Ah well, that's ok then. Glad to hear we aren't being totally ripped off. All that needless heightening of blood pressure everytime I buy tickets, silly me. For f*%ks sake. And it only took them 2 years....

Yeah, 2 years to figure out that charging you a service charge PER bloody ticket, is not abusing their position.

its an obvious conclusion because ticketmaster are just providing a service and its up to the promoters whether to use them or not. The problem over ticket prices is with the acts NOT ticketmaster. The act decides on the ticket price and the promoter charges that. All such fees and charges are set out in the act's contract - the promoter or ticketmaster does not just pick a figure out of thin air and decide on that. the reason why shows over here are so expensive is because the acts charge so much in the 1st place. simple economics Promoters use ticketmaster because it's a no-brainer - ticketmaster sell tickets, they collect money, they hand over a cheque to the promoter. sure, ticketmaster charge a fee but who doesnt?? If there was a viable alternative to ticketmaster, they would also charge a fee. do u think they'd do it out of the goodness of their hearts?? ticketmaster are an easy target when the real criticism should be levelled at the acts.

Fair enough point Pilchard, but does Tkmaster not get a percentage of the tkt price anyway?

Tis a good point Pilchard but the fee just seems far in excess of the service being provided. To be honest, I could live with it if Ticketmaster came out and said the following 1. Credit card transaction cost = 4% of ticket price 2. Cost of running technology = 1% of ticket price 3. Printing ticket + postage = 1% of ticket price 4. Running our outlets = 1 % of ticket price 5. Our cut = 2% or 5% or whatever it is But they don't, so the suspicion is that the majority of the 'service' is pure profit. As you rightly point out, they are the only show in town so thems the breaks. However, doesn't change the fact that I feel like I'm grabbing my ankles everytime I buy tickets through them!!

For what TM do, they do it well. My one of two cripes are; a. Charge per Ticket, not Transaction. When buying in bulk (4or5 so we can sit together), it can cost as much as an extra ticket. b. For a service charge, we get no service. The attitude seems to be, 'thanks for your money, now Fcuk off'. They are actively encourageing the blackmarket of Ticket Touts, by not taking back unwanted tickets* (at point of purchase, or Venue Box Office). They have a computer system, very easy to put the ticket back into the system. Tickets should be TMs responsibility until the event happens. * Every have a friend pull out of a gig, & not been able to get rid of the ticket ?

All good points re TM's charges so it would be interesting to actually read the Competition Authority report and what findings they had on that Re artists setting ticket prices. Granted its probably not Thom Yorke or Chris Martin who does that over a cup of tea and a sandwich, but their agent or manager. The vast majority of contracts between acts. and their reps with promoters will specify the number of tickets to go on sale and the price of these tickets. Re TM breaking down their charges as Vent My Spleen suggests - I'd be amazed if they - or any commercial outlet - did that. That said, TM's charges are confusing, even if every single ad lists what the breakdown is (or is supposed to do so by law).

It'll do the job alright, that amount of concussion from banging your head against the wall will knock you right out !!