Household Bills
Ticket resale sites inflating prices ‘by over 250%’
Some ticket resale websites are selling concert seats at a mark-up of over 250%, a study reveals.
Bruno Mars fans are being asked to pay more than £550 for a ticket with the most expensive face value ticket costing just over £114 – an increase of 262%.
People looking for tickets to see Olly Murs are being asked to pay almost £400 for a £72 ticket – just over a 280% increase.
Meanwhile, Take That fans are facing price hikes of almost 225% as the expensive tickets for their shows go from £200 up to £650 on the resale sites.
Researchers at Netvouchercodes.co.uk looked at the retail price of tickets on Ticketmaster and the price being asked on its reseller sites, which allow fans to buy tickets purchased by others.
They found fans are forced to pay out huge sums to catch a glimpse of their idols such as The Vamps, with up to a 250% increase on face value, Drake, whose tickets rocket by over 200% online, and Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, whose tickets surged by up to 370%.
A spokesperson for Netvouchercodes.co.uk said: “Going to see live music today is fast becoming a luxury that only those with the deepest pockets can afford.
“It’s a great shame because artists make music for the people and I’m sure the vast majority of those involved in making and performing music would be anxious to ensure their fans aren’t priced out.
“Sadly there are some unscrupulous people out there who buy up tickets as soon as they are released without any intention of actually going to the show.
“Instead their intention is purely to turn a profit. While we are all for fair enterprise, we believe there is a real danger that these activities could change the face of live music in Britain.”
In December, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a probe into ticket resale websites and ticket touts, who buy and resell tickets at huge mark-ups.
The investigation followed a review of the four main secondary ticketing platform websites – GET ME IN!, Seatwave, StubHub and viagogo.
It came amid concerns re-sellers were inflating ticket prices and potentially breaching consumer protection law.
Earlier this month, Robbie Williams’ management was accused of putting thousands of tickets for his 2017 tour straight onto resale sites at higher prices.
