Someone please explain this to me

So Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tickets are on sale online via Ticketfly…but not at the 9:30 box office.

So I go to the box office yesterday after work and the always-cordial gentleman behind the glass tells me that they aren't available at the box office because they are only on sale to fan club members and some other bullshit. That made no sense, so I asked him again. He told me the same thing and threw in some bullshit about "we announce our shows on Thursdays……" Blah blah blah.

So if the tickets are only on sale to fan club members, why isn't there a password for the tickets? I am assuming they are doing a "soft sale" of the tickets right now? So if I wanna bend over and pay the fees, I can have the tickets, but I can't buy them at the window?

Sounds stupid.

There have been instances where the artists were perplexed by this system as well. This Superchunk thread from last year comes to mind.

This is really not that confusing. Some bands ask that we make tickets available as a link they can post on their site in order to get tickets to their fans before we put the show up in ads and on the 9:30 site. Until we publicly announce a show (i.e. eBlast and website) tickets are only available online. This policy has been in place for years, it's nothing new.

Shadrach wrote:
This is really not that confusing. Some bands ask that we make tickets available as a link they can post on their site in order to get tickets to their fans before we put the show up in ads and on the 9:30 site. Until we publicly announce a show (i.e. eBlast and website) tickets are only available online. This policy has been in place for years, it's nothing new.

So why won't you make tickets available at the box office then? Just admit you guys want to collect the fees.

I like the system. I rarely have a hard time getting tickets to a show I want as long as I'm informed in the Just Announced thread. The convenience fee isn't usually THAT bad and the tickets are shipped to me. It beats the mad rush to a 10 a.m. Friday sale on Ticketmaster.

I don't think the venue gets those fees.  The fees are how the ticket vendor makes money, right?  I believe the club gets the same amount per ticket no matter where they are sold.  In fact if my line of thought is correct, they make MORE by selling at the box office if you count in the $1.  Bottom line is this, if you want to go, pay the full price of the ticketing.  If not, don't.

I couldn't say how Ticket Fly works, but Ticketmaster gives a percentage of the service fee to the venue/promoter.

ggw wrote:
I couldn't say how Ticket Fly works, but Ticketmaster gives a percentage of the service fee to the venue/promoter.

I never knew that.  I am still learning, I must still be alive after all!

I don't understand how they can charge a 'convenience fee' for ordering online when they don't give you the option of being 'inconvenienced' by going to the box office to buy tickets?

i don't understand how everybody wants everything for free now. 

"i want you to provide me with a service . . . but don't charge me for it."

walkonby wrote:
"i want you to provide me with a service . . . but don't charge me for it."

We are paying for it either way. Do I have to spell it for you?

ooh, ooh . . . i like spelling.  do you win a prize for guessing correct?

I can't believe that this board continues to have this conversation, again and again again.

Yes, these companies charge you and screw you six ways til sunday.  Because they can.

people that bitch about service charges, should walk into any fast food place and say

"you're overcharging me for this soda, because you can . . . lower the price right now."

walkonby wrote:
people that bitch about service charges, should walk into any fast food place and say

"you're overcharging me for this soda, because you can . . . lower the price right now."

I don't go to fast food places but I'm sure they don't charge you extra for the convenience of using the drive thru……………….or do they?

They don't charge extra at the hardware store for the convenience of using the self check-out.

Who cares what they call the stupid charges.  They charge it.  We pay it.  They keep it.

chaz wrote:
Who cares what they call the stupid charges.  They charge it.  We pay it.  They keep it.

eggsfuckinzactly!!!!


Actually, I used to go to the 930 for a night out, I would be in the club 3-4 nights every week. I didn't really care who was playing. I just love live music. When the bullshit charges got out of hand I just went to shows I really wanted to see, so my 930 visits dropped by at least 65%.

if you were going to the club that often, why didn't you buy at the box office?  no fees.  your 65% argument doesn't hold up… if you love music that much, you don't let a few dollars in fees stop you - you find a way to get around those fees  (ex: buy directly from box office).

Frank wrote:
I don't go to fast food places but I'm sure they don't charge you extra for the convenience of using the drive thru……………….or do they?

They don't charge extra at the hardware store for the convenience of using the self check-out.

unfortunately you aren't comparing apples to apples.  in the case of the drive-thru or self-checkout, those are services being provided by the same business (the restaurant or the hardware store).  in the case of online ticket sales, venues need to contract the services of a ticketmaster, or ticketfly, etc.  these guys don't work for free.  it's a lot more expensive to sell tickets through them, and there aren't any upsides to the business to offset the cost (in the case of drive-thru, you're increasing business.  for self-check out, you can cut employees and hopefully increase business). 

the venue can do two things:
1) eat the charges
2) not sell online.

#1 isn't going to happen, there isn't enough money floating around in ticket sales to absorb that cost.  and #2 would piss off customers.  how happy would you be if the only place to get 930 tickets was at the 930 club?  what, you wouldn't like it?

and for those for whom convenience fees are a mortal stain on their souls: stick it to the man and BUY YOUR TICKETS AT THE CLUB.

sweetcell wrote:
and for those for whom convenience fees are a mortal stain on their souls: stick it to the man and BUY YOUR TICKETS AT THE CLUB.

THAT'S WHY I STARTED THIS THREAD. BECAUSE I TRIED AND THEY WOULDN'T LET ME AND GAVE ME SOME BULLSHIT EXCUSE.

AND THAT "BULLSHIT EXCUSE" WAS THAT IT WAS AN ONLINE-ONLY PRESALE AS REQUESTED BY THE BAND.  DEAL WITH IT.