930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: toodles2004 on September 07, 2005, 05:23:00 pm
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Where does a concert venue get off charging $4.50+ in "convenience" fees on an $18 ticket? I'd rather sit home and strum my...until it's raw and then some more, than pay a 25% fee for a concert ticket. Especially when there appears to be NO WAY to buy the ticket w/out the fee(s).
This is so incredibly crooked, cynical, insulting and nasty--- artists should refuse to play at places that impose this bullsh.
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Couldn't agree more, the convenience charges are pretty fucking INCONVENIENT to me...
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Pearl Jam tried and got spanked silly. They even got a senate hearing. Doesn't matter. Ticketmaster and Clear Channel are big business and control the market. I'm just thankful that the 930 doesn't use them. At least there is some semblance of competition.
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Originally posted by toodles2004:
there appears to be NO WAY to buy the ticket w/out the fee(s).
there is no convenience fee when you pay at the door, the night of the show.
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I think the convenience fee is only charged via phone or internet services. If you go to the box office or even a walk-up ticket outlet, you probably don't have to pay them.
Note that convenience fee is different from the service charge, delivery fee and facility fee. It's the fee they charge you for the convenience of ordering tickets without leaving your house, as opposed to driving across town and standing in line somewhere.
It's rare that the only way to get tickets is on-line or via telephone. It's just the most convenient. Thus the charge.
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Originally posted by toodles2004:
This is so incredibly crooked, cynical, insulting and nasty--- artists should refuse to play at places that impose this bullsh.
Don't be naive. Most artists get a kickback out of these fees.
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Actually, the 9:30 club does charge them. That's where I was buying the tickets. Tickets.com and Ticketmaster.com are the noted options And if there's some other way to buy the tickets---it isn't remotely evident on the 9:30 Club website.
Which says to me that 9:30 more than capitulates to the effers who've hijacked the process. They support them.
--T
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Originally posted by toodles2004:
artists should refuse to play at places that impose this bullsh.
<img src="http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:Z6h7x9qKFaYJ:www.arcterex.net/photos/laughing" alt=" - " />
Thank you for that.
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Originally posted by toodles2004:
Actually, the 9:30 club does charge them. That's where I was buying the tickets. Tickets.com and Ticketmaster.com are the noted options And if there's some other way to buy the tickets---it isn't remotely evident on the 9:30 Club website.
Which says to me that 9:30 more than capitulates to the effers who've hijacked the process. They support them.
--T
I would caution you to do some research before making sweeping statements.
FYI - The 9:30 box office offers all tickets for only a $1.00 service charge. In addition, any tickets sold the night of shows, for that evenings performance, are offered with no service charge at all.
While I'm certain it offers you no solace, the ability to offer tickets either through the web or over the phone is a necessary part of doing business in this industry. The service fee's and convenience charges are how those ticket vendors earn a profit and stay in business. These rates are no different than "parts and labor" when your car is worked on. You may not like it, but that's the cost of having someone else do the work for you. You can treat the box office like an auto parts store. Do it yourself. Save some money by coming down and buying tickets in person.
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Originally posted by Shadrach:
Originally posted by toodles2004:
Actually, the 9:30 club does charge them. That's where I was buying the tickets. Tickets.com and Ticketmaster.com are the noted options And if there's some other way to buy the tickets---it isn't remotely evident on the 9:30 Club website.
Which says to me that 9:30 more than capitulates to the effers who've hijacked the process. They support them.
--T
I would caution you to do some research before making sweeping statements.
FYI - The 9:30 box office offers all tickets for only a $1.00 service charge. In addition, any tickets sold the night of shows, for that evenings performance, are offered with no service charge at all.
While I'm certain it offers you no solace, the ability to offer tickets either through the web or over the phone is a necessary part of doing business in this industry. The service fee's and convenience charges are how those ticket vendors earn a profit and stay in business. These rates are no different than "parts and labor" when your car is worked on. You may not like it, but that's the cost of having someone else do the work for you. You can treat the box office like an auto parts store. Do it yourself. Save some money by coming down and buying tickets in person. [/b]
just don't give them your forum name.
they would throw me out, if i gave them mine at the door.
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Ironically, once in a Blue Moon, being a forum member has it's privileges, other than for some passwords. You just haven't joined us yet.
Sometime, come join us and earn your official 'loon wings'.
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<img src="http://www.dimpleandasmirk.com/forum/inconceivable.jpg" alt=" - " />
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Originally posted by Shadrach:
Originally posted by toodles2004:
Actually, the 9:30 club does charge them. That's where I was buying the tickets. Tickets.com and Ticketmaster.com are the noted options And if there's some other way to buy the tickets---it isn't remotely evident on the 9:30 Club website.
Which says to me that 9:30 more than capitulates to the effers who've hijacked the process. They support them.
--T
I would caution you to do some research before making sweeping statements.
FYI - The 9:30 box office offers all tickets for only a $1.00 service charge. In addition, any tickets sold the night of shows, for that evenings performance, are offered with no service charge at all.
While I'm certain it offers you no solace, the ability to offer tickets either through the web or over the phone is a necessary part of doing business in this industry. The service fee's and convenience charges are how those ticket vendors earn a profit and stay in business. These rates are no different than "parts and labor" when your car is worked on. You may not like it, but that's the cost of having someone else do the work for you. You can treat the box office like an auto parts store. Do it yourself. Save some money by coming down and buying tickets in person. [/b]
Good perspective Shadrach. I work in the sports industry on a local event. We have a stadium where the upper level exceeds 4000 seats. Our event is eight days long and it would be nearly impossible to sell each ticket ourselves year round. While I agree Ticketmaster fees seem high, you have to put it in perspective. We use Ticketmaster because the fees we pay them are much lower than if we were to hire a full-time ticket staff (We have one person in office who is our ticket manager)
You think Ticketmaster fees are high? Guess what the mark-ups are on items at the grocery store, especially places like Whole Foods! Ticketmaster is a business too and they need revenue to keep themselves going.
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Originally posted by sonickteam4:
Originally posted by toodles2004:
there appears to be NO WAY to buy the ticket w/out the fee(s).
there is no convenience fee when you pay at the door, the night of the show. [/b]
yeah; but then the show sells out four people before you in line (thanks, ticket brokers) and you are left out in the cold cruel world, smacking the pavement as others strut into the club like kings with their gold-plated chuck taylors and diamond incrusted buddy holly glasses....
seemingly; the only people that can AFFORD the aforementioned ticket charges.
inconcievable!
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Originally posted by you be betty:
yeah; but then the show sells out four people before you in line ...
Then get in line earlier. Pay the convenience charge, or get to the club earlier than everyone else. Or get to a TicketMaster/Tickets.com outlet where the charges are cheaper than online.
You have the choice of paying the extra $$$, or putting forth the extra time and effort to make sure you get a ticket. If you can't be bothered to do either one, you risk missing the show altogether. And don't be surprised when other folks beat you to it.
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Originally posted by Shadrach:
These rates are no different than "parts and labor" when your car is worked on. . [/b]
HUH!? Not defending the car business, but when you are charged 'parts and labour' when your car is worked on, it's because some 'parts' were used that had to be purchased and someone who needs to be paid 'laboured' on your car!! A 'convenience' charge is a made up charge to simply get more money out of the punter.
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no matter what someone will up the price of tickets to get some more money. like 9:30 or tickets.com if you wait to long for a show and buy them online, you end up still paying $3.95 to PICK them up at the window.
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my wife wants a new car
the money's gotta come from somewhere
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If you can't afford the service charge, you need to talk to your parents about an allowance increase!
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Originally posted by xcanuck:
Doesn't matter. Ticketmaster and Clear Channel are big business and control the market. I'm just thankful that the 930 doesn't use them. At least there is some semblance of competition.
Except the fees are about the same but Tickets.com sucks worse. Bring back Ticketbastard, at least their system is better.
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It's funny when people try to defend the extra charges. When you buy other merchandise you don't get hit up with extra fees. The business builds it into their price and gives you the bottom line. Buy something at BestBuy.com and they don't tack on a fee for getting it online, you'll get charged shipping (which is legit) if it's mailed, but that's it. You can even go pick it up in the store and not have to pay a "convenience" fee, a handling fee or any of the other creative names the concert industry comes up with.
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Originally posted by Random Citizen:
:D
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Originally posted by Seth Hurwitz:
my wife wants a new car
the money's gotta come from somewhere
Remember the dealer built that dealership to make it more 'convenient' for you to go buy a car, so no bitch'n bout dem convenience charges y'all!!! Oh, and no need to buy the 'undercoating' 'acid rain protection' 'scotchguard' or 'extended warranty'....all car business versions of 'convenience charges'
Seriously, why is the price of a ticket broken down into service, convenience, one-time somethingorother....just add it all up and call it the price of the ticket. That way this thread won't keep reappearing every other week.
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Originally posted by O'Mankie:
all car business versions of 'convenience charges'
the more obvious example would be the "destination and delivery charge" of $800 or so
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Originally posted by Dave Stoller:
When you buy other merchandise you don't get hit up with extra fees. The business builds it into their price and gives you the bottom line.
Not always. Occassionally I'll check out at some hotel and the bill will have a bogus fixed per diem that wasn't in the rate quote. At one place it was "electricity surcharge". It's the same thing Birchmere does... just a dishonest way to advertise something cheaper than customers can actually get it for. In either case they're just arbitrarily enumerating one of their costs of doing business. At the Birchmere they call it "surcharge for Box Office Staff, Parking, & Security" ($3.50 now per ticket you buy @ box office night of show), but they could just as easily call it "electricity surcharge". Much love to 930 for not pulling that crap
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Originally posted by Shadrach:
Originally posted by toodles2004:
Actually, the 9:30 club does charge them. That's where I was buying the tickets. Tickets.com and Ticketmaster.com are the noted options And if there's some other way to buy the tickets---it isn't remotely evident on the 9:30 Club website.
Which says to me that 9:30 more than capitulates to the effers who've hijacked the process. They support them.
--T
I would caution you to do some research before making sweeping statements.
FYI - The 9:30 box office offers all tickets for only a $1.00 service charge. In addition, any tickets sold the night of shows, for that evenings performance, are offered with no service charge at all.
[/b]
good to know about no service charge on the same-day shows. means i can save $1 on my english beat ticket tonight :) will have to do this more often, and just hope the show wont sell out.
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Originally posted by you be betty:
Originally posted by sonickteam4:
Originally posted by toodles2004:
there appears to be NO WAY to buy the ticket w/out the fee(s).
there is no convenience fee when you pay at the door, the night of the show. [/b]
yeah; but then the show sells out four people before you in line [/b]
thats decidedly inconvenient then isnt it. hence the term "convenience charges"
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Originally posted by O'Mankie:
Originally posted by Shadrach:
These rates are no different than "parts and labor" when your car is worked on. . [/b]
HUH!? Not defending the car business, but when you are charged 'parts and labour' when your car is worked on, it's because some 'parts' were used that had to be purchased and someone who needs to be paid 'laboured' on your car!! A 'convenience' charge is a made up charge to simply get more money out of the punter. [/b]
My comparison was in regards to the separate fee's charged by the mechanic. Parts would never cost as much as they charge if you were to purchase the parts yourself. And labor would be free if you installed them on your own. But the fact is most of us are too lazy and or busy to go buy auto parts and then spend a Saturday afternoon thumbing through a do-it-yourself book on how to change brake pads. In most cases we would rather have the "convienience" of having someone else "service" our vehicle.
tickets.com is a company that employs real people and has real hardware to maintain, plus like every company in the world, they're trying to earn a profit. So they charge what the market will bear.
Again I point to the fact that for almost all of our shows you can come to the box office in person and save money.
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Originally posted by Shadrach:
spend a Saturday afternoon thumbing through a do-it-yourself book on how to change brake pads. [/QB]
Hopefully you buy your brake pads from Tommy Callaghan Jr.
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Would this argument end if they called them "Screw you" charges instead of "convenience" charges?
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Originally posted by Shadrach:
But the fact is most of us are too lazy and or busy to go buy auto parts and then spend a Saturday afternoon thumbing through a do-it-yourself book on how to change brake pads. In most cases we would rather have the "convienience" of having someone else "service" our vehicle.
so are you saying we should make our own tickets for shows??
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Originally posted by sonickteam4:
so are you saying we should make our own tickets for shows??
I make my own. I write the all of the pertenant concert information on a cracker with squeeze cheese then when I go, if the bouncer won't let me in, I eat the "ticket to deliciousness." It's a win-win.
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i am not sure why i cant stop laughing at that.....
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A couple bucks doesn't bother me... However, $25 fees on Rolling Stones tickets does. Thank got I didn't get them for me and have already been paid back!
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Originally posted by sonickteam4:
Originally posted by Shadrach:
But the fact is most of us are too lazy and or busy to go buy auto parts and then spend a Saturday afternoon thumbing through a do-it-yourself book on how to change brake pads. In most cases we would rather have the "convienience" of having someone else "service" our vehicle.
so are you saying we should make our own tickets for shows?? [/b]
No, I'm saying that if you are that concerned about the additional charges don't come here and complain that they are impossible to avoid when there is clearly an alternative. Come to the box office and purchase your tickets in person.
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Originally posted by Shadrach:
Come to the box office and purchase your tickets in person.
But you guys are all so scary with your tattoos, piercings and black clothing at the box office....
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Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:
I make my own. I write the all of the pertenant concert information on a cracker with squeeze cheese then when I go, if the bouncer won't let me in, I eat the "ticket to deliciousness." It's a win-win.
LOL...that's some funny shit. That gets my vote for post of the week
Oh, and what kind of bouncer refuses a cracker with squeeze cheese??
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Originally posted by Shadrach:
I'm saying that if you are that concerned about the additional charges don't come here and complain that they are impossible to avoid when there is clearly an alternative. Come to the box office and purchase your tickets in person.
yes, you are right. sometimes i bitch because Pop tarts are 75 cents more at the corner store than at the Safeway, but then i think, "didnt have to go all the way to Safeway"
time is money and money is evil so.....
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Originally posted by O'Mankie:
Originally posted by Shadrach:
These rates are no different than "parts and labor" when your car is worked on. . [/b]
HUH!? Not defending the car business, but when you are charged 'parts and labour' when your car is worked on, it's because some 'parts' were used that had to be purchased and someone who needs to be paid 'laboured' on your car!! A 'convenience' charge is a made up charge to simply get more money out of the punter. [/b]
Difference is that the labor charge, doesn't always reflect the time spent on the job. The Click & Clack guys just had an article about this a week ago or so. There is a book that most mechanics use that describes the average amount of labor put into a job. Now if you are a new mechanic, learning the ropes, this is probably a justifiable number. However, if you've been doing it for years and year, it probably won't take you the same amount of time for an oil change than a newbie would. But no matter what, the labor charges are the same throughout. In some cases, they are even more in higher priced neighborhoods because the feeling is that those people can afford it. Yet at the same time, there are mechanics who just charge for the amount of time spent on the job, not what the book says.
Overall I can say I don't like charges, but can understand them to a point. A one time charge is fine, but to loop in three to four different charges is ridiculous. I know DAR has some nutty fee with a crazy name that I can't think of right now. But there should be norms to the charges, unlike the Stones reference someone made. In that case, there were different charges on each price level of ticket. The higher priced the ticket, the more the fees. It didn't cost anymore to serve up the higher priced ticket, did it?
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Originally posted by sonickteam4:
time is money and money is evil so.....
...time is evil??
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Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
Originally posted by O'Mankie:
all car business versions of 'convenience charges'
the more obvious example would be the "destination and delivery charge" of $800 or so [/b]
Actually that's the charges to transport your car, be it from the place of manufacture... Japan, Italy, Germany, Detroit, Korea or even England if you happen to buy a MINI, to the dealership. The reason it is not just included in the price of the car is because that charge is non-taxable...so if you buy a new car and they charge sales tax on the destination fee you can just say, "I don't think so pal", but it is a legitimate charge.
The car bus. version of convenience charge, is the beloved 'doc fee' which is just free money for the dealership that they try to bullshit you with some story about it being administration charges to do all the paperwork.....which would be like the supermarket charging you extra for the check-out person running your groceries over the scanning thingie.
Another comparison to convenience fees would be 'points' in the real estate mortgage game. Now that's a classic scam, they don't even try to give it a believable name!!!!
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Originally posted by sonickteam4:
time is money and money is evil so.....
...time is evil?? [/b]
weird aint it?
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Originally posted by hitman:
Originally posted by O'Mankie:
Originally posted by Shadrach:
These rates are no different than "parts and labor" when your car is worked on. . [/b]
[/b]
Difference is that the labor charge, doesn't always reflect the time spent on the job. The Click & Clack guys just had an article about this a week ago or so. There is a book that most mechanics use that describes the average amount of labor put into a job. [/b]
Again, not intending to defend the car business, but it is done to standardise the service done on vehicles....imagine if you paid for the actual hours spent by the mechanic and some pesky nut was rusted on that took 4 hours to loosen? I'm sure you'd be pissed off getting a $500 bill to remove rusted nut before the work you car came in for was even started. Sure the hours in the book err on the side of caution, for example, I remember the time allocated to change a bulb on a Ferrari was 2 hours, which took me, a salesman about 3 minutes on a 360. The service manager explained that on a specific model......Testarosa if I remember correctly, you had to take the fender off to get to the light bulb housing so that's why it was allocated two hours. Any dealer worth dealing with doesn't even charge to change a bulb, but that's what the book says.
I may be explaining it wrong, but it's one of those things I understood at the time, but having difficulty explaining it.
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Originally posted by amnesiac:
Oh, and what kind of bouncer refuses a cracker with squeeze cheese??
four things:
1. we don't have any bouncers
B. we have a couple of those wacky vegans on staph, so they'd probably say no
III. i like cheese and crackers
d. there are only three things
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Originally posted by you be betty:
Originally posted by sonickteam4:
Originally posted by toodles2004:
there appears to be NO WAY to buy the ticket w/out the fee(s).
there is no convenience fee when you pay at the door, the night of the show. [/b]
yeah; but then the show sells out four people before you in line (thanks, ticket brokers) and you are left out in the cold cruel world, smacking the pavement as others strut into the club like kings with their gold-plated chuck taylors and diamond incrusted buddy holly glasses....
seemingly; the only people that can AFFORD the aforementioned ticket charges.
inconcievable! [/b]
For a 15 year old you seem to be able to afford more than your fair share of shows.
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Originally posted by thatguy:
Originally posted by amnesiac:
Oh, and what kind of bouncer refuses a cracker with squeeze cheese??
four things:
1. we don't have any bouncers
B. we have a couple of those wacky vegans on staph, so they'd probably say no
III. i like cheese and crackers
d. there are only three things [/b]
There are 10 types of people in the world, those who uinderstand binary and those who don't.
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game ON
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Originally posted by thatguy:
1. we don't have any bouncers
You're not the only venue in town.
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Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
game ON
Off, or 0 or whichever you prefer.