Consumer Alert: Restricted Tickets on Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band Tour

Fan Freedom Project Warns Consumers of Restrictive Ticketing and Other Online Ticket Buying Pitfalls

WASHINGTON – The Fan Freedom Project today released a consumer alert for Bruce Springsteen fans planning to buy tickets for the upcoming Wrecking Ball Tour. Tickets for most stops on the tour go on sale to the public this Friday and Saturday, January 27 and 28, and eager fans of the Boss should take a minute to review a few tips before purchasing online to avoid unpleasant discoveries the day of the concert.

“Bruce Springsteen is one of the most popular and iconic American artists of all time, and fans need to be smart when buying tickets,” said FFP Consumer Advocate Elizabeth Owen. “The devil is in the details, and if you are buying tickets as a gift, or with a group of friends, you may be surprised to know that for some seats on this tour, that won’t be possible.”

The Fan Freedom Project’s Six Tips for Buying Tickets are:

1.  Read the Fine Print: Just because you bought the ticket doesn’t mean you are free to share or give away those tickets however you like. Ticketmaster is selling some seats to shows in Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Michigan and California using restricted paperless tickets (see below), which are non-transferable. These tickets require buyers to present their purchasing credit card and photo ID at the venue to gain admittance, instead of receiving a physical ticket ahead of time. If you are buying tickets to go with group of friends or family, you have to wait for your whole party to arrive to enter instead of distributing the tickets in advance and meeting at your seats.

And since paperless tickets are non-transferable, forget about giving them as a gift.Ticketmaster recommends that you buy gift tickets with the recipient’s credit card and reimburse them. For a list of artists and sports teams that use restricted tickets, please visit the Fan Freedom Project’s FAQ.

2.  Use Reliable Sellers: Beware of fly-by-night ticket sellers. If you’re unsure whether a company is legitimate, check its ratings with the Better Business Bureau and on consumer review sites such as Yelp! If purchasing from a ticket broker, check to see if they are members of the National Association of Ticket Brokers, whose Code of Ethics requires members to adhere to basic consumer protections.

3.  Check Guarantees: Check your ticket vendor’s guarantee policy. For example, websites like Stub Hub, TicketsNow, Ace Tickets and All-Shows guarantee every ticket sold on their sites, and will replace them or provide refunds to consumers if they receive the wrong tickets, their tickets are invalid or an event is cancelled. Craigslist and other online classifieds sites do not offer such guarantees; it’s “buyer beware” when shopping this way.

4.  Pay Attention to URLs: When buying tickets directly from a venue, check the website’s URL to ensure that an imposter doesn’t dupe you. For example, Katy Perry fans were recently tricked by a website that sold tickets to a free concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Remember, even if a website looks like the official site, it may be bogus.

5.  Know the Rules: Some venues limit the number of tickets you can buy. Most stops on the Wrecking Ball tour feature a two-ticket per customer limit for general admission tickets, a four-ticket limit in paperless sections, and a six-ticket limit elsewhere.

A Radiohead fan recently reported purchasing a block of tickets to share with friends. She ordered more tickets as a wedding gift, but found herself over the four-ticket max that the venue set for the show. She is now fighting with the ticket company and venue, as they are threatening to cancel her tickets.

6.  Buy with a Credit Card: Regardless of where you buy tickets, be sure to use a credit card so you can dispute any unfair or unauthorized charges. Before entering your credit card information online, be sure the site has “https://” at the beginning of the website address. This means the site is encrypted and safer for use.

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