U2 Uses Technology to Bust Scalpers

[Fico]

U2 and concert promoters will be the only ones making boat loads of money off the upcoming Vertigo tour.
 
 The band announced that it is taking action to identify and reclaim tickets bought via a fan-club early buy, then quickly marked up by scalpers on Internet auciton sites.
 
 "A whole raft of ticket offers have already been taken down from online auction sites," the band's web site reports.
 
 In addition, the band's organization is moving to cancel additional ticket sales it identifies as stemming from fraudluent U2 fan club members. Citing a clause in the fan-club contract that bars ticket resellers, U2's camp will cancel any ticket sales destined for a steep aftermarket mark-up.
 
 "Please be aware that anyone advertising tickets online does not have them in their possession yet - technology is helping us connect scalpers' offers with the original purchase of tickets," the site announced.
 
 "When we identify rogue U2.Com subscribers as the source of sold-on tickets we are taking action to cancel the sale of those tickets and to redistribute those tickets to subscribers who have yet to get tickets."
 
 A furor erupted last week when U2 fan club members complained that no pre-sale tickets for coveted tickets to the band's tour for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004, Interscope) (read Aversion's review). General-sale tickets to the tour will start at about $50.

[Bags]

Originally posted by Fico:
  U2 and concert promoters will be the only ones making boat loads of money off the upcoming Vertigo tour.

I don't mind a bit, as long as it's not fucking scalpers who drive secondary market ticket sales to exorbitant levels.  Sure, there should be a secondary market for tickets, but they don't need to be 2, 3 and 4x ticket prices (hell, for Arcade Fire they were running 8x for the NYC shows).

[sonickteam2]

the scalpers should at least have to wait for the general onsale.  they shouldnt be allowed to get presale tickets.  its just uncool

<img src="http://www.bongonews.com/StoryImages/bono_daschle.jpg" alt=" - " />
    <img src="http://u2log.com/archive/omag1.jpg" alt=" - " />  <img src="http://www.a-shop.com.au/fobwatches/George%20Bush%20Bono.jpg" alt=" - " />

[Arlette]

Originally posted by sonickteam2:
  the scalpers should at least have to wait for the general onsale.  they shouldnt be allowed to get presale tickets.  its just uncool

I agree, but how do you stop that?  They can pay their membership fee, join the fan club, and buy tickets like anyone else.  How can a ticketing company identify them?  Well, I do know one way:  a friend works for a competitor of Tickemaster and when tickets go on sale for a big show, they monitor how many tickets someone is buying:  if it's a large number, they can assume they are doing it for resale, and they cancel the order.  The scalpers get pissed, but too bad.  
 
 With the U2 thing, there's no way Ticketmaster or anyone could have known who was a scalper and who wasn't since every fan club member was only allowed 2 tickets.
 
 If a scalper wants to join a fan club, there's almost no way to stop them from getting tickets.  The best solution is what Springsteen did on his last tour:  have all tickets at will call, and then the person who picks up the tickets get escorted to their seat.  There's no chance for a scalper to do a resale.  U2 should have done this, it was an easy to call to make in advance, and they were either stupid (unlikely) or didn't care (probably).

[dtqjr]

Originally posted by Arlette:
 The best solution is what Springsteen did on his last tour:  have all tickets at will call, and then the person who picks up the tickets get escorted to their seat.  There's no chance for a scalper to do a resale.  U2 should have done this, it was an easy to call to make in advance, and they were either stupid (unlikely) or didn't care (probably).

Alright, go through this again.  Each person in attendance has to go to will-call and then they get a personal escort to their seat?  Sorry for doubting your story but this is the first I've heard of this.  How is this feasible in a 20K person venue?  Anyone have any stories?

[Frank Gallagher]

U2 and ticketbastard are the two biggest scalpers on this planet.

[easement]

At leat the band get the money rather than some scalper.

[sonickteam2]

Originally posted by Arlette:
  The best solution is what Springsteen did on his last tour:  have all tickets at will call, and then the person who picks up the tickets get escorted to their seat.  There's no chance for a scalper to do a resale.  

see, this is a good idea, there are variations of this as well.  such as buying the ticket with a name on it, and needing ID to get into the show.
   the big PROBLEM is, what if i buy a ticket and then get sick?  well, then i cannot give my ticket to a friend or go outside the venue and sell it, even for face value...like on this board.
 
   it would really end up punishing everyone and not just the scalpers.

[vansmack]

Club members also received this:
 
 An open letter from Larry Mullen
 
 Dear vansmack
 
 This is not something that I would normally do, but I feel that I have to do something to redress this situation.
 
 There was a mess up in the way the tickets were distributed through U2.com for the Vertigo pre-sale. Some of it was beyond our control, but some of it wasn't.
 
 I am now in the process of figuring out a way of distributing the tickets for our intended return to North America in the fall. The only fair way of doing this, is to give U2 Propaganda members, who are now U2.com members, priority in the queue.
 
 After that, people will be given priority in the order in which they joined. Many people who joined U2.com and didn't get tickets are understandably angry. They now have the option to get a full refund of their subscription fee.
 
 The idea that our long-time U2 fans and scalpers competed for U2 tickets through our own website is appalling to me. I want to apologise to you who have suffered that.
 
 If your U2.com pre-sale experience has left you disappointed, I hope this will go some way towards reassuring you of our total commitment to our audience.
 
 Slainte
 Larry.
 
 By the way, a note to those so-called U2 fans who are quick to accuse U2 of unseemly behaviour, I've only got two words for you...
 
 
 ****************************************************
 
 A refund on  your U2.Com Subscription - how it works.
 
 If you would like a refund on your U2.Com subscription because you have not been able to purchase tickets with your unique code for the Spring and Summer legs of Vertigo 2005 Tour, please complete the fields below.
 
 The refund window is open for two weeks from today - February 2nd to February 16th.
 
 - I am a U2.Com Subscriber who has not been able to secure tickets for the Spring and Summer  legs of 'Vertigo 2005'.
 
 - I further agree that I am in compliance in that I have not used my access code to purchase tickets.
 
 - I understand that by submitting this form for a refund that I agree to have my account privileges, including e-mail, completely disabled.
 
 - I understand that refunds may take as long as 3 weeks to post to my credit card.
 
 
 The U2.Com Team

[walkonby]

wow, i got the same email.  and here i thought larry liked ME.

[ggw]

What are the "two words"?

[kosmo vinyl]

who needs technology when you've got ggw(tm) on your case

[KiB]

i went to 5 different shows on springsteen's last tour, and all tix were not will call.
 
 his shows nw look like a bargain at $75. i'm a big fan of both groups, so i know how good a U2 show is.
 but $165 + fees for one ticket? 95 + fees for an upperdeck seat?
 
 and that's if you're lucky enough to get thru on TM.
 any word if the MCI show(s) will still be mid-october?

[sonickteam2]

Originally posted by KiB:
  i went to 5 different shows on springsteen'slast tour,

and you thought i was bad for going to ONE Black Crowes show!