Photo Credit: Tim Burgess / Twitter
The Cure wanted to keep ticket prices low for fans. Ticketmaster charged more in fees than the tickets cost.
Fans of the English punk band took to Twitter to showcase how even artists’ attempts at controlling ticket costs are futile. One fan shared his experience buying four tickets for an upcoming concert, showcasing how the fees ended up adding more than the tickets cost.
“So The Cure and Robert Smith wanted to keep ticket prices at a reasonable level for fans on their upcoming North American tour dates,” tweets Tim Burgess, with a screenshot of his final cost, $172.10 for four $20 tickets. “Ticketmaster absolutely rinsed them with ridiculous extra charges wtf even is a service fee or a facility charge or processing fee?”
The post went viral on Twitter as many other Cure fans shared their experience and fees. The idea runs counter to the announcement the band made on March 10, saying they wanted to ensure the tickets would be affordable for all fans. “We want the tour to be affordable for all fans, and we have a very wide (and we think very fair) range of pricing at every show,” the band told fans before tickets went on sale.
But after fans showcased the fees, Robert Smith took to Twitter to tell fans he was just as alarmed as they are. “I am as sickened as you all are by today’s Ticketmaster ‘fees’ debacle,” the frontman tweeted. “To be very clear: the artist has no way to limit them. I have been asking how they are justified. If I get anything coherent by way of an answer, I will let you all know.”
“After further conversation, Ticketmaster have agreed with us that many of the fees being charged are unduly high, and as a gesture of goodwill have offered a $10 per ticket refund to all Verified Fan accounts for lowest ticket price transactions and a $5 ticket refund to all Verified Fan accounts for all other ticket price transactions. For all Cure shows at all venues; if you already bought a ticket you will get an automatic refund and all future sales will incur lower fees,” Robert Smith later tweeted.
A refund of $5 to $10 on fees that were 100% of the face value of tickets doesn’t feel any better, but hey. If you don’t like it you can just buy your tickets from another vendor, right? Oh.