Andy's Blog

I'm sure this is not the first time that I've said this, but I just bought some Merriwether Post Pavillion Lawn tickets to go see the Decemeberists in June. The tickets were $30/ea. Ticket master has the following mandatory charges:

* $8.55 per order ticket "convenience charge"
* $4 per order

Furthermore, the only free delivery mechanism is US mail. If you have them e-mail you the tickets (assumably a PDF like they do at some sporting events) you have to pay an additional $4.95!!! Want to get insurance in case you can't make it for the show $6.

So for my $60 of concert money I spent $21.05 and if I had wanted to print the tickets and get insurance it would've been $32! As much as one of the tickets itself.

I know they're a business, etc. etc. But these prices seem ridiculous given the nature of the service. I'm certain that things would be different if they had some competitive pressure.