25 January 2012

Buying event tickets on-line

Although I've frequently conducted transactions on line, for the first time  I recently had to use the Ticketek website.  Perhaps the fact that Ticketek is owned by the Nine group got me off to a bad start, but their website particularly annoyed me.    In order to buy tickets (to an exhibition at a taxpayer-funded gallery, mind you), I was required to register as a Ticketek user.   This couldn't be done without providing (amongst other things) both my home and mobile phone numbers (although I admit that the possibility of entering wrong numbers did occur to me) and de-selecting numerous options along the lines of "let us keep you informed of future events" of various types.
When I came to the payment page, yes, I was aware from earlier screens that there would be a "booking fee" added on, but no-where was it stated that you had no option but to pay by credit card (direct debit wasn't available) - and, yes, there was a 1.5% surcharge for using a credit card! Is my impression correct that this type of undisclosed sting-in-the-tail is of interest to the ACCC?   But even if it is,  can I be bothered taking the matter further?  Or would it be that an organisation that as recently as December incurred a $2.5 million penalty for abuse of market power (see -http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1023878/fromItemId/2332) would have made sure that its practices were beyond question? 
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5 comments:

  1. AimiJanuary 25, 2012 at 9:34 AM

    For Ticketek and many other sites when you register, your log-in is your email address. When I recently changed my email address, I forgot about changing my Ticketek registration. Your article has reminded me. Thank you.

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  2. YantonJanuary 25, 2012 at 9:54 AM

    Last week I bought 2 tickets for NSW Art Gallery from ticketek ,who seem to have the monopoly, using a credit card. There was a $5 booking fee but no card fee so far- I have checked my account

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  3. YantonJanuary 25, 2012 at 9:57 AM

    And another thing. Try as I might to set comment time, this program locates me somewhere unknown. Where in the world is it 19 hours behind Melbourne time?

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  4. AimiJanuary 25, 2012 at 1:05 PM

    Isn't gxh's time setting? Or did he really post at 5.29 am?

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  5. gxhJanuary 25, 2012 at 9:07 PM

    I had a sleepless night, and the posting was in fact at 5.29 am Melbourne time. Apologies if this has caused issues re abg's location.

    ReplyDelete

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