Ticketmaster “Premium Ticket” SCAM

Given2Fly2

As if it was not already known. The tickets that Ticketmaster list as “Pearl Jam Premium Tickets” or for any band who goes through Ticketmaster, for that matter, is a scam. Not only that, to make matters worse, according to Robert Smith of the Cure,  the BANDS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT OUT OF THIS. Hopefully going forward Pearl Jam and other artists who would like to keep “Fans” at heart see this and consider it in the future

https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2024/10/why-rock-band-dumped-ticketmasters-dynamic-pricing-we-dont-need-to-make-all-this-money.html

bootlegger10

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

spankyMP

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

Manipulating price and inventory, in order to further manipulate price, is most certainly a scam.

MikeDigs

For the Inglewood Forum, there was nothing "premium" about the seats.
Just a "premium" price.  Seems pretty scam-y to me.
I guess any business can add the word "premium" to any product and upcharge it, even if it's not really premium.
Fuck Ticketmaster

SHZA

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

It's definitely misleading. The labeling suggests that there's something that makes the seats a more premium product than the standard tickets, which isn't true. I'd bet anyone who bought premium feels that they were scammed when seats in the same row or better pop up later for a fraction of the price.  

hairgrowth2001

They are scalping their own tickets, and people keep buying them. They will continue to do so. Robert Smith personally took the initiative to fix the premium prices and awful fees after the tickets for last years North American tour went on sale. He wasn’t having that and made sure that the fans that already bought premium tix and paid the fees got a refund.

MikeDigs

SHZA said:

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

It's definitely misleading. The labeling suggests that there's something that makes the seats a more premium product than the standard tickets, which isn't true. I'd bet anyone who bought premium feels that they were scammed when seats in the same row or better pop up later for a fraction of the price.  

You are 100% correct.  I bought tickets that were labeled "Premium" and payed the money because I was willing to pay the extra cost to get a top notch experience.  I did not receive a different experience, or different seating, than the standard tickets.  But I paid the "Premium" price.
I was robbed.  Scammed.

kmcmanus

They came right out and said that they opted into it to get more 10C tickets. You can feel however you want about whether you agree with their choice but they never claimed they were forced, it was a compromise 

lastexitlondon

It's a racket and anyone who thinks the band don't know and had no say are either naive or worse 

hairgrowth2001

Bands just accept it and don’t care enough to fight it, except for Robert Smith.

nicknyr15

pjl44

MikeDigs said:

SHZA said:

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

It's definitely misleading. The labeling suggests that there's something that makes the seats a more premium product than the standard tickets, which isn't true. I'd bet anyone who bought premium feels that they were scammed when seats in the same row or better pop up later for a fraction of the price.  

You are 100% correct.  I bought tickets that were labeled "Premium" and payed the money because I was willing to pay the extra cost to get a top notch experience.  I did not receive a different experience, or different seating, than the standard tickets.  But I paid the "Premium" price.
I was robbed.  Scammed.

This is a little dramatic 

MikeDigs

pjl44 said:

MikeDigs said:

SHZA said:

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

It's definitely misleading. The labeling suggests that there's something that makes the seats a more premium product than the standard tickets, which isn't true. I'd bet anyone who bought premium feels that they were scammed when seats in the same row or better pop up later for a fraction of the price.  

You are 100% correct.  I bought tickets that were labeled "Premium" and payed the money because I was willing to pay the extra cost to get a top notch experience.  I did not receive a different experience, or different seating, than the standard tickets.  But I paid the "Premium" price.
I was robbed.  Scammed.

This is a little dramatic 

Please elaborate.  I described my experience.  My tickets were around $800 each.

ZoSoTim

As someone without an unlimited bank account I hate the premium pricing but I can also see why it’s used. Why should scalpers make more money off ticket sales than the actual artists?

hairgrowth2001

Is it the artists making the money or ticketmaster? I think for big arena and stadium shows the artists are receiving a guarantee. I assumed that the premium prices are going to tickemaster. 

pjl44

Just buy tickets within a couple days of the show. If someone else is actually shelling out for premium tickets at this point it's their problem. Technology being what it is you're just playing whack-a-mole with resellers. At this point I just want to easily buy or dump tickets if I actually go to a large show.

MikeDigs

I know now to wait.  Lesson learned.  Not sure how being annoyed about being scammed is considered dramatic though @PJ44.
$800 for crappy fold up chairs with people standing in front of us block our view.  It was a blatant lie that they were considered "Premium". 

Merkin Baller

MikeDigs said:

SHZA said:

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

It's definitely misleading. The labeling suggests that there's something that makes the seats a more premium product than the standard tickets, which isn't true. I'd bet anyone who bought premium feels that they were scammed when seats in the same row or better pop up later for a fraction of the price.  

You are 100% correct.  I bought tickets that were labeled "Premium" and payed the money because I was willing to pay the extra cost to get a top notch experience.  I did not receive a different experience, or different seating, than the standard tickets.  But I paid the "Premium" price.
I was robbed.  Scammed.

Were you scammed, or did you just not read the fine print? 

pjl44

I don't have the patience to fully interrogate this but I've never purchased a ticket and expected more than a seat situated where it was noted on the map. If I had any inkling there might be something more, I'd need to see that in black and white first.

MikeDigs

Merkin Baller said:

MikeDigs said:

SHZA said:

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

It's definitely misleading. The labeling suggests that there's something that makes the seats a more premium product than the standard tickets, which isn't true. I'd bet anyone who bought premium feels that they were scammed when seats in the same row or better pop up later for a fraction of the price.  

You are 100% correct.  I bought tickets that were labeled "Premium" and payed the money because I was willing to pay the extra cost to get a top notch experience.  I did not receive a different experience, or different seating, than the standard tickets.  But I paid the "Premium" price.
I was robbed.  Scammed.

Were you scammed, or did you just not read the fine print? 

I did not read any fine print, as I didn't know any fine print existed.  I read the regular print.
If details of a product need to be hidden in fine print, then isn't that a scam?
A product that is up-charged simply because the word "Premium" is added, but it's the same standard product.
Not a small upcharge.  $800 per ticket.  That's a pretty steep increase.
Same product as standard though.  That is a scam.

Merkin Baller

MikeDigs said:

Merkin Baller said:

MikeDigs said:

SHZA said:

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

It's definitely misleading. The labeling suggests that there's something that makes the seats a more premium product than the standard tickets, which isn't true. I'd bet anyone who bought premium feels that they were scammed when seats in the same row or better pop up later for a fraction of the price.  

You are 100% correct.  I bought tickets that were labeled "Premium" and payed the money because I was willing to pay the extra cost to get a top notch experience.  I did not receive a different experience, or different seating, than the standard tickets.  But I paid the "Premium" price.
I was robbed.  Scammed.

Were you scammed, or did you just not read the fine print? 

I did not read any fine print, as I didn't know any fine print existed.  I read the regular print.
If details of a product need to be hidden in fine print, then isn't that a scam?
A product that is up-charged simply because the word "Premium" is added, but it's the same standard product.
Not a small upcharge.  $800 per ticket.  That's a pretty steep increase.
Same product as standard though.  That is a scam. 

Not really... The term 'buyer beware' exists for a reason. 

ZoSoTim

What “premium” products were you expecting if there was nothing to tell you what you would get with your $800 ticket?

pjl44

To be clear Ticketmaster is an extremely frustrating entity to have to deal with but you need to cover your own ass and not wait for Robert Smith to come and save you

njhaley1

MikeDigs said:

Merkin Baller said:

MikeDigs said:

SHZA said:

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

It's definitely misleading. The labeling suggests that there's something that makes the seats a more premium product than the standard tickets, which isn't true. I'd bet anyone who bought premium feels that they were scammed when seats in the same row or better pop up later for a fraction of the price.  

You are 100% correct.  I bought tickets that were labeled "Premium" and payed the money because I was willing to pay the extra cost to get a top notch experience.  I did not receive a different experience, or different seating, than the standard tickets.  But I paid the "Premium" price.
I was robbed.  Scammed.

Were you scammed, or did you just not read the fine print? 

I did not read any fine print, as I didn't know any fine print existed.  I read the regular print.
If details of a product need to be hidden in fine print, then isn't that a scam?
A product that is up-charged simply because the word "Premium" is added, but it's the same standard product.
Not a small upcharge.  $800 per ticket.  That's a pretty steep increase.
Same product as standard though.  That is a scam.

I'm sorry that it happened to you, but in everyone's defense - there were warnings up and down this site about what was going on. 

MikeDigs

ZoSoTim said:

What “premium” products were you expecting if there was nothing to tell you what you would get with your $800 ticket?

Great question.  I was expecting seats that were a bit better than the standard seats.  But they were actually a bit worse than some of the standard seats, which adds to the overall frustration.  Fold up chairs that were tied together, and not staggered, so that your view is blocked by the chair directly in front of you.  If I had known, I would have just bought standard tickets.  But I was duped with the addition of the word "Premium".

Merkin Baller said:

MikeDigs said:

Merkin Baller said:

MikeDigs said:

SHZA said:

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

It's definitely misleading. The labeling suggests that there's something that makes the seats a more premium product than the standard tickets, which isn't true. I'd bet anyone who bought premium feels that they were scammed when seats in the same row or better pop up later for a fraction of the price.  

You are 100% correct.  I bought tickets that were labeled "Premium" and payed the money because I was willing to pay the extra cost to get a top notch experience.  I did not receive a different experience, or different seating, than the standard tickets.  But I paid the "Premium" price.
I was robbed.  Scammed.

Were you scammed, or did you just not read the fine print? 

I did not read any fine print, as I didn't know any fine print existed.  I read the regular print.
If details of a product need to be hidden in fine print, then isn't that a scam?
A product that is up-charged simply because the word "Premium" is added, but it's the same standard product.
Not a small upcharge.  $800 per ticket.  That's a pretty steep increase.
Same product as standard though.  That is a scam. 

Not really... The term 'buyer beware' exists for a reason. 

This is very true.  Need to be on our toes at all times.

Lesson Learned:  Moving forward, will purchase all concert tickets on StubHub within a few weeks of the show.

ZoSoTim

So you expected an extra padded seat? Massage chair? Head rest? 

MikeDigs

ZoSoTim said:

So you expected an extra padded seat? Massage chair? Head rest? 

Expected an unblocked view of the stage.  Wouldn't you expect a ticket labeled "Premium" to at least give you an unblocked view of the stage??

Merkin Baller

MikeDigs said:

ZoSoTim said:

What “premium” products were you expecting if there was nothing to tell you what you would get with your $800 ticket?

Great question.  I was expecting seats that were a bit better than the standard seats.  But they were actually a bit worse than some of the standard seats, which adds to the overall frustration.  Fold up chairs that were tied together, and not staggered, so that your view is blocked by the chair directly in front of you.  If I had known, I would have just bought standard tickets.  But I was duped with the addition of the word "Premium".

Merkin Baller said:

MikeDigs said:

Merkin Baller said:

MikeDigs said:

SHZA said:

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

It's definitely misleading. The labeling suggests that there's something that makes the seats a more premium product than the standard tickets, which isn't true. I'd bet anyone who bought premium feels that they were scammed when seats in the same row or better pop up later for a fraction of the price.  

You are 100% correct.  I bought tickets that were labeled "Premium" and payed the money because I was willing to pay the extra cost to get a top notch experience.  I did not receive a different experience, or different seating, than the standard tickets.  But I paid the "Premium" price.
I was robbed.  Scammed.

Were you scammed, or did you just not read the fine print? 

I did not read any fine print, as I didn't know any fine print existed.  I read the regular print.
If details of a product need to be hidden in fine print, then isn't that a scam?
A product that is up-charged simply because the word "Premium" is added, but it's the same standard product.
Not a small upcharge.  $800 per ticket.  That's a pretty steep increase.
Same product as standard though.  That is a scam. 

Not really... The term 'buyer beware' exists for a reason. 

This is very true.  Need to be on our toes at all times.

I don't disagree that the whole thing stinks to high heaven... I wouldn't say you were scammed per se, it's more that you just weren't in the know about their (shitty) practices. 

I feel bad for young people just starting to get the live music bug... things were so much easier even just 10 years ago, never mind back in the '90s or 2000s. 

pjl44

Merkin Baller said:

MikeDigs said:

ZoSoTim said:

What “premium” products were you expecting if there was nothing to tell you what you would get with your $800 ticket?

Great question.  I was expecting seats that were a bit better than the standard seats.  But they were actually a bit worse than some of the standard seats, which adds to the overall frustration.  Fold up chairs that were tied together, and not staggered, so that your view is blocked by the chair directly in front of you.  If I had known, I would have just bought standard tickets.  But I was duped with the addition of the word "Premium".

Merkin Baller said:

MikeDigs said:

Merkin Baller said:

MikeDigs said:

SHZA said:

bootlegger10 said:

Not a scam.  It sucks, but not a scam.

It's definitely misleading. The labeling suggests that there's something that makes the seats a more premium product than the standard tickets, which isn't true. I'd bet anyone who bought premium feels that they were scammed when seats in the same row or better pop up later for a fraction of the price.  

You are 100% correct.  I bought tickets that were labeled "Premium" and payed the money because I was willing to pay the extra cost to get a top notch experience.  I did not receive a different experience, or different seating, than the standard tickets.  But I paid the "Premium" price.
I was robbed.  Scammed.

Were you scammed, or did you just not read the fine print? 

I did not read any fine print, as I didn't know any fine print existed.  I read the regular print.
If details of a product need to be hidden in fine print, then isn't that a scam?
A product that is up-charged simply because the word "Premium" is added, but it's the same standard product.
Not a small upcharge.  $800 per ticket.  That's a pretty steep increase.
Same product as standard though.  That is a scam. 

Not really... The term 'buyer beware' exists for a reason. 

This is very true.  Need to be on our toes at all times.

I don't disagree that the whole thing stinks to high heaven... I wouldn't say you were scammed per se, it's more that you just weren't in the know about their (shitty) practices. 

I feel bad for young people just starting to get the live music bug... things were so much easier even just 10 years ago, never mind back in the '90s or 2000s. 

My number two piece of advice to youngsters after "stay in school" is "stick to club shows"

MikeDigs

90's and 00's concerts were amazing, and great prices too

SHZA

I think some of you are looking at this from the perspective of a savvy consumer who has experience with TM shenanigans and has done the research to understand that the only premium feature of premium seating is the price. To the average consumer who doesn't know that, it would be reasonable for that person to expect that they are getting something more than they would get if they purchased standard tickets. Just because not everyone is deceived doesn't mean it's not deceptive. 

hairgrowth2001 said:

Is it the artists making the money or ticketmaster? I think for big arena and stadium shows the artists are receiving a guarantee. I assumed that the premium prices are going to tickemaster. 

The artists "own" the tickets so they are getting the money. But because TM's fees are based on a percentage of the price, TM gets much higher fees on the premium sales.