2025 Tour Merch Thread

Shaindli1

Merch scarcity was a major issue in Raleigh too.

ritg19

Given the demand for some merchandise doesn't it make sense to sell more to offset things like ticket prices? Less supply fuels a secondary market which I believe most, including the band, are against (or is that just for tickets). While there are only so many seats in an arena, you can print as many posters, skate decks, city specific merch as you want to fill more of the demand unless the artists are exerting some power that I wouldn't think they have over this band. I'm sure I'm making this easier than it actual is with logistics, etc., but seems straight forward. I guess there are some prints that don't sell out so they don't want to overprint, but that is rare and left to the Beth Murphy's of posters.  

Shaindli1

ritg19 said:

Given the demand for some merchandise doesn't it make sense to sell more to offset things like ticket prices? Less supply fuels a secondary market which I believe most, including the band, are against (or is that just for tickets). While there are only so many seats in an arena, you can print as many posters, skate decks, city specific merch as you want to fill more of the demand unless the artists are exerting some power that I wouldn't think they have over this band. I'm sure I'm making this easier than it actual is with logistics, etc., but seems straight forward. I guess there are some prints that don't sell out so they don't want to overprint, but that is rare and left to the Beth Murphy's of posters.  

If you look at the posters at the shop you'll notice many from the 2024 run did not sell out. This may partially explain the scarcity - at least for posters - this tour. 

Merkin Baller

ritg19 said:

Given the demand for some merchandise doesn't it make sense to sell more to offset things like ticket prices? Less supply fuels a secondary market which I believe most, including the band, are against (or is that just for tickets). While there are only so many seats in an arena, you can print as many posters, skate decks, city specific merch as you want to fill more of the demand unless the artists are exerting some power that I wouldn't think they have over this band. I'm sure I'm making this easier than it actual is with logistics, etc., but seems straight forward. I guess there are some prints that don't sell out so they don't want to overprint, but that is rare and left to the Beth Murphy's of posters.  

There's around 5 dozen posters currently in the shop from past tours that haven't sold out... that's not counting posters for shows that were cancelled like London, or the 2020 tour. 

on2legs

Merkin Baller said:

ritg19 said:

Given the demand for some merchandise doesn't it make sense to sell more to offset things like ticket prices? Less supply fuels a secondary market which I believe most, including the band, are against (or is that just for tickets). While there are only so many seats in an arena, you can print as many posters, skate decks, city specific merch as you want to fill more of the demand unless the artists are exerting some power that I wouldn't think they have over this band. I'm sure I'm making this easier than it actual is with logistics, etc., but seems straight forward. I guess there are some prints that don't sell out so they don't want to overprint, but that is rare and left to the Beth Murphy's of posters.  

There's around 5 dozen posters currently in the shop from past tours that haven't sold out... that's not counting posters for shows that were cancelled like London, or the 2020 tour. 

Yes... and some of them are pretty sharp posters which makes me think the print run was too high and we ended up with less this tour as Shaindli said.

Merkin Baller

on2legs said:

Merkin Baller said:

ritg19 said:

Given the demand for some merchandise doesn't it make sense to sell more to offset things like ticket prices? Less supply fuels a secondary market which I believe most, including the band, are against (or is that just for tickets). While there are only so many seats in an arena, you can print as many posters, skate decks, city specific merch as you want to fill more of the demand unless the artists are exerting some power that I wouldn't think they have over this band. I'm sure I'm making this easier than it actual is with logistics, etc., but seems straight forward. I guess there are some prints that don't sell out so they don't want to overprint, but that is rare and left to the Beth Murphy's of posters.  

There's around 5 dozen posters currently in the shop from past tours that haven't sold out... that's not counting posters for shows that were cancelled like London, or the 2020 tour. 

Yes... and some of them are pretty sharp posters which makes me think the print run was too high and we ended up with less this tour as Shaindli said.

& based on the amount of license plates that were shipped out in the mystery bags earlier this year, those prior production runs were too high as well. 

Shaindli1

Merkin Baller said:

on2legs said:

Merkin Baller said:

ritg19 said:

Given the demand for some merchandise doesn't it make sense to sell more to offset things like ticket prices? Less supply fuels a secondary market which I believe most, including the band, are against (or is that just for tickets). While there are only so many seats in an arena, you can print as many posters, skate decks, city specific merch as you want to fill more of the demand unless the artists are exerting some power that I wouldn't think they have over this band. I'm sure I'm making this easier than it actual is with logistics, etc., but seems straight forward. I guess there are some prints that don't sell out so they don't want to overprint, but that is rare and left to the Beth Murphy's of posters.  

There's around 5 dozen posters currently in the shop from past tours that haven't sold out... that's not counting posters for shows that were cancelled like London, or the 2020 tour. 

Yes... and some of them are pretty sharp posters which makes me think the print run was too high and we ended up with less this tour as Shaindli said.

& based on the amount of license plates that were shipped out in the mystery bags earlier this year, those prior production runs were too high as well. 

Those were from the 2023 mini tour, as were all those rat shirts. 

dgpj92

Merkin Baller said:

What’s a giclee?

I think it comes out of a printer instead of being made thru screen printing, but I failed art class in school and might be totally wrong.

Merkin Baller

Shaindli1 said:

Merkin Baller said:

on2legs said:

Merkin Baller said:

ritg19 said:

Given the demand for some merchandise doesn't it make sense to sell more to offset things like ticket prices? Less supply fuels a secondary market which I believe most, including the band, are against (or is that just for tickets). While there are only so many seats in an arena, you can print as many posters, skate decks, city specific merch as you want to fill more of the demand unless the artists are exerting some power that I wouldn't think they have over this band. I'm sure I'm making this easier than it actual is with logistics, etc., but seems straight forward. I guess there are some prints that don't sell out so they don't want to overprint, but that is rare and left to the Beth Murphy's of posters.  

There's around 5 dozen posters currently in the shop from past tours that haven't sold out... that's not counting posters for shows that were cancelled like London, or the 2020 tour. 

Yes... and some of them are pretty sharp posters which makes me think the print run was too high and we ended up with less this tour as Shaindli said.

& based on the amount of license plates that were shipped out in the mystery bags earlier this year, those prior production runs were too high as well. 

Those were from the 2023 mini tour, as were all those rat shirts. 

I thought I saw some CA plates in there from 2024.... Regardless, the point stands. they're probably producing less so they aren't bringing unsold merch back to the warehouse to deal with when the tour ends. 

Shaindli1

Merkin Baller said:

Shaindli1 said:

Merkin Baller said:

on2legs said:

Merkin Baller said:

ritg19 said:

Given the demand for some merchandise doesn't it make sense to sell more to offset things like ticket prices? Less supply fuels a secondary market which I believe most, including the band, are against (or is that just for tickets). While there are only so many seats in an arena, you can print as many posters, skate decks, city specific merch as you want to fill more of the demand unless the artists are exerting some power that I wouldn't think they have over this band. I'm sure I'm making this easier than it actual is with logistics, etc., but seems straight forward. I guess there are some prints that don't sell out so they don't want to overprint, but that is rare and left to the Beth Murphy's of posters.  

There's around 5 dozen posters currently in the shop from past tours that haven't sold out... that's not counting posters for shows that were cancelled like London, or the 2020 tour. 

Yes... and some of them are pretty sharp posters which makes me think the print run was too high and we ended up with less this tour as Shaindli said.

& based on the amount of license plates that were shipped out in the mystery bags earlier this year, those prior production runs were too high as well. 

Those were from the 2023 mini tour, as were all those rat shirts. 

I thought I saw some CA plates in there from 2024.... Regardless, the point stands. they're probably producing less so they aren't bringing unsold merch back to the warehouse to deal with when the tour ends. 

They definitely undershot it this time. I'm sure they don't want to have to deal with large quantities of unsold merch but not meeting the demand on tour is also a problem for them.

Merkin Baller

Shaindli1 said:

Merkin Baller said:

Shaindli1 said:

Merkin Baller said:

on2legs said:

Merkin Baller said:

ritg19 said:

Given the demand for some merchandise doesn't it make sense to sell more to offset things like ticket prices? Less supply fuels a secondary market which I believe most, including the band, are against (or is that just for tickets). While there are only so many seats in an arena, you can print as many posters, skate decks, city specific merch as you want to fill more of the demand unless the artists are exerting some power that I wouldn't think they have over this band. I'm sure I'm making this easier than it actual is with logistics, etc., but seems straight forward. I guess there are some prints that don't sell out so they don't want to overprint, but that is rare and left to the Beth Murphy's of posters.  

There's around 5 dozen posters currently in the shop from past tours that haven't sold out... that's not counting posters for shows that were cancelled like London, or the 2020 tour. 

Yes... and some of them are pretty sharp posters which makes me think the print run was too high and we ended up with less this tour as Shaindli said.

& based on the amount of license plates that were shipped out in the mystery bags earlier this year, those prior production runs were too high as well. 

Those were from the 2023 mini tour, as were all those rat shirts. 

I thought I saw some CA plates in there from 2024.... Regardless, the point stands. they're probably producing less so they aren't bringing unsold merch back to the warehouse to deal with when the tour ends. 

They definitely undershot it this time. I'm sure they don't want to have to deal with large quantities of unsold merch but not meeting the demand on tour is also a problem for them.

I'm not convinced that it is, though at least not enough of one to do something about it.

It's entirely possible they're content with the system they have in place after all these years. It's not perfect by any means, but no matter how they do it, people are going to complain... I'm thinking at this point, they probably don't want to deal w/ reinventing the wheel. 

BSully

True, but I don't think they need to reinvent the wheel, just produce a little more merch.

I'm fine with the system they have, they just need to make enough merch so the people on the inside have a chance.

I'm not sure what the number is because not everyone buys something, but it the arena holds 15,000 people, they need more than 1000 posters, stickers, pins, whatever.
If you show up early and stand in line to get in the arena at open, it shouldn't be an issue getting something.

pjl44

Surprises me they don't sell more leftovers online once the tour is over

Merkin Baller

BSully said:

True, but I don't think they need to reinvent the wheel, just produce a little more merch.

I'm fine with the system they have, they just need to make enough merch so the people on the inside have a chance.

I'm not sure what the number is because not everyone buys something, but it the arena holds 15,000 people, they need more than 1000 posters, stickers, pins, whatever.
If you show up early and stand in line to get in the arena at open, it shouldn't be an issue getting something.

I would love to see it happen, but don’t expect it to based on the amount of unsold posters in the shop. 

Merkin Baller

pjl44 said:

Surprises me they don't sell more leftovers online once the tour is over

Same 

blairs1

inmyrvm said:

TJ80 said:

darwinstheory said:

inmyrvm said:

TJ80 said:

As one who was fortunate to grab one (waited in line 5hrs+), It’s better in person. Fantastic print (Pit n1 Klausen)

Therein lies the problem (the wait, and that's not on you).  They need to fix that.

Not a chance! The wait increases interest and drives demand big time!

I’ve come to agree with this. There is something to being there, and unfortunately to the “grind” to find said poster brings. I was fortunate to be able to take time off work to get in line at 10:11am. Both sides have a valid point. But I think the scarcity makes it mean more

That's, um, an interesting take......

If you have that kind of time, more power to you.  Less should be sold outside, or supply needs increased inside.  Guaranteed they could have moved another 1000+ units of all city merch and it would have had no effect on anything except giving people inside the show a chance to purchase what they wanted. 

And by all accounts, the merch line issues only occurred in Pittsburgh for whatever reason.  People said MSG didn't even have those kinds of issues.

I did both days of MSG last year. Day one was not great. They had the line but once you got inside it was split if you had a bag or not - to go thru metal detectors. This was day 1. 

Day 2, they moved us but the line up wasn’t great. Instead of zig zagging through metal railings, like we had lined up, security had put the front of the line closest to msg - so those that were the first in the second row, were essentially the back of the second row now. It was messy. Not sure if they kept that as I was in the middle-ish. 

Aside from the cops being called and 7-8 cruisers showing up in Nashville, I think it went ok. 

Shaindli1

Why were cops called in Nashville?

blairs1

Shaindli1 said:

Why were cops called in Nashville?

The only thing we could figure out was there was a security guard walking down the line and randomly asked “are you all protesting something?”. I don’t think if we ever got an official answer or not. 

The line up was at Bridgestone and then was moved away from Bridgestone and the cops had us move back to Bridgestone but on a line that wasn’t their property. They stopped the traffic so we could just walk across the road. 

100 Pacer

Shaindli1 said:

Why were cops called in Nashville?

For the first show the venue initially didn’t want anyone lined up on their property so the merch line moved to the West side of Broadway across the venue. The 7-8 police cars arrived en masse and the lead officer explained to the venue staff he didn’t want the sidewalk blocked for pedestrians or the neighbouring businesses. The venue agreed to move back to the East side of Broadway directly next to the venue as long as people kept 8ft away from the property. Come the second show the venue didn’t care about the line being on their property.

Shaindli1

100 Pacer said:

Shaindli1 said:

Why were cops called in Nashville?

For the first show the venue initially didn’t want anyone lined up on their property so the merch line moved to the West side of Broadway across the venue. The 7-8 police cars arrived en masse and the lead officer explained to the venue staff he didn’t want the sidewalk blocked for pedestrians or the neighbouring businesses. The venue agreed to move back to the East side of Broadway directly next to the venue as long as people kept 8ft away from the property. Come the second show the venue didn’t care about the line being on their property.

Kind of ridic on thr venue's part!
Thanks for the explanation!