Ticketmaster Not Sorry For Fees But Will Pay You $1.50 If You Shut Up

Ticketmaster calls us an "Asshole Hipster," (via Gothamist)

Chances are, if you bought tickets from event Leviathan Ticketmaster from October 21, 1999 (DAVE, bro!) through October 19, 2011 (RADIOHEAD, bro!) you paid an Order Processing Fee. If so, you may be entitled to a taste of the recent settlement of a class action lawsuit against the company. Sure, Ticketmaster admits no wrongdoing, and the settlement only gives you a discount of $1.50 apiece for up to 17 future purchases, totaling around $11 million plus $16.5 million in legal costs. But at least they've learned their lesson: if they're going to make money off fees, they have to tell us about it. See? The system works.

The class sued Ticketmaster for not disclosing the fact that their OPFs were making them money. Well now they do, so they can charge them to their shriveled, black heart's desire. Oh and you won't be eligible for any discounts if you purchased tickets for an event at an AEG Live-operated venue (like the Best Buy Theater) because they're Ticketmaster/Live Nation's biggest competitor. Aren't you glad for those rock-solid antitrust laws? At least the minimum payout of the settlement is $11.25 million, and everything else goes to charity.

You can find out how to redeem your credits and read all of the fascinating legalese here, but if you really want to make Ticketmaster feel the pain, support your local venues that have nothing to do with them.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Christopher Robbins in Arts & Entertainment on December 3, 2011 5:45 PM

Comments [rss]

Detex

I just bought $45 tickets that had $12 in FEES! That is 20% of the ticket price!!! What a racket!

petey2

2 - $30.50 tickets, then $12 "conveinence charge" per ticket. That's nearly 40% of the ticket price, but its a virtual monopoly. To top it off when I go to the venue webpage, and click on the event to "get tickets" it goes right back to ticket master's website.

Detex

Yeah, I actually walked to Radio City to get tickets at the box office. They even had a FEE!!! Why not just add it to the ticket price if that is the case. It is total bullshit to say tickets are $30 when they are REALLY 45! Just say tickets are $45!!!

TimeDown

Send me a check. I don't want a discount on buying more tickets from you. It's a scam; I have to spend more money on your scam artist corporation to reap the very small benefit I get from the settlement.

Eric Luke

Can someone explain how Ticketmaster gained a virtual monopoly? I'm puzzled why there aren't more competitors selling tickets online.

I'm glad ticketfly has picked up some traction. I'm sure more ventures will pop up to challenge Ticketmaster as consumer preference changes.

Len_Drexler

The short version is that they had a better system (hardware, software, network) and then they locked the venues into exclusive contracts. Doesn't help that many venues are owned by corporations that have a near monopoly in their regions. Very high barrier to entry for any would be competitor.

petey2

I got the email. Every customer who this affects will get up to 17 vouchers for $1.50 each, and can be used towards discounts on additional purchases with a limit of 2 per purchase, and will be good for 48 months from date of issuance. I'd rather just have my $25.50.

Detex

Exactly. Why force me to pay you more in fees to get my money back!

Dan

The only person class action lawsuits benefit is the lawyers with the huge legal fees.

Matthew

I think it's less than we're all reimbursed for this great injustice and more that a company gets punished for doing shady shit so maybe (ha) they'll think twice about doing it again.