Posted on 11/04/2022 3:35:03 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Music fans frustrated over concert ticket hidden fees have gotten a powerful ally. President Joe Biden recently announced he would be coming after the such “surprise charges” as part of a sweeping new initiative.
In a speech on Oct. 26, Biden announced he’d asked his Competition Council to take on “the unfair hidden fees known as 'junk fees' that are taking real money — real money out of your pockets — real money out of the pockets of American families.”
Examples the President gave of such “junk fees” included banking overdraft fees, credit card late fees, hotel resort fees and processing fees for concert tickets. The commander-in-chief called such practices “unfair,” describing them as “surprise charges that companies sneak into bills because they can.”
In a follow-up tweet on Nov. 3, Biden doubled down on his promise to crack down on such fees.
“I know hidden junk fees – like processing fees on concert tickets – are a pain,” the President wrote. "They’re unfair, deceptive, and add up. That’s why, last week, I called on my Administration to crack down on these fees and put that money back in your pocket.”
Biden’s efforts come on the heels of a tumultuous time for the live music industry. The COVID pandemic forced the cancellation of concerts across America, an industry-altering event which had no precedent. Ticketing companies struggled to handle a massive number of refunds. At one point, Live Nation, the country’s largest concert promoter, saw its revenue down 98% from the previous year.
As the live music industry has recovered, fans have swarmed back to concerts and festivals. But that excitement has been clouded by high ticket prices, especially to see major artists. Ticketmaster’s “dynamic pricing” strategy has resulted in outrage, with Bruce Springsteen and the reunited Blink-182 ranking among the most expensive tours. Overall, concert ticket prices have increased nearly 20% from their pre-COVID average.
Ah, yes, the yute vote. Keep sniffin’, Joey.
The moment Pearl Jam went to war with Ticketmaster
The Justice Department approached Pearl Jam, and an investigation began into Ticketmaster’s monopolistic behaviour. The band claimed the ticketing giants bought out the majority of their rivals, which allowed them to charge high service fees and major venues also signed exclusivity agreements, which left both bands and fans unable to avoid feeding their business model. Unfortunately, nothing came of the investigation...
I’m glad WWIII isn’t on the horizon or anything . . .
Joe, a solution for the dwindling supplies of diesel fuel should go first.
(Don’t Go) Near the Creeper
Koo-Koo-Kamala
Astromiominamiomony
Ol’ Man Rage of Sniffler
The Basement Plan
THANK YOU PRESIDENT BIDEN!!!!!
I mean a moment nuclear exchange in Ukraine is somewhat important, but junk fees on concert tickets is a huge existential threat to our future.
THANK YOU!!!
Biden’s voter payouts have gone from corruption to utterly embarrassing.
There is no limit to the extent Joe Biden is willing to take the government into the daily lives of Americans. He just wants to bankrupt every business and person so that the government can take over the economy in its entirety.
How about junk taxes?
Maybe the next thing Joe should take is a moonshot research project to cure toe fungus once and for all.
The unintended consequences of letting women vote
I have heard the term before. The site (VividSeats, Ticketmaster, etc.) has to make money too. The price quoted is the price the seller gets.
Although the final price is higher than the advertised price, the customer does have the option to not buy.
Check out government junk fees....they’re for just about everything...
What they really want is to get these costs back under the main product or service so that it is taxed.
Finally!
A reason to vote for President Biden!
Concert ticket fees — just what we need a POTUS for!!!!?
Thank GOD that he’s helping families like mine. I’m paying $10,000 a year more for things because of Bidenflation, but the money I save on concert ticket fees is going to more than offset that. I love our POTUS...what a great man!
How many events have I attended in the past ten years where I paid such fees? Maybe five costing me maybe $25 tops in said fees.
But at least Brandon cares, he’s doing something and that’s all that matters.
It’s not even in the one print. They tell you that there are fees associated with the ticket.
All they’re doing is passing in the credit card processing fees to the buyer.
I guess diesel will have to wait.
Or you could just not buy the ticket.
While you’re at it, can you make a law or executive order prohibiting unnecessarily long lines because they are such a waste of time? And how about a gravity reduction act to help with our obesity epidemic? And let’s add an extra hour to our days and an extra day to every weekend.
Utopia here we come.
Ironically, when he was in the senate Uncle Joe was in the pocket of the credit card companies and was one of the key proponents of the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act.
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