Ticketmaster Verified Fan tyranny

[Mike66]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 10:27am

Am I the only one who is beginning to think that the "control" that Ticketmaster is exerting through their "verified fan" program is more than a little frightening.

Being able to buy tickets to an entertainment event when I want to (even at 2 o'clock in the morning) may not be a constitutional right, but the way that ticket access to both Springstein and Harry Potter are being controlled means that the little guy (me) is now going to be totally shut out unless "my number comes up" and I happen to be sitting at my computer, plans already made in advance.

Besides the fact that it doesn't seem that the alleged "target" of all of this -- the resale market -- is being impacted very much if at all.  Seems that there are plenty of sales offers in the secondary market.  And of course, what's worse, is that the brokers know that "normal" folks like me cant just buy when/what we want.  

I'm I the only one thinking this?

 

[raddersons]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 10:44am

Verified Fans only exist to stop ticket bots, not individual ticket scalpers who buy five or six tickets for resale. It's not perfect, but ticket bots buy up entire concerts/performance dates in milliseconds, giving practically no one a chance to buy them at face value at all.

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 10:44am

I don't know what to think of it. The supposed intent of this approach was to minimize scalping and allow more "real" people to obtain tickets, but I've seen no evidence that it has been successful. The fact that it goes through Ticketmaster seems contrary to the purported intent, as many shows on Ticketmaster are littered with reseller tickets and very few (if any) options available from the actual venue.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 10:48am

It's a step in the right direction - but not perfect.   Sounds like London made a lot of successful changes for Hamilton.

[steven22]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 10:51am

The ticket buying experience for West End Hamilton was seamless as was the pickup of tickets and entrance into the theatre. I hope broadway adopts that process.

[Nycat63]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 11:03am

This is neither here nor there but someone on a Boys in the Band thread just somewhat proudly announced that he got very lucky with the first HP release and bought 6 tickets - 3 of which he's using, the other 3 are on StubHub. I'm sure he's not the only one who did exactly this so the system is just turning regular people into scalpers. I wouldn't have done it myself (honest), but the temptation to cash in on this is strong. Maybe bots didn't buy up half the theater but I suspect the first with access codes did - it just took longer for all the dates to get bought up.

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 11:51am

Nycat63 said: "This is neither here nor there but someone on a Boys in the Band thread just somewhat proudly announced that he got very lucky with the first HP release and bought 6 tickets - 3 of which he's using, the other 3 are on StubHub. I'm sure he's not the only one who did exactly this so the system is just turning regular people into scalpers. I wouldn't have done it myself (honest), but the temptation to cash in on this is strong. Maybe bots didn't buy up half the theater but I suspect the first with access codes did - it just took longer for all the dates to get bought up."

I just saw the post you're referring to. Ugh.

[Anshel2]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 12:05pm

How are people even selling Harry Potter tickets on Stubhub?  My understanding is that you need to pick them up at Will Call with the credit card used to purchase??

[haterobics]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 12:05pm

Long-term, it may be an issue for people who get Verified Fan tickets and continually resell them, since they are likely doing all of that through Ticketmaster, which means it is all trackable. But previously, there were individual people who used to own nearly half of the Book of Mormon seats and resell them, so it's a step in the right direction, although still problematic at present.

As for people buying more than they need and reselling them, with some of these costs, who can blame them? I used to do it for concerts all the time. Buy three and resell two of them for the cost of the three, etc.

[Nycat63]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 12:14pm

Lot666 said: "Nycat63 said: "This is neither here nor there but someone on a Boys in the Band thread just somewhat proudly announced that he got very lucky with the first HP release and bought 6 tickets - 3 of which he's using, the other 3 are on StubHub. I'm sure he's not the only one who did exactly this so the system is just turning regular people into scalpers. I wouldn't have done it myself (honest), but the temptation to cash in on this is strong. Maybe bots didn't buy up half the theater but I suspect the first with access codes did - it just took longer for all the dates to get bought up."

I just saw the post you're referring to. Ugh."

He's only asking for $1350 per part per ticket.  What a guy.  

 

 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 12:35pm

Nycat63 said: "Lot666 said: "Nycat63 said: "This is neither here nor there but someone on a Boys in the Band thread just somewhat proudly announced that he got very lucky with the first HP release and bought 6 tickets - 3 of which he's using, the other 3 are on StubHub. I'm sure he's not the only one who did exactly this so the system is just turning regular people into scalpers. I wouldn't have done it myself (honest), but the temptation to cash in on this is strong. Maybe bots didn't buy up half the theater but I suspect the first with access codes did - it just took longer for all the dates to get bought up."

I just saw the post you're referring to. Ugh."

He's only asking for$1350 per part per ticket. What a guy.



"

And to think I've never paid more than 100 pounds each part and I've seen the show three times...

[Elsie2]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 12:44pm

I have tickets for Hamilton London next year and it seems very straightforward the way it's working but I'll see how it works on the day. With this verified fan thing I'm unable to sell my tickets through Ticketmaster but it appears that if you have will call (which I do for international) you can pick up the tickets with your card and then you could possibly sell them on the day - I don't know if they are asking for ID at the door like with Hamilton but that appears to be the only way. I've been thinking about selling my May 26th tickets as I'll now be with my 7 year old who can't go and this is the only way I can see to do it if I wanted to resell, not for ridiculous prices but just to a real fan as I was really hoping to go and booked flights and everything but can't leave my daughter... however the easy option would be to give them back to ticketmaster and have them disappear in to the void... 

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 1:16pm

Anshel2 said: "How are people even selling Harry Potter tickets on Stubhub? My understanding is that you need to pick them up at Will Call with the credit card used to purchase??"

 

That is what I thought also. Not long after I got my tickets I started seeing them on StubHub. Maybe you have to meet the seller on the day of the performance? I would never do that.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 1:54pm

No system is perfect, and I have no doubt that, were the London system employed here, we would have a thread on why it is bad. The aim here is not to eradicate scoundrels, but to make their schemes more difficult and, more importantly, to make the cost of doing business high enough so as to increase the risk and discourage the effort.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 2:20pm

Ticketmaster really doesn't care about scalping. This whole system and them saying they do is bs.

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 2:22pm

Broadway Joe said: "Ticketmaster really doesn't care about scalping. This whole system and them saying they do is bs."

I have to agree because the more a ticket sells for, the bigger their fee. They want prices to skyrocket.

[Nycat63]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 2:28pm

Lot666 said: "Broadway Joe said: "Ticketmaster really doesn't care about scalping. This whole system and them saying they do is bs."

I have to agreebecause the more a ticket sells for, the bigger their fee. They want prices to skyrocket."

Completely agree with that if they use Ticketmaster resale but didn't they say that would not be available for HP?  I could be mistaken but how does TM gain if the resale market is only selling on Stubhub etc?  

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 3:44pm

ticketmaster does not call the shots on this, the producers do. ticketmaster lost the extremely lucrative Yankees primary resale market; I don't think they want to lose Broadway too.

[doritxuuu]

Posted: 12/21/17 at 5:03pm

Elsie2 said: "I have tickets for Hamilton London next year and it seems very straightforward the way it's working but I'll see how it works on the day. With this verified fan thing I'm unable to sell my tickets through Ticketmaster but it appears that if you have will call (which I do for international) you can pick up the tickets with your card and then you could possibly sell them on the day - I don't know if they are asking for ID at the door like with Hamilton but that appears to be the only way. I've been thinking about selling my May 26th tickets as I'll now be with my 7 year old who can't go and this is the only way I can see to do it if I wanted to resell, not for ridiculous prices but just to a real fan as I was really hoping to go and booked flights and everything but can't leave my daughter... however the easy option would be to give them back to ticketmaster and have them disappear in to the void..."

Just return it and lose the small booking fee. When I went, they asked for the ID, swiped the card and you gave out a paper ticket once you entered the theatre. You can't leave and return to the theatre once you're through the process.

[Mediamaven2]

Posted: 12/22/17 at 7:26pm

Mike66 said: "Am I the only one who is beginning to think that the "control" that Ticketmaster is exerting through their "verified fan" program is more than a little frightening.

Being able to buy tickets to an entertainment event when I want to (even at 2 o'clock in the morning) may not be a constitutional right, but the way that ticket access to both Springstein and Harry Potter are being controlled means that the little guy (me) is now going to be totally shut out unless "my number comes up" and I happen to be sitting at my computer, plans already made in advance.
 

I feel your frustration having had a lot of difficulty with Cursed Child tickets but it is the same thing for any high demand event: you need to be there at your computer the moment tickets go on sale or be shut out. Yeah verified fan shuts out alot but that's about demand. Fans would be completely shut out otherwise: this DOES give the little guy more opportunity. Only too few because of high demand.  What bugs me is the whole marketing thing...releasing in bits and the psychological drama of numbers, and 'standby' and waiting and then releasing more tickets, more dates, and so on. Just stokes demand.

But I prefer this to the uncontrolled way where no one really wins.