We are the ticket buyers our parents warned us about ....

[surfpirate]

A random sampling of posts in the Ticket Exchange forum.
Many of these are one time posters that show up every year.
None seem to be violating rules.
All are seeking no more than face + fees for their *extras*.

What I find funny is that some of these people
also have another post somewhere else
bitchin' about TicketMaster shutting them out.
They successfully OVER BOUGHT for one show
and were SHUT OUT for another show
(which of course is always blamed on TicketB@st@rd).

Talk amongst yourselves. Draw your own conclusions.

________ ACTUAL POSTS ________

"First time ever I successfully got 8 lawns at DTE on sale day. I may
have a few extras ....."

"We ended up with 4 tickets too many. Great seats - only 36 rows back
from stage ....."

"I got all excited when Buffett tickets started to go on sale and I
bought 2 for Tampa. I cannot go afterall ....."

"We overbought for our group...I have several lawn seats available ....."

"We overbought, but we have some good pavilion seats ....."

"I have 4 tickets in section xxx row x. These are some of the best
mid-priced lower bowl seats ....."

"I have two pairs to sell ....."

"I have two extra tickets ....."

"I have a pair of seats together in section xx, row x on the isle ......"

"I have 3 tickets for Section xx, Rowx, seats xx-xx Center and on the isle .....
We also have 3 reserve seating tickets for sale, section xx, row x, we
would consider selling them ....."

"My wife and I bought tix without knowing it so I have a set of 8 tix
in section xx ....."

"We have 2 tickets available, Section xx, Row x, Seats x-x ....."

"We have as many as 6-8 FESTIVAL LAWN SEATING - GENERAL ADMISSION
tickets for this show ....."

"Got a seat upgrade. I have 6 tickets, section x, row x, seats x-xx ......"

"I have 4 lawn tickets face value plus fees $46.50 each ....."

"i have three shell seats section two row x seats x-x will sell them
together or separately ....."

"My wife and I logged in today to live nation to get good tickets and
ended up both getting sets of 6 tickets ....."

"I have 2 tickets in section xxx that I can't use...the confirmation
says they may be limited view ....."

"Two tickets, Section x, row x, seats x-x, center. Face Value and
postage, certified mail ....."

"I have two tickets in Sec. xxx Row x seats xx x to sell $136.00 plus
22.05 Total $316.10 ....."

"I have 2 tickets for sale... Friends purchased tickets for us now we
have to sell ours ....."

"I have 4 extra lawn tickets I need to get rid of ....."

[carolinapiratechik]

Since my post about tickets for sale is included in the original post, I feel compelled to respond. I bought my tickets then, by shear luck, fell into a better seating opportunity. Did I over-buy? Nope. Am I a first time poster? Nope. Did I complain about Ticketmaster? Nope. Just sayin...

[spucketts]

As you read them, close your eyes as you can almost feel the cold sweaty palm of the handshake and smell the cheap cologne of the seller.

"Now let me tell you about these tickets as, son, I say son, yer not listening to me, these were purchased by my little ole Sainted Grandmother for her bridge club....."

[surfpirate]

Since my post about tickets for sale is included in the original post, I feel compelled to respond. I bought my tickets then, by shear luck, fell into a better seating opportunity. Did I over-buy? Nope. Am I a first time poster? Nope. Did I complain about Ticketmaster? Nope. Just sayin...

One possibility I want to remind those who seem to only want to blame
"brokers" and "TicketB@st@rd" for the fast sellouts
and for their getting "shut out" when buying tickets ....

... is that perhaps it is we ourselves who are buying up most of the *extra tickets*.

Some people fail to make this connection.

[tryin' to reason]

The people looking for tickets on the Exchange are equally creative...

This is the first concert for...me,my girlfriend, my fiance, my spouse, my mother or father-in-law, my keet, my college roommate, my boss....

This is a birthday, wedding, anniversary gift for....(see above)

I promised my buddies I'd get them tickets, but I got shut out.

I've always wanted to see Jimmy but never could get tickets...

[comemonday]

Along the same lines (in my mind) are those who attempt to "order" tickets just to see what comes up when they have no intention of attending the concert. Particularly when it's at the on-sale start time; I think it really slows things down.

[FunkHouse9]

I didn't have any problem getting tickets.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

As far as the people who have extras because they overbought or upgraded or whatever, I'd rather those tickets were available here at face than in the hands of brokers....

[nutmeg]

As far as the people who have extras because they overbought or upgraded or whatever, I'd rather those tickets were available here at face than in the hands of brokers....

wjs

I don't really see "us" as the problem. Sure there are a few "extra" tickets bought, but not the hundreds that that brokers get and sell for a fortune.

It is rather amusing that there are those who buy 8 tickets just because they can and then need to get rid of them. It takes my breath away to push the button to buy two tickets. I would be so worried that I wouldn't be able to sell the extras and would be stuck with them.

[surfpirate]

As far as the people who have extras because they overbought or upgraded or whatever, I'd rather those tickets were available here at face than in the hands of brokers....

wjs

I don't really see "us" as the problem. Sure there are a few "extra" tickets bought, but not the hundreds that that brokers get and sell for a fortune.

It is rather amusing that there are those who buy 8 tickets just because they can and then need to get rid of them. It takes my breath away to push the button to buy two tickets. I would be so worried that I wouldn't be able to sell the extras and would be stuck with them.

Then you and I disagree on my main point. It is "us" who obtain the vast majority of *extra* tickets, not brokers.
Also I'd bet my bottom dollar that the number of "us" that let our *extras* find their way into others hands for prices above face+fees,
be it StubHub, eBay or broker sites,
exceeds the few that post here only seeking to get rid of what they "accidentally over bought".

[nutmeg]

As far as the people who have extras because they overbought or upgraded or whatever, I'd rather those tickets were available here at face than in the hands of brokers....

wjs

I don't really see "us" as the problem. Sure there are a few "extra" tickets bought, but not the hundreds that that brokers get and sell for a fortune.
It is rather amusing that there are those who buy 8 tickets just because they can and then need to get rid of them. It takes my breath away to push the button to buy two tickets. I would be so worried that I wouldn't be able to sell the extras and would be stuck with them.

Then you and I disagree on my main point. It is "us" who obtain the vast majority of *extra* tickets, not brokers.
Also I'd bet my bottom dollar that the number of "us" that let our *extras* find their way into others hands for prices above face+fees,
be it StubHub, eBay or broker sites,
exceeds the few that post here only seeking to get rid of what they "accidentally over bought".

You really think so? I guess I'm naive...

[PetalMel]

I guess I could be guilty of what SP is saying. With our group of friends, we all purposely attempt to get as many tickets as we can just in case one or two of us get shut out. We have a group of 12 people who all conspire together to get tickets when they go on sale. Sometimes we end up with more than we need and then offer them to other friends who may want to go. Then if we still have extra, we contact someone on this board who needs/wants them. If we still have extra then we post them up on the board. However, the fear (?) of not getting any tickets is what leads us to the feast or famine behavior.

However, I am still trying to understand how various ticket brokers (this year I noticed even DTE was doing this...) can have specific seats for sale at a price higher than face even BEFORE tickets are to be on sale. I always think that is interesting. Then if it sells out so quickly, how can so many good seats (and in the case of DTE, that is great pavillion seats and several lawns) be available above face on the venue's website? We may be our own problem, but I think we are just the tip of the iceberg.

[spucketts]

I guess I could be guilty of what SP is saying. With our group of friends, we all purposely attempt to get as many tickets as we can just in case one or two of us get shut out. We have a group of 12 people who all conspire together to get tickets when they go on sale. Sometimes we end up with more than we need and then offer them to other friends who may want to go. Then if we still have extra, we contact someone on this board who needs/wants them. If we still have extra then we post them up on the board. However, the fear (?) of not getting any tickets is what leads us to the feast or famine behavior.

However, I am still trying to understand how various ticket brokers (this year I noticed even DTE was doing this...) can have specific seats for sale at a price higher than face even BEFORE tickets are to be on sale. I always think that is interesting. Then if it sells out so quickly, how can so many good seats (and in the case of DTE, that is great pavillion seats and several lawns) be available above face on the venue's website? We may be our own problem, but I think we are just the tip of the iceberg.

Its a business being a business. They have deals with sponsors and suppliers, like Coke or Miller or food or event promoters, and those deals include a quantity of tickets. They may even make deals with ticket brokers to keep them at bay. I would think these sponsors would hand the tickets out to employees but they or the employee may choose to cash them in knowing they can get three times the face value. Had a friend that was a big shot with a car company, regional manager of the southeast. You wouldn't believe the perks he got like free magazine subscription to every one they advertised in. He had access to the sky boxes at sporting events plus a quantity of regular seat tickets if he wanted them. Its just business scratching busineses back.

[Bfan53again]

Some good points here.....I guess I, too, always blamed brokers for the madness that has always surrounded buying JB tickets. At this point in my life JB is about the only "major" performer that I regularly go see so I'm not sure how prevelant this broker problem is with other concerts.

There have been some JB shows in the past that do limit the number of tickets a "regular person" can buy at one time (usually 4). I thought this prevented "us" from grabbing up excess tickets for friends or possible resale.

I guess there will never be a "perfect" system that is fair to all. And, given where JB is in his career, we most likely won't have to endure this "madness" for many more years any way......

[JollyMon66]

Buying tickets each year is always a B*TCH but in the many shows I've been too I never remember tailgating talk about how hard it was to score some seats. Guess what I'm saying is it's a necessary evil and cost to enjoy and remember times like this.

[spucketts]

Did a little research on the Atlanta venue. Lakewood, now sponsored by Aarons, lists eight major sponsors including Coke, Gieco, Citi, Budlight, Georgia Natural Gas plus there are names on the website like Livenation. There is a sponsor box on their home page and it includes a link to buy and sell tickets with 442 current listings, all at least double face value. There's lawns but also listed are premium seats including front rows, front sections and VIP boxes. Just goes to show, to the rich goes the spoils but then it isn't cheap to become a sponsor. Luckly the show isn't sold out and unless someone just really wants the very best seat, you don't have to pay their price.

[spucketts]

Thought this was interesting too, from Livenations website: Concert club

You'll be first to know - and first in line - for the tickets you want to the concerts you most want to see. Starting at $249, Concert Club membership allows you to move to the front of the line for tickets to events in your city before they go on sale to the public. Live Nation's Concert Club is like having a friend in the business. Concert Club is available in the following cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver BC, and Washington DC.

Concert Club Holder's Program Benefits:

You'll be among the first to know about upcoming shows
You'll get the tickets you want - first

[chippewa]

I can see where people might inadvertently end up with extra tickets for the Pittsburgh show. If you needed 6 or 7 or 8 tickets, does that mean two people have to try for tickets? There isn't any mention of a ticket limit on Live Nation, so I would assume the limit is low and I'd need a friend to also try for tickets. Then once you get into the ticketing system, everybody tries for the max because you know there's a very good chance that your other friends will get shut out.

[capnbobby]

I think I have a different take on this than a lot of you. I've been going to Buffett shows for twenty-five years, and I've never had trouble getting tickets. Ticketmaster/Livenation is a pain in the neck; it's a user un-friendly site. I've gotten to the point where I almost prefer buying tickets from Ticketsnow, a ticket broker site. I end up paying 50% more, but it gives me much more control over choosing where I'm going to sit.


Cap'n Bobby

PS I don't know how much longer Jimmy is going to be touring. I just want to enjoy it as much as I can as long as he does. If that means I pay a little more for great seats, it's worth it to me.

[Dr.Corona]

I think I have a different take on this than a lot of you. I've been going to Buffett shows for twenty-five years, and I've never had trouble getting tickets. Ticketmaster/Livenation is a pain in the neck; it's a user un-friendly site. I've gotten to the point where I almost prefer buying tickets from Ticketsnow, a ticket broker site. I end up paying 50% more, but it gives me much more control over choosing where I'm going to sit.


Cap'n Bobby

PS I don't know how much longer Jimmy is going to be touring. I just want to enjoy it as much as I can as long as he does. If that means I pay a little more for great seats, it's worth it to me.

Obviously if you can afford it paying the inflated ticket prices to the broker or second-hand sites are no object. It's the principle of the thing that bothers everyone. If I was in your shoes I'd do the same thing, but I'm not so I scratch & claw with the masses as best I can.
I do have a cousin (not in Miami) who works for a subsidiary of Palace Sports & Entertainment (the pholks who operate the local venue, DTE Music Theatre) & he has been kind enough to try and nab me tickets if I get shut out or if my phriends get shut out the last couple years. Unfortunately that window looks like it is closing due to the impending sale of P.S.&.E.