three and priority booking for tickets

lifeandtimes

Hi,

I was wondering if any can shed some light on this? I forward this to comreg and received a response saying they don't deal with this and a link to my consumer rights, which didn't answer this question.

It’s in relation to three and their priority booking for customers of their network for concerts/events at the three arena.

Is this fair in regards to competition and non-customers of three? It seems it’s a bit unfair that customers get a chance to pre-book/buy tickets to events before they go on general sale thus reducing the number of tickets that actually go on sale and meaning the chances of getting tickets to a certain popular event a reduced if you are not a customer of three.

It would be similar to say if Eir were to bringing broadband to an area and only provide to their customers for a certain time and taking up ports at an exchange and then when non-customers wish to avail of the service their chances of availing of the service are then reduced.

I would be interested in knowing how threes priority booking is allowed in relation to competition and consumers rights?

ohnonotgmail

what consumer rights do you think are being breached?

brian_t

3 Ireland sponsor the 3arena and get a number of free tickets or reduced price tickets in return.

How is that similar to -

lifeandtimes wrote: »

It would be similar to say if Eir were to bringing broadband to an area and only provide to their customers for a certain time and taking up ports at an exchange and then when non-customers wish to avail of the service their chances of availing of the service are then reduced.

lifeandtimes

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

what consumer rights do you think are being breached?

Hi thanks for your reply.

Well to be fair i didn't just ask about consumer rights also fairness in competition as im not to sure about the whole concept which is why im asking.

I asking as if i wanted to buy tickets for a show that was being shown there and i wasn't a customer of 3, the chances of me getting a ticket would be reduced due to the tickets being allocated to the priority customers right? which then makes me want to switch to 3... like i said im not sure so im asking so i can be informed thats all :-D

ohnonotgmail

lifeandtimes wrote: »

Hi thanks for your reply.

Well to be fair i didn't just ask about consumer rights also fairness in competition as im not to sure about the whole concept which is why im asking.

I asking as if i wanted to buy tickets for a show that was being shown there and i wasn't a customer of 3, the chances of me getting a ticket would be reduced due to the tickets being allocated to the priority customers right? which then makes me want to switch to 3... like i said im not sure so im asking so i can be informed thats all :-D

you have no right to buy tickets for any event. 3 offer an incentive to their customers in the form of early availability. 3 are paying for that privilege. Its a very simply commercial arrangement. I cant see what you are getting at at all.

lifeandtimes

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

you have no right to buy tickets for any event. 3 offer an incentive to their customers in the form of early availability. 3 are paying for that privilege. Its a very simply commercial arrangement. I cant see what you are getting at at all.

im just trying to understand it and its consumer fariness etc, thanks very much

ohnonotgmail

lifeandtimes wrote: »

im just trying to understand it and its consumer fariness etc, thanks very much

it seems very fair to me. 3 customers receive tickets early as they have paid (indirectly) for that privilege.

gypsylee

I am a 3 customer and often gets codes for priority tickets for concerts that I am not attending and pass them on. If you know someone who is a 3 customer they could give you a code and then you wouldn't be at a disadvantage at all by not being a 3 customer.

Losty Dublin

Can't see how this is unfair as it's a just a bonus for Three customers. They aren't the only company that offer an incentive for they customers, not by a long shot.

lifeandtimes

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Can't see how this is unfair as it's a just a bonus for Three customers. They aren't the only company that offer an incentive for they customers, not by a long shot.

hi, thats true but the incentives other companies offer dont effect other people who are non customers through another avenue i.e. getting tickets for a show.

if its a case say for example 50k tickets are available for the show at the three arena and 5k are allocated to companies,radio stations and 3 customers etc and 45k go on general release then i understand that, as then people who are not non customers are not losing out as they are still only able to avail of the 45k that would have been allocated anyway and 3 are only given a small portion of promotional tickets that other companies get but if its a case were say 5k are allocated to companies,radio stations etc and then 5k are allocated specifically to three customers, this would then to me, seem unfair that people could have less of a chance of getting tickets as only 40k are available to them and 1/8 of them have been given to 3 customers.

thats all im asking,which scenario plays out with this kinda of perk for three customers?

Chocolate girl

lifeandtimes wrote: »

hi, thats true but the incentives other companies offer dont effect other people who are non customers through another avenue i.e. getting tickets for a show.

if its a case say for example 50k tickets are available for the show at the three arena and 5k are allocated to companies,radio stations and 3 customers etc and 45k go on general release then i understand that, as then people who are not non customers are not losing out as they are still only able to avail of the 45k that would have been allocated anyway and 3 are only given a small portion of promotional tickets that other companies get but if its a case were say 5k are allocated to companies,radio stations etc and then 5k are allocated specifically to three customers, this would then to me, seem unfair that people could have less of a chance of getting tickets as only 40k are available to them and 1/8 of them have been given to 3 customers.

thats all im asking,which scenario plays out with this kinda of perk for three customers?

It's a perk to 3 customers as you've said. Do you have any objection to radio and companies getting ticket allocation? I don't really understand why you have a problem with it.

lifeandtimes

Chocolate girl wrote: »

It's a perk to 3 customers as you've said. Do you have any objection to radio and companies getting ticket allocation? I don't really understand why you have a problem with it.

No i don't as i know these are allocated before the show and it would be the same with other venues i.e the rds,the Olympia, however these venues do not offer priority tickets to customers availing of another service that they provide(that I'm aware but willing to be proven wrong) and I'm not sure why people keep thinking i have a problem, I've said a couple of times I'm curious and just wish to be educated on this, it might be the case everyone commenting is a 3 customers and doesn't wish to have the perk removed

Chocolate girl

lifeandtimes wrote: »

No i don't as i know these are allocated before the show and it would be the same with other venues i.e the rds,the Olympia, however these venues do not offer priority tickets to customers availing of another service that they provide(that I'm aware but willing to be proven wrong) and I'm not sure why people keep thinking i have a problem, I've said a couple of times I'm curious and just wish to be educated on this, it might be the case everyone commenting is a 3 customers and doesn't wish to have the perk removed

Well I don't have an answer for you so. And yes I am one of those 3 customers who uses this perk and wouldn't want it removed. :-)

notharrypotter

From your first post

It’s in relation to three and their priority booking for customers of their network for concerts/events at the three arena.

3 Have paid for the naming rights to the venue.

It would appear that as part of the process they have been allocated a block of tickets earlier than general release.

They then offer the early access to their customers as a perk.

Many business have loyalty schemes where they send specific discount offers to their customers.

Its business.

If you wish to get early access to the 3 arena (TM) tickets all you have to do is switch your phone to them.

Its your choice to switch or not.

I believe the same offer was made to O2 customers only before they were taken over by 3.

Homer

I'm guessing someone didn't get Justin Bieber tickets eh