New MA law restricting ticket resales/transfers?

[mef730]

(Usual caveats apply: I am not a lawyer, although I occasionally play one on the internet; I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night; etc)

During a trip down the internet rabbit hole, I came across the following new law regarding ticket resales/transfers in Massachusetts:

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/ticket-reselling-ticketmaster-massachusetts-law/

https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/11/21/ticket-protections-ticketmaster-transfer-laws-massachusetts

I'll start by saying that I already spoke to my rep and he told me that there are no changes and they haven't received any guidance regarding what effect, if any, it will have on STMs. In other words, I'm trying not to start a flood of calls to the reps, since they don't seem to know any more than we do.

Also, Ticketmaster is a big advocate of the law, which instantly makes me suspicious.

The short version is that a ticket seller can now restrict where you resell your tickets or transfer them to. For example, it appears that Ticketmaster could include language in any ticket sale that you cannot transfer the tickets to anyone or sell them on a different site, such as StubHub (SafeTix already makes it difficult, although not impossible, to resell their tickets on other sites.).

What I don't know:

If I buy tickets on TicketMaster, can they insert language saying that I can only sell it back to them, as opposed to simply using the platform to sell to anyone I want?

If the answer to that question is yes, will Ticketmaster be required to buy them back at face value, instead of forcing you to sell at a discount and then they resell at a profit?

Mike

[Amonkey]

(Usual caveats apply: I am not a lawyer, although I occasionally play one on the internet; I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night; etc)

During a trip down the internet rabbit hole, I came across the following new law regarding ticket resales/transfers in Massachusetts:

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/ticket-reselling-ticketmaster-massachusetts-law/

https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/11/21/ticket-protections-ticketmaster-transfer-laws-massachusetts

I'll start by saying that I already spoke to my rep and he told me that there are no changes and they haven't received any guidance regarding what effect, if any, it will have on STMs. In other words, I'm trying not to start a flood of calls to the reps, since they don't seem to know any more than we do.

Also, Ticketmaster is a big advocate of the law, which instantly makes me suspicious.

The short version is that a ticket seller can now restrict where you resell your tickets or transfer them to. For example, it appears that Ticketmaster could include language in any ticket sale that you cannot transfer the tickets to anyone or sell them on a different site, such as StubHub (SafeTix already makes it difficult, although not impossible, to resell their tickets on other sites.).

What I don't know:

If I buy tickets on TicketMaster, can they insert language saying that I can only sell it back to them, as opposed to simply using the platform to sell to anyone I want?

If the answer to that question is yes, will Ticketmaster be required to buy them back at face value, instead of forcing you to sell at a discount and then they resell at a profit?

Mike

The biggest issue I have is the fee that Ticketmaster (and others) have. The other day we went to a Patriots game and it says $25. When it comes down to buying, it goes up to $45 so there's a $20 fee. First, there shouldn't be a fee that high, and it should be listed as the final price instead of having to go through the whole ordeal and finding the higher price at the very last spot.

Right now I am looking at tickets for a show and it the fees alone are over $100 the original cost. That is ridiculous and predatory. End rant.

[Roy H.]

(Usual caveats apply: I am not a lawyer, although I occasionally play one on the internet; I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night; etc)

During a trip down the internet rabbit hole, I came across the following new law regarding ticket resales/transfers in Massachusetts:

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/ticket-reselling-ticketmaster-massachusetts-law/

https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/11/21/ticket-protections-ticketmaster-transfer-laws-massachusetts

I'll start by saying that I already spoke to my rep and he told me that there are no changes and they haven't received any guidance regarding what effect, if any, it will have on STMs. In other words, I'm trying not to start a flood of calls to the reps, since they don't seem to know any more than we do.

Also, Ticketmaster is a big advocate of the law, which instantly makes me suspicious.

The short version is that a ticket seller can now restrict where you resell your tickets or transfer them to. For example, it appears that Ticketmaster could include language in any ticket sale that you cannot transfer the tickets to anyone or sell them on a different site, such as StubHub (SafeTix already makes it difficult, although not impossible, to resell their tickets on other sites.).

What I don't know:

If I buy tickets on TicketMaster, can they insert language saying that I can only sell it back to them, as opposed to simply using the platform to sell to anyone I want?

If the answer to that question is yes, will Ticketmaster be required to buy them back at face value, instead of forcing you to sell at a discount and then they resell at a profit?

Mike

The biggest issue I have is the fee that Ticketmaster (and others) have. The other day we went to a Patriots game and it says $25. When it comes down to buying, it goes up to $45 so there's a $20 fee. First, there shouldn't be a fee that high, and it should be listed as the final price instead of having to go through the whole ordeal and finding the higher price at the very last spot.

Right now I am looking at tickets for a show and it the fees alone are over $100 the original cost. That is ridiculous and predatory. End rant.

Yeah, all ticket prices should be required to have their "all-in" price listed before a buyer goes through checkout. 

[86MaxwellSmart]

Ticketmaster are complete Criminals.

[mef730]

(Usual caveats apply: I am not a lawyer, although I occasionally play one on the internet; I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night; etc)

During a trip down the internet rabbit hole, I came across the following new law regarding ticket resales/transfers in Massachusetts:

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/ticket-reselling-ticketmaster-massachusetts-law/

https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/11/21/ticket-protections-ticketmaster-transfer-laws-massachusetts

I'll start by saying that I already spoke to my rep and he told me that there are no changes and they haven't received any guidance regarding what effect, if any, it will have on STMs. In other words, I'm trying not to start a flood of calls to the reps, since they don't seem to know any more than we do.

Also, Ticketmaster is a big advocate of the law, which instantly makes me suspicious.

The short version is that a ticket seller can now restrict where you resell your tickets or transfer them to. For example, it appears that Ticketmaster could include language in any ticket sale that you cannot transfer the tickets to anyone or sell them on a different site, such as StubHub (SafeTix already makes it difficult, although not impossible, to resell their tickets on other sites.).

What I don't know:

If I buy tickets on TicketMaster, can they insert language saying that I can only sell it back to them, as opposed to simply using the platform to sell to anyone I want?

If the answer to that question is yes, will Ticketmaster be required to buy them back at face value, instead of forcing you to sell at a discount and then they resell at a profit?

Mike

The biggest issue I have is the fee that Ticketmaster (and others) have. The other day we went to a Patriots game and it says $25. When it comes down to buying, it goes up to $45 so there's a $20 fee. First, there shouldn't be a fee that high, and it should be listed as the final price instead of having to go through the whole ordeal and finding the higher price at the very last spot.

Right now I am looking at tickets for a show and it the fees alone are over $100 the original cost. That is ridiculous and predatory. End rant.

Yeah, all ticket prices should be required to have their "all-in" price listed before a buyer goes through checkout.

I agree 100% with that statement. You want to charge fees? Fine, just tell me what they are up front.

I'm much more concerned about the restrictions on transferring tickets.

Mike

[Roy H.]

(Usual caveats apply: I am not a lawyer, although I occasionally play one on the internet; I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night; etc)

During a trip down the internet rabbit hole, I came across the following new law regarding ticket resales/transfers in Massachusetts:

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/ticket-reselling-ticketmaster-massachusetts-law/

https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/11/21/ticket-protections-ticketmaster-transfer-laws-massachusetts

I'll start by saying that I already spoke to my rep and he told me that there are no changes and they haven't received any guidance regarding what effect, if any, it will have on STMs. In other words, I'm trying not to start a flood of calls to the reps, since they don't seem to know any more than we do.

Also, Ticketmaster is a big advocate of the law, which instantly makes me suspicious.

The short version is that a ticket seller can now restrict where you resell your tickets or transfer them to. For example, it appears that Ticketmaster could include language in any ticket sale that you cannot transfer the tickets to anyone or sell them on a different site, such as StubHub (SafeTix already makes it difficult, although not impossible, to resell their tickets on other sites.).

What I don't know:

If I buy tickets on TicketMaster, can they insert language saying that I can only sell it back to them, as opposed to simply using the platform to sell to anyone I want?

If the answer to that question is yes, will Ticketmaster be required to buy them back at face value, instead of forcing you to sell at a discount and then they resell at a profit?

Mike

The biggest issue I have is the fee that Ticketmaster (and others) have. The other day we went to a Patriots game and it says $25. When it comes down to buying, it goes up to $45 so there's a $20 fee. First, there shouldn't be a fee that high, and it should be listed as the final price instead of having to go through the whole ordeal and finding the higher price at the very last spot.

Right now I am looking at tickets for a show and it the fees alone are over $100 the original cost. That is ridiculous and predatory. End rant.

Yeah, all ticket prices should be required to have their "all-in" price listed before a buyer goes through checkout.

I agree 100% with that statement. You want to charge fees? Fine, just tell me what they are up front.

I'm much more concerned about the restrictions on transferring tickets.

Mike

Yeah, my very cursory review is that advocates are saying "don't worry, we'll never take advantage of what the bill allows us to do.  That's not our intent at all".  And, the opposition in a very common sense manner was saying "then change the bill".

I think history tells us how much trust me should put in the "we won't use this bill to maximize profits, eliminate competition and screw consumers" argument.  But, my guess is it will take awhile.