F2F is OPEN

KJ228171 said:

Chrrie said:

Merkin Baller said:

Houryo said:

EH14457 said:

SHZA said:

Like this? https://developer.ticketmaster.com/products-and-docs/apis/getting-started/ 

Yeah, except what you're actually looking for is this: https://developer.ticketmaster.com/products-and-docs/apis/partner/#ticket-availability

Per TM's terms, the Ticketing API is only available to Ticketmaster partners, which means lots of red tape. Business development, sales, legal, fraud, AML, etc... which is to say there aren't mysterious bot/device farms out there using that API to procure tickets. If the APIs are being used for ticket procurement, then they're being used with TM's knowledge by entities that are in mutually beneficial business agreements with Ticketmaster.

This whole thing is just sad. Obviously I'm frustrated that my account is blocked, but I've also made a career in tech... as a customer-oriented head of product, working closely with CS and engineering. And that part of me is livid about TM's lazy, ineffective, heavy-handed approach to this problem.

I haven't received that questionnaire yet, but I'm going to ask for it now so I can send them my answers:

• Have you read and understood the Ticketmaster/Live Nation Terms of Use?
  
  Yes, just now in response to this question so I could say that I could. Previously I hadn't because literally no consumer in the world reads Terms of Use before joining a platform. You know that.
  
  
• What show(s) were you interested in?
  
  A few shows from Pearl Jam's 2025 Dark Matter tour.
  
  
• Were you informed of any ticket limits when you were looking at or making ticket selections?
  
  Yes, 4 per show.
  
  
• Please estimate how many computers (including virtual machines) access the Internet through this IP address.
  
  Typically 5, 3 laptops and 2 mobile phones. But we also have guests over with phones and laptops frequently. They also use our wifi. 
  
  
• Over the last year have you used multiple browser tabs to access the Ticketmaster/LiveNation prior to getting blocked?
  
  Yes. For multiple high demand tours, given the way the queue system works, I've joined the queue for multiple shows at once when the whole tour goes on sale, hoping to get tickets to at least one show if I'm lucky enough to get a good queue position. By necessity, I need multiple tabs open to be in multiple queues when a tour goes on sale.
  
  
• Over the last year have you used accounts other than the account above to purchase tickets on the Ticketmaster/LiveNation website?
  
  Yes. When my account was previously blocked, also for "refreshing too often" I was advised by Ticketmaster support to create a new account. Earlier this year I bought tickets to Death Cab / Postal Service on the new account because my main account was experiencing intermittent blocks again for undisclosed reasons, and I didn't want to miss the sale.
  
  
• Are you using any software to automatically fill out web form fields and/or automate web submissions?
  
  No
  
  
• Over the last year have you ever switched or tried to switch IP addresses to avoid a block?
  
  Yes, your guidance when the block occurs is to try a different device, switch from wifi to mobile data, or try a different network. Any one of those things will change an IP address, and–again, per your guidance–I've tried them all

The questionnaire is clearly written by lawyers to cover TM's ass and to intimidate consumers. I have to believe that if there are any user-focused professionals over at TM, they have no idea this nonsense is going on.

It looks like they're leaning on Section 3 of their Terms of Use as the grounds to ban, but they're only selectively enforcing it. For example, the third bullet point also lists linking to anything other than the assigned homepage of the Site as punishable offense. That doesn't even make sense; that's like asking people not to share links directly to shows they or their friends are interested in attending. There's legal precedent for negating the enforceability of an agreement if no effort is made to enforce a particular aspect of it. Not saying that would work here, and definitely not saying that a legal effort is the way to go (it's 100% not), but it highlights how lazy TM is actually being about this whole thing.

I am trying to make some friendly contacts at TM in the hopes of reaching an empathetic customer-focused ear at the company. Not sure that's a winning strategy either, but I'm so frustrated by how this is being handled I feel compelled to try whatever I can.

Just got the email with these questions.  I will share whether or not I get out of jail.

I got the email and answered the questions… here’s the response… 

“We have an update on the appeal you recently filed after your Ticketmaster account was blocked from making future ticket purchases.

After further review, we maintain that your account activity violated Ticketmaster's Terms of Use by attempting to circumvent terms and security protocols that are in place to prevent users from acquiring and reselling tickets in ways that are illegal or prohibited. To protect fans, we cannot allow activity that violates these terms. As a result, your appeal is denied, and your account will remain blocked from making future ticket purchases. You continue to have access to your account to manage any previously purchased tickets.
 
You can create a new Ticketmaster account if you'd like to purchase tickets, but please do review our Terms of Use and follow the advice above, otherwise your account could be blocked again.”


They never told me what my offense was. 

I didn’t actually think I could hate Ticketmaster more and then they go and pull this kangaroo court nonsense 

I already have an email list of Ticketmaster/LiveNation executives from a previous issue that I emailed them about. One of them actually got someone else to fix it so they aren’t all terrible. I’m expecting the rejection email too. If any one wants to DM me their email address I can include it in my message. It might work or it might not but I’ll be a pain in their arse for a while. I’ll make a game out of it. There has to be hundreds of us by now over just Pearl Jam.

Shaindli1 said:

Also time to involve 10C in this situation. 

craigraether said:

JimmyV said:

Merkin Baller said:

Houryo said:

EH14457 said:

SHZA said:

Like this? https://developer.ticketmaster.com/products-and-docs/apis/getting-started/ 

Yeah, except what you're actually looking for is this: https://developer.ticketmaster.com/products-and-docs/apis/partner/#ticket-availability

Per TM's terms, the Ticketing API is only available to Ticketmaster partners, which means lots of red tape. Business development, sales, legal, fraud, AML, etc... which is to say there aren't mysterious bot/device farms out there using that API to procure tickets. If the APIs are being used for ticket procurement, then they're being used with TM's knowledge by entities that are in mutually beneficial business agreements with Ticketmaster.

This whole thing is just sad. Obviously I'm frustrated that my account is blocked, but I've also made a career in tech... as a customer-oriented head of product, working closely with CS and engineering. And that part of me is livid about TM's lazy, ineffective, heavy-handed approach to this problem.

I haven't received that questionnaire yet, but I'm going to ask for it now so I can send them my answers:

• Have you read and understood the Ticketmaster/Live Nation Terms of Use?
  
  Yes, just now in response to this question so I could say that I could. Previously I hadn't because literally no consumer in the world reads Terms of Use before joining a platform. You know that.
  
  
• What show(s) were you interested in?
  
  A few shows from Pearl Jam's 2025 Dark Matter tour.
  
  
• Were you informed of any ticket limits when you were looking at or making ticket selections?
  
  Yes, 4 per show.
  
  
• Please estimate how many computers (including virtual machines) access the Internet through this IP address.
  
  Typically 5, 3 laptops and 2 mobile phones. But we also have guests over with phones and laptops frequently. They also use our wifi. 
  
  
• Over the last year have you used multiple browser tabs to access the Ticketmaster/LiveNation prior to getting blocked?
  
  Yes. For multiple high demand tours, given the way the queue system works, I've joined the queue for multiple shows at once when the whole tour goes on sale, hoping to get tickets to at least one show if I'm lucky enough to get a good queue position. By necessity, I need multiple tabs open to be in multiple queues when a tour goes on sale.
  
  
• Over the last year have you used accounts other than the account above to purchase tickets on the Ticketmaster/LiveNation website?
  
  Yes. When my account was previously blocked, also for "refreshing too often" I was advised by Ticketmaster support to create a new account. Earlier this year I bought tickets to Death Cab / Postal Service on the new account because my main account was experiencing intermittent blocks again for undisclosed reasons, and I didn't want to miss the sale.
  
  
• Are you using any software to automatically fill out web form fields and/or automate web submissions?
  
  No
  
  
• Over the last year have you ever switched or tried to switch IP addresses to avoid a block?
  
  Yes, your guidance when the block occurs is to try a different device, switch from wifi to mobile data, or try a different network. Any one of those things will change an IP address, and–again, per your guidance–I've tried them all

The questionnaire is clearly written by lawyers to cover TM's ass and to intimidate consumers. I have to believe that if there are any user-focused professionals over at TM, they have no idea this nonsense is going on.

It looks like they're leaning on Section 3 of their Terms of Use as the grounds to ban, but they're only selectively enforcing it. For example, the third bullet point also lists linking to anything other than the assigned homepage of the Site as punishable offense. That doesn't even make sense; that's like asking people not to share links directly to shows they or their friends are interested in attending. There's legal precedent for negating the enforceability of an agreement if no effort is made to enforce a particular aspect of it. Not saying that would work here, and definitely not saying that a legal effort is the way to go (it's 100% not), but it highlights how lazy TM is actually being about this whole thing.

I am trying to make some friendly contacts at TM in the hopes of reaching an empathetic customer-focused ear at the company. Not sure that's a winning strategy either, but I'm so frustrated by how this is being handled I feel compelled to try whatever I can.

Just got the email with these questions.  I will share whether or not I get out of jail.

I got the email and answered the questions… here’s the response… 

“We have an update on the appeal you recently filed after your Ticketmaster account was blocked from making future ticket purchases.

After further review, we maintain that your account activity violated Ticketmaster's Terms of Use by attempting to circumvent terms and security protocols that are in place to prevent users from acquiring and reselling tickets in ways that are illegal or prohibited. To protect fans, we cannot allow activity that violates these terms. As a result, your appeal is denied, and your account will remain blocked from making future ticket purchases. You continue to have access to your account to manage any previously purchased tickets.
 
You can create a new Ticketmaster account if you'd like to purchase tickets, but please do review our Terms of Use and follow the advice above, otherwise your account could be blocked again.”


They never told me what my offense was. 

Fucking bullshit. 

Seems the offense is too many refreshes in a given time.. I would like to know what does TM expect fans to do to see new tickets show up. if their page automatically loaded new tickets without us having to refresh. That doesn't solve the BOT issue. blocking fans doesn't solve the BOT issue. The only way to fix is create a verified account system that you would need multi stage authentication and would only allow real people to buy.

TM account linked to verified email, phone and bank account, CC, apple or android account. All name matching. No burner accounts or accounts that have no verification. Any new account would need to created that match all that info. Or Device locked to your phone, and any change in device would need to verified as its still the account owner. 

What would we rather have, no BOTS ands free fan to fan, without the ability to allow someone to log in to our account to share and trade tickets, or the way it is now? 

Houryo said:

Just got my appeal decision from TM and it was denied.  I can no longer use that account except for the tickets that are currenrly contained in it.  WEAK!

Houryo said:

Just got my appeal decision from TM and it was denied.  I can no longer use that account except for the tickets that are currenrly contained in it.  WEAK!