Why Do Business with Companies that Threaten You?
“All tickets purchased on this site are governed by our terms and conditions. In particular, we draw your attention to the fact that all tickets are for personal use only and cannot be resold under any circumstances. Resale or attempted resale is grounds for seizure or cancellation without refund or other compensation. The Event Partner and its affiliates, successors, or assigns may enforce these terms in accordance with the provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the Act).”
These are the less-than-comforting words that confront every purchaser of a ticket on seetickets.com in a pop-up screen just before completion of their online purchase (with the terms and conditions stating that “Any resale or attempt to resell the tickets at a price higher than purchased will result in your orders being cancelled without prior notification”). Remember See Tickets is run by the same person who’s been lobbying Parlaiment to prevent fans from being able to resell their own tickets - his incentives are not really aligned with yours. Theatre Tickets Direct offer similar terms and conditions:
“Resale of tickets purchased through this website is prohibited. Resold for commercial gain ticket becomes voidable and the ticket holder may be refused entry or ejected from the venue.”
Both are indicative of the out-of-touch and consumer unfriendly approach to the world. Both companies seem to be stuck back in the mid-twentieth century. Threatening your customers before they’ve even taken receipt of your product is never a good strategy unless of course your customers are not your customers. Both companies in question are engaging in anti-competitive behavior to prevent fans from buying and selling tickets themselves. It seems that you, my friends, are the new competition.
Remember that ticket agents want to make sure they sell all the tickets they have as they make more money this way. If fans are able to buy and resell tickets more tickets are for sale in the market (supply) which the laws of economics tell us will satisfy the demand and/or drive down prices – both outcomes are bad for ticket agents. So instead of focusing on how better to serve their customers these companies would rather try to scare you out of their markets.
As I’ve said before, the law regarding terms and conditions of the sale of tickets has not yet been tested under UK legislation. Until a case reaches the court – for example, where a member of the public takes on one of the sellers in the primary ticket market – we can only guess at the outcome. For our own part, Seatwave has always asserted that the terms and conditions with which event organisers seek to bind consumers are extremely unfair and fly in the face of market forces. The lack of refunds, exchanges, returns and a ‘no right to re-sell’ policy could all potentially be challenged under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations.
We’re doing all we can at Seatwave to provide the mechanism by which customers can buy and sell tickets with confidence and peace of mind because we understand that good businesses in the twenty-first century align themselves with the interests of their customers, not against them.
Consumers need to stand up to the practices of bullying sites such as seetickets.com and voice their opinions and when you cannot, we will stand up for you. When fans can’t make an event, do they really want to be hamstrung with the option of either throwing away a worthwhile ticket or face the threat of legal action?
Without fans’ patronage, these sites will soon be conscripted to the dust bin of history which is where they belong. It’s now up to you to seize the initiative and make it clear that the way you’re being treated simply isn’t right.
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