Tickets Ticketmaster Dealing Under the Table - Page 2

**gblowfish** · 09-20-2018, 09:28 AM

I'm not surprised by this at all. This is documented in Canada, not sure what the story may be in the USA:

https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/...alper-program/

On paper, Ticketmaster has long opposed ticket scalping. In the terms and conditions on its website, the Live Nation subsidiary clearly indicates ticket limits for buyers, and the company even has gone so far as to sue online ticket brokers like Prestige Entertainment for allegedly using bot software. In an interesting turn of events, however, it appears that Ticketmaster has had its own pockets in the scalping business all along.

In an investigative report, CBC and Toronto Star uncovered evidence that Ticketmaster has been operating its own secret scalping scheme. Both Canadian outlets sent journalists posing as scalpers to the Ticket Summit industry conference held in Las Vegas back in July. It was there that the two were allegedly approached by Ticketmaster and briefed on the company’s seedy reselling scheme.

The scam sees scalpers purchasing tickets from Ticketmaster, then reselling them at a higher price on Ticketmaster’s own secondary market platform TradeDesk. Under this scenario, Ticketmaster successfully inflates ticket prices and successfully profits not once, but twice — first on the fees of the initial ticket sale to scalpers, then on the fees captured during the pricier resale transactions made on TradeDesk.

According to the undercover report, not only is Ticketmaster recruiting these scalpers into its secret program, but it is also actively turning a blind eye to actions that violate the company’s own terms of service. The Toronto Star writes that scalpers face little to no consequences when it comes to the ticket buying process, such as when they initially purchase beyond the stated ticket limit:

“If we identify breaches of these limits … we reserve the right to cancel any such orders,” read Ticketmaster’s general terms and conditions. “Use of automated means to purchase tickets is strictly prohibited.”

But ticket resellers who break those rules have no reason to be concerned, the sales executive reassured. A blind eye will be turned.

“We don’t spend any time looking at your Ticketmaster.com account. I don’t care what you buy. It doesn’t matter to me,” said the Trade Desk sales executive. “There’s total separation between Ticketmaster and our division. It’s church and state … We don’t monitor that at all.”

This isn’t the first time Ticketmaster has come under fire for supposedly being in bed with scalpers. When Prestige Entertainment was sued by Ticketmaster last October, the online ticket broker shot back with counterclaims of its own. Its main argument was that Ticketmaster was itself guilty of trying to game the ticket buying system.

“However, TM fails to mention that, on information and belief, many tickets for each show of Hamilton were in fact never placed onto the primary ticket exchange, but went directly to the secondary ticket market for resale at significantly higher prices,” Prestige commented in a statement.

Ticketmaster has yet to issue a public statement, but wrote to CBC, saying “that as the world’s leading ticketing platform, representing thousands of teams, artists and venues, we believe it is our job to offer a marketplace that provides a safe and fair place for fans to shop, buy and sell tickets in both the primary and secondary markets.”

**J Diddy** · 09-20-2018, 11:43 PM

I get my tickets from the guy on the side of the road with a card board box 10 minutes after it starts. Usually about 50 % off. More often than not his name's Chad.

**HemiEd** · 09-21-2018, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

I have refused to buy a ticket to anything if I have to go through Ticketmaster. Needless to say I don't go to many events anymore. So it's a double savings!

I don't get ripped off by Ticketmasters fees and I don't pay for tickets that I can do with out.

Same here. I believe it has been 12 years since my last ticket purchase. I hear a lot of adds for Stub Hub, isn't that their competitor?

rabblerouser · 09-21-2018, 04:34 AM

The artists do it, too.

Artists like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande etc.

They'll 'buy' their own tickets to create a 'sell-out' and resell them via the "secondary market".

It makes all the numbers (except the bottom line) meaningless.

**Bugeater** · 09-21-2018, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Same here. I believe it has been 12 years since my last ticket purchase. I hear a lot of adds for Stub Hub, isn't that their competitor?

StubHub is a reseller. TicketMaster has no competitor and never has.

chiefzilla1501 · 09-21-2018, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eleazar

I'm confused here. Ticketmaster created a reselling marketplace, whereas people used to sell the tickets on ebay or craigslist or wherever. So naturally they created a site that would compete in that space and they take fees like ebay would or whomever.

Ticketmaster sells a ticket to a person who is not ticketmaster, and then if that scalper decides to resell the ticket and decides to do it through their platform, they take an additional fee for that sale.

What is evil about this? The fact that they run a secondary marketplace? It's not like they are selling the tickets to themselves and then putting them on the resale site.

What's especially evil is that at least scalpers have skin in the game. They have to put money up front to buy a bunch of tickets, then take a hit if they can't get rid of them. Ticketmaster has almost no skin in the game. Also, scalpers will buy as many tickets as they think they can get rid of. They're not going to buy a huge block of tickets for Smash Mouth. I imagine Ticketmaster can restrict ticket supply, delude ticket buyers into thinking the show is a hot ticket and almost sold out, possibly jack up the prices based on that. This is a really dirtbag move by Ticketmaster.

sedated · 09-21-2018, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

TicketMaster has no competitor and never has.

I've wondered since I was a kid and still do - how is that possible?

**Bearcat** · 09-21-2018, 10:21 AM

I still have a bunch of $2.50 vouchers from the last big TM lawsuit that are only good with certain events and only good ~3 at a time.... assholes.

**Bugeater** · 09-21-2018, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedated

I've wondered since I was a kid and still do - how is that possible?

They're part of the entertainment industry cabal.

SuperBowl4 · 09-21-2018, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

I have refused to buy a ticket to anything if I have to go through Ticketmaster. Needless to say I don't go to many events anymore. So it's a double savings!

I don't get ripped off by Ticketmasters fees and I don't pay for tickets that I can do with out.

Amish paradise - Weird Al Yankovic

09-20-2018, 09:28 AM
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17686178 VARSITY	Ticketmaster Dealing Under the Table I'm not surprised by this at all. This is documented in Canada, not sure what the story may be in the USA: https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/...alper-program/ On paper, Ticketmaster has long opposed ticket scalping. In the terms and conditions on its website, the Live Nation subsidiary clearly indicates ticket limits for buyers, and the company even has gone so far as to sue online ticket brokers like Prestige Entertainment for allegedly using bot software. In an interesting turn of events, however, it appears that Ticketmaster has had its own pockets in the scalping business all along. In an investigative report, CBC and Toronto Star uncovered evidence that Ticketmaster has been operating its own secret scalping scheme. Both Canadian outlets sent journalists posing as scalpers to the Ticket Summit industry conference held in Las Vegas back in July. It was there that the two were allegedly approached by Ticketmaster and briefed on the company’s seedy reselling scheme. The scam sees scalpers purchasing tickets from Ticketmaster, then reselling them at a higher price on Ticketmaster’s own secondary market platform TradeDesk. Under this scenario, Ticketmaster successfully inflates ticket prices and successfully profits not once, but twice — first on the fees of the initial ticket sale to scalpers, then on the fees captured during the pricier resale transactions made on TradeDesk. According to the undercover report, not only is Ticketmaster recruiting these scalpers into its secret program, but it is also actively turning a blind eye to actions that violate the company’s own terms of service. The Toronto Star writes that scalpers face little to no consequences when it comes to the ticket buying process, such as when they initially purchase beyond the stated ticket limit: “If we identify breaches of these limits … we reserve the right to cancel any such orders,” read Ticketmaster’s general terms and conditions. “Use of automated means to purchase tickets is strictly prohibited.” But ticket resellers who break those rules have no reason to be concerned, the sales executive reassured. A blind eye will be turned. “We don’t spend any time looking at your Ticketmaster.com account. I don’t care what you buy. It doesn’t matter to me,” said the Trade Desk sales executive. “There’s total separation between Ticketmaster and our division. It’s church and state … We don’t monitor that at all.” This isn’t the first time Ticketmaster has come under fire for supposedly being in bed with scalpers. When Prestige Entertainment was sued by Ticketmaster last October, the online ticket broker shot back with counterclaims of its own. Its main argument was that Ticketmaster was itself guilty of trying to game the ticket buying system. “However, TM fails to mention that, on information and belief, many tickets for each show of Hamilton were in fact never placed onto the primary ticket exchange, but went directly to the secondary ticket market for resale at significantly higher prices,” Prestige commented in a statement. Ticketmaster has yet to issue a public statement, but wrote to CBC, saying “that as the world’s leading ticketing platform, representing thousands of teams, artists and venues, we believe it is our job to offer a marketplace that provides a safe and fair place for fans to shop, buy and sell tickets in both the primary and secondary markets.”
Posts: 40,830

09-20-2018, 11:43 PM	#16
J Diddy Don't Be A Dick Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Joplin Casino cash: $6947192	I get my tickets from the guy on the side of the road with a card board box 10 minutes after it starts. Usually about 50 % off. More often than not his name's Chad.
Posts: 33,637

09-21-2018, 04:34 AM	#18
rabblerouser left blank intentionally Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Belize Nuts Casino cash: $4704897	The artists do it, too. Artists like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande etc. They'll 'buy' their own tickets to create a 'sell-out' and resell them via the "secondary market". It makes all the numbers (except the bottom line) meaningless. __________________ MY ADOPT-A-CHIEF : Jody Fortson Jr.
Posts: 32,166

09-21-2018, 10:21 AM	#22
Bearcat Would an idiot do that? Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Arizona Casino cash: $2864931	I still have a bunch of $2.50 vouchers from the last big TM lawsuit that are only good with certain events and only good ~3 at a time.... assholes.
Posts: 55,256