What do you think about TicketMaster going paperless?

by **Voyager** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:24 am

I just bought tickets to see AC/DC in St. Louis in January, and apparently the entire AC/DC tour is using TicketMaster's new paperless ticket technology. This new system requires that you present the credit card that the tickets were purchased with when entering the concert venue. They will swipe the card and give you a receipt to show to the ushers when going to your seats.

Now I realize that ticket scalping is a huge problem that desperately needed to be addressed. While I am sure this new system will go a long way towards preventing scalpers from grabbing up all the good tickets (I actually got good tickets for a major show for a change), it will also pose numerous inconveniences for legitimate ticket buyers, including:

1. Your entire party must enter the venue with you, and you must have the credit card in hand that you used to make the ticket purchase with.

2. You cannot sell your tickets on Ebay if you get sick, get in a car wreck, move to another state, get called up for National Guard duty, lose your job, etc., etc.

3. Concert ticket photo albums will become a thing of the past.

4. If you want to sell your tickets for any reason, you must use the TicketMaster TicketExchange system to do so. I've tried using that system to buy tickets on the day of a show, and there were still hundreds of tickets in the system that probably never got sold.

5. You cannot buy concert tickets as gifts for someone unless you plan to attend the show yourself (you must show the credit card and a valid photo ID that matches the name on the credit card).

I'm sure there are more reasons why this new system has inconvenienced legitimate ticket buyers, but these are the ones that I came up with at first glance. Do you like this new system?

by **DrFU** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:11 am

I actually got decent seats to AC/DC in Dallas when they went on sale this morning too; I was very surprised; if this is the reason, then bravo ...

by **RocknRoll** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:28 am

DrFU wrote:I actually got decent seats to AC/DC in Dallas when they went on sale this morning too; I was very surprised; if this is the reason, then bravo ...

Me too Linda. I actually had 6th row in Chicago and hit the SEARCH AGAIN buttom by mistake

Still ended up not too bad, so I'm with you if it keeps good seats in the hands of the fans rather than the scalpers. But it makes the opportunity to see a concert after the initial sales pretty tough. Those good seats for a price just won't be out there.

by **Voyager** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:45 am

RocknRoll wrote:
DrFU wrote:I actually got decent seats to AC/DC in Dallas when they went on sale this morning too; I was very surprised; if this is the reason, then bravo ...

Me too Linda. I actually had 6th row in Chicago and hit the SEARCH AGAIN buttom by mistake

Still ended up not too bad, so I'm with you if it keeps good seats in the hands of the fans rather than the scalpers. But it makes the opportunity to see a concert after the initial sales pretty tough. Those good seats for a price just won't be out there.

I can picture people selling tickets on Ebay and then having to find the seller at the show. The shows will probably end up looking like an airport with people holding signs with a name on them.

This whole thing will put a lot of Ebay ticket resellers out of business. There are hundreds if not thousands of these leeches on Ebay, and they have ruined concerts for millions of concertgoers who couldn't get tickets and then were forced to buy them at a huge markup. Too bad for the scalpers - get a real job suckers!

:roll:

by **scarygirl** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:56 am

That's just wrong. If you ask me this has nothing to do with convenience and everything to do with the arrival of socialism. I'm sorry, but I should be able to sell my tickets to whomever and for whatever price I want. If you don't have the cash, too bad.

by **S2M** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:59 am

scarygirl wrote:That's just wrong. If you ask me this has nothing to do with convenience and everything to do with the arrival of socialism. I'm sorry, but I should be able to sell my tickets to whomever and for whatever price I want. If you don't have the cash, too bad.

WRONG....REAL fans miss out. And corporate types who wouldn't know shit from shinola end up talking 'shop' all night - while fans get left in the cold.

And I'm sorry, you shouldn't be able to sell them for whatever you want. That's just taking advantage.

by **scarygirl** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:23 am

StocktontoMalone wrote:
scarygirl wrote:That's just wrong. If you ask me this has nothing to do with convenience and everything to do with the arrival of socialism. I'm sorry, but I should be able to sell my tickets to whomever and for whatever price I want. If you don't have the cash, too bad.

WRONG....REAL fans miss out. And corporate types who wouldn't know shit from shinola end up talking 'shop' all night - while fans get left in the cold.

And I'm sorry, you shouldn't be able to sell them for whatever you want. That's just taking advantage.

It's called the free market. Sorry you don't like it.

by **weatherman90** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:40 am

I LOVE IT!!

I was so fed up with scalpers getting all the good seats. I'm going to see ACDC twice on this tour, and thanks to the paperless tickets I will be in ROW 2 for the first show, and FRONT ROW for the 2nd show!!

I hope they bring the paperless concept to all other tours as well.

by **Rick** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:45 am

If it would reduce their exorbitant charges, it would be a plus, but it won't. Ticketmaster just plain sucks.

by **weatherman90** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:15 am

Rick wrote:If it would reduce their exorbitant charges, it would be a plus, but it won't. Ticketmaster just plain sucks.

I will agree that Ticketmaster STILL sucks, though. Maybe just a little bit less now.

by **Sarah** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:51 am

StocktontoMalone wrote:And I'm sorry, you shouldn't be able to sell them for whatever you want. That's just taking advantage.

It is but if someone's dumb or desperate enough to buy them...

Anyway I don't like this scheme. Sure, there are a lot of scalpers but sometimes people need to legitimately sell their ticket, or want to buy them as gifts...

by **nutz4Neal** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:02 am

I'm fine with it.

by **Voyager** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:15 am

Overall this new system it will help the legitimate ticket buyers have access to better tickets for retail price instead of being forced to buy from scalpers at a huge markup. Someone might say, "What if you forget to bring your credit card?" The same could be said about your tickets.

As long as you can still use TicketExchange to sell your tickets on if you can't make it to a show, I fail to see anything unfair about the new system. However, I'll bet that it will reap havoc at the entrance gates to shows until people get used to it.

by **Don** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:22 am

Voyager wrote:Overall this new system it will help the legitimate ticket buyers have access to better tickets for retail price instead of being forced to buy from scalpers at a huge markup. Someone might say, "What if you forget to bring your credit card?" The same could be said about your tickets.

As long as you can still use TicketExchange to sell your tickets on if you can't make it to a show, I fail to see anything unfair about the new system. However, I'll bet that it will reap havoc at the entrance gates to shows until people get used to it.

I'm for it. People wonder why there are open seats for sold out shows, it's because the scalpers are trying to unload 100 dollar seats for 800 dollars and they can't. Open seats that fans can't get legitimately is bullshit.

by **Michigan Girl** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:52 am

Gunbot wrote:
Voyager wrote:Overall this new system it will help the legitimate ticket buyers have access to better tickets for retail price instead of being forced to buy from scalpers at a huge markup. Someone might say, "What if you forget to bring your credit card?" The same could be said about your tickets.

As long as you can still use TicketExchange to sell your tickets on if you can't make it to a show, I fail to see anything unfair about the new system. However, I'll bet that it will reap havoc at the entrance gates to shows until people get used to it.

I'm for it. People wonder why there are open seats for sold out shows, it's because the scalpers are trying to unload 100 dollar seats for 800 dollars and they can't. Open seats that fans can't get legitimately is bullshit.

That's right G~boy..... :wink:

by **zigzag** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:17 pm

Tcketmaster going green? Yes! I'm for it. But if it's to change their image...hmmm, am still for it.

by **bluejeangirl76** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:58 pm

scarygirl wrote:
StocktontoMalone wrote:
scarygirl wrote:That's just wrong. If you ask me this has nothing to do with convenience and everything to do with the arrival of socialism. I'm sorry, but I should be able to sell my tickets to whomever and for whatever price I want. If you don't have the cash, too bad.

WRONG....REAL fans miss out. And corporate types who wouldn't know shit from shinola end up talking 'shop' all night - while fans get left in the cold.

And I'm sorry, you shouldn't be able to sell them for whatever you want. That's just taking advantage.

It's called the free market. Sorry you don't like it.

Free market?? Um... No. Selling a ticket for whatever you feel like is called scalping and its not legal. :roll:

Voyager, you made all great points against it.
This paperless thing has way too many holes in it.

by **bluejeangirl76** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:03 pm

Rick wrote:If it would reduce their exorbitant charges, it would be a plus, but it won't. Ticketmaster just plain sucks.

Right on.
I'm all for cutting out the scalpers but this is just nuts.
What happens when your bank switches your card from a Visa to a Master and gives you a new number, which has hapened to me. Then the card I used to buy no longer exists and I can't get in. Way too many holes in this.

by **weatherman90** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:14 pm

bluejeangirl76 wrote:
Rick wrote:If it would reduce their exorbitant charges, it would be a plus, but it won't. Ticketmaster just plain sucks.

Right on.
I'm all for cutting out the scalpers but this is just nuts.
What happens when your bank switches your card from a Visa to a Master and gives you a new number, which has hapened to me. Then the card I used to buy no longer exists and I can't get in. Way too many holes in this.

I don't see why they need the card - you would think that the photo ID would be sufficient.

by **Tito** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:30 pm

I think it's total bullshit.

by **scarygirl** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:14 am

bluejeangirl76 wrote:
scarygirl wrote:
StocktontoMalone wrote:
scarygirl wrote:That's just wrong. If you ask me this has nothing to do with convenience and everything to do with the arrival of socialism. I'm sorry, but I should be able to sell my tickets to whomever and for whatever price I want. If you don't have the cash, too bad.

WRONG....REAL fans miss out. And corporate types who wouldn't know shit from shinola end up talking 'shop' all night - while fans get left in the cold.

And I'm sorry, you shouldn't be able to sell them for whatever you want. That's just taking advantage.

It's called the free market. Sorry you don't like it.

Free market?? Um... No. Selling a ticket for whatever you feel like is called scalping and its not legal.

Voyager, you made all great points against it.
This paperless thing has way too many holes in it.

I don't care whether it's legal or not. Cool for me I guess if I can now buy better seats for a decent price. Bad for capitalism. Once you buy a ticket you should be able to do with it as you wish. It's NOT their business who I give it to or how much I sell it for. Scalping laws vary by state, so it's not technically illegal in all states.

by **S2M** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:21 am

Here's an idea: Don't prohibit scalping. Just put in a rule....You can resell tickets ONE DOLLAR above face value. Problem solved.

Either that, or learn to like shit-ass bands whose tickets don't get that 1,000,000 % mark-up. :lol:

by **WIX** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:21 am

I have never smoked weed paperless, I see people getting burned everywhere !!

by **Michigan Girl** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:22 am

WIX wrote:I have never smoked weed paperless, I see people getting burned everywhere !!

LMAO!!!

by **scarygirl** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:33 am

WIX wrote:I have never smoked weed paperless, I see people getting burned everywhere !!

Who the hell is that in Steve's place in your advatar. Watch it, I'm pretty sure that's Perry Blasphemy... :lol:

by **WIX** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:35 am

scarygirl wrote:
WIX wrote:I have never smoked weed paperless, I see people getting burned everywhere !!

Who the hell is that in Steve's place in your advatar. Watch it, I'm pretty sure that's Perry Blasphemy...

I do not know, but I use to know him, that person has been gone a long time now.

by **bluejeangirl76** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:42 am

StocktontoMalone wrote:Either that, or learn to like shit-ass bands whose tickets don't get that 1,000,000 % mark-up.

Problem solved.

I'm all for solutions that might help me be able to buy better seats at the price other people are getting them, but not if its going to inconvenience me that much and make ME feel like I'm the one doing something wrong. I shouldn't have to go to those lenghts to buy friggin' concert tickets.

What next, you have to give a DNA sample at Will Call?? :lol:

Can you just see it? The Maury show crew is there when you get your tickets.... "When it comes to seats 10 and 11 in row 8 of section D... you are the ticket holder". :lol:

by **WalrusOct9** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:44 am

scarygirl wrote:That's just wrong. If you ask me this has nothing to do with convenience and everything to do with the arrival of socialism. I'm sorry, but I should be able to sell my tickets to whomever and for whatever price I want. If you don't have the cash, too bad.

Socialism is better than having an arena full of rich douchebags waiting to hear "You Shook Me All Night Long" while real fans are left out in the cold.

Also...I really don't think eliminating ticket scalping signals the arrival of socialism.

by **scarygirl** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:54 am

WalrusOct9 wrote:
scarygirl wrote:That's just wrong. If you ask me this has nothing to do with convenience and everything to do with the arrival of socialism. I'm sorry, but I should be able to sell my tickets to whomever and for whatever price I want. If you don't have the cash, too bad.

Socialism is better than having an arena full of rich douchebags waiting to hear "You Shook Me All Night Long" while real fans are left out in the cold.

Also...I really don't think eliminating ticket scalping signals the arrival of socialism.

You're missing the mark. It's not about them eliminating ticket scalping. It's this whole paperless thing and having to show your credit card for tickets you already bought. Who's to say they won't spit out the wrong tickets? How do you go about proving it? And again, you're not allowed to give your tickets away? What business is it of theres anyway? If you resell them you have to go through their means thereby giving them another cut of the pie again.

Even with Socialism there's a small group controlling things. In a democracy you have the chance, you just have to pay for it is all. Lawn seats are worth less than Front Row seats. You get what you pay for.

If I buy tickets for somebody I shouldn't have to be there with cc in hand holding their hand.

by **Voyager** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:00 am

WIX wrote:I have never smoked weed paperless, I see people getting burned everywhere !!

Try a bong sometime - it works great!

MR