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Ticketmaster :-(
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Sorry people, but I have to have a rant...
I'm a fan so was lucky enough to get a pre sale code for early possibility to purchase tickets to see Pink Floyd's main man, David Gilmore, at Royal Albert Hall in October during his short residency. The code doesn't necessarily guarantee tickets.
Saying all this I was online today poised at 10:00 and clicked over the moment the screen changed. It refreshed and I was 1,883 person in a queue, not ideal but ok.
After waiting a good 15mins, the screen changed to another where it said view purchases... Only for that screen to hang with a cycle trying to load. After 15mins I refreshed the screen , no change, waiting another 15 minutes and refreshed again...
Only to then find a notice saying my account was temporarily suspended because they thought I was bot!! By the time I tried to log in later in the afternoon, you guessed it, all gone.
This is not the first time it's happened that Ticketmaster gets clogged up and crashes due to demand... How is this site able to have monopoly on the whole ticket buying industry... And don't get me started in their "public demand inflated prices" or syphoning off premium tickets to their sister sites who increase the prices....
Anyone else have horror stories of this god awful way of trying to see someone you like?? |
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Ticketmaster are just abysmal! Many promoters now are starting to use secondary ticket agents alongside Ticketmaster, so if there is any way on gods earth I can avoid using those con artists to get tickets I will do so!
When I got my AC/DC tickets I used Gigs and Tours - simple, and the tickets I wanted were secured within 10 min of booking going live. A friend used Ticketmaster, got kicked out three times and 4 hours later ended up with the tickets that no-one really wants!
The trouble is that nothing will change all the time people continue to buy the tickets... Vicious circle. |
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"Ticketmaster are just abysmal! Many promoters now are starting to use secondary ticket agents alongside Ticketmaster, so if there is any way on gods earth I can avoid using those con artists to get tickets I will do so!
When I got my AC/DC tickets I used Gigs and Tours - simple, and the tickets I wanted were secured within 10 min of booking going live. A friend used Ticketmaster, got kicked out three times and 4 hours later ended up with the tickets that no-one really wants!
The trouble is that nothing will change all the time people continue to buy the tickets... Vicious circle."
Oh I'm with Gigs and Tours but they're smaller and dibt have the variety for all....
Dave wasn't isn't on there unfortunately. You're right though, they manage things ALOT better.  |
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Ticketmaster a total monopoly on most gigs. Website is absolutely appalling and done even get me started on booking fees for every ticket when it should be on just the one transaction. I hate giving them money  |
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By *irthandgirthMan 41 weeks ago
Camberley occasionally doncaster |
"Don't waste your time on Ticketmaster. They are without doubt the worst online ticket outlet going. Search other ticket sites or call the venues direct and ask if the sell from their box office. "
As bad as ticketmaster is, viagogo is way worse. Price gouging fuckers. |
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I had a code too but fortunately/unfortunately I forgot about it at 10am so I missed out anyway. I’m not sure what the chances will be like tomorrow for general ticket sales or if you can buy direct at the venue but good luck! It’ll be an incredible event even if it’s very pricey  |
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By *abluesbabyMan 41 weeks ago
Gibraltar/Cheshire/London |
Its a massive problem, especially for genuine diehard fans like our hapless author here. But we do need to get some context in that this issue only really affects the "big guns" as in acts like David Gilmour who can almost play as many dates as he wishes and would always sell them out.
The chilling fact though is, as the author describes, that such as Ticketmaster also "own" the second hand ticket sales sites. And as the author points out it just compounds the issue as people from those just wanting to make a quick buck to highly organised touts and scalpers who buy the tickets purely as an "investment" only to sell them at a profit.
Some have tried to circumvent this such as Glastonbury having the ticket holder's passport style mugshot printed on the ticket so they are impossible almost to resell privately.
But technology has gifted us these hyper fast booking systems that can sell tickets at such a speed that hundreds of thousands for a world tour can go in mere minutes - as seen when AC/DC put theirs on sale a few weeks back. Leading to more "horror stories" like the author alludes to as many fans left unable to see their fave band.
Is there a solution? To make the industry change? There is one. And it lies solely with us fans. But its a tricky one! The solution is us music fans have to collectively boycott buying ANY tickets. Yes the scalpers will buy them still but if no fans purchase any fresh tickets and more importantly no 2nd hand ones it will cause huge shockwaves. And leave the scalpers out of pocket! But good luck in trying to orchestrate such a stance of course! Its nigh on impossible. Of course it is. The trouble is us music fans MUST see our faves! So the tickets will sell. Especially for aging legends like David Gilmour who, now in his late 70's, might be playing his swansong run at the Albert Hall.
The tide is turning slightly though. I have heard whispers that Pearl Jam ticket sales at a whopping £176 each are "slow" as are £199 Eagles tickets and neither UK tour is sold out. Both these legendary bands normally sell out in minutes. So they will be watching this carefully and it might, just might, mean genuine fans can get to see their fave band for a reasonable price in the future.
But I sympathise with the author here. Its just wrong. And it annoys the hell out of us music fans. And as things are other fans will experience the same deflated feeling causing posts like this. |
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By *ild_oatsMan 41 weeks ago
the land of saints & sinners |
Undoubtedly the likes of Ticketmaster are out to profit from fan demand. With big acts it will always be a case of supply and demand where fans will be exploited by companies who have no real interest in artists. It’s just about selling product.
To quote John Lydon “Ever get the feeling that you’ve been cheated.”
That’s one of the reasons why I don’t go to see big name acts in places like the Albert Hall.
I much prefer to smaller venues with up and coming artists. Where without too much effort you can be down the front rather than 2 miles away.
However this requires keeping an open ear a listening to new music to find out what is new and exciting….. |
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"To get tickets to the accessible viewing area, you have to phone up. Yesterday at the AO Arena, there were maybe 4 or 6 spaces for wheelchairs. So yeah, I don't go to gigs much/at all.
"
That sucks so much. |
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"Undoubtedly the likes of Ticketmaster are out to profit from fan demand. With big acts it will always be a case of supply and demand where fans will be exploited by companies who have no real interest in artists. It’s just about selling product.
To quote John Lydon “Ever get the feeling that you’ve been cheated.”
That’s one of the reasons why I don’t go to see big name acts in places like the Albert Hall.
I much prefer to smaller venues with up and coming artists. Where without too much effort you can be down the front rather than 2 miles away.
However this requires keeping an open ear a listening to new music to find out what is new and exciting….. "
We are lucky in Reading to have the hexagon. Going to see Ben Elton in November. |
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I hate that it's actually impossible in most cases to buy tickets at face value. Even if you can find a venue that sells directly, they still add the booking fee/admin fee.
In my opininon, tickets should only be on sale directly the the venue or act, and available to buy at the ticket office for face value.
In most cases, the main reason that you have to queue for hours & everything is sold out, is because the big ticket resellers are buying tickets to then resell at an inflated price later... this artificially creates the illusion that all shows are sold out and drives both the general desire for tickets, and the willingness to pay inflated prices for tickets.
I have been to many "sold out" events where there are loads of empty seats which the various "Ticket Tout" websites are unable to shift at their inflated price.
It also annoys me when I can't buy two tickets from a group of three because it would leave a single seat... but there are 50 single seats available scattered around the venue.
Cal |
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Update,...
I got some, but surprise, surprise, but NOT from Ticketmaster. I was waiting again in huge queues and nothing left by the time I got in. So you try another date, and the process starts again with over 4,000 in the queue at one point.
Signed also into the RAH website and despite waiting longer in a larger queue, got some seats and I'm in!!!
What a ridiculous site it really is.  |
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"I hate that it's actually impossible in most cases to buy tickets at face value. Even if you can find a venue that sells directly, they still add the booking fee/admin fee.
In my opininon, tickets should only be on sale directly the the venue or act, and available to buy at the ticket office for face value.
In most cases, the main reason that you have to queue for hours & everything is sold out, is because the big ticket resellers are buying tickets to then resell at an inflated price later... this artificially creates the illusion that all shows are sold out and drives both the general desire for tickets, and the willingness to pay inflated prices for tickets.
I have been to many "sold out" events where there are loads of empty seats which the various "Ticket Tout" websites are unable to shift at their inflated price.
It also annoys me when I can't buy two tickets from a group of three because it would leave a single seat... but there are 50 single seats available scattered around the venue.
Cal"
I hope when you say "only available from the venue or act" you're not suggesting that in person purchase at a ticket office, a la 1972, is preferred? That's a very inaccessible way to sell tickets. Not only would it exclude many disabled people, it would mean taking a day off work and travelling, e.g. to London, if the O2 is the only UK date for a band and I'm in Manchester. |
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By *irthandgirthMan 41 weeks ago
Camberley occasionally doncaster |
"Update,...
I got some, but surprise, surprise, but NOT from Ticketmaster. I was waiting again in huge queues and nothing left by the time I got in. So you try another date, and the process starts again with over 4,000 in the queue at one point.
Signed also into the RAH website and despite waiting longer in a larger queue, got some seats and I'm in!!!
What a ridiculous site it really is. "
Glad you got the tickets |
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By *TG3Man 41 weeks ago
Dorchester |
"Sorry people, but I have to have a rant...
I'm a fan so was lucky enough to get a pre sale code for early possibility to purchase tickets to see Pink Floyd's main man, David Gilmore, at Royal Albert Hall in October during his short residency. The code doesn't necessarily guarantee tickets.
Saying all this I was online today poised at 10:00 and clicked over the moment the screen changed. It refreshed and I was 1,883 person in a queue, not ideal but ok.
After waiting a good 15mins, the screen changed to another where it said view purchases... Only for that screen to hang with a cycle trying to load. After 15mins I refreshed the screen , no change, waiting another 15 minutes and refreshed again...
Only to then find a notice saying my account was temporarily suspended because they thought I was bot!! By the time I tried to log in later in the afternoon, you guessed it, all gone.
This is not the first time it's happened that Ticketmaster gets clogged up and crashes due to demand... How is this site able to have monopoly on the whole ticket buying industry... And don't get me started in their "public demand inflated prices" or syphoning off premium tickets to their sister sites who increase the prices....
Anyone else have horror stories of this god awful way of trying to see someone you like?? "
they can do it for the exact same reason women rule this site supply and demand but you already knew that  |
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I feel you, perhaps not on this issue directly.
But generally, why when we live in this digital age of fibre optics, 5g super mega fast Uber internet etc...
Why oh why does everything take 10 times longer than it did 20 years ago? And that's when you are trying to pay them. Try getting your money back, that's a bigger quest than Frodo Baggins's
Puts me off doing anything frankly, I always say to people sure - you get the tickets I can't be dealing with that shit. |
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"I hate that it's actually impossible in most cases to buy tickets at face value. Even if you can find a venue that sells directly, they still add the booking fee/admin fee.
In my opininon, tickets should only be on sale directly the the venue or act, and available to buy at the ticket office for face value.
In most cases, the main reason that you have to queue for hours & everything is sold out, is because the big ticket resellers are buying tickets to then resell at an inflated price later... this artificially creates the illusion that all shows are sold out and drives both the general desire for tickets, and the willingness to pay inflated prices for tickets.
I have been to many "sold out" events where there are loads of empty seats which the various "Ticket Tout" websites are unable to shift at their inflated price.
It also annoys me when I can't buy two tickets from a group of three because it would leave a single seat... but there are 50 single seats available scattered around the venue.
Cal
I hope when you say "only available from the venue or act" you're not suggesting that in person purchase at a ticket office, a la 1972, is preferred? That's a very inaccessible way to sell tickets. Not only would it exclude many disabled people, it would mean taking a day off work and travelling, e.g. to London, if the O2 is the only UK date for a band and I'm in Manchester. "
No, I have no issues with online sales... but you should but from the O2's website at the price of the ticket, not from a ticket reseller at ticket price + admin fee & booking charge.
AND you should be able to go to the venue and buy the ticket too.
Cal |
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By *alguyMan 40 weeks ago
Gibraltar & Manchester |
So all 6 nights sold out in "about 3 minutes" even though it was £249.50 for "decent seats" in the Stalls, £150.50 for Rear Circle (ie at the back at the top) and £84.50 for Restricted View (ie at the clunky old RHA you can see nothing)
It gets better...
Viagogo the 2nd hand ticket site now have the £249.50 tickets for sale at £3.302.00 each. Hospitality VIP boxes were "only" £2,200 each.
The OP is, in my humble opinion, most allowed his rant!
PS - Notice he did get tickets in the end so hope he enjoys the show!
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From experience I can tell you, for Royal Albert Hall tickets you can check TicketSwap or their own website and you’ll get better deals.
I went to a concert there yesterday and even though I had tickets from the original sale, I had a look yesterday before the gig started and got much better tickets for a fraction of the price I paid originally…worth having a look  |
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"From experience I can tell you, for Royal Albert Hall tickets you can check TicketSwap or their own website and you’ll get better deals.
I went to a concert there yesterday and even though I had tickets from the original sale, I had a look yesterday before the gig started and got much better tickets for a fraction of the price I paid originally…worth having a look "
PS: TicketSwap has a cap on the price tickets can be resold |
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"So all 6 nights sold out in "about 3 minutes" even though it was £249.50 for "decent seats" in the Stalls, £150.50 for Rear Circle (ie at the back at the top) and £84.50 for Restricted View (ie at the clunky old RHA you can see nothing)
It gets better...
Viagogo the 2nd hand ticket site now have the £249.50 tickets for sale at £3.302.00 each. Hospitality VIP boxes were "only" £2,200 each.
The OP is, in my humble opinion, most allowed his rant!
PS - Notice he did get tickets in the end so hope he enjoys the show!
"
Cheers mate ...
Oh that's the worst of it, that if you want to go, you can, as other sites ALLOW people to sell their tickets for ridiculously inflated meaning, as someone on this thread said before, they bought them as an investment, not because they're a fan. Call it what it is, a legitimate ticket tout.
The whole system is corrupt and really needs legislation to monitor and enforce so that the general public are ripped off like this.
PS, I got decent £250 seats and I'm going no matter what they're worth now because I want to see Dave. |
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"So all 6 nights sold out in "about 3 minutes" even though it was £249.50 for "decent seats" in the Stalls, £150.50 for Rear Circle (ie at the back at the top) and £84.50 for Restricted View (ie at the clunky old RHA you can see nothing)
It gets better...
Viagogo the 2nd hand ticket site now have the £249.50 tickets for sale at £3.302.00 each. Hospitality VIP boxes were "only" £2,200 each.
The OP is, in my humble opinion, most allowed his rant!
PS - Notice he did get tickets in the end so hope he enjoys the show!
Cheers mate ...
Oh that's the worst of it, that if you want to go, you can, as other sites ALLOW people to sell their tickets for ridiculously inflated meaning, as someone on this thread said before, they bought them as an investment, not because they're a fan. Call it what it is, a legitimate ticket tout.
The whole system is corrupt and really needs legislation to monitor and enforce so that the general public are ripped off like this.
PS, I got decent £250 seats and I'm going no matter what they're worth now because I want to see Dave. "
Woah! £250.00 for a "decent" seat? That, and of course this is just a personal opinion of course as people free to see who they wish and also pay what they wish, is a rip-off. Plain and simple. Its fleecing the customer.
Its a rip off.
I saw the late Jeff Beck at the Royal Albert Hall in 2022 and had a "decent" seat for £85.00 I think it was. The ones in the gods were about £55 or thereabouts.
Yes they have improved the sound quite a bit at the RHA (it used to be shockingly bad!) and it'll always be a "nice" building. I've seen Pink Floyd 4 times and David Gilmour solo twice so I know he'll put a fantastic show on. And I hope the author and all those "lucky" enough to have secured tickets have a great night.
But will they get £250.00's worth of show??? Hmmmm....
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"So all 6 nights sold out in "about 3 minutes" even though it was £249.50 for "decent seats" in the Stalls, £150.50 for Rear Circle (ie at the back at the top) and £84.50 for Restricted View (ie at the clunky old RHA you can see nothing)
It gets better...
Viagogo the 2nd hand ticket site now have the £249.50 tickets for sale at £3.302.00 each. Hospitality VIP boxes were "only" £2,200 each.
The OP is, in my humble opinion, most allowed his rant!
PS - Notice he did get tickets in the end so hope he enjoys the show!
Cheers mate ...
Oh that's the worst of it, that if you want to go, you can, as other sites ALLOW people to sell their tickets for ridiculously inflated meaning, as someone on this thread said before, they bought them as an investment, not because they're a fan. Call it what it is, a legitimate ticket tout.
The whole system is corrupt and really needs legislation to monitor and enforce so that the general public are ripped off like this.
PS, I got decent £250 seats and I'm going no matter what they're worth now because I want to see Dave. "
£250?? Fuck me sideways. I paid £45 for my Tenacious D ticket (plus £11.25 in stupid fees!) |
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I know what you are all saying and £250 per seat is bad but it's Dave Gilmore.... I could have paid less for the gods but to me, this man is worth it. I've seen Pink Floyd before but not David on his own as I was more strapped in the past. I do think this will be his swansong tour so has to be. |
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Interesting thread. And the feelings vented here are echoed many times further afield.
The main point here is that charging £250 per ticket to see a gig at the Royal Albert Hall is ostensibly a "rip off".
Someone, somewhere is making a very, very healthy profit. As they are entitled to.
Ok, some will argue Gilmour's production (light show, lasers and all that) will be more lavish. True to some extent. But a venue like RHA could comfortably charge £50 to £60 a ticket (and £30 to £40 for the poorer seats) and still make a very decent profit. Plus doing a 6 night residency splits the costs and the last 3 nights - at least - will yield pure profit.
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What a quandary Pink Floyd fans find themselves in during these oddest of times...
Do you pay around £70 to £90 to see Roger Waters mime to a backing tape of the hits?
Or do you pay £250, or maybe even £2500, to see David Gilmour actually play and sing "deep cuts" and his less well known solo stuff thus eschewing all the hits.
Decisions, decisions. |
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"What a quandary Pink Floyd fans find themselves in during these oddest of times...
Do you pay around £70 to £90 to see Roger Waters mime to a backing tape of the hits?
Or do you pay £250, or maybe even £2500, to see David Gilmour actually play and sing "deep cuts" and his less well known solo stuff thus eschewing all the hits.
Decisions, decisions."
Go and see the tribute band down the local? Fiver on the door and Happy Hour till 8 |
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"What a quandary Pink Floyd fans find themselves in during these oddest of times...
Do you pay around £70 to £90 to see Roger Waters mime to a backing tape of the hits?
Or do you pay £250, or maybe even £2500, to see David Gilmour actually play and sing "deep cuts" and his less well known solo stuff thus eschewing all the hits.
Decisions, decisions.
Go and see the tribute band down the local? Fiver on the door and Happy Hour till 8 "
"Oh shit! They're WAY better than us!" David Gilmour whispering to Nick Mason the first time they saw The Australian Pink Floyd Show. True story. |
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By *abluesbabyMan 40 weeks ago
Gibraltar/Cheshire/London |
"What a quandary Pink Floyd fans find themselves in during these oddest of times...
Do you pay around £70 to £90 to see Roger Waters mime to a backing tape of the hits?
Or do you pay £250, or maybe even £2500, to see David Gilmour actually play and sing "deep cuts" and his less well known solo stuff thus eschewing all the hits.
Decisions, decisions."
Very funny! But sadly true. |
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"What a quandary Pink Floyd fans find themselves in during these oddest of times...
Do you pay around £70 to £90 to see Roger Waters mime to a backing tape of the hits?
Or do you pay £250, or maybe even £2500, to see David Gilmour actually play and sing "deep cuts" and his less well known solo stuff thus eschewing all the hits.
Decisions, decisions.
Go and see the tribute band down the local? Fiver on the door and Happy Hour till 8
"Oh shit! They're WAY better than us!" David Gilmour whispering to Nick Mason the first time they saw The Australian Pink Floyd Show. True story. "
Nothing wrong with tribute bands, but at the end of the day, they didn't write the music.
My pet peevs on YouTube is some musician, usually pretty or good looking and 'looking the part', re-arranging a classic tune and playing guitar or singing. It shows they can play, but are piggybacking off an already well established tune, invoking memories from the listener. Wish they'd try writing your own and see where THAT gets them. |
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By (user no longer on site) 40 weeks ago
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Blimey, I haven't used Ticketmaster in a looooooonnnnggg time. I generally only use twickets now and set a budget. Unless I feel the tickets are of good value and I'll buy from wayahead, never ticketmaster.
Set yourself up a notification on twickets and if you are flexible enough to get one on the day when people are accepting offers then you can save a fortune.
I saw waters for buttons at the 'in the flesh' tour 2002 with snowy white, Andy fairweather low, pp Arnold. Amazing amazing night that one...
Failing that, join dice and look for some local gigs, so many great bands about and most are free.
Peace, love and music |
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