-497]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 2:07am

Having seen the show this evening, I'd say my seat on the far right of Rear Mezz Row A was very close to "sh*tty."

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 2:30am

If you were given your money back I fail to see how you were ripped off.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 3:50am

I'd write to the general manager with the details of your story and ask politely if they can offer you something better than what telecharge has at the moment.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 6:45am

I totally understand your frustration -- it does suck. That it is 'always' a possibility, doesn't make your reality any less.

However, don't let this ruin what can still be a great weekend with your son. Go ahead and book the sh*tty seats. Enjoy the evening and the time with your son. You can even find out which S.O.B critic is in your seat and throw things at them.

Right now, you are cutting of your nose to spite your face.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 7:24am

Mh,

I understand and sympathize with your anger and frustration. You were given a raw deal here.

But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. You've already shelled out a lot money, which can still offer you and your family a great experience. Even if you don't buy other tickets to Salesman, (and I agree with the other posters that mezz seats are not bad in that theatre), there are a million wonderful things to do in New York, things that could provide memories for you and your family that will last a lifetime. There are other shows, too.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. New York offers the possibility of great lemonade.

And I'm going to keep hoping that you manage to get good seats for Salesman.

Good luck, and if you come here, as I hope you will, please let us know how it went.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 8:07am

I never knew about the small print on the back of the tickets either. But it is a rip off, Phyllis, for those who don't live in close proximity. Plans are made, monies spent, and you anticipate getting what you paid for. If the performance was cancelled, then that is a different story. But this wasn't the case. The only way it would not be a rip off, if they offered the new seats either comped or highly reduced. Why should the OP pay full price for lousy tickets when they paid in ADVANCE for the opportunity to sit where they originally wanted? I usually sit based on price. And its usually in the balcony. The OP chose to pay a higher price for tickets , for a closer view. And this was taken away from them with probally the attitude "tough". This really bothers me. Its like the airlines who charge you if you change your plans. But if they have a "schedule change" due more than likely to a poor selling aircraft, they change your plans, regardless of what you have paid for in advance. Everytime you complain ...your SOL.

[followspot]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 8:36am

Having just seen this show from the right rear mezzanine, I can attest that these seats, for this production anyhow, are, indeed, sh*tty as hell. Spent the entire time watching the top of the actors' heads — rarely saw a face, let alone an emotion. And several key scenes, including the play's final scene, are played far downstage (off the actual set), which had the entire rear mezzanine leaning forward/half-standing in an effort to see. Judging from audience reactions, everyone in the orchestra and front mezzanine had a completely different experience from those of us in the peanut gallery. I will never ever sit in the rear mezzanine at the Barrymore again.

As for the OP's complaint — yes, this absolutely stinks, but seems like a perfect opportunity to teach your son a lesson in rolling with life's punches.