Bad viewed seats at a concert

mtkitty

I purchased some concert tickets through Ticketmaster last summer for a concert in March this year at the MEN arena. I bought the tickets through the upgraded "The View Experience" which allows early access in to the venue but also provides seats in the VIP block. These tickets were more than double the price of the standard tickets and we were happy to pay for the 'guaranteed' view. From the seating plan on MEN Arena site we were to be situated in the first block immediately to the left in front of the stage.

On arrival at our seats we find we are actually side on to the stage with our view blocked by speakers and lighting systems. In my opinion these seats were actually partial viewed and from experience these are normally discounted! My husband immediately complained to the Box Office who relocated us 2 blocks further away from the stage where the tickets had we directly purchased would have been standard price!

I contacted TM the following day who said they were only the agent but had passed on my details to the Box Office Manager. I didn't hear anything so found a name of someone who worked there in sales and emailed them. They have passed on my details to a customer service employee who sent me a reply through the post saying it was beyond their control and they did all they could on the night by reseating us and I should contact Metropolis Music. I feel I'm being passed from pillar to post and no one wants to take responsibility and feel I should just contact my credit card company with all details and leave them to handle the complaint. I'm happy to pay for the seats we were in but would like the extra cost we paid as well as the booking fee (a scandalous £10.75 each) to be refunded.

Am I being unreasonable? Any advice on what I should do please? I have not yet contacted metropolis music.

Thanks

Valli

this is the page on consumer direct (blue text is a link)

scroll down to 'making a complaint'; you do need to complain to whoever SOLD the ticket; don't rule out complaining to the CC company though!

wealdroam

Yes, the booking fee is ridiculous, isn't it?

I can understand you wanting the extra cost of your seats refunding, but can you please explain why you think the booking fee shold be refunded?

mtkitty

Valli, another quote for your signature.....you're a genius yet again, many thanks :-)

wealdroam, I simply asked for the booking fee to be refunded as a good will gesture. Off the top of my head it's £2.50 for normal seats but for this service it was £10.75 so even I get the difference again, I'll be satisfied.

jkkne

mtkitty wrote: »

I purchased some concert tickets through Ticketmaster last summer for a concert in March this year at the MEN arena. I bought the tickets through the upgraded "The View Experience" which allows early access in to the venue but also provides seats in the VIP block. These tickets were more than double the price of the standard tickets and we were happy to pay for the 'guaranteed' view. From the seating plan on MEN Arena site we were to be situated in the first block immediately to the left in front of the stage.

I'd say you got what you paid for. Just looked at 'The View Experience' ticket and this is what you get (and seemed to get!) This only seems to be done by the MEN arena.

• Dedicated and guaranteed fast track entrance to The View from the City Room (adjacent to the box office)
• Early access to the venue before the general public
• Pre show entry to The View with a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival (a menu is available to order and pay for food at the bar)
• Seats in our lower tier VIP section in the main auditorium (usually one block from the stage)

Nowhere does it say 'a guaranteed view'. It says you'll be in the front VIP section, which you were.

You could complain, but they've given you what you paid for, a gesture of goodwill might be in order if they are generous but not much else.

mtkitty

jkkne, I've been through all that with a fine tooth comb myself. I was seated in block 102 which when you look at their seating plan shows we will be in front of the stage not directly at the side. I use inverted commas for 'guaranteed' to mean it was not a quote but more me doing the commas as you would with your hands in the air....which obviously you can't see on a forum (sorry for the confusion). As the quote you have posted even states "usually one block from the stage"...again, this was not the case.

I did contact someone who works there directly by email and they stated we would be sat in block 103! This would have been better than the far side of block 104 where we got relocated on the night after complaining.

I think VIP says it all......VIP usually means special treatment. Is this how they would treat VIPs who came to their venue? Sit them in a seat that has limited viewing? It does not even state the seats are limited views anywhere on my purchase documents nor on the tickets (which according to the link that Valli has put up gives me cause for complaint)

jkkne

I suppose the MEN hasn't taken into account the different sound stages/setup that each different act will have.

If that's the case, they are at fault

mtkitty

Thanks jkkne. I have found the contact details for the MD of Ticketmaster. If I don't get any joy this route then I'll contact the credit card company.

Thanks everyone for your input but if anyone else has anything further to offer or suggest I'd still appreciate it.:beer:

arcon5

mtkitty wrote: »

jkkne, I've been through all that with a fine tooth comb myself. I was seated in block 102 which when you look at their seating plan shows we will be in front of the stage not directly at the side. I use inverted commas for 'guaranteed' to mean it was not a quote but more me doing the commas as you would with your hands in the air....which obviously you can't see on a forum (sorry for the confusion). As the quote you have posted even states "usually one block from the stage"...again, this was not the case.

I did contact someone who works there directly by email and they stated we would be sat in block 103! This would have been better than the far side of block 104 where we got relocated on the night after complaining.

I think VIP says it all......VIP usually means special treatment. Is this how they would treat VIPs who came to their venue? Sit them in a seat that has limited viewing? It does not even state the seats are limited views anywhere on my purchase documents nor on the tickets (which according to the link that Valli has put up gives me cause for complaint)

VIP means very important person, nothing about special treatment

Plus it's unlikely a VIP would be at a £20pp concert anyway

ellay864

Did you check you had the right seating plan? Block 102 is only facing the stage when it's a side stage...in which case you'd be be facing the stage from the opposite side of the arena
But end stage, which is the set up they've used for most concerts I've been to there, has block 102 to the side as you described

System

With these sort of deals you are never going to get genuine VIP tickets for just double the price of a standard ticket. It's just a gimmick to get money off you. Our company has a box at the MEN and the special view entrance is just a door next to the main door with a bit of rope in front! It's rubbish!

Although ironically genuine VIPs tend to get the seats to the side and back of stage. This means they don't get a great view but are seperated from the general public which is what they expect!