We're rich! Ticketmaster issuing refunds!

Everyone Who Has Used Ticketmaster In The Last 12 Years Is Getting A Refund
By Kevin Lincoln | Business Insider ? 20 hours ago.. .
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If you used Ticketmaster's website to buy tickets between October 21, 1999 and October 19, 2011, you're in for a windfall.

Well, a $1.50 per ticket order windfall.

Because of a proposed class action settlement, Ticketmaster is being forced to credit $1.50 per ticket order (up to 17 orders) to customers due to the fact that they profited off of "processing fees" without declaring as much.

And despite the reparations, Ticketmaster can continue to profit off transactions ? they just have to say they're doing so on their website.

According to court documents, the original claim, filed October 21, 2003, also implicates UPS' delivery price for expedited delivery of tickets as deceptive. Those part of the UPS subclass of the suit are entitled to an additional $5.00 credit per ticket.

This could end up costing Ticketmaster a hefty amount of money. If, in any given year over the four-year redemption period, less than $11.25 million is redeemed by customers, Ticketmaster is going to donate the remainder to charity.

Also, the Counsel attorneys plan to ask for an award of up to $16,500,000 in attorneys? fees and expenses, as well as $20,000 to the two plaintiffs who brought forward the class action in the first place.

Don't expect your credits quite yet, though. Credits won't be issued prior to April 15, 2012, and should come within 30 days after Final Approval of the settlement (currently scheduled for May 29, 2012).

I heard about this the other day.  Did we have to opt in, or can I spend my $25 right now?

grateful wrote:
I heard about this the other day.  Did we have to opt in, or can I spend my $25 right now?

I'm not sure how it will work…its a bit of a joke from what I can tell.. you'll get a coupon or coupons you can use on your next ticket order(s)… I think everyone gets it but I"m not sure how they'll send people the coupons or what…I assume it will be easier for those orders placed with a Ticketmaster account that is still active but I don't think I had one of those for a long time..

The lawyers have done nicely though…I think they're getting $16 million.


People who used the expedited shipping feature will "clean house" though… $5 refunds!!!!!!!!

hutch wrote:
Also, the Counsel attorneys plan to ask for an award of up to $16,500,000 in attorneys? fees and expenses, as well as $20,000 to the two plaintiffs who brought forward the class action in the first place.

effing hell.  then people wonder why lawyers have such a bad rap.

hutch wrote:
People who used the expedited shipping feature will "clean house" though… $5 refunds!!!!!!!!

except that they spent $25 for each expedited order. i take it you're not an investment specialist ;D

grateful wrote:
I heard about this the other day.  Did we have to opt in, or can I spend my $25 right now?

you can spend your refund on TM purchases only:

RECEIVE TICKETMASTER CREDITS
If you take no action, and the settlement is approved by the Court, you will automatically receive, via email at the most recent email address associated with your purchases on Ticketmaster.com, discount codes ("Codes") which can be used for future purchases for U.S. events from Ticketmaster's Website (except for events at venues owned or operated by AEG as set forth in the Settlement Agreement). For each transaction that you made during the Class Period, you will receive one code via email for a $1.50 discount, up to a maximum of 17 codes. This does not include the additional benefits, for the UPS Subclass members, which are described below. The Codes may be combined up to a maximum of two credits ($3.00) that may be applied on future transactions as described above. The Codes are non-transferable, expire 48 months from distribution, and may be redeemed only for purchases made using the email address to which they were sent (or an updated address provided to the Claims Administrator or Ticketmaster and verified as belonging to the Class Member).

so, to recap: TM is "giving" you a discount on their inflated prices, because of past inflated prices.  in order for you to take advantage of this settlement, you need to buy more TM products and services, so by "losing" this case TM has just locked in an army of people into future purchases.  i'll bet you dollars-to-doughnuts that they'll jack up the prices of their near-monopoly service just enough to cover the cost of this settlement.  they didn't lose a court case, they won a marketing winfall.  the folks in their promotional department couldn't have dreamed up something this good: "let give folks a small discount which will cost us nothing because they'll pay for in higher prices!  and all the while, we can feign contrition and regret at past actions, promising to never do this again!"

and the lawyers get $16M outta this, in real money, while the plaintiffs "got" $11M in credits. 

this shit makes me angry.

So dastardly, yet so brilliant.

Too bad they are not transferable. I have no plans on buying anything from Ticketmaster any time soon and gladly would have given mine away.

you could always buy the tickets using the codes on that person's behalf, then get them to refund you the difference.  probably only something you'd do with close friends and family, but i'm assuming that's who you'd want to transfer the codes to anyways.

sweetcell wrote:
promising to never do this again!

Isn't it more like we will continue doing it but going forward we are making the public aware that we have jacked prices/fees?
That's what I thought I read anyway.
I only use TM on certain shows…such as Birchmere, which isn't often b/c their prices are high and all that goes along w/ Birchmere. Yet, sometimes there were certain IMP shows that use TM - Patriot Center a couple years ago if I recall correctly…and when I travel if it's not LN it's TM, sometimes.
I just wish you could use all your credit(s) at once vice one at at time (2 credits / $3 limit combo max). I mean it's only $3 which hardly makes a dent.
Basic cash credit would be best. ;) They would be over and done with, but I guess this wouldn't be in their favor as people may refrain from future purchases if they don't have a credit that is tricking their brain into thinking they are getting a deal.

sweetcell wrote:

hutch wrote:
Also, the Counsel attorneys plan to ask for an award of up to $16,500,000 in attorneys? fees and expenses, as well as $20,000 to the two plaintiffs who brought forward the class action in the first place.

effing hell.  then people wonder why plaintiffs lawyers have such a bad rap.

there you go

How is it a settlement if we have to buy from them to get a credit??? What happens to those of us who got the shaft but have no intention of buying via ticketbastard again?

Why aren't the lawyers getting their settlement in ticket credits?

Fucking lawyers can all go die in a plane crash into the everglades and end up as gator poo and make the world a better place…except for smackie of course. Oh, and my daughter when she graduates.  >:(

Somebody get Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament on the horn.

seriously..this settlement is a joke.  all TM has to do is raise their prices to offset it.

seriously . . . these people are a joke.  they keep bitching about ticket prices and fees, but they continue going to concerts.  if people would stop going to concerts for 6 months.  6 months, i say.  no one.  no concerts.  ticketmaster and live nation and all these other ticket outlets would get the hint.  but they won't.  because people cannot stop. 

walkonby wrote:
seriously . . . these people are a joke.  they keep bitching about ticket prices and fees, but they continue going to concerts.  if people would stop going to concerts for 6 months.  6 months, i say.  no one.  no concerts.  ticketmaster and live nation and all these other ticket outlets would get the hint.  but they won't.  because people cannot stop. 

if ALL people did that it would have an impact.. unfortunately no one person controls what ALL people do..

sweetcell wrote:

hutch wrote:
Also, the Counsel attorneys plan to ask for an award of up to $16,500,000 in attorneys? fees and expenses, as well as $20,000 to the two plaintiffs who brought forward the class action in the first place.

effing hell.  then people wonder why lawyers have such a bad rap.

hutch wrote:
People who used the expedited shipping feature will "clean house" though… $5 refunds!!!!!!!!

except that they spent $25 for each expedited order. i take it you're not an investment specialist ;D

actually I did study economics.. of course that has nothing to do with being an investment specialist.. i think the $25 is considered a sunk cost. how much people spent previously is irrelevant.. my point is those that used expedited shipping will get more money..

obviously no one really cleans house as we're all getting ripped off