OASIS: tickets resell for £6000

[Leyland Bus]

Doesn’t help when Ticketmaster website can’t cope to the extent that you spend eight hours in a queue, then when you finally try to select tickets the site crashes and tells you to refresh the page, only when you do that it then says you’ve been identified as a bot, kicks you off the site and blocks any attempt to get back on again…….

That happened to me, although I was at the 7 hour mark, I gave up when it eventually put me back to where I was 7 hours previous... absolutely ridiculous that they can't anticipate such demand in 2024...

 

[Gloster]

That happened to me, although I was at the 7 hour mark, I gave up when it eventually put me back to where I was 7 hours previous... absolutely ridiculous that they can't anticipate such demand in 2024...

They don’t need to bother: they know that people may grumble but will still put up with it to get those elusive tickets. If the concerts go ahead, I can see little groups forming in the audience as people say, “I queued on the computer for six hours and then…Well, I queued for seven and it…”

 

[simonw]

They don’t need to bother: they know that people may grumble but will still put up with it to get those elusive tickets. If the concerts go ahead, I can see little groups forming in the audience as people say, “I queued on the computer for six hours and then…Well, I queued for seven and it…”

Bring back the days when if you wanted tickets queuing meant queuing overnight on the pavement.

 

[RJ]

Things like this, I’ve always logged on a few minutes in advance and never had an issue getting mine as soon as they are released. Not just tickets but things like cryptocurrency presales as well.

Limited supply, an excess of demand, a ticket is worth whatever people are willing to pay.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The practice of re-classifying unreserved standing tickets as "platinum" and then charging two-and-a-half times as much for same would seem to be a complete rip off.

So, have 'Oasis' effectively sold out? Definitely Maybe.

 

[Trackman]

Doesn’t help when Ticketmaster website can’t cope to the extent that you spend eight hours in a queue, then when you finally try to select tickets the site crashes and tells you to refresh the page, only when you do that it then says you’ve been identified as a bot, kicks you off the site and blocks any attempt to get back on again…….

This happened to someone I know too, so it looks like it affected a lot of people. Luckily, a friend managed to get tickets for her.

 

[RJ]

The practice of re-classifying unreserved standing tickets as "platinum" and then charging two-and-a-half times as much for same would seem to be a complete rip off.

Apparently there is an option not to use this form of dynamic pricing. So for it to be in place, the band would have had to allow it. End of the day the direct ticket sales is a business for them and the aim is profit maximisation. They have publicly condemned unofficial resales as only the reseller makes money off that, but notably no comment on this practice.

 

[Harpo]

So, have 'Oasis' effectively sold out? Definitely Maybe.

I guess the band asked people not to sell tickets at inflated values (on Thursday) because that’s their job.

 

[londonbridge]

Apparently there is an option not to use this form of dynamic pricing. So for it to be in place, the band would have had to allow it. End of the day the direct ticket sales is a business for them and the aim is profit maximisation. They have publicly condemned unofficial resales as only the reseller makes money off that, but notably no comment on this practice.

Not necessarily, on another forum of which I’m a member there is fierce argument as to whether the artist/their agent/the promotor needs to agree to dynamic pricing or not. Earlier this year Ticketmaster were doing it for the Nerina Pallot show at the Palladium. She issued a statement saying she and her management had not consented to it, but that Ticketmaster had ignored her. On her Facebook and X accounts she was actively telling fans not to use Ticketmaster and to only buy from the Palladium website.

 

[nlogax]

My memories of Oasis are heady and I constantly listened to Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova on repeat as a student. That's where I like to leave them though, firmly in the past. You couldn't pay me enough money to go see them live especially now. Although evidently with current ticket prices that's the opposite of what's happening anyway..

 

[sprunt]

Did the rail industry arrange this ticket sale? Is there a special ticket that's even more expensive than the higher price levels of the tickets for a specific concert that get more expensive as more tickets are sold, that allows you to turn up and attend any of the shows you like?

 

[wilbers]

Oasis tickets: Dynamic pricing row prompts government probe

The culture secretary has called the selling of Oasis tickets at "vastly inflated" prices "depressing".

www.bbc.co.uk

Ministers are set to look into the use of "dynamic pricing", amid an ongoing row about the "depressing" and "vastly inflated" cost of tickets to see Oasis next year.

A consultation into ticket resale websites had already been announced by the government, and will start in the autumn.

But after Oasis fans criticised ticket sellers for raising prices as they queued for hours online the government also confirmed it would look into the controversial practice.

Well, there was already going to be an inquiry into ticket re-selling, but its been expanded a bit. Clearly dynamic pricing is going nowhere, but I wonder if there could be some restrictions introduced so the situation isn't queue up for tickets with a face value of £135 and only get told 7 hours later (or however long it was) you can either buy one for £350 or not bother.

 

[OuterDistant]

Alternatively: Britpop industry to be nationalised?

 

[Leyland Bus]

Alternatively: Britpop industry to be nationalised?

The "British Popular Music Corporation" has a certain ring to it

 

[nlogax]

Alternatively: Britpop industry to be nationalised?

Preferably liquidated or sold off in chunks to the lowest quality bidders.

 

[Yew]

They were much better than the Beatles.

Some might say…

 

[philosopher]

Well, there was already going to be an inquiry into ticket re-selling, but its been expanded a bit. Clearly dynamic pricing is going nowhere, but I wonder if there could be some restrictions introduced so the situation isn't queue up for tickets with a face value of £135 and only get told 7 hours later (or however long it was) you can either buy one for £350 or not bother.

To me the fairest approach would be to allocate tickets through a ballot, similar to what they did for the 2012 Olympics. Those who want to increase their chances of getting tickets could opt for the more expensive tickets where there would likely be less demand and therefore better odds.

 

[kristiang85]

One of my mates was trying to get tickets all day on Sunday, but kept getting kicked out of the queue. He's a stubborn sod so kept at it, but in the end after hours of trying it was just the VIPs left, so way out of his budget. I'm glad I didn't join that circus.

In comparison, I just booked to see Green Day, supported by The Offspring, at in Cape Town next January for £36 (they happen to be playing whilst I'm there for work, so I don't even need to pay for flights to get there).

 

[Tetchytyke]

Well, there was already going to be an inquiry into ticket re-selling, but its been expanded a bit. Clearly dynamic pricing is going nowhere, but I wonder if there could be some restrictions introduced so the situation isn't queue up for tickets with a face value of £135 and only get told 7 hours later (or however long it was) you can either buy one for £350 or not bother.

There has to be. It's a classic bait-and-switch and it simply wouldn't be tolerated for long by regulators in any other sector.

I don't have an issue with Oasis charging £300 a ticket. If anyone's daft enough to pay that then crack on. I don't even have an issue with Oasis only releasing a limited number of tickets at £135 and making it clear in advance that, once they sell out, the next price bands are £200/£300/whatever.

What I do have an issue with Oasis saying the tickets will be £135 and then ramping the price up the longer you queue. Either the price is £135 or it isn't.

Not necessarily, on another forum of which I’m a member there is fierce argument as to whether the artist/their agent/the promotor needs to agree to dynamic pricing or not.

It may well not be the artist but the promoter.

In this case, the promoter is Live Nation. Ticketmaster is owned by, er, Live Nation. Trebles all round!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Any realistic prospect of Oasis ticket purchasers perhaps receiving a partial refund?

 

[43096]

What I do have an issue with Oasis saying the tickets will be £135 and then ramping the price up the longer you queue. Either the price is £135 or it isn't.


It may well not be the artist but the promoter.

Of course, Oasis could make it clear to the promoter that they didn't want "dynamic pricing".

Hasn't Noel got a divorce settlement to fund?

 

[Hadders]

Did the rail industry arrange this ticket sale? Is there a special ticket that's even more expensive than the higher price levels of the tickets for a specific concert that get more expensive as more tickets are sold, that allows you to turn up and attend any of the shows you like?

Very funny! What's more likely to happen is if you scan your ticket and enter the stadium too early or too late you'll be allowed in but Ticketmaster will send you a strongly worded letter a few days later threatening to prosecute you but offering to drop the case against you if you pay the cost of the most expensive VIP ticket plus a totally made up admin fee

Perhaps the Government's enquiry will extend to the surge pricing tactics of the rail industry?

 

[AM9]

Very funny! What's more likely to happen is if you scan your ticket and enter the stadium too early or too late you'll be allowed in but Ticketmaster will send you a strongly worded letter a few days later threatening to prosecute you but offering to drop the case against you if you pay the cost of the most expensive VIP ticket plus a totally made up admin fee

Perhaps the Government's enquiry will extend to the surge pricing tactics of the rail industry?

I think that any attempt to control dynamic pricing on event tickets will be quietly dropped as no UK government is likely to tackle the airline for its practices and that could involve passengers really needing to make journeys, but I cant see any need to go to an entertainment event, however some fans might like to kid themselves. Nobody died beacause they couldn't get a ticket to a music event.
Now secondary sales, particuilarly as they are a major tool for fraudsters is something that needs legislation in addition to pseudo 'booking charges'.

 

[wilbers]

I think that any attempt to control dynamic pricing on event tickets will be quietly dropped as no UK government is likely to tackle the airline for its practices and that could involve passengers really needing to make journeys, but I cant see any need to go to an entertainment event, however some fans might like to kid themselves. Nobody died beacause they couldn't get a ticket to a music event.
Now secondary sales, particuilarly as they are a major tool for fraudsters is something that needs legislation in addition to pseudo 'booking charges'.

The difference with airlines and dynamic pricing is that you go to book a ticket and it shows prices for various dates/times, you can choose one of those and book it. Not it shows a price, you have to wait a bit until you can buy a ticket and then it shows a substantially higher price and you can't buy at the price it first showed.

 

[AM9]

The difference with airlines and dynamic pricing is that you go to book a ticket and it shows prices for various dates/times, you can choose one of those and book it. Not it shows a price, you have to wait a bit until you can buy a ticket and then it shows a substantially higher price and you can't buy at the price it first showed.

But the person in te queue still has the choice not to buy, -there is no commitment to buy in the surge-pricing period. As I said above, failing to get tickets for entertainment events is not hazardous and is just a result of supply and demand.
I agree that it is frustrating, but the selling price is fixed at the point of commitment, - not unlike an auction.

 

[SuspectUsual]

But the person in te queue still has the choice not to buy, -there is no commitment to buy in the surge-pricing period. As I said above, failing to get tickets for entertainment events is not hazardous and is just a result of supply and demand.
I agree that it is frustrating, but the selling price is fixed at the point of commitment, - not unlike an auction.

At the very least Ticketmaster should keep a live update of the price for those in the queue, regardless of one’s view of the ethics of surge pricing.

Making people wait for eight hours to then tell them the price has trebled is ridiculous

But of course doing this would likely reduce the size of the queue, and stop prices rising so high. What Ticketmaster are actually doing is using people who are in the queue, but who would never buy tickets were they aware of the price, to artificially create “demand” and push the price higher

 

[AM9]

What Ticketmaster are actually doing is using people who are in the queue, but who would never buy tickets were they aware of the price, to artificially create “demand” and push the price higher

Well that could be stopped if they refused to buy if the price rrises when they are in a queue, - nobody is forced to buy a ticket, nor will they suffer anything significant if they do refuse. That's what choice is all about.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Well that could be stopped if they refused to buy if the price rrises when they are in a queue, - nobody is forced to buy a ticket, nor will they suffer anything significant if they do refuse. That's what choice is all about.

So it’s ok to give people the impression that the price is x whilst they’re queuing for 8 hours and shrug and say “you don’t have to pay it” when they get to the front?

 

[AM9]

So it’s ok to give people the impression that the price is x whilst they’re queuing for 8 hours and shrug and say “you don’t have to pay it” when they get to the front?

In the context of a lifestyle choice leisure product that is going to be well oversubscribed, a free market capitalist* view is - yes!

* that isn't my personal view, but in the real world, there are more important issues to fix first e.g. ticket resale matters.

 

[Harpo]

Surge/dynamic pricing is totally legal. Charging £500 for an Oasis ticket is totally legal. But…..

Telling people that tickets would go to £135 max and then charging £500 will get you into trouble. Putting a ‘buy or lose them’ time pressure on purchasers suddenly discovering the actual price will amplify the problem. These are the issues under investigation, not surge pricing itself.