Bought "Upsell" tickets for concert by mistake. Ticketmaster not interested

Markus Antonius · 26-05-2025 03:31PM #1

Title pretty much sums it up. Girlfriend inadvertantly bought "Upsell" tickets by mistake for a concert coming up in June. For those (like me) who didn't know what "upsell" tickets are - they are an upgrade to your existing tickets that get you some kind of extra perk such as VIP entry or special seating area. Naturally, my girlfriend didn't realise this when she selected the top option for the tickets back in February and paid 180 for the pair.

When we were checking the tickets yesterday we noticed it said "These are VIP tickets they do not grant access to the venue. Seperate tickets are required for entry to the venue". Naturally horrified, we contacted support to which they responded. "No refunds on upsell tickets, you will need to purchase standard tickets in order to use these ones"

So it would cost a total of 320 for the pair of the tickets, which neither of us are in a position to pay.

This screams scam to me that Ticketmaster can sell tickets that don't actually gain you entry to the venue. Is there any comeback for this or will we need to just go straight down small claims court?

coylemj · 26-05-2025 04:06PM

This screams scam to me that Ticketmaster can sell tickets that don't actually gain you entry to the venue. Is there any comeback for this or will we need to just go straight down small claims court?

I don't think you have any case against Ticketmaster. You could have bought the seats beforehand and later decided to upgrade to a VIP package. Or somone could have heard you were going to the event and bought you the upgrade as a gift.

Selling the VIP package without the right of admission is not a scam, it's a simple case of unbundling.

Kaisr Sose · 26-05-2025 04:23PM

Selling the VIP package without the right of admission is not a scam, it's a simple case of unbundling.

I do not disagree, but could Ticketmaster make it more obvious there was no ground admission with upsell ? A pop up and tick box that advises this and requiring an ok /confirm would go a long way to make it clearer. Assuming it's unclear. They do not have a great reputation for transparency or fair pricing.

the_amazing_raisin · 26-05-2025 04:37PM

You might have a case on the basis that Ticketmaster sold you a product you can't possibly avail of without warning you

However given this is one of the shadiest companies in the world, I suspect they're covered legally with a nice bible of terms and conditions that you're expected to have read

As an alternative, perhaps you can put them on Adverts to recoup your losses?

Markus Antonius · 26-05-2025 04:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123487744#Comment_123487744

Exactly. It was not clear from the ticket that it only included the Add-on and especially given the add-on was a similar price to the base tickets.

We were just glad that we didn't find this out at the venue itself. Will try to keep negotiating with them to have them exchanged for standard tickets but if this doesn't work out will go down the charge-back route and small claims if necessary.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123487687#Comment_123487687

Selling "Add ons" without

1) Making sure the customer has or has access to a base ticket and

2) without making it clear they are add-ons

is 100% a scam regardless of what you say and regardless of who is doing the selling. Ticketmaster wouldn't have made it ambiguous if they new the customer would have a comeback.

deandean · 26-05-2025 04:51PM

I would be furious if that happened to me. I can see how a person not used to TM could fall for this.

OP this suggestion will probably suck, but your best recourse might be to go buy the two entry tickets, and enjoy the VIP gig - if you can avoid grinding your teeth!

Fanirish · 26-05-2025 05:15PM

What show is it for? Cause ticketmaster currently has this up for such packages. Clear as day but if they don’t or didn’t have that up then send them screenshot as they’ve obviously received other complaints

WildCardDoW · 27-05-2025 10:22AM

Yeah, I'm sorry but the up sell has always stood out to me.

Can understand why your GF may have made the mistake in the excitement / rush of booking (since there's usually a rush) but I don't think Ticketmaster are scamming people here.

Rocket_GD · 27-05-2025 10:38AM

It's the same as Electric Picnic selling Glamping tickets, they'll get you access to the site but you still need to buy a ticket for the actual event itself, it's usually well sign posted.

There's no scam involved here OP.

daheff · 27-05-2025 10:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123487687#Comment_123487687

ah i dunno. its a little like buying carry on luggage for a flight without having a flight booked. They should force you to add the ticket number for the event to be able to buy the add on.

27-05-2025 11:19AM

The checkout page:

Not sure how you're going to have any comeback OP (unless the page did not display the "Show Ticket Not Included" message). Your best bet is almost certainly selling on the upgrades to someone who does have a ticket

Kaisr Sose · 27-05-2025 11:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123487924#Comment_123487924

Not sure it could be deemed 100% obvious. Perhaps if the ( Show Ticket Not Included) was on a separate line, in red bold text and different font to the event, it would register better with people. As it is, it's just a paragraph of text with everything in bold. They could easily make it more obvious.

A pop up to advise this was not an event ticket would be better again.

Fanirish · 27-05-2025 11:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490054#Comment_123490054

if it was separate line then you could say that people will only read the top line. Written in bold is the best option.
a software system can only do so much if people lack basic reading comprehension. There is a limit to how fool proof you can make or should make a customer oriented website.

also the word “upgrade” is associated with an additional purchase. Aer lingus offer first class upgrade, lounge access upgrade etc.

Markus Antonius · 27-05-2025 11:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123489854#Comment_123489854

scam, noun: a dishonest scheme

Give me one good reason as to how selling an add-on without requiring a base ticket is not a dishonest scheme?

What if all the standard tickets sell out in seconds and you are left with add-ons only?

Just because it is Ticketmaster (who you seem to hold to high esteem) does not mean they are incapable of scam tactics. They knew full well that this was going to happen to a percentage of people.

miamee · 27-05-2025 12:07PM

Reminds me of the time my brother in law bought tickets for himself and 4 other family members to travel by train from Dublin to Sligo, thought he got a great deal. When the ticket inspector got on, it turned out he'd paid for a reserved seat for all of them - train ticket not included 😂 He still hasn't lived that one down.

coylemj · 27-05-2025 12:15PM

Give me one good reason as to how selling an add-on without requiring a base ticket is not a dishonest scheme?

A parent might buy the upgrade as a birthday gift for a son or daughter who already has a ticket. That's why they sell the upgrade without asking for proof that you have an admission ticket.

What if all the standard tickets sell out in seconds and you are left with add-ons only?

That's precisely why the upgrades are uncoupled from the admission tickets. Nobody who's in the queue for Ed Sheeran or Oasis tickets is going to be thinking about VIP packages. But, once they have the ticket secured, it might occur to them even weeks later to splash out and buy the upgrade.

Did it not occur to your girlfriend that she was never shown a seat plan or asked to pick a standing area?

27-05-2025 12:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490238#Comment_123490238

Just because it is Ticketmaster (who you seem to hold to high esteem)

This is where you lose all credibility OP.

MacDanger · 27-05-2025 12:43PM

Seems fairly clear from the screenshots above that it doesn't include a ticket. Can easily happen though and very unfortunate but I'd say you're wasting your time looking for redress in the SCC

Former Former Former · 27-05-2025 12:44PM

In fairness to TM, it couldn’t be more obvious that the ticket isn’t included.

It’s a stupid offering but a scam it is not.

Markus Antonius · 27-05-2025 01:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490322#Comment_123490322

How so? Didn't realise I had to stay within your credibility standard.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490374#Comment_123490374

Obviousness is a subjective thing. As it was GF who bought them, I don't know how it was displayed back in February.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490282#Comment_123490282

A very naive perspective. We all know that when the sales and marketing teams get into a room, they are thinking about their own bottom line not about flexibility for parents. They know well that this mistake is going to happen at a huge rate and proceed to create the environment regardless.

Rocket_GD · 27-05-2025 01:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490238#Comment_123490238

Why can glamping tickets for a festival be sold without a ticket to the actual festival?

I can buy a fast pass (skip the line) tickets for Universal studios without having an actual ticket for the park. Is that a scam too?

https://www.attractiontickets.com/en-ie/orlando-attraction-tickets/universal-orlando-resort/two-day-express-pass

I don't hold Ticketmaster in high regard at all, they're an awful company and it's disgraceful that they essentially have a monopoly in the market, but they've done nothing wrong here.

Markus Antonius · 27-05-2025 01:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490550#Comment_123490550

I can buy a fast pass (skip the line) tickets for Universal studios without having an actual ticket for the park. Is that a scam too?

Absolutely!

Just because they are a massive company with thousands of employees does not exempt them from being scammers.

I think the thousands of Oasis fans who were scalped last year would also agree with this…

Rocket_GD · 27-05-2025 01:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490583#Comment_123490583

Neither are scams at all.

You're just annoyed that your girlfriend made a mistake and understandably want to rant about it, but it is not a scam.

It is clear as day in print as shown above by other posters.

I'm not defending Ticketmaster, again I don't like them as a company, but dynamic pricing was implemented by the promoters and Ticketmaster simply turned on the system, basically an algorithm decided the Oasis prices.

coylemj · 27-05-2025 01:44PM

Obviousness is a subjective thing. As it was GF who bought them, I don't know how it was displayed back in February.

We can remove the issue of 'subjectivity' from the discussion if you study the Ticketmaster screenshot posted by poster Fanirish in post #7 above. Where it's clear as day that an admission ticket is not included.

You admit that you don't know what your girlfriend saw or didn't see on the screen yet you persist in accusing TM of operating a scam. What we do know is that she clicked the button to buy tickets without seeing a seat plan or a map of the standing areas.

Lucan123 · 27-05-2025 01:45PM

"show ticket not included" is that the ticket printed on a piece of paper you show at the entrance as opposed to the e ticket on your phone.

It's Ticketmaster so intentionally vague, and don't forget about that short time remaining not giving you enough time to double check.

SVI40 · 27-05-2025 01:49PM

People seldom read what is in front of them. I've done it myself.

I look after membership for a club. I use a DO NOT REPLY email, with DO NOT REPLY in bold, in the subject line. It is also the first line of the email, in bold 72 point and red. Guess what? people still reply to the email.

Sometimes you just learn a harsh lesson.

miamee · 27-05-2025 01:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490623#Comment_123490623

There is nothing vague about "Show ticket not included" - it means the ticket for the show is not included! My goodness, does everything have to be spelled out to the nth degree these days to save people having to engage their grey matter?

Getart · 27-05-2025 02:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058411499/bought-upsell-tickets-for-concert-by-mistake-ticketmaster-not-interested

The most surprising thing about all this is that you have a girlfriend. She really must be hard up and also not very bright which, I suppose, is evidenced by this thread.

Markus Antonius · 27-05-2025 02:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490662#Comment_123490662

You are sitting looking at a thread where everything is discussed in detail, so obviously it is clear to you.

Most people don't have this benefit when they are sitting in queues awaiting the chance to buy a ticket before potentially being sold out in seconds, not to mention the timer forcing people to pressure-buy.

Couple this with the fact that a lot of people are not even aware of "add ons" that can be bought without a base ticket, others have mentioned numerous examples of this with train tickets etc.

Maybe fire up some of that grey matter and consider these things as well.

27-05-2025 02:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490530#Comment_123490530

How so? Didn't realise I had to stay within your credibility standard.

What you said is just one step away from the "you probably work for Ticketmaster/Sky/RTE/Ryanair" trope that is used when people who have a certain beef with an organization or company and they see a response they don't like on a thread.

miamee · 27-05-2025 02:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490810#Comment_123490810

I wasn't replying to you, I was replying to another poster who suggested that "Show ticket not included" left room for misunderstanding. It doesn't.

That is different to the excitement of buying a ticket for your favourite band, feeling under pressure to complete the purchase before the tickets disappear/price changes and maybe missing some details in the rush. I get that, we all make the odd mistake where we've misunderstood or misread something, myself included, it happens. It's a shame that it happened to your girlfriend but just going by screenshots above it looks like it was an oversight on her part rather than a deliberate attempt to mislead by TM.

Bought "Upsell" tickets for concert by mistake. Ticketmaster not interested

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