Ticketmaster denying responsibility for a claim

Aylesbury_Duck

Stu666 said:

The venue was the Co-Op arena in Manchester. I purchased tickets to the VIP GA section in the image below. There wasn't actually a VIP GA section, it was all GA. It was actually an "early access" package. I feel that this was misrepresented.

It looks to me that the early access means you can set yourself up in that area before the masses arrive.  Unless security properly police it then it's open to abuse.  What was the actual description of the space?  Was it early access, or did it imply or confirm some sort of extra service?

Did you stay for the event, or leave when you determined that you weren't being provided what you paid for?

Stu666

There was no separate area, it was all open general standing. The early access package granted you access to the general standing area before the masses arrived, but no separate, self contained area as one could reasonably interpret from the seating chart.

It was described as the following:

• One (1) standing GA ticket with early entry to the floor

• One (1) VIP-exclusive premium Slipknot merchandise item from the Slipknot Archives*

• One (1) commemorative VIP laminate & lanyard from the Slipknot Archives*

• Early entry to a designated merchandise stand before public doors

• On-site benefits such as priority check-in, black carpet entry, dedicated road crew, and a priority lane into the venue**

I took the "standing GA ticket with early entry to the floor" to mean entry to the specific VIP GA area outlined in the seating chart, which did not exist. Regular GA tickets were around £80, VIP GA package was about £220 when all was said and done. We stayed for the event because we still wanted to see the band, but were disappointed not to be in a VIP GA area.

born_again

So how early did you get in? before general access?

Aylesbury_Duck

Stu666 said:

There was no separate area, it was all open general standing. The early access package granted you access to the general standing area before the masses arrived, but no separate, self contained area as one could reasonably interpret from the seating chart.

It was described as the following:

• One (1) standing GA ticket with early entry to the floor

• One (1) VIP-exclusive premium Slipknot merchandise item from the Slipknot Archives*

• One (1) commemorative VIP laminate & lanyard from the Slipknot Archives*

• Early entry to a designated merchandise stand before public doors

• On-site benefits such as priority check-in, black carpet entry, dedicated road crew, and a priority lane into the venue**

I took the "standing GA ticket with early entry to the floor" to mean entry to the specific VIP GA area outlined in the seating chart, which did not exist. Regular GA tickets were around £80, VIP GA package was about £220 when all was said and done. We stayed for the event because we still wanted to see the band, but were disappointed not to be in a VIP GA area.

I think you'll have a hard time proving any terms were breached.  I don't consider they've done anything differently to that promised on the first descriptor you've posted.  And the extra £140 covered more than just the front area.  Plus you stayed for the gig.  What loss have you actually suffered?

I think you're left hoping for a goodwill gesture, I can't see you're entitled to a partial refund.

TheSpectator

Stu666 said:

There was no separate area, it was all open general standing. The early access package granted you access to the general standing area before the masses arrived, but no separate, self contained area as one could reasonably interpret from the seating chart.

It was described as the following:

• One (1) standing GA ticket with early entry to the floor

• One (1) VIP-exclusive premium Slipknot merchandise item from the Slipknot Archives*

• One (1) commemorative VIP laminate & lanyard from the Slipknot Archives*

• Early entry to a designated merchandise stand before public doors

• On-site benefits such as priority check-in, black carpet entry, dedicated road crew, and a priority lane into the venue**

I took the "standing GA ticket with early entry to the floor" to mean entry to the specific VIP GA area outlined in the seating chart, which did not exist. Regular GA tickets were around £80, VIP GA package was about £220 when all was said and done. We stayed for the event because we still wanted to see the band, but were disappointed not to be in a VIP GA area.

So you got early access to the floor and all the other things?

You have assumed you had access to a specific area, which you could have if you were there early enough but your tivkets says General admission with early access, which you got?

sheramber

I took the "standing GA ticket with early entry to the floor" to mean entry to the specific 

But that was your assumption. What do you have that states that 'standing GA ticket to the floor' meant it was a specific area rather than  just at the front.

What difference would it have made if it had been spearated off in some way?

Stu666

The problem is, they have ringfenced off a section of the floor directly in front of the stage in their seating plan. One could reasonably assume this was a section just for VIP GA ticketholders. Early access to my mind meant you could get into the venue earlier, and make your way to this "VIP" section. Getting into the venue early wasn't the main attraction for me, in fact, for work related reasons I couldn't make it to the venue early anyway. The main thing that attracted me to these tickets was the fact that, based off the seating plan, I would be able to get access to an area very close to the stage via a dedicated entrance/lane no matter what time I arrived. 

What difference would it have made if it had been spearated off in some way?

I assume you have never tried to make your way through a typical Slipknot crowd towards the front of the stage. In middle age.

Okell

Stu666 said:

... The early access package granted you access to the general standing area before the masses arrived, but no separate, self contained area as one could reasonably interpret from the seating chart.

It was described as the following:

• One (1) standing GA ticket with early entry to the floor

• One (1) VIP-exclusive premium Slipknot merchandise item from the Slipknot Archives*

• One (1) commemorative VIP laminate & lanyard from the Slipknot Archives*

• Early entry to a designated merchandise stand before public doors

• On-site benefits such as priority check-in, black carpet entry, dedicated road crew, and a priority lane into the venue...

Where in that description does it refer to access to a VIP GA area?  (Or suggest that one even exists?)

The only references to "VIP" are to exclusive premium Slipknot merchandise and to a commemorative laminate and lanyard

Stu666 said:

... I took the "standing GA ticket with early entry to the floor" to mean entry to the specific VIP GA area outlined in the seating chart, which did not exist...

But "standing GA ticket with early entry to the floor" doesn't even mention VIP area let alone say that the ticket gives you access to it.

I realise that there's a VIP GA area shown on the seating plan, but nowhere does the description of the ticket you bought make reference to it.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

To be fair to the OP the seating plan clearly shows a squared off section labelled VIP GA.

You’d expect to be standing in that spot at the front of the stage if you purchased a VIP GA ticket.

sheramber

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

To be fair to the OP the seating plan clearly shows a squared off section labelled VIP GA.

You’d expect to be standing in that spot at the front of the stage if you purchased a VIP GA ticket.

I get the impression that the value of the VIP GA ticket is that  early access lets make your way to the  VIP GA area before the crowds were admitted.