Ticketmaster Resale and Viagogo

What has changed recently is the aggressive advertising done by these sites.  When people first started listing tickets on eBay / Gumtree, you had to seek out the product on those sites.

Now you can google an event name + your city and the resale site will be the first in the search results.  So tickets are being listed and sold at inflated prices on the resale sites before they are sold out at the RRP through the primary box office.  Or, which I guess can’t be quantified, they are searching for event tickets, only seeing the inflated prices on resale sites, and then not buying.  When you land on the TM resale site you wouldn’t blame anyone for thinking they are buying from the primary point of sale with a Ticketmaster logo on the site.

I also find it laughable (ok disgraceful, then annoying, then laughable) that Ticketmaster claim to be able to authenticate tickets that were sold by other ticketing systems.  Simple laughable.

The commercial rock promoters have actively discouraged customers from buying through 3^rd party sites for years, and have started naming names -- http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/478342/frontier-touring-unleashed-the-fury-on-ticket-resale-websites.htm

Jerry Hodgins

Audience Insights Manager

T +613 8663 2235 M +61404 011 452

From: Australia and New Zealand Tessitura Users [mailto:groups-aunz@tessituranetwork.com] On Behalf Of David Geoffrey Hall
Sent: Tuesday, 18 April 2017 1:48 PM
To: Jerry Hodgins
Subject: Re: [Australia and New Zealand Tessitura Users] Ticketmaster Resale and Viagogo

I think it's safe to say this is one of the biggest problems facing our industry at the moment: and ultimately, the only people winning are the resale sites and scalpers. Customers being turned away with fake tickets is a nightmare for them, for our front of house/box office and the artist.

We've even found our own free events being listed on resale sites. Total nonsense.

This was announced last week but ultimately it will just suggest changes—government will need to implement: https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/everyday-shopping/tickets/articles/ticked-off-campaign-launch

Hi all, 

We've seen an increase of tickets being sold through these channels recently and wondered if anyone has seen the same thing and if there is anything you're doing to try and keep an eye on it, or a way to educate customers? Or any other advice or emotions on it?

Thanks, 

Courtney