TicketsNow Gets Punked By AG
By AMANDA BOLGER
Updated 4:00 PM CST, Tue, Jun 30, 2009
“Unbeatable selection, exceptional service, and the utmost security are elements that make TicketNow.com the world’s favorite and most trusted brand for premium event seating and tickets.”
As quoted on TicketsNow.com, this resale marketplace ensures loyalty to its customers, but an Illinois attorney general's investigation found something entirely different was going on.
After dozens of complaints about the high prices ticket brokers charged for Hannah Montana and Bruce Springsteen concerts and other popular events, TicketsNow.com, a resale marketplace from Ticketmaster, sparked the interest of Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
Today, Madigan made an agreement with the Ticketmaster subsidiary to discontinue the deceptive tactics.
“Our investigation revealed that consumers who purchased concert tickets at TicketsNow Web sites often believed they were purchasing tickets from the actual event operators for their original value, Madigan stated. “This agreement will substantially impact how the TicketsNow online brokers market popular even tickets so that consumers clearly understand that they are making purchases from a ticket reseller at marked up rates.”
TicketsNow’s brokers created customized Web sites where they resold tickets they had already purchased for high-profile events including concerts, sporting events, and theater events at a significantly higher price than face value.
Failing to state that they were ticket resellers, TicketsNow obtained tickets from secondary sources such as season ticket holders, event promoters, and venue operators in advance of the public sale. As part of the agreement, TicketsNow.com was ordered to identify itself as a ticket broker that is not affiliated with the venue, which may sell tickets above face value.
In addition, TicketsNow will pay $50,000 to the Illinois Attorney General’s office for consumer fraud enforcement and education.
Trusted brand? Well, not so much anymore.
First Published: Jun 30, 2009 12:26 PM CST
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