Scenes from todays Merch Line(What I saw)

AA295481

I will never order a poster from ebay again. There are too many who flip and the last two I ordered, one from Eddie and the Eathlings came wrapped in Christmas paper, and not normal wrapping paper, but the fancy kind that was aluminum. And i ordered one from the recent Chicago show, it came in not even wrapped at all, and had a dink mark on it. I'm sure not all are like that, but twice in a row, a year and a half apart, semms like the norm. I know everything is expensive nowadays, but if your gonna flip, at least go to Walmart and buy a roll of Craft paper.

Tim Simmons

But that takes away from the bottom line!!!!

Jibiti

Anyone else see the Karen outside on N2 trying to cut/complain about not getting a poster tube? Lol

Evel K

GlowGirl said:

tdawe said:

mattcoz said:

tschav said:

mcgruff10 said:

Presale online buying option is the way to go. I don’t understand why they don’t do this.  They get 1,000 orders for a shirt, make a thousand shirts.  

I'm betting they make a ton on all the things you impulse buy after waiting in line for hours... extra shirts, stickers, buttons, etc. If there was just a line for posters you wouldn't see nearly as long a line for all the other items. 

Ding ding ding. "I just waited 5 hours, I'm getting everything I can!" If you had the option to just order what you wanted online, you wouldn't buy nearly as much. At least, most people wouldn't. I'm absolutely guilty of this. Did I need stickers and license plates? No, but I bought them. They know what they're doing.

I hear this, but I’ve also impulse-bought plenty of shit I don’t need via the online store (funko pops???). And I know I’m not the only one. 

Two Viewmasters, anyone? 😂

I'm writing everyone's screen name down in my Pearl Jam moleskin notebook and I'm going to throw it on stage at Indy. Don't worry, I have another one that's still mint.

Jcanr20

I got in the merch line inside the doors on night 1 and it was just infuriating. I can't believe how many 40-50 year olds get up there and then don't know what the heck they're going to buy. And then to see men holding t-shirts up to themselves to see if they are a good fit or not. Damn pick a size and move on. It's just weird. People are all in a panic the whole time like the building is on fire. 

KK24933

Here's a thought that I would think Pearl Jam could get behind.  Outside lines SUCK for many reasons.  First and foremost, they're open to anyone.  Don't think this is a problem?  Do a quick eBay serach on Pearl Jam.  I guarantee you that minutes after the lines open, you see that days shirts and posters selling for hundreds of dollars.  That equates to fans who are attended the show being unable to get date-specific merch while an outsider makes a career out of shopping at merch tents and pop-ups.

A couple of thoughts. 

• Continue to sell merch outside if you want, but restrict date-specific purchases to inside the venue only.
• Allow pre-orders of merch via the Ten Club for any date that fans have won tickets for.  Limit it to two per.
• If shirts run out inside the venue, allow fans to order them for later at-home delivery.

I love the shows, and I don't even mind standing in line for a reasonable amount of time.  But when you get to the front of the line only to see them pull the shirt you've been waiting for, that sucks.  Thankfully I got everything I wanted, but I feel for those who didn't.

demetrios

risris said:

demetrios said:

How was the merch line today in Chicago?

Piece of cake. Way shorter. No more than 1 hour. 

Nice! 

elvistheking44

KK24933 said:

Here's a thought that I would think Pearl Jam could get behind.  Outside lines SUCK for many reasons.  First and foremost, they're open to anyone.  Don't think this is a problem?  Do a quick eBay serach on Pearl Jam.  I guarantee you that minutes after the lines open, you see that days shirts and posters selling for hundreds of dollars.  That equates to fans who are attended the show being unable to get date-specific merch while an outsider makes a career out of shopping at merch tents and pop-ups.

A couple of thoughts. 

• Continue to sell merch outside if you want, but restrict date-specific purchases to inside the venue only.
• Allow pre-orders of merch via the Ten Club for any date that fans have won tickets for.  Limit it to two per.
• If shirts run out inside the venue, allow fans to order them for later at-home delivery.

I love the shows, and I don't even mind standing in line for a reasonable amount of time.  But when you get to the front of the line only to see them pull the shirt you've been waiting for, that sucks.  Thankfully I got everything I wanted, but I feel for those who didn't.

All the ideas people float around are great and would work wonderfully……

Now one more time for the people in the back…..Pearl Jam loves it this way. The hype around the merch is insane and people by all kinds of shit they normally would not for fear of missing out. So to be clear, Pearl Jam loves, absolutely LOVES that people form these long lines and wait all day to buy this shit.

Eddieshometown

Ames was sold out inside N2 within 10 mins.  That was a first for me.

RedMosquitoSmile28

Eddieshometown said:

Ames was sold out inside N2 within 10 mins.  That was a first for me.

If it was like St. Paul, the sold they majority on the day between shows, and then before doors on the day of. Kind of bull, but it seems like the distribution hasn't been great in that regard. I don't think they should sell the event stuff the day before at all, but if they are going to, it needs to be in limited quantities.

Sarava

Yeah the merch lines are nuts. I'm going down to Indy for the show Sunday and my buddy who is going with me isn't all too thrilled that we are leaving 3 hours earlier than we would otherwise, just so I can try and get a poster and a t-shirt. Maybe an Indiana license plate if they have one too. That is stupid when you think about it. The alternative is no merch, or paying $250+ if its a decent poster from ebay.

joseph33

Sarava said:

Yeah the merch lines are nuts. I'm going down to Indy for the show Sunday and my buddy who is going with me isn't all too thrilled that we are leaving 3 hours earlier than we would otherwise, just so I can try and get a poster and a t-shirt. Maybe an Indiana license plate if they have one too. That is stupid when you think about it. The alternative is no merch, or paying $250+ if its a decent poster from ebay.

The merch stand in Indy will open at 12. They specifically said that no early lines formed are allowed. Sounds like right on 12 the money,it'll be a mad dash.

demetrios

joseph33 said:

Sarava said:

Yeah the merch lines are nuts. I'm going down to Indy for the show Sunday and my buddy who is going with me isn't all too thrilled that we are leaving 3 hours earlier than we would otherwise, just so I can try and get a poster and a t-shirt. Maybe an Indiana license plate if they have one too. That is stupid when you think about it. The alternative is no merch, or paying $250+ if its a decent poster from ebay.

The merch stand in Indy will open at 12. They specifically said that no early lines formed are allowed. Sounds like right on 12 the money,it'll be a mad dash.

Loujoe

Sure people will still line up. How can't you? I heard that in Boston 2018. Still lines formed and if you show up at 12, I almost gaurentee a line...unless someone stands there kicking people out all til then.
Just don't be surprised to find a line there.
Hope you all get what you want and have a blast.

F Me In The Brain

demetrios said:

joseph33 said:

Sarava said:

Yeah the merch lines are nuts. I'm going down to Indy for the show Sunday and my buddy who is going with me isn't all too thrilled that we are leaving 3 hours earlier than we would otherwise, just so I can try and get a poster and a t-shirt. Maybe an Indiana license plate if they have one too. That is stupid when you think about it. The alternative is no merch, or paying $250+ if its a decent poster from ebay.

The merch stand in Indy will open at 12. They specifically said that no early lines formed are allowed. Sounds like right on 12 the money,it'll be a mad dash.

Exactly 

joseph33

demetrios said:

joseph33 said:

Sarava said:

Yeah the merch lines are nuts. I'm going down to Indy for the show Sunday and my buddy who is going with me isn't all too thrilled that we are leaving 3 hours earlier than we would otherwise, just so I can try and get a poster and a t-shirt. Maybe an Indiana license plate if they have one too. That is stupid when you think about it. The alternative is no merch, or paying $250+ if its a decent poster from ebay.

The merch stand in Indy will open at 12. They specifically said that no early lines formed are allowed. Sounds like right on 12 the money,it'll be a mad dash.

😂😂😂😂😂😂

droptheleash9

Admittedly, I don’t have much insight into the economics of the concert industry but do we think the band takes home more money from the ticket sales or the merch?

hrd2imgn

Just hire ticketmaster to fix it, they make EVERYTHING better.








Long live ETM

lastexitlondon

droptheleash9 said:

Admittedly, I don’t have much insight into the economics of the concert industry but do we think the band takes home more money from the ticket sales or the merch?

With this band merch must be right up there.

ST66483

I found this really interesting from Jeff Rosenstock where he breaks down what cut of the merch the venue takes on a city by city basis, ranging from 0 to 25%.

https://exclaim.ca/music/article/jeff_rosenstock_breaks_down_the_math_on_venue_merch_cuts

No doubt Rosenstock isn’t in the same merch league as some bigger bands, but I just find the peak behind the curtains on the business side of being in a band fascinating.