Paperless Tickets – Not so Convenient

by on June 20, 2008 · 43 comments

Remember that old Saturday Night Live character, the Pathological Liar, played by Jon Lovitz? He’d deliver outrageous lies, like the recurring one that he was married to Morgan Fairchild. When he realized he’d thought of a particularly good lie, he’d exclaim “Yeahhh! That’s the ticket!”

Future references to tickets may only be idiomatic if a new paperless trend for concerts and sporting events takes off.  Ticketmaster has introduced what it calls a “Paperless Ticket” and Veritix has a paperless ticketing technology called Flash Seats. The concept is the same – no more paper tickets.

But to me paperless tickets are not the ticket for consumer convenience.

Ticketmaster touts the convenience of paperless tickets: “Fans will no longer have to stand in line to pick up tickets at will-call”, it says, and the “entire process is quick, secure and simple.”

And, after all, it sounds appealingly convenient. It’s similar to ordering movie tickets from home on Fandango. But this is one advancement in technology that heads in the wrong direction.

First of all, check out this line from the Ticketmaster press release:

Fans who ordered tickets can simply present venue door staff their credit card, along with a valid photo ID, and they’ll be given a receipt and granted immediate access.

I added the italics for emphasis. So fans must present the credit card used in purchasing the tickets and a government-issued photo identification for admittance? This sounds like a security checkpoint at the airport. And it doesn’t sound simple, for now I have to present two items (credit card & ID) instead of just one ticket.

Nor does it seem quick. The process of presenting credit cards and ID will slow admittance lines, especially at rush times minutes before a show’s start time.

But here’s the kicker: because you have to show the purchasing credit card, you must wait for all your guests to arrive and enter the venue at the same time. If one of your guests is late, you are all late.

The lack of will-call is nice, but this affects just a portion of ticket fans. For most of us, well, saying paperless tickets are convenient is like saying I’m married to Jessica Alba…yeahhh, that’s the ticket!

Paperless tickets can’t really be about convenience, so we’ll have to watch closely to learn what this is really all about.

SHARE: 43 comments

Braden Cox / Braden Cox formerly wrote for the TLF.

  • http://www.jerrybrito.com Jerry Brito

    What about reselling an unwanted ticket? Sounds like that would be a hassle, too. Especially at the last minute.

  • Jim Harper

    My guess is that they are trying to convert tickets from bearer documents into personal licenses.

  • Tim Lee

    This is obviously a gimmick to prevent ticket resale. It has nothing to do with making anything quick or easy.

  • http://jerrybrito.com Jerry Brito

    What about reselling an unwanted ticket? Sounds like that would be a hassle, too. Especially at the last minute.

  • Jim Harper

    My guess is that they are trying to convert tickets from bearer documents into personal licenses.

  • Tim Lee

    This is obviously a gimmick to prevent ticket resale. It has nothing to do with making anything quick or easy.

  • http://bjimba.blogspot.com Jim Russell

    I recently attended an Eric Clapton concert at Jones Beach (Long Island, NY). My wife bought the tickets via TicketMaster, and was given a link to print the tickets on her computer. At the concert, they just scanned the barcode on the printout, and we were in. (My wife, who bought the tickets, did not attend.) It seems to me that in this case, they were bearer documents.

  • http://bjimba.blogspot.com Jim Russell

    I recently attended an Eric Clapton concert at Jones Beach (Long Island, NY). My wife bought the tickets via TicketMaster, and was given a link to print the tickets on her computer. At the concert, they just scanned the barcode on the printout, and we were in. (My wife, who bought the tickets, did not attend.) It seems to me that in this case, they were bearer documents.

  • http://netchoice.org Braden Cox

    Jim, in the situation you describe, yes they were bearer documents. You could have sold the printout (though a buyer might be suspect of its authenticity) or given it to a friend. This is not how paperless tickets work though. There is nothing to print, your data is on file w/ Ticketmaster and your credit card along with ID act as your ticket. As Tim said in his comment, this will make it harder to give away or resell your tickets. There are a few videos of the process here. http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/ticketmaster/33099/

  • http://netchoice.org Braden Cox

    Jim, in the situation you describe, yes they were bearer documents. You could have sold the printout (though a buyer might be suspect of its authenticity) or given it to a friend. This is not how paperless tickets work though. There is nothing to print, your data is on file w/ Ticketmaster and your credit card along with ID act as your ticket. As Tim said in his comment, this will make it harder to give away or resell your tickets. There are a few videos of the process here. http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/ticketmaster/33099/

  • Greg

    And what about when you lose the credit card that you ordered the tickets with. This does happen and did to me recently at a festival. Luckily I was able to persuade them to let me in based on my name on a database linked to my liscense.

    I also collect ticket stubs as a way to remember all the shows I have been to. This is why I prefer tickets over printing them out myself. Removing both options will make me very unhappy. Hopefully ticketmaster decides against this move

  • Greg

    And what about when you lose the credit card that you ordered the tickets with. This does happen and did to me recently at a festival. Luckily I was able to persuade them to let me in based on my name on a database linked to my liscense.

    I also collect ticket stubs as a way to remember all the shows I have been to. This is why I prefer tickets over printing them out myself. Removing both options will make me very unhappy. Hopefully ticketmaster decides against this move

  • Mark

    I got on your blog because I was wondering if anyone else has had the problem I’m now experiencing. I got tickets to the Tom Waits concert and now I can’t go. I started to give the paperless printout to a friend when it hit me — this isn’t going to work. Even if I let my friend hold my credit card, they might check his ID. I think this is outrageous. I bought the tickets (or in this case the concept of the tickets), I own them, I should be able to do whatever I want with them. I feel like I’ve been ripped-off for $170. I hate to be litigious (not really, I do it for a living), but I’m wondering if there’s a class action lawsuit in this somewhere.

  • Mark

    I got on your blog because I was wondering if anyone else has had the problem I’m now experiencing. I got tickets to the Tom Waits concert and now I can’t go. I started to give the paperless printout to a friend when it hit me — this isn’t going to work. Even if I let my friend hold my credit card, they might check his ID. I think this is outrageous. I bought the tickets (or in this case the concept of the tickets), I own them, I should be able to do whatever I want with them. I feel like I’ve been ripped-off for $170. I hate to be litigious (not really, I do it for a living), but I’m wondering if there’s a class action lawsuit in this somewhere.

  • Nathan

    Yeah, I just bought AC/D tickets with my dad's credit card. Me and a friend are going and my dad is not. I really hope they don't give me crap about that.

  • Dan

    Hey people this is the only way to go.
    Let's keep those scumbag ticket agencies and scalpers from charging ten time sthe amount of the ticket price. This system allows the true fans to attend the show. If you can't go then don't buy the tickets. Screw those low life scapling agencies and stubhb and all the rest who profit on re-selling tickets. Thank you AC/DC for setting the stage for future ticket sales!

  • karissa

    I did the same thing. I bought ac/dc tickets with my dads credit card and we have called ticketmaster and the arena where they are playing and they have all said that my dad has to be there to get us in.. I dont know what to do..My dad lives in colorado.. Anyone have advice?

  • Mildred

    I feel the same way as you guys. I bought the tickets to AC/DC for my son and a friend. I have NO DESIRE to attend this event and should not have to show up, wait in line (it'll probably be cold – it's in November), just so he can get in. I have emailed Ticketmaster telling my thoughts on this. Do the same. It might help them realize what a mess they have created. I know MANY people use their credit cards to buy ticket for family members. This is absolutely ridiculous!!!

  • Steve

    Dan your comments are just more hatespeech from those who feel they are entitled to seats to a show just because they are a self-proclaimed fan. Maybe IF you can convince the world paperless tickets are great, you can then convince them to price all tickets the same price. If tickets were priced to their market value, there would be virtually no secondary market other than those looking for convenience.

  • nulls101

    Thanks for sharing.

    Logan
    http://xtonlinegame.com

  • Andy C

    I don't agree with touting, but I do agree that a purchaser has a right to re-sell or return tickets at face value for the sake of convenience – and that goes for true fans as well Dan!

    I bought tickets for AC/DC in Chicago for their gig on the 30th, but the seats are up in the sky lights somewhere. Once the first date sold out, and I had secured my tickets for their first gig in 7 years, AC/DC then announce a second date, which coincidently is on a much more convenient Saturday night! This time I was able to get tickets right down at the front. So Dan’s ‘true fan’ has had to buy a pair of tickets (at $100+ each!) for both dates, and I now have no way of selling / returning the unwanted tickets for the first gig.

    I will repeat exactly what I have told Ticketmaster. The paperless ticket system is plagued with flaws, especially when Bands sell tickets well in advance of the gig at high prices, and then decide to announce extra tour dates with no advance notice. In such circumstances, I feel I have a right to return / sell my unwanted tickets!!

  • Christy

    This paperless ticket thing really is NOT the way to go at all.
    I bought presale ACDC tickets and they are paperless. I found out I can not go to the event, but I'm stuck with them.

    I wrote all the info down upon purchasing them, the cc used, etc..

    I hope they decide to give folks an option for paperless, print out tickets or will call tickets in the future.

  • Vicki

    I purchased AC/DC tickets for my Husband and Son for Christmas. I used my Debit card which is linked to the same account as my Husband. I have contacted Ticketmaster that I want my Husband and Son to enjoy this concert, Everywhere I have went for help on this is the same answer. I have to go to the Concert. Either my Husband or Son cannot. How can this be?

  • Mel

    Boycott these tours and I guarantee this will stop – money is the only thing Ticketmaster understands.

  • Miley Cyrus

    Paperless tickets is a very bad idea given the requirements to get into the venue! I'm sure any parent that has young kids will tell you so. My daughter and her friends want to see a Miley Cirus concert but are going to have to miss it because of this procedure. Most kids don't have credit cards. It's totally unrealistic to expect parents to show up at a venue to get their kids in the show. Kids buy tickets months in advance of shows and only God knows who will be available to take kids to the show, nevermind numerous parents having to show up to get groups of kids in. Some kids come from well out of town like in our case.
    It's easy to see that this procedure prevents the gifting or resale of a ticket which is necessary when plans fall through.
    Once again the general public suffers because of the few scalpers. And scalpers aren't a problen for the public, just for the greedy artists that aren't satisfied with the ticket prices they set to begin with.

  • Eilish B

    I totally disagree with paperless tickets… My mum bought em and my friend 2 tickets to see Miley Cyrus in Dublin. Me and my friend are planning to get a bus down seeing as we live in Belfast… but my mum is raged at the idea of coming all the way down to Dublin just to proove that she hasn't resold them!!!!!!!
    This is a DISGRACE
    I sthere anyway we can get in without my mum? Please HELP!!!!

  • Anne

    I purchased tickets for my daughter to attend the Miley Cyrus concert with her friends, and the ticket policy is such a ludicrous rip-off that I have now lost $400 dollars, since I am not able to attend the concert. This also means that my daughter and her friends cannot attend either.
    As you may or may not be aware, the “ticketless” policy for this concert is set up so that the cardholder/ticket purchaser MUST attend the concert and present with their credit card and an ID. This means if I cannot attend for ANY reason (work, illness, WHATEVER) NO ONE in my party can attend either. I am not allowed to give MY tickets (tickets that I paid for and supposedly “own”) to my husband, my friend , my father, ANYBODY….to ensure that my money is not wasted and the children will get to go to the show. If I paid for them and I own them, I can't use them as I choose. I cannot attend and I am now without $400 or the ability to allow my daughter to attend with another person.
    How does this effect people whose children are older and would like to allow them to attend without a “grown-up” since they are old enough to be there alone? Those people would have to pay $100 and sit through a concert they don't want to attend, so that their older kids could go. Many 15 or 16 year olds might be allowed to attend the concert with friends, but surely do not have their own credit cards yet. That's another adult going who doesn't necessarily want to, and who now has to spend $100 on a ticket.
    This is THE most customer unfriendly situation. While I understand and appreciate the need to cut down on scalpers, I do not understand why my freedoms must be cut. It is ridiculous that if at the last minute I am unable to attend because of my work schedule, I am I out the $100 for MY ticket, AND $300 for the other 3 as well because you don't give me an option to give my ticket to someone else who can take my daughter and her friends. Sounds like you will have a class-action lawsuit coming when there are a lot of disappointed fans and empty seats because life just doesn't always go as planned.
    It is punishing the many “well behaved” in order to control the few who try to cheat. . Find another way to end the scalping – they are very easy to spot! I could find you plenty of “scalped” Miley tickets right now online, even with your ridiculous rip-off of a “solution”! It seems like in order to protect Mileyworld from scalping, you are willing to STEAL from fans (“Stealing” is what it is too… you take something that I have purchased and do not allow me (or anyone else in my party) to have it if my circumstances change.)

    As I write this, I am hoping that it will help, but I am not too hopeful that this unjust, unsatisfactory situation will be resolved. Mileyworld provides NO phone number or ability to be contacted on this matter, or on any other. (Another horrible treatment of fans/customers).
    Please some attorney post your services and get a class action lawsuit going! I know there would be hundred/thousands who agree their rights are taken away and have the potential to lost money because of their policies.

  • Stacey Pierce

    This is THE most customer unfriendly situation. While I understand and appreciate the need to cut down on scalpers, I do not understand why my freedoms must be cut. I do NOT want to attend the Miley Cyrus concert with my 15 year old daughter, but she doesn't have a credit card. Are you MAKING me sit through this – and pay ~$100 to do it? How unfriendly is that? And even further, what if at the last minute I am unable to attend because of my work schedule? Not only am I out the $100 for my ticket, but the other 3 as well because you don't give me an option to give my ticket to someone else who can take my daughter and her friends? Sounds like you will have a class-action lawsuit coming when there are a lot of disappointed fans and empty seats because life just doesn't always go as planned. It is like Bush who allowed every American's background to be scrutenized all in the name of Homeland security. Now our right to sell/give away our ticket we can't attend is taken away and we HAVE to forfeit the hundreds of dollars spent on the possibility of attending a concert.
    Find another way to end the scalping – go after the actual scalpers! They are very easy to spot! I could find you some even now with your new paperless system put in place to PREVENT scalping. It's not working – just hurting the regular people!

  • Steve Goodman

    At least if you can't attend the show yourself (or don't want to in the case of Miley Cyrus with thousands of screaming tweens), you can give your card and ID to someone to use them. No “scalper” is going to give away their license/credit card to a perfect stranger and let them disappear into a crowded arena never to see them again. However, I would trust my daughter or a friend who would take my kids to borrow my ID and credit card for the night. Think about it. That would at least allow people to be able to use their tickets and would certainly cut down on the scalping as people should only have 1 ID and not give out their working credit cards to complete strangers.
    They need to change their policy.

  • http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/paperlesstickets/ Rachel Grant

    THIS IS RIDICULOUS!! MY GRANDFATHER BOUGHT ME AND MY FRIEND 2 TICKETS FOR MILEY CYRUS ON HIS CREDIT CARD! I LIVE AT THE SAME ADDRESS AS HIM, I CAN TAKE HIS CREDIT CARD WITH ME BUT NO! APPARENTLY HE HAS TO COME IN WITH ME! SO NOW MY FRIEND (A REAL MILEY FAN) CANT GO! I NOW HAVE TO ATTEND MILEY CYRUS WITH MY 77 YEAR OLD GRANDAD! HOW STUPID! THEY SAY ITS SO THAT REAL FANS GET TO GO! BUT THATS NOT TRUE! MY FRIEND CANT GO! AND WHAT IF THE CARDHOLDER BECOMES ILL OR IS UNABLE TO ATTEND THEY THEN STOP EVERYONE IN THEIR PARTY GOING! REAL FANS STOPPED AGAIN!! ALSO, THE PARENTS WHO ARE HAVING TO ATTEND AND DONT WANT TO ARE TAKING UP VALUABLE SEATS THAT REAL FANS COULD HAVE!!

    PLEASE SIGN MY PETITION AND PUT THIS PAPERLESS TICKET RUBBISH TO A STOP!! I WILL SEND THE PETITION DIRECTLY TO TICKETMASTER PROVIDING ENOUGH SIGNATURES ARE RECEIVED! I HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN A LETTER OF COMPLAINT! YOUR SIGNATURE COULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THIS SITUATION!

    THANK YOU :)

    http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/paperlesstic…

    http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/paperlesstic…

    http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/paperlesstic…

    http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/paperlesstic…

  • ashley

    me and my daughter are planning on going to see Miley, but we bought them on my husbands credit card. Can I not just bring his credit card and ID!!!

  • Courtney

    I don't really think you guys understand the policy. If you read ticketmasters site it clearly states how it works. If someone bought the tickets for you all they have to do is walk with you to the entry gate show credit card and ID an then they can leave. The person who purchase the tickets doesn't have to attend the concert just has to show up to retrieve the ticket. This is directly from the Ticketmaster site:

    Q. What if I'm not going to the show, but I purchased the tickets?
    A. If you bought the tickets for a friend or family member, you will need to take them to the entry gate and still present your credit card and government issued ID

    My husband will be taking me and our daughter to the concert to show his credit card and ID and then leaving. So for all the husbands, parents and grandparents out there all you need to do is take your child to the event show your credit card and ID retrieve the ticket and then say bye bye. You are not required to stay and attend, just show that you exist.

    I admit that this may not be the best system but I was not able to get any tickets to Miley Cyrus' last concert and this time I was so I like a system that will at try to make sure that I don't have to pay in some cases three time the face value for a ticket.

  • Biff

    The real problem is that real fans can't get good seats at face value. The real solution is a federal law making secondary market ticket brokers illegal.

  • Davd

    The idea is great. Unfortunately even if say your father bought the tickets for his kids and then is required to go and show his ID and credit card. Well in my area of the world, the events are 50 miles away. I don't know what he'll do for the two hours the event is going on. Some places are hard just to find a parking space. THen what come back and try and find your kids when zillions of cars are trying to get out as well?

    Sounds like this is headed to Court.

  • Anonymous

    have u found of a way? coz i bought tickets on my mums credit card for me and my friend and were going to the arena 5 hours away from where we live.. so theres no way shes coming with me! found out any info? let me know. :) donna.

  • Anonymous

    iv just found this on the ticketmaster website!!

    If one of the attendees shares the same surname as the cardholder who purchased the tickets, they can be nominated as the lead attendee in the party. Provided that they are able to present the actual card used to purchase the tickets (not a photocopy or a computer scan) and ID for themselves, the party will be admitted to the event.

    Please note that the above provisions have been put in place by the event organisers as a gesture of goodwill to assist genuine customers above and beyond the terms that you committed to at the point of purchase. As such, we are unable to offer any further provisions than these: you must either attend the event yourself or adhere to one of the procedures detailed above.

    this is about the miley cyrus concert! oh thank god, coz we bought tickets on my mums card! :) just letting u all no out there!!!! donna

  • dahdnnnbb

    Dan your a scumbag. Are you an idiot or don't you realize that the paperless ticket system is just so ticket companies like TicketBastard & live Nation can solely control the secondary market. Do you think that all those great seats will now magically show up and the scalpers will disappear. These ticket companies can now control the secondary market themselves making so that they get even more richer. Brokers & scalpers will disappear and the ticket companies will be able to scalp all the ticket themselves. You are an idiot for thinking that the scalpers will go away. The ticket companies will become richer and idiots like you will still end up with the same crap tickets

  • Danana

    It seems a lot of people are having the same problems.I purchased two tickets to the Miley show in milw in october AND bought the insurance in case something came up, well my son decided to get married that day so I called TM and the insurance company and they said togh, there is nothng you can do, your son getting married is not a covered reason for missing a concert.

    does anyone know the promoter of her concerts? I am going to file a complaint with the state and am contacting my congressman!

  • Danana

    It seems a lot of people are having the same problems.I purchased two tickets to the Miley show in milw in october AND bought the insurance in case something came up, well my son decided to get married that day so I called TM and the insurance company and they said togh, there is nothng you can do, your son getting married is not a covered reason for missing a concert.

    does anyone know the promoter of her concerts? I am going to file a complaint with the state and am contacting my congressman!

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  • ajoconnor

    Brokers are still scalping thei tickets if you go on thier sites but they say that you pay them ahead and meet them at the venue to get your paperless tickets( apparently they show thier creidt card and ID for you to get entry). So – how does this solve anything? It makes me very scared that I have to meet a broker instead of receiving tickets in the mail if I decide to buy a ticket? Is that safe? Re -think this thing Ticketmaster — the first time that someone gets hurt because of your policy then you are liable…especially if kids are involved ………lawsuit big time! You are better off selling the ticket and transferring the liability of the sale to the person holding the ticket. Your attorney's should be advising you of this………….

  • ajoconnor

    Brokers are still scalping thei tickets if you go on thier sites but they say that you pay them ahead and meet them at the venue to get your paperless tickets( apparently they show thier creidt card and ID for you to get entry). So – how does this solve anything? It makes me very scared that I have to meet a broker instead of receiving tickets in the mail if I decide to buy a ticket? Is that safe? Re -think this thing Ticketmaster — the first time that someone gets hurt because of your policy then you are liable…especially if kids are involved ………lawsuit big time! You are better off selling the ticket and transferring the liability of the sale to the person holding the ticket. Your attorney's should be advising you of this………….

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