Ticketmaster May Have Violated Consumer Protection Laws (theverge.com) 22
An anonymous reader shares a report: The UK's Consumer Markets Authority (CMA) has provided an update into its investigation of Ticketmaster after the sale of Oasis reunion tour tickets resulted in grossly inflated ticket prices and numerous consumer complaints. The CMA said that the results of the investigation warranted, "consulting with the ticketing platform on changes to ensure fans receive the right information, at the right time."
Of concern to the CMA was Ticketmaster's labeling and information practices. In its update, the CMA stated that Ticketmaster designated certain tickets as "platinum," selling them at more than twice the standard price without adequately informing consumers that the increased price did not correspond to better seats or other perks. The CMA also took issue with Ticketmaster's handling of standing room tickets. It explained that the company sold off a cheaper category of standing ticket first then surprised buyers waiting in extensive online queues with a more expensive ticket.
Of concern to the CMA was Ticketmaster's labeling and information practices. In its update, the CMA stated that Ticketmaster designated certain tickets as "platinum," selling them at more than twice the standard price without adequately informing consumers that the increased price did not correspond to better seats or other perks. The CMA also took issue with Ticketmaster's handling of standing room tickets. It explained that the company sold off a cheaper category of standing ticket first then surprised buyers waiting in extensive online queues with a more expensive ticket.
Standard TB Practices (Score:3)
I wish the UK better luck in their battles but these are the same practices TB has been employing for years on every onsale and the best the US has attained so far is a lot of congressional tongue wagging and a BS class-action where the only people who got real remuneration were the lawyers.
Great! (Score:2)
When is the trial for the CEO and board members scheduled?
Re: (Score:2)
It'll happen when BlackRock has its executives dragged into court for destroying neighborhoods and hundreds of businesses.
Consumer Protection?! That's funny! (Score:1)
We don't do that anymore. All consumer protection laws have been repealed by executive order, and there is nothing to stop it. Voters obviously don't care. So here we are...
Re: (Score:2)
There is no such thing as an executive order in the UK (where this is happening) and the consumer laws in that country do apply to Ticketmaster when they sell tickets for events that are located in that country.
Just fluff The Tinted One (Score:2)
and he'll let you off with a light slap on the wrist.
Ticketmaster may have violated... (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
fan stupidity created ticketmaster (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:fan stupidity created ticketmaster (Score:4, Insightful)
I think they should handle this more like many professional sports teams do. You buy a ticket with the expectation that you will attend the event, in person, yourself. More than a few teams actually are selling you a license to attend. If you wish to resell the ticket, you either use their process, or your ticket is voided.
Taylor Swift tickets are not priced at $5000 by the promoter, they are scalped by various outfits, who offer the original purchaser incentives. Logically, some of these teams believe they should receive the profit from scalping the tickets, often later when demand increases.
But my beef is the original purchaser who intends to profit by reselling. So much for lingering on the site for hours, only to be shut out by the bots and scalpers. Pus.
Re: (Score:2)
Actually doing ticket sales as a dutch auction (not reverse) is fairly brilliant.
So the tickets start at $5000, and every few minutes drop in price until they're all sold out. People who must have the right seat pay more, people willing to wait for it to go down wait. The dutch auction process at its best.
Re: (Score:3)
You're thinking about this wrong.
a) The goal of concerts was not to maximise profits. In fact many bands set a maximum ticket price themselves for their concert. The venue or the ticketing agency doesn't get a say.
b) Even if you buy in the bullshit that we should have a system reserved for the rich, Dutch auctions do not work well en mass. They work well for single items for setting prices. Selling 900000 things in parallel doesn't work for a Dutch auction, simply the ping from the user to the ticket master
"may* have? Isn't that SOP for them? (Score:2)
Every Ticketmaster story reminds me of this from Rick and Morty [wikipedia.org], Raising Gazorpazorp [wikipedia.org] (s1e7):
Rick: Well, obviously, Summer, it appears the lower tier of this society is being manipulated through sex and advanced technology by a hidden ruling class. Sound familiar?
Summer: [ Gasps ] Ticketmaster.
Ticketmaster did this? (Score:2)
They violated consumer protection laws? I'm shocked, SHOCKED!!!! Well, not that shocked.
A fundamental basis of progressive socities (Score:1)