John Smith Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 They went on sale at 10 this mornign for the united center. I hate the place, but it's the only show he has in the area right now. So I get on line at ten and immediately get going on the process by 10:03 or so I got my response that no tickets are available, but I can get them on tickets now or soem bullshit place like that at extortionist prices. I looked just for the heck of it and there are hundreds of tickets posted there at two and three times face value. I don't normally go to ticket bastard shows and this reminds me why. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 These tickets are cheaper than the Dead tickets. By a good chunk, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rusty Shackleford Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 These tickets are cheaper than the Dead tickets. By a good chunk, too. This is an odd pet peeve of mine, the underpricing of concert tickets. It's great that some folks will get to see Bruce for a relatively low sticker price, but many others will end up paying through the nose for scalpers. I'm offended not just that the unlucky ones have to pay a high price, but that most of the money they pay ends up going not to Bruce, but to some low-life scalper. If it were up to me, I'd make some tickets available at relatively low prices, with the caveat that they'd be will-call only. Only people who really planned to attend the shows (and are willing to pick up tickets the day of the show) would buy them. The rest of the tickets should be sold at higher prices to squeeze the scalpers out. Whenever a performer prices his/her tickets way below market value, they are just inviting this kind of scalping. It doesn't help the true fans, or at least not most of them. And now with Ticketmaster taking a cut of the "resale" business through TicketsNow, the whole thing just stinks. End of rant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I think Bruce's prices are more in the average range for acts of his caliber and the Dead tix are over-priced (though they seem to be selling well so in reality I guess they are not overpriced). The best way to eradicate scalpers is to not support them. However, waaaay too many people support them. Mail-order only is one way to help cut down on the scalpers, though. And yes, Ticketmaster blows, as do all the various off-shoots. It's a convenience that plenty of people choose to use, though, and they'll only continue to take larger and larger cuts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Three dollars and 63 cents Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I considered taking my dad to see him in Hershey as an early Father's Day present, but the only price level where I can get two seats is the highest one, and the seats are all the way in the back of the stadium. I can't believe they priced that part of the stadium so high, considering it's a crap view from back there. Just the tickets, service charge, and parking would cost me over $250. And the Hershey entertainment complex uses Music Today, not even Ticketbastard. If they were better seats and I was convinced my dad would really want to go (he passed up my offer to take him when Springsteen played there last summer), I would've gotten them, but I didn't think it was worth it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Love Boat Captain Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Scored 4 GA's for the second Spectrum show. Used my reasonably reliable "trick" of dialing in before the actual on-sale time, then stalling until the tickets went on sale. Doesn't always work, but it beats trying to buy through the website. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouisvilleGreg Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I went out school this morning and stood out in an actual line at an actual record store to try my luck. It worked well, as I was second in line and scored four GA's for the Charlottesville show with no problem. There were around 20 people in the line at Plan 9 here in Richmond and everyone got tix. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Knepps Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I got 3 floor tickets for the Minneapolis show!! Oh and I also do not like ticketsnow, horrible horrible thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JerseyMike Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I don't have a problem with scalpers because its just a matter of supply and demand. The people I have a problem with are the bands that readily charge $80-$250 for a ticket. Its pure greed. Acts like U2, The Stones, AC/DC, CS+N, etc taking home around a million bucks for one show is ridiculous. Not that I can blame people for making money that people are obviously willing to dish out, but if they charged just ten bucks a ticket, they would still take home over 100 grand. You have to give Bruce credit for keeping tickets relatively reasonable. Having had my own personal Springsteen moment, I can attest that he comes close to living up to his myth. For those who are looking for a cheap ticket, I have had a lot of luck going to the show and waiting until the show begins or is about to begin. That's when fans and scalpers start to panic and are usually willing to unload their tickets for face value or less. A ticket is just a piece a paper after the show so those with extras are just looking to get something for a ticket. A lot of times, its usually a guy who bought tickets for his friends who couldn't make it at the last minute. This worked especially well for me at Willie Nelson/Bob Dylan (2 $60 tickets for $60 total) and the Wilco/Flaming Lips NYE show at MSG (2 floor seats for $20 total) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Scalpers have no right to making a profit on someone else's ticket, though. It's an ethical thing more than anything for me. Supply and demand works just fine within the confines of the law. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Smith Posted February 3, 2009 Author Share Posted February 3, 2009 Due to work my only option was online. I couldn't take the day off or sit on a phoen for a while. Either way I won't be going, no big loss in the long run because the United Center is possibly one of the worst places on earth to see a concert. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dagwave Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I don't have a problem with scalpers because its just a matter of supply and demand. i'm going to count to ten. and when that doesn't work I suppose I'll resort to prayer, JerseyMike. ferchrissake. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tangara Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Due to work my only option was online. I couldn't take the day off or sit on a phoen for a while. Either way I won't be going, no big loss in the long run because the United Center is possibly one of the worst places on earth to see a concert. I generally don't care for the United Center either, but sometimes you can luck out on tickets released after the initial onsale. You might even try waiting until the day of the show - I did that the last time Bruce played the United Center, and ended up with 2nd row behind the stage. It was a very unique vantage point, and Bruce ran right past me on the catwalk at one point. I coulda high-fived him Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Smith Posted February 4, 2009 Author Share Posted February 4, 2009 I generally don't care for the United Center either, but sometimes you can luck out on tickets released after the initial onsale. You might even try waiting until the day of the show - I did that the last time Bruce played the United Center, and ended up with 2nd row behind the stage. It was a very unique vantage point, and Bruce ran right past me on the catwalk at one point. I coulda high-fived him That was going to be my strategy. When ACDC played St Louis recently there were floor tickets opened up the day of the show. I didn't go but it opened my eyes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 A note on scalpers....scalpers can work to your advantage. I got Bruce tickets in the lot at Giants Stadium for $10 a ticket and Police at Giants Stadium for free (a great lesson in supply and demand) Tickets are always most expensive right after a show sells out and usually very cheap after doors open or day of a show.....Use a scalper to your advantage..I have never ever paid more than face for a ticket in over 700 concerts. Many many times I paid WELL under face....my best kept secret for buying a ticket from a scalper (besdies make sure it is a legit ticket) is to be indefferent if you get in. Usually I would say if I don't get in it doesn't matter to me. Best stragtegy though is to carry only what you want to spend. If I only want to spend $20 for a show and I am buying from a scalper I will say look all I have is $20 and I will pull said $20 out of my pocket. Of course my wallet is far out of site and i have additional money on me that they aren't aware of... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I've bought tons of tickets for under face from "scalpers," too. However, that's not scalping any more than buying a ticket at face value from a friend is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouisvilleGreg Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Sounds as if there was some major BS going on with the on sales the other day. I feel very fortunate that I got mine with no problem. The below was posted on Backstreets.com today: A Letter to Our Fans: We know there was much confusion regarding Ticketmaster and TicketsNow during last Monday's on-sale dates. We were as confused as you were, as we were given no advance notice of the major changes in the Ticketmaster-TicketsNow world. (Bear in mind that we are not clients of any ticketing company, and that all those arrangements are between venues and ticketing companies.) Last Monday, we were informed that Ticketmaster was redirecting your log-in requests for tickets at face value, to their secondary site TicketsNow, which specializes in up-selling tickets at above face value. They did this even when other seats remained available at face value. We condemn this practice. We perceive this as a pure conflict of interest. Ticketmaster is there to ensure that we have a good, fair sale of our tickets at their face value plus normal ticketing charges. TicketsNow is supposed to be a secondary site where people who already have tickets may exchange, trade, and, unfortunately, speculate with them. We have asked this redirection from Ticketmaster to TicketsNow cease and desist immediately and Ticketmaster has agreed to do so in the future and has removed its unwanted material from their and our site. We know the many cynical arguments some make in favor of the Ticketmaster system: There are rumors that some artists or managers participate in Ticketmaster charges--we do not. There are rumors that some artists or managers are receiving a percentage of the amount above face value at secondary outlets like TicketsNow--we do not. Some artists or managers may not perceive there to be a conflict between having the distributor of their tickets in effect "scalping" those same tickets through a secondary company like TicketsNow--we do. While many of you have sent notes to us and your local promoters, you may also send accurate informational letters to Albert Lopez of Ticketmaster [Albert.Lopez@ticketmaster.com] and he will try to address your questions. A final point for now: the one thing that would make the current ticket situation even worse for the fan than it is now would be Ticketmaster and Live Nation coming up with a single system, thereby returning us to a near monopoly situation in music ticketing. Several newspapers are reporting on this story right now. If you, like us, oppose that idea, you should make it known to your representatives. The abuse of our fans and our trust by Ticketmaster has made us as furious as it has made many of you. We will continue to do our utmost now and in the future to make sure that these practices are permanently curtailed on our tours. Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau and the entire Springsteen Tour Team - February 4, 2009 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobfrombob Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 900 fuckin dollars!!!!! Jerry Garcia, etc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 This is on the Yahoo front page this morning. Springsteen: Hard To Be A Saint In The Rock 'N' Roll City Posted Fri Feb 6, 2009 4:40pm PST by Blender Magazine in The Blender Burner You're Bruce Springsteen and you've just played the greatest halftime show in the history of the Super Bowl. What are you going to do? Why, put the tickets for your U.S. tour up on sale, of course! Because, after all, there were an awful lot of people watching the Super Bowl, right? And you rocked them harder than humans deserve to be rocked, right? So they'll want to come see your show now more than ever, right? Right! But wait, there's a problem here--when Springsteen tickets went on sale last week, Bruce fans flooded Ticketmaster's site looking for a fix, and many in the New Jersey area got error messages telling them to try back later. When they did, they found out the shows were sold out--nooooooo!--but they still had a chance: A link would take them to TicketsNow (Ticketmaster's resale site) where they could buy seats for a lot more than face value. In the old days, before the miracle of the Internet, this used to be called scalping, and wouldn't you know it, such a fuss ensued that the New Jersey State Attorney General has launched an investigation and Bruce put a message up on his site saying he was just as angry as everyone else. (Ticketmaster apologized too.) Bruce has done his share of apologizing recently, saying his team goofed up by letting their record company give an exclusive hits CD to Wal Mart, a place that's not traditionally a friend to the union guys Springsteen sings about. You know the old Springsteen song about how it's hard to be a saint in the city? Sometimes it's hard to be a saint in the world of rock 'n' roll too (sometimes? always!), but Bruce Springsteen will keep trying. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 This is on the Yahoo front page this morning. Kinda shitty that the Blogger is apparently trying to tie Bruce to the Tickermaster fiasco. Bruce has gone to extraordinary lenghts in the past to defeat the ticket brokers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Ticketmaster Settles Springsteen-Sparked Attorney General Probe February 23, 2009 03:39 PM ETMitchell Peters, L.A. Nearly a month after a controversial ticket on-sale for Bruce Springsteen's upcoming North American tour, Ticketmaster Entertainment has reached a national settlement with the New Jersey Attorney General in which the ticketing company has agreed to alter some of its business practices and pay $350,000 to cover fees associated with the investigation. As part of the settlement, the ticketing company will stop linking customers to its secondary ticketing site, TicketsNow, for at least one year. Following that, "Ticketmaster will need prior approval from the Attorney General for any links between its 'No Tickets Found' Internet page to its TicketsNow re-sale website," according to a statement from the office of New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram. Ticketmaster has also confirmed that all tickets it receives for general public on-sales will be sold on its primary Web site, and that tickets will not be sold or offered on TicketsNow until the initial on-sale begins on its primary site. Additionally, Ticketmaster will not use paid Internet advertising that leads customers searching for "Ticketmaster" on search engines to TicketsNow. As previously reported, in the days following his Feb. 2 on sale, Springsteen and his manager Jon Landau, blasted Ticketmaster for redirecting fans attempting to buy the artist's concert tickets to TicketsNow. Fans trying to make face-value purchases for Springsteen tickets were instead sent to TicketsNow, "even when other seats remained available at face value," said a letter posted on BruceSpringsteen.net. "We condemn this practice." "We perceive this as a pure conflict of interest," the post continued. "Ticketmaster is there to ensure that we have a good, fair sale of our tickets at their face value plus normal ticketing charges. TicketsNow is supposed to be a secondary site where people who already have tickets may exchange, trade, and, unfortunately, speculate with them. We have asked this redirection from Ticketmaster to TicketsNow cease and desist immediately and Ticketmaster has agreed to do so in the future and has removed its unwanted material from their and our site." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hollinger. Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Got GA's for St. Paul. Now to try to find some Chicago tix without selling my soul. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Got GA's for St. Paul. Now to try to find some Chicago tix without selling my soul. A couple of weeks later and I am STILL pissed that there will be no Dallas date. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hollinger. Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 He is supposed to be announcing more dates soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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