Absurd Service Fees

[sonickteam2]

they are all evil bastards!!!
 
 thats why i bought a printing machine and bought a ticket to a show, and now i just "share" tickets with my friends and people i know.  

[Celeste]

Originally posted by smittyblah:
  Either way, it obviously reduces ticket sales.  $60 just to get in the door is bad enough.  Jack it up to $75 with "service fees" and I will choose to take my entertainment bucks elsewhere.

I would make the same choice as you...but I don't think it will reduce ticket sales...never underestimate the buying power of DC and NOVA professionals who want to feel like they're hip.

[Bags]

Originally posted by smittyblah:
  Bags,
 
 It is 9:30 club which has chosen to use this company as an outlet for its tickets, and it reflects on them. Does 9:30 not get a cut of these service fees?  That's really hard to believe.
 

I realize that 9:30 made the vendor choice, but there are no other options.  In fact, 9:30 went with the only competition to Ticketmaster almost as soon as they were up and running.  The one shot at getting these costs down, and alas, it didn't work.
 
 I have no idea if the club gets a cut, but I'd stake a lot that it's minimal enough that the Club would go with someone else if the service were cheaper.  It really is a user-friendly club.

[Celeste]

Originally posted by smittyblah:
  actually, I was going to go to see Michael Franti... Ziggy should be opening for him.

this is NOT meant as a slam, or anything...but why do black acts seem to charge more...like Erykah Badu, Floetry, etc...they were 40 or 50 bucks, weren't they? I guess they charge because they CAN, but, that's not being down with the people...I'm especially surprised at Michael Franti (and you're right, Ziggy SHOULD be opening for him)

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

Since when is it hip to go to a Ziggy Stardust show?
 
 

Originally posted by Celeste:
   

Originally posted by smittyblah:
  Either way, it obviously reduces ticket sales.  $60 just to get in the door is bad enough.  Jack it up to $75 with "service fees" and I will choose to take my entertainment bucks elsewhere.

I would make the same choice as you...but I don't think it will reduce ticket sales...never underestimate the buying power of DC and NOVA professionals who want to feel like they're hip. [/b]

[lily1]

those bastards  :mad: ...well...i still have the store near my office in bethesda, thankfully.
 
 

Originally posted by Bags:
  You just reminded me -- Metro Center Olsson's is out of business!  The Barnes & Noble across the street finally killed it.     <img src="http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/sad2.gif" alt=" - " />

[chaz]

In order to compete in the venue business 9:30 has to use one of these big ticket re-sellers.  Sad but true.  Black Cat too...they use ticket bastard I think.  Yeah the service fees suck but it's not really fair to lump all the blame on 9:30 alone.
 
 And yes...9:30 does get a cut...the face value of each ticket!  And I seriously doubt it reduces ticket sales.  If it did do you think 9:30, or any other venue or promoter would partner with one of these evil ticket agencies?
 
 Yeah all in all it sucks but I don't blame 9:30.  If anything it's the consumers' fault for going along with these crazy fees.  It is freaking evil though...oh well.  
 
 *sigh*
 
 

Originally posted by smittyblah:
  Bags,
 
 It is 9:30 club which has chosen to use this company as an outlet for its tickets, and it reflects on them. Does 9:30 not get a cut of these service fees?  That's really hard to believe.
 
 I really can't see a company letting someone else generate 25% profits on their business just to run credit cards and mail tickets.  I suspect they get a cut.
 
 Either way, it obviously reduces ticket sales.  $60 just to get in the door is bad enough.  Jack it up to $75 with "service fees" and I will choose to take my entertainment bucks elsewhere.

[nkotb]

I've got a 20% off coupon burning a hole in my wallet that's getting spent at that Olsson's this Monday.  Curse my luck for working right around the corner from a pretty good CD store.
 
 

Originally posted by lily1:
  those bastards   :mad:  ...well...i still have the store near my office in bethesda, thankfully.

[Bags]

But there aren't any options?  Yes, not going to the show isn't an option, but that isn't affecting Ticketbastard or tickets.com at all.  
 
 eerrrrgh, it is so yucky, it's true.  And it's especially awful when many of the bands you see are in the $15 range...that markup is unfathomable.
 
 

Originally posted by chaz:
 If anything it's the consumers' fault for going along with these crazy fees.  It is freaking evil though...oh well.  
 
 *sigh*
 
   

Originally posted by smittyblah:
  Bags,
 
 It is 9:30 club which has chosen to use this company as an outlet for its tickets, and it reflects on them.

[/b]

[lily1]

you've got a point celeste...
 
 floetry and les nubians were $25 each when i went to see them and each only have an album or 2 and not wide play in the us, perhaps in europe where they are based. if it was say, starsailor, for example, 2 albums, bigger in europe, but it was only $15.
 
 it should be noted though that the more commercial acts, like the roots, outkast, erykah badu, do reach to a much bigger audience so they can command the high ticket price and expect a big turnout, if not a sellout show.
 
 

Originally posted by Celeste:
   

Originally posted by smittyblah:
  actually, I was going to go to see Michael Franti... Ziggy should be opening for him.

this is NOT meant as a slam, or anything...but why do black acts seem to charge more...like Erykah Badu, Floetry, etc...they were 40 or 50 bucks, weren't they? I guess they charge because they CAN, but, that's not being down with the people...I'm especially surprised at Michael Franti (and you're right, Ziggy SHOULD be opening for him) [/b]

[brennser]

actually, I was going to go to see Michael Franti...  

I've always liked this guy, all the way back to Disposable Heroes but $30 is too much to see an opening act for me...

[kosmo vinyl]

if the service fees are getting you down then one needs to take advantage of the occasional 9:30 club box office special offer of getting an bonus $25 gift card with the purchase of $100 gift card. Which can be used for tickets and drinks inside the club.
 
 send an email to list_serve@930.com to get this and many other special offers for tickets.

[Bags]

I get the email -- when the hell did this special show up?!?!?

[Bombay Chutney]

Originally posted by chaz:
  And I seriously doubt it reduces ticket sales.  If it did do you think 9:30, or any other venue or promoter would partner with one of these evil ticket agencies?

True, they sell more tickets with the agency than without, but I'm also sure that the high service charges the agencies charge reduces ticket sales at least a small amount.  I've skipped plenty of shows that I'd otherwise go to, simply because that $15 ticket now costs me $25.  To me that band might be worth $15, but not $25.  
 
 But they sell far more tickets by using the agency than they are losing sales because of the service charges, so it's definitely in their best interest to use them.

[kosmo vinyl]

Originally posted by Bags:
  I get the email -- when the hell did this special show up?!?!?

they were running it for volume subscribers in dec and in the last email it's mentioned at the bottom in the section on Valentine's Gift Card.  pm me if you need a copy forwarded.