Blogger
LinkedIn
StumbleUpon
Tumblr
Wordpress
Bit.ly
Digg
More
Comment
E-mail
Save This
Print- Elton John, Madonna tickets on sale this weekend
- NY Knicks struggle to sell expensive tickets
- Ticket resellers spar with country singer Eric Church
- Big names hit the road for big tours in '12
- "Carrie" revival is Broadway's latest movie-to-musical production
- NFL offering tickets to the annual scouting combine?
- Cloud-based Vendini continues to develop mobile market
- Ticketmaster melt-down frustrates Bruce Springsteen fans
- St. Louis Rams resume ticket sales for London game
- Broadway's sales continue to fall in the first week of February
Ticketmaster and TicketsNow sued again over their business practices
In a new lawsuit filed recently in California, Ticketmaster Entertainment and its secondary ticket company TicketsNow are being accused again of allegedly redirecting ticket buyers to more expensive tickets through TicketsNow.
The lawsuit, filed by New Jersey resident Richard Hobson over Tina Turner tickets he purchased in 2008, is the latest in a string of lawsuits against the two companies for this alleged practice, which the two have denied doing and yet have taken steps to ensure it doesn't happen in the future.
Hobson's lawsuit, like the other court actions filed against the two companies, is one by a disgruntled fan who claims the two are not playing fair with their business practices, fees and other moves.
"Ticketmaster's practice of redirecting consumers from Ticketmaster.com to its subsidiary TicketsNow.com without adequate notice to consumers is predatory, unfair and unlawful," the lawsuit stated. "Indeed, following the public outcry over the systematic re-routing of consumers from Ticketmaster.com to TicketsNow.com in connection with Bruce Springsteen tickets, Ticketmaster conceded that consumers were confused by its re-direction."
The Springsteen ticket debacle has reverberated throughout the ticketing industry for months, but Ticketmaster has staunchly maintained throughout that that the problems associated with the onsale were caused by a computer glitch, and not by a deliberate act on the part of the two companies.
Hobson reportedly bought two tickets from TicketsNow to see Turner last fall at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, and he believed he was buying the tickets from Ticketmaster for the original price, not the marked up premium that TicketsNow and other secondary Web sites charge for resold tickets.
The lawsuit alleges that the companies violated California's Business Professions Code by making "untrue, misleading or deceptive" claims. Ticketmaster did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
In the Springsteen situation, Ticketmaster quickly settled a non-litigation complaint by New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram for $350,000 and other promises and concessions, but it did not admit any wrongdoing.
Subscribe to this feed
Comments
All comments are subject to TicketNews' community rules.Post new comment +
I read all of these articles and comments about TM being sued in just about all 50 states and even a few other countries, and the hundreds of thousands of dollars they pay in settlements with AG offices, etc.. but then TM still gets the rights to handle tickets for 2012 London Olympic Games.. even after they fell flat on their face in Beijing...?
TM has the last laugh at every turn, unfortunately they're laughing at US!
When TM operates like it does, but then still gets contracts for things like LOCOG, do you really really ever think they're going to change their ways or business practices?
Of course not... lesson learned = treat customers and fans like crap, corrupt the industry and you'll be rewarded with even more business.. isn't that the American way?
For, as some have said above, being SO STUPID and now whining about it. You should know the base ticket price menu before you buy anything. If your total comes tomuch more afer basic fees and shipping fees, DON'T HIT THE BUY BUTTON. I have bot thousands of tickets over the years thru TM and broker sites . .but I know when I am paying up and I decide if it is worth it or not.
While I think those are complete corrupt practices,and shame on them if it's intentional ( which I'm sure it is ). People, when you see the PRICE of ANYTHING, you either accept it or you don't. Pay or stay away. If you buy some shoes one day for $100, and later their on sale for 50% off, are you going to sue ??? Buyer beware. Use your own judgement and don't cry if your judgement is wrong. However, I can uderstand the anger if it's the primary source guiding individuals to false information. Be honest Ticketmaster, don't be like our politicians (Government).
Here's another story: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Complaints-about-concert-apf-3051421267.ht...
"The state attorney general's office announced Tuesday that it had discovered TicketsNow operated Web sites with domain names that misled customers to believe it was affiliated with the concerts' event operators. Customers thought they were paying face-value prices but instead were paying higher resale prices."
TicketsNow is using another site called ValuePriceTickets.com. The name itself is deceiving and the ads on Google state no tickets above $100. I am contacting Google as well as the Illinois Attorney General. TicketsNow is so deceiving, esp. with all of their other domain names. I am surprised they are not shut down yet. FrontRowTickets.com was another site of theirs. People: Complain so this deceptive company goes under! They are giving legit sites a bad name!
Deceptive web names? That's all you've got? I really hope you're not serious. Take a look just to the right of this post, and you'll see the following websites, all of whom could also be considered guilty of "deceptive" domains - JumboTickets.com (are the ticket stubs oversized? If not, it's deceptive!), BrownPaperTickets.com (are the tickets printed on brown paper? If not, it's deceptive!), and TicketTango.com (do I get a free dance with every purchase? If not, it's deceptive!). If you REALLY think that's even remotely an issue with TicketsNow or anyone else, then I have some swamp land for you in Florida, I'll give you a good deal too ;)
They've a stable of bogus DNs bigger than that of TNow!
TicketTango.com is one of them.
It's very common for companies to use multiple domain names, especially small companies. After all, it's about marketing ( exposure ). Look up affiliate marketing, it's the cheapest best way to market. Have others pay for your marketing and give them a small percent ( 3 to 4 percent on average ). Cuts costs. Great exposure on somebody elses' dime.
This is a deliberate attempt by each of the 2 largest broker ASPs to dominate the market at the expense of their broker clients by way of unfairly gained advantages.
Both TicketsNow/EventInventory and TicketLiquidator/TicketNetwork have registered hundreds of Domain Names by proxy, so as to give the appearance of such being independent operations, thus allowing them to stuff the Pay-per-Click listings and/or organic ones, so as to greatly increase the probability that a searcher will visit one of their multiple sites.
Additionally, doing so allows both to avoid having any public censure arising from undesired negative publicity from attaching to such Domain Names.
I had a feeling those two sites were owned by TicketsNow. I just spoke to my rep at Google. She told me they they are under investigation for numerous double serving complaints. She hinted they could be banned from Google but could not confirm. Regardless, at least, Google will be aware of TicketsNow and their in-house "phony" sites.
Where can I file my complaint against ticket network, they also participate in this practice. Funny, how they like to complain about tnow, but Tnetwork, try to act like Britney, Opps I did it again, you're not so innocent Donnie.
LOL,
Google is KING of advertising revenue. They are so huge, they're going to have monopolies on other ventures out there. I love Google myself, but beware, if you think their going to take your complaint serious, remember, the goal of any company is revenue. I can assure you proceeds will override complaints anytime unless it's overwhelming be others. But I like the fact your giving your opinion. I give mine to the White House & the California legislators all the time with no answers. Never hurts to voice your opinion !!!
I just sent an email to Google. I hope they ban TicketsNow and all their sites (as TN is now banning other brokers). The last laugh will be on them.
Doubt it !!!
You guys are ridiculous. I work for TicketsNow. The only thing they did wrong was take stupid peoples money. The fact of the matter is there are SALES TERMS AND CONDITIONS. If you failed to read them, like so many people did, you would find yourself a little jaded. I mean when you buy a car you dont expect to have it at the price the buyer bought it for. Of course not! People need to stop being babied, they cry foul every chance they get. We need to stop living in this nanny state of mind. People just want any reason to sue. Bottom line is you have a choice if you make the wrong one you shouldn't make other people, like myself, suffer. I'm losing my job at the end of the year. Not to mention they are no longer contributing to my stock options. I say the HELL WITH the whiners and complainers LEARN TO READ!
No, they never actually bought the seats to start with, just listed tix they wouldnt sell for reg. prices, in other words they resold tix they didnt own which is fraud and thats why they settled.
Offering for sale items that are owned by another, or puprorted to be owned by another, with the permission of such owner, is NOT FRAUD.
TNow's settlement with the IL AG had nothing to do with the sale/resale of tickets, but with the deceptive manner in which TNow presented itself via numerous web sites with misleading names, etc..
TNow was taken to task for using names that gave the impression of being "official" sites affiliated with various venues, artists, sports teams, etc..
Furthermore, they've been stuffing the PPC listings, using multiple Domain Names, for at least 5 years, in violation of the ToS of Yahoo, Google & MSN.
All of this so as to gain an unfair advantage over other brokers, many of whom are clients of EventInventory, so as to effectively turn many into being no more than diggers for TNow.
I absolutely agree with this post. That being said, it's obvious by your perspective that you're not senior level management, all of whom are kissing asses trying to restore what's left of TN's reputation but pampering the public with useless tactics like showing the face value of the ticket. Like that matters, anyway...the secondary market is where people pay the market price of a ticket. Sometimes it's higher than face value, sometimes it's less. Either way, if you don't think a ticket is worth what the price is, then don't pay it. If you do, then pay it and don't ***** about it after. TN is NOT misleading anyone about the price. The price is right there when customers purchase the tickets and before they checkout. There is no ambiguity about it, just stupid people trying to capitalize on the bad press TN has gotten and make a quick buck by hiring ambulance chasing lawyers.
[Comment moderated due to inappropriate language.]
You cannot double serve on Google. Wait till you get banned TN.