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Ticketmaster - Ticket prices may fluctuate, based on demand, at any time (Be Aware Of This Policy)

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  • Mar 5th, 2022 10:49 am
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Ticketmaster - Ticket prices may fluctuate, based on demand, at any time (Be Aware Of This Policy)

This is an all-time low for Ticketmaster. Here's a "new" policy (haven't bought tickets because of COVID) that I'm seeing today for the first time.

"Ticket prices may fluctuate, based on demand, at any time."

What does that mean? Then I read this ...
In some instances, events on our platform may have tickets that are “market-priced,” so ticket and fee prices may adjust over time based on demand. This is similar to how airline tickets and hotel rooms are sold and is commonly referred to as “Dynamic Pricing.”

Umm, WHAT?
So because everyone is logged in at the start of the sale, you now have the authority to raise the prices - from the start - because there's an "increase in demand"
ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?


Here's the entire thing written by Ticketmaster
How are ticket prices and fees determined?
•Article
How are ticket prices and fees determined?
The standard tickets sold on Ticketmaster are owned by our clients (venues, sports teams or other event promoters) who determine the number of tickets to be sold and set the face value price. In the case of resale tickets, listing prices are determined by the seller, which can include fans or season ticket holders. Note that for certain events, Ticketmaster may not be the primary ticket provider.

In some instances, events on our platform may have tickets that are “market-priced,” so ticket and fee prices may adjust over time based on demand. This is similar to how airline tickets and hotel rooms are sold and is commonly referred to as “Dynamic Pricing.”

Ticket fees (which can include a service fee, order processing fee and sometimes a delivery fee) are determined in collaboration with our clients. In exchange for the rights to sell their tickets, our clients typically share in a portion of the fees we collect. The portion of fees we keep helps us to provide our clients with software, equipment, services and support to manage their tickets and box office, and provide the sales network used by clients to distribute tickets to fans. The remainder, when taken with other revenues, is how we earn a profit.

The total cost of a ticket can be made up of:

Face Value Price

The face value price (also known as the established price or base ticket price) is determined by our clients. In many circumstances, face value prices are set at the time of the initial on-sale and stay the same until the event but prices can, and are often are, adjusted up or down over time. In either case, Ticketmaster collects the face value price and remits it to our clients.


Service Fee and Order Processing Fee

In almost all cases, Ticketmaster adds a service fee (also known as a convenience charge) to the face value price, or in the case of a resale ticket to the listing price, of each ticket. The service fee varies by event based on our agreement with each individual client.

In addition to the per ticket service fee, an order processing fee is typically charged. Unlike the service charge, which is added to each ticket, the processing fee is charged once for each order. The processing fee offsets the costs of ticket handling, shipping and support and as a result, the processing fee is generally not charged on in-person box office purchases. In some cases, Ticketmaster's order processing costs may be lower than the order processing fee. In those cases, Ticketmaster may earn a profit on the order processing fee.

In both cases, these fees are collected by Ticketmaster and typically shared with our clients.

Delivery Fees

Delivery options are determined by our clients and can vary from event to event. We offer a variety of ticket delivery options that vary in price, dependent upon the delivery method chosen. Delivery options may include Mobile Tickets, Will Call pickup, Print-at-Home, US Mail or UPS. The UPS delivery fee may not reflect the actual cost UPS charges Ticketmaster to deliver tickets via UPS. In some cases, delivery fees may include a profit to Ticketmaster.

Facility Charge

Each client decides whether to include a facility charge on ticket purchases. These additional fees typically help clients operate and invest back in the venues themselves. Facility charges may vary from event to event and can be raised or lowered over time. Ticketmaster does not share in facility charges, we simply collect them for venues.

Taxes

City, state, and local taxes (provincial and Federal Goods and Services taxes in Canada) are typically included in the face value of the ticket or in the fees. In some jurisdictions, however, taxes may be listed as a separate charge.
Last edited by DaVibe on Mar 6th, 2022 7:24 am, edited 4 times in total.
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Sounds a lot like Uber's "surge pricing" which they took a lot of heat over.

But this is TM so they'll get a pass because what are your alternatives?
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mrweather wrote: Sounds a lot like Uber's "surge pricing" which they took a lot of heat over.

But this is TM so they'll get a pass because what are your alternatives?
There is no alternative in Ontario. They have a monopoly on the business. Which doesn't make this right.
Tickets should be sold at face value, set by the artist.

Who's going to check that this is done fairly? Who's monitoring this policy? Why can't they increase it a "few dollars" on a full-time basis?
The government already slapped their hand for double dipping, I think it's time they slap them again for this ridiculous policy.
This will only HURT TICKET PURCHASERS and stuff the pockets of Ticketmaster. Unbelievable.
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DaVibe wrote: There is no alternative in Ontario. They have a monopoly on the business. Which doesn't make this right.
Tickets should be sold at face value, set by the artist.

Who's going to check that this is done fairly? Who's monitoring this policy? Why can't they increase it a "few dollars" on a full-time basis?
The government already slapped their hand for double dipping, I think it's time they slap them again for this ridiculous policy.
This will only HURT TICKET PURCHASERS and stuff the pockets of Ticketmaster. Unbelievable.
It's a free market. The tickets they sell are not essential goods. If you don't like the price, don't buy. Let the idiots with too much money/debt pay their ridiculous pries.
I'm happy to say I haven't interacted with ticketmaster in over 15 years. No loss for me.

The gov't should break them up for being a monopoly, but that isn't likely to happen since they aren't dealing with monopoly practices with more essential items like the meat industry, telcoms, social media, etc.
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I stopped going to concerts because of this - good seats are unavailable or sold at extremely high prices and with the other seats, you get a better experience watching it on YouTube.

It was happening before as well when tickets were being sold at much higher prices in the secondary market they offered. Guess this was merged into the new policy.
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engineered wrote: It's a free market. The tickets they sell are not essential goods. If you don't like the price, don't buy. Let the idiots with too much money/debt pay their ridiculous pries.
I'm happy to say I haven't interacted with ticketmaster in over 15 years. No loss for me.

The gov't should break them up for being a monopoly, but that isn't likely to happen since they aren't dealing with monopoly practices with more essential items like the meat industry, telcoms, social media, etc.
I don't think that's a fair statement to make, when people want to see their favourite artist or watch a sporting event. Ticketmaster is the sole seller for these types of events, it's not like the customer can "speak with their wallet" and choose another retailer - there is no other retailer. It's also not fair to compare the ticket pricing of a concert to that of an airline. Concerts have on sale dates, many times the entire venue can sell out in 1 single day. It's expected that within a section of the stadium, the tickets will be the same price, not that Bob paid $400 because he bought them on day 1 and Jill paid $250 (the regular price) because she was able to buy them on Day 2. There will always be "increased demand" because there's a public onsale. Everyone is logging in at the same time to try and grab tickets. That description is setting up the consumer.

Myself and my wife go to concerts often because we have favourite artists we would like so see. There is no other opportunity to do this.
It's not as simple as "if you do not like the price, don't buy" IMO
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lpin14 wrote: I stopped going to concerts because of this - good seats are unavailable or sold at extremely high prices and with the other seats, you get a better experience watching it on YouTube.

It was happening before as well when tickets were being sold at much higher prices in the secondary market they offered. Guess this was merged into the new policy.
This policy however, could effect any seat. So while you think you are getting the "cheapest seat" - you may not be (I go to a lot of concerts this way - cheapest seats)

I've purchased tickets all over this country and the United States with TicketMaster and others. Something like this is new in the industry, from what I can see and has no benefit other than increasing the profits for Ticketmaster, in a very sneaky way.

How does the consumer make a decision whether they want to pay the increased price or the regular price, if they can't even see what the price is suppose to be? It's altered from the onset!
That's what I'm having difficulty with. Ticketmaster is holding all the cards and now they aren't displaying all the information either.
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DaVibe wrote: This policy however, could effect any seat. So while you think you are getting the "cheapest seat" - you may not be (I go to a lot of concerts this way - cheapest seats)

I've purchased tickets all over this country and the United States with TicketMaster and others. Something like this is new in the industry, from what I can see and has no benefit other than increasing the profits for Ticketmaster, in a very sneaky way.

How does the consumer make a decision whether they want to pay the increased price or the regular price, if they can't even see what the price is suppose to be? It's altered from the onset!
That's what I'm having difficulty with. Ticketmaster is holding all the cards and now they aren't displaying all the information either.
They're squeezing customers to maximize revenue and I think even the cheaper seats had this problem on the secondary market.

I don't really have a problem with what they're doing, even though I can't afford to go to a concert anymore. I'm surprised that artists (some of whom are very worried about poor countries having large debt burdens, etc.) do not have a problem with the way their tickets are being sold, but few have spoken out. I wouldn't be surprised if they get a cut of the excess.
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DaVibe wrote: I don't think that's a fair statement to make, when people want to see their favourite artist or watch a sporting event. Ticketmaster is the sole seller for these types of events, it's not like the customer can "speak with their wallet" and choose another retailer - there is no other retailer. It's also not fair to compare the ticket pricing of a concert to that of an airline. Concerts have on sale dates, many times the entire venue can sell out in 1 single day. It's expected that within a section of the stadium, the tickets will be the same price, not that Bob paid $400 because he bought them on day 1 and Jill paid $250 (the regular price) because she was able to buy them on Day 2. There will always be "increased demand" because there's a public onsale. Everyone is logging in at the same time to try and grab tickets. That description is setting up the consumer.

Myself and my wife go to concerts often because we have favourite artists we would like so see. There is no other opportunity to do this.
It's not as simple as "if you do not like the price, don't buy" IMO
You do have a choice though. You can choose not to go to the event. Sucks, but others are willing to pay more than you. If enough people cared about the pricing/structure, the even would not sell out and TM would be forced to rethink their policies. Your other options are to go to other events, independent, non-TM venues.
If you want to complain, you should target the artist, but most are likely at the whim of their promoter. So all you can really do is vote with your wallet, which you can do by not giving money to TM.
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It's hard to have this discussion about Ticketmaster, as a lot of people don't understand the complexities of buying tickets. For example, @engineered telling me not to buy tickets. Well, that's not going to happen.
This is also part of the reason why Ticketmaster gets away with so much, because I don't think the public truly has an understanding of the process and what they are capable of and what they are doing.
engineered wrote: You do have a choice though. You can choose not to go to the event. Sucks, but others are willing to pay more than you. If enough people cared about the pricing/structure, the even would not sell out and TM would be forced to rethink their policies. Your other options are to go to other events, independent, non-TM venues.
If you want to complain, you should target the artist, but most are likely at the whim of their promoter. So all you can really do is vote with your wallet, which you can do by not giving money to TM.
Yes, I understand your point - don't purchase tickets from Ticketmaster. Great.
Moving beyond that ...

Hopefully we can hear from other customers of Ticketmaster
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DaVibe wrote: It's hard to have this discussion about Ticketmaster, as a lot of people don't understand the complexities of buying tickets. For example, @engineered telling me not to buy tickets. Well, that's not going to happen.
This is also part of the reason why Ticketmaster gets away with so much, because I don't think the public truly has an understanding of the process and what they are capable of and what they are doing.
Do enlighten us.
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Keith1411 wrote: Do enlighten us.
Sure. One thing that isn't talked about much is the fact that Ticketmaster has become a ticket reseller, themselves. Not only do they collect fees when they sell you the tickets, but now they collect fees to allow you to resell the tickets back on their website. Ticketmaster posts the tickets for you, mixed in with the regular tickets. Most understand this and know (now) how to uncheck searching for resale tickets, but many unsuspecting ticket purchasers have accidentally bought resale tickets.

I question the number of "Platinum" experiences that Ticketmaster offers. These are blocks of (usually the best seats) reserved for people to purchase. Sometimes they include things, like a food package or merchandise, sometimes they don't.

I'll think of some more, I just haven't bought tickets in about 2 years so, all of the reasons why I hate Ticketmaster have escaped me. This was the first ticket purchase in years.

RE: This post ...
My examples are there. I don't believe it's a fair action on TM's part to start "dynamic pricing" - look at Toronto, practically every event sells out. Artists are hosting concerts 2, 3 and 4 nights in a row because they can't keep up with demand.
It's not enough that Ticketmaster makes a transaction fee on every single one of those tickets?
Now they can "dynamically" adjust without showing the consumer

As ticket purchasers, I think the consumer should know what the "face value" is and have access to purchasing it at that price. With this policy, Ticketmaster can make it any price they want and just claim "it was busy."
Unless there's blocks of tickets being held, night #1 for The Weeknd (an artist) is now sold out. It went on sale to previous ticket purchasers today at 10am. That's incredible demand.

I'm a ticketmaster customer for the past 20 years. I've seen this company develop into what it's doing today. It's really deceptive.

Edit: Here's some more
Ticketmaster use to have retail locations in Ontario to purchase tickets. They removed all of those
Ticketmaster use to offer free shipping when you didn't pick-up the tickets. Then they charged.
Now, doesn't look like physical tickets are even an option AT ALL. Tickets are e-tickets.
(Cut lots of cost down here). Do you think those costs savings were ever reflected in the tickets? Nope

I've used this example before but what happened / has happened still remains the same.
I've purchased tickets for the same venue - Air Canada Centre / Scotiabank Area - which has different venue fees. There's Ticketmaster fees and venue fees.
Oddly enough, the venue fees are HIGHER on a sold out concert - like Bon Jovi, he's doing to multiple nights in Toronto - and less on an act that won't sell out . Strange, don't you think it would be the other way around?
When pressed on it, Ticketmaster says they don't set that price, the venue does.
But who's keeping that in check? Who has the customer's best interest here? Or, like I suspect, is Ticketmaster manipulating this as well? There are no checks.

Which I think leads into this point - there are no checks on Ticketmaster. Who knows what else is happening behind the scenes. That's why it was suspected that they were hand-in-hand with ticket resellers, because the public truthfully doesn't know what's going on.

BTW, regarding platinum tickets, those tickets are blocked off and on sale before the public on sales. I've seen this with my own eyes. Many fans are left in a scenario where they are purchasing more expensive "reserved" seating for an event they think will sell out.
Last edited by DaVibe on Mar 4th, 2022 2:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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DaVibe wrote: Sure. One thing that isn't talked about much is the fact that Ticketmaster has become a ticket reseller, themselves. Not only do they collect fees when they sell you the tickets, but now they collect fees to allow you to resell the tickets back on their website. Ticketmaster posts the tickets for you, mixed in with the regular tickets. Most understand this and know (now) how to uncheck searching for resale tickets, but many unsuspecting ticket purchasers have accidentally bought resale tickets.

I question the number of "Platinum" experiences that Ticketmaster offers. These are blocks of (usually the best seats) reserved for people to purchase. Sometimes they include things, like a food package or merchandise, sometimes they don't.

I'll think of some more, I just haven't bought tickets in about 2 years so, all of the reasons why I hate Ticketmaster have escaped me. This was the first ticket purchase in years.
That's helpful and that is truly shady on them. I've heard about some bigger artists trying to charge $x for a ticket for their events but then finding out that a lot of venues are locked in with Ticketmaster so they have no choice.
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DaVibe wrote: Something like this is new in the industry, from what I can see and has no benefit other than increasing the profits for Ticketmaster, in a very sneaky way.
It's not new, it's just becoming more common. Ticketmaster rolled out dynamic pricing back in 2011. I remember because a few hockey teams started using it and there was a lot of talk about it.
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psyko514 wrote: It's not new, it's just becoming more common. Ticketmaster rolled out dynamic pricing back in 2011. I remember because a few hockey teams started using it and there was a lot of talk about it.
Not in this way, they didn't. It was never on the front page of the site saying all seats are subject to dynamic pricing.
Okay ... CONCERTS specifically ...

Yes, Raptors and Leafs and Jays use dynamic pricing, per game (for many years now). This is not that scenario, this is different.
When the Lakers come into Toronto, Ticketmaster raises the prices of the event from the start. You are aware of this.
This is different because in a concert setting, who knows when they "turn on" this feature or turn it off?
When do you even know it's happening?

Good example, The Weeknd has announced one date at the Rogers Centre. I suspect he will announce another. What if "dynamic pricing" was already turned on for this event - not known to the general public - and the second event is $100 cheaper, per ticket?

I mean, the province allows reselling tickets. Even as a ticket purchaser, how are you suppose to know the true cost of your ticket, when TM can change the prices as we they wish? You don't know what you're holding. Is it a $25 ticket or a $40 ticket?

The consumer is going to be taken advantage of.
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DaVibe wrote: It's hard to have this discussion about Ticketmaster, as a lot of people don't understand the complexities of buying tickets. For example, @engineered telling me not to buy tickets. Well, that's not going to happen.
This is also part of the reason why Ticketmaster gets away with so much, because I don't think the public truly has an understanding of the process and what they are capable of and what they are doing.



Yes, I understand your point - don't purchase tickets from Ticketmaster. Great.
Moving beyond that ...

Hopefully we can hear from other customers of Ticketmaster
Don't you see that your refusal to stop buying tickets from them is why they continue to be such a shitty company?
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DaVibe wrote: Sure. One thing that isn't talked about much is the fact that Ticketmaster has become a ticket reseller, themselves. Not only do they collect fees when they sell you the tickets, but now they collect fees to allow you to resell the tickets back on their website. Ticketmaster posts the tickets for you, mixed in with the regular tickets. Most understand this and know (now) how to uncheck searching for resale tickets, but many unsuspecting ticket purchasers have accidentally bought resale tickets.

I question the number of "Platinum" experiences that Ticketmaster offers. These are blocks of (usually the best seats) reserved for people to purchase. Sometimes they include things, like a food package or merchandise, sometimes they don't.

I'll think of some more, I just haven't bought tickets in about 2 years so, all of the reasons why I hate Ticketmaster have escaped me. This was the first ticket purchase in years.

RE: This post ...
My examples are there. I don't believe it's a fair action on TM's part to start "dynamic pricing" - look at Toronto, practically every event sells out. Artists are hosting concerts 2, 3 and 4 nights in a row because they can't keep up with demand.
It's not enough that Ticketmaster makes a transaction fee on every single one of those tickets?
Now they can "dynamically" adjust without showing the consumer

As ticket purchasers, I think the consumer should know what the "face value" is and have access to purchasing it at that price. With this policy, Ticketmaster can make it any price they want and just claim "it was busy."
Unless there's blocks of tickets being held, night #1 for The Weeknd (an artist) is now sold out. It went on sale to previous ticket purchasers today at 10am. That's incredible demand.

I'm a ticketmaster customer for the past 20 years. I've seen this company develop into what it's doing today. It's really deceptive.

Edit: Here's some more
Ticketmaster use to have retail locations in Ontario to purchase tickets. They removed all of those
Ticketmaster use to offer free shipping when you didn't pick-up the tickets. Then they charged.
Now, doesn't look like physical tickets are even an option AT ALL. Tickets are e-tickets.
(Cut lots of cost down here). Do you think those costs savings were ever reflected in the tickets? Nope

I've used this example before but what happened / has happened still remains the same.
I've purchased tickets for the same venue - Air Canada Centre / Scotiabank Area - which has different venue fees. There's Ticketmaster fees and venue fees.
Oddly enough, the venue fees are HIGHER on a sold out concert - like Bon Jovi, he's doing to multiple nights in Toronto - and less on an act that won't sell out . Strange, don't you think it would be the other way around?
When pressed on it, Ticketmaster says they don't set that price, the venue does.
But who's keeping that in check? Who has the customer's best interest here? Or, like I suspect, is Ticketmaster manipulating this as well? There are no checks.

Which I think leads into this point - there are no checks on Ticketmaster. Who knows what else is happening behind the scenes. That's why it was suspected that they were hand-in-hand with ticket resellers, because the public truthfully doesn't know what's going on.

BTW, regarding platinum tickets, those tickets are blocked off and on sale before the public on sales. I've seen this with my own eyes. Many fans are left in a scenario where they are purchasing more expensive "reserved" seating for an event they think will sell out.
I think most understand how Ticketmaster works. His point is still valid. Don't buy tickets if the pricing structure upsets you. If everyone stopped buying tickets, Ticketmaster would be forced to redo their pricing structure. The reason they are allowed to continue to do what they are doing is because people like yourself keep buying tickets (you for the past 20 years), which enables Ticketmaster.

You don't have to go to that Eminem concert, you don't have to see that live musical. You want to and you continue to pay thru the nose to do so with unfair and unethical pricing structures because consumers don't stop buying.

It is as simple "if you don't like the price, don't buy it."

What do you think would happen if everyone stopped buying tickets?
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engineered wrote: Don't you see that your refusal to stop buying tickets from them is why they continue to be such a shitty company?
As miserable of a situation as Ticketmaster's tactics are, the above statement is true. So long as we keep lining up like lemmings and handing money over to Ticketmaster, they have no reason to change their ways. Until consumers' unhappiness translates into a mass boycott and refusal to buy what they are selling, it's only going to continue.

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