August 25, 2003
Why is it so hard to see live music?
I just wanted to see my longtime favorite singer, Tori Amos, with my new favorite singer, Ben Folds. Learning they were playing a concert together was like finding out that the less filling beer really does taste great. I was thrilled.
Of course, tickets were sold out before I got a chance to buy them. Until a friend sent this tip along: Go to eBay, bid on an auction from a user called getAccess (a program sponsored by giant media conglomerate Clear Channel) and get tickets quickly and cheaply.
I'm a fairly savvy eBay shopper and I can usually spot raw deals before hitting the Place Bid button, but perhaps I was blinded by the soaring strains of "Little Earthquakes". I missed this one.
I read the fine print... and it seemed fine. I wasn't acutally bidding on tickets, I was bidding on membership to the getAccess VIP program with no additional obligations and the tickets were a complimentary gift. ("When you bid on one of our auctions, you are bidding on a membership to getAccess for the time period set forth in the auction page. the tickets listed in the auction are free with a membership.") But really, when you're going to a show, does it matter whether it's the cake or the icing? I just wanted to watch Tori hang halfway off her piano bench.
I bought the tickets, printed my confirmation, and made arrangements for the logistics. A few days later, I received this sobering message:
We regret to inform you that due to a listing error, this event should not have been an auction item at the time you bid on the auction.
Like a good little eBayer, I left negative (but fair) feeback. And since then I've received messages from two other people who have also experienced less than stellar results with getAccess. Let's just say they are a little less willing than me to consider this a simple error. The words "scam" and "fraud" were tossed into the conversation quite casually; however, another friend who ordered via getAccess ended up with a stack of valid tickets for the same show — I don't think this was intentional fraud, but rather a very unfortunate mistake.
I'm also annoyed that Clear Channel was on the ball enough to charge my card the day I bought the tickets, but a week after receiving notification about the error, they still haven't refunded my money. I want my two dollars!
Comments
I actually went to ticketmaster.com on the Friday night before the concert and was able to score a single seat ticket. Apparently they had released more tickets in the week leading up to the concert.
Mind you, my seat wasn't the best, it was at one of the tables behind the covered pavillion but it was actually kind of nice. I think that the same person I sat with got their tickets through eBay as well, something like four tickets for $25.
Both Tori and Ben's sets were amazing. I had been wanting to see her for years. She's coming back in October for Mixfest. Am tempted to get tickets but don't know if I really want to shell out that much money.
Ack, I've certainly rambled enough haven't I?
P.S. Oh, in case you're wondering who the heck I am, I'm a former co-worker of Dave's from the bookstore.
I remember ya, Michelle!
I'm glad to hear that you got tickets -- one of Dave's friends actually got 12 that day, but it was too late for us to make it up from NJ in time for the show.
I've seen Tori a handful of times before, it was Ben I was really looking forward to.