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Ticketmaster Scalping Its Own Tickets on Secondary Web Sites
Bruce Springsteen originally brought the scam to public attention last month. He lambasted the company on his own Web site when thousands of his fans complained after Ticketmaster began automatically redirecting ticket buyers to its TicketsNow site, where the concert tickets were being sold for heavily inflated prices. Ticketmaster, who would admit no wrongdoing, blamed the redirection on a "glitch." Despite not accepting fault, Ticketmaster agreed to reimburse the ticket buyers and settled with the New Jersey attorney general office for $350,000, mainly for court costs.
Even more infuriating, it's not just Ticketmaster: Numerous artists have actually partnered with the ticket goliath in this sham, sharing the scalped profits. Earlier this month, Britney Spears tickets, regularly available for prices ranging between $39.50 and $125, were being sold on TicketExchange for as high as $1188.60. Other "starving artists" getting in on the action include Elton John, Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Celine Dion and Neil Diamond (whose agent just so happens to be the Ticketmaster CEO). The CEO, Irving Azoff, told the WSJ that Ticketmaster is "working to clarify the origin of tickets on TicketExchange." Right.
When will all of this nonsense end? Who, now, will step up to represent the rights of the little man? Pearl Jam went out with a whimper; let's hope The Boss keeps up the fight. [From: DMW.com]
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Comments
8
Subscribe to commentsSDEMar 13th 2009 2:52PM
AND, PEOPLE WILL GO BACK AND BUY FROM THESE THEIVES. I SAY LETS STOP BUYING AND SHOW THEM WHO REALLY CONTROLS THE MONEY. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THESE MONOPOLIES CONTROLING THE TICKET SALES
OttoMar 31st 2009 10:25AM
I absolutely agree. We, the fans, have ultimate control over these companies. But we all need to be on the same page and not attend shows in which Ticketmaster is the only ticket distributor. This HAS to stop. This is sickening.
I just purchased U2 tickets from Ticketmaster which were double in price, from $40 to $80. I ended up paying about $100 once all of the ridiculous fees were applied. I love going to live shows, but I WILL not purchase tickets from Ticketmaster ANYMORE!
Anna CruzMar 18th 2009 7:49PM
It is unfortunate that in this difficult economy Ticketmaster would be trying to pull this on thier ticket holders and on thier celebrity which offer concerts, this affects both the consumer and the celebrity's bottom line. The high ticket costs are keeping the consumer from purchasing the tickets and keeping the celebrity from selling their tickets.
http://www.savingshouse.info
thepugpieperMar 13th 2009 3:08PM
Please,
TicketMaster has their hands in all the political and public things. You think they will really wind up in trouble? Ha...Ha..Ha..
Stupid little people... that's their take on it.
The stupid little people gotta keep the pressure on this, otherwise it will all blow away and we will pay!!
JohnMar 14th 2009 5:31PM
Greedy companies like this are the reasons that the United States is in financial problems causing hundreds of thousands of people to lose their jobs so these a-holes can try and make a few more illegal bucks.
Have we not learned anything people. I think the CEO should be dragged before Congress and have to pay stiff fines, or go to jail
LilyMar 13th 2009 6:51PM
$1,188.60 for a Britney Spears ticket????
MikeMar 13th 2009 7:23PM
I wouldn't even pay $1188.60 for Britney to blow me. I personally quit going to concerts and playoffs, as the ticket process has become completely corrupt. When the Rockies went to the world series, most of the tickets ended up going to out of staters, as they changed the rules just before they went on sale, and you couldn't get them in person, only on the internet, then the local internet connections jammed up. The funny part is that everyone out of state had no problem getting in.
I am so over concerts and sporting events. We make them millions of dollars, and all they can do is whine like babies when they want more, or they turn to scams like this one to defraud joe american. I say screw them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alan ProchaskaOct 9th 2009 12:30PM
This smacks of illegality on a couple of counts, at least here in LA.
1) Anti-trust because seemingly all major events sell their tickets only through TM
2) Scalping is technically illegal in Los Angeles county. If TM is redistributing to ticket resellers, they may be liable here too.
Any legal eagles out there....is there basis for class action suit against TM? Collusion? Racketeering?