After acknowledging the flaws in their strategy when tickets for the Cure's North American tour — which they're hoping to keep "affordable for all fans" — started going on sale earlier this week, Robert Smith has expressed further frustration about Ticketmaster's exorbitant fees.
The frontman put his caps lock key back on today, seemingly in response to a viral tweet that included a screenshot showing some of the ticketing monopoly's mandatory fees on tickets to one of the Cure shows. While the band are only charging $20 for each ticket this fan purchased, every one also had $27.15 in Ticketmaster fees tacked onto the price.
UPDATE (3/17, 9:14 a.m. ET): Smith tweeted last night (March 16) that, after further discussion with Ticketmaster, the company has agreed to issue a $10 refund per Lowest Ticket Price (LTP) transaction and $5 per ticket refund to all Verified Fans who purchased pricier seats. All tickets sold in today's general sale will also incur lower fees.
Those familiar with Ticketmaster have likely also dealt with their fees amounting to almost as much as — or more than — the tickets' costs. "I am as sickened as you all are by today's Ticketmaster 'fees' debacle," Smith wrote. "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. X"
He continued:
I have been told: StubHub has pulled listings in all markets except NY, Chicago, Denver (i.e. cities in States that have laws protecting scalpers). Please don't buy from the scalpers - there are still tickets available - it is just a very slow process... X
I will be back if I get anything serious on the TM fees... In the meantime, I am compelled to note down my obvious recurring elephant in the room thought... That if no-one bought from scalpers... Then... X
See Smith's tweets below.
The frontman put his caps lock key back on today, seemingly in response to a viral tweet that included a screenshot showing some of the ticketing monopoly's mandatory fees on tickets to one of the Cure shows. While the band are only charging $20 for each ticket this fan purchased, every one also had $27.15 in Ticketmaster fees tacked onto the price.
UPDATE (3/17, 9:14 a.m. ET): Smith tweeted last night (March 16) that, after further discussion with Ticketmaster, the company has agreed to issue a $10 refund per Lowest Ticket Price (LTP) transaction and $5 per ticket refund to all Verified Fans who purchased pricier seats. All tickets sold in today's general sale will also incur lower fees.
Those familiar with Ticketmaster have likely also dealt with their fees amounting to almost as much as — or more than — the tickets' costs. "I am as sickened as you all are by today's Ticketmaster 'fees' debacle," Smith wrote. "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. X"
He continued:
I have been told: StubHub has pulled listings in all markets except NY, Chicago, Denver (i.e. cities in States that have laws protecting scalpers). Please don't buy from the scalpers - there are still tickets available - it is just a very slow process... X
I will be back if I get anything serious on the TM fees... In the meantime, I am compelled to note down my obvious recurring elephant in the room thought... That if no-one bought from scalpers... Then... X
See Smith's tweets below.
I WILL BE BACK IF I GET ANYTHING SERIOUS ON THE TM FEES... IN THE MEANTIME, I AM COMPELLED TO NOTE DOWN MY OBVIOUS RECURRING ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM THOUGHT... THAT IF NO-ONE BOUGHT FROM SCALPERS... THEN... X
— ROBERT SMITH (@RobertSmith) March 16, 2023
