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Original poster

Would you expect payment for a ticket you couldn’t use?

57 replies

dvictosjb · 15/10/2023 14:31

If you’d bought tickets to go to an event and then couldn’t go would you

Expect payment if another person could use it
Give or away for free?
Expect like 50% cost jack?

OP posts:
vapesareforsnakes · 15/10/2023 15:36

I wouldn't expect payment..no. The ticket would be going to waste anyway.

MyGoatIsTheGOAT · 15/10/2023 15:43

From someone I didn't know well, possibly. When it's happened to me, I've just passed them onto friends and been glad they could use them.

Majbluemug · 15/10/2023 15:47

No I wouldn't expect payment. Often the person going would go for free but isn't interested enough to pay full price. Or they would have bought a ticket in the first place.

Bluetrews25 · 15/10/2023 15:53

Well, you either say 'do you want this ticket, I can't go now, you can have it for £x' or 'do you want this ticket? I can't go now, have it on me, my treat'
Or if you are being offered the ticket, OP, ask them if they want payment or not.

autiebooklover · 15/10/2023 15:58

If it was a big event I would sell the ticket. Anything else I'd write it off. I've had friends cancel last minute and I've took another friend on their ticket as otherwise I wouldn't have been able to go.

DragonFly98 · 15/10/2023 16:00

In those circumstances I would give it away for free.

IncompleteSenten · 15/10/2023 16:03

I'd first see if anyone wanted to buy it but if it got to the day and nobody was interested I'd sooner give it away than have it go to waste

FarEast · 15/10/2023 16:07

I'd think far far less of the person I gave the tickets to if they didn't at least offer the face value of the tickets.

rookiemere · 15/10/2023 16:21

It depends who is getting the ticket and if they actually want to see the thing or are just going because you gave them a ticket.

YourNameGoesHere · 15/10/2023 16:27

FarEast · 15/10/2023 16:07

I'd think far far less of the person I gave the tickets to if they didn't at least offer the face value of the tickets.

See I wouldn't. I'd just be grateful the ticket wasn't going to waste. Presumably they are only going because the ticket is going to be wasted of someone else doesn't use it and therefore they are doing the ticket owner a favour. If they had wanted to go originally they would have just brought a ticket when they went on sale.

YourDiscoNeedsYou · 15/10/2023 16:34

Recently, I’ve been in the situation where there was a group activity, someone bought and held the tickets, something happened which meant I couldn’t go and the ticket was given away to someone else by the person holding the tickets and I’ve not had my money back. I’m a little miffed by that because I didn’t give away my ticket.

Mavissdaviss · 15/10/2023 16:34

If it was a sold out event that was in demand I would sell online for face value or maybe more.

if it wasn’t sold out I would sell at a discounted rate to make it worth the buyer coming to me instead of buying from venue.

If it wasn’t something likely to sell online and I didn’t have any friends who wanted to pay for it I would just give it to someone so it doesn’t get wasted

DuvetBear · 15/10/2023 16:34

I think honest communication is the thing here.

As this thread illustrates, everyone has a different take on this (and obviously people coming from different cultural and social expectations! Eg I know some people - especially if they are older or male or from certain cultures - feel it's a total insult to be offered money. Or some people want money "forced upon them").

If you're passing it on to someone you know, I'd say keep it simple, be upfront IF you expect a contribution and how much. If they don't want to pay it, they can decline.

Don't "offer" the ticket then expect them to mind read or offer money unsolicited.

It just makes life much easier and easier to budget if you're clearer.

kopitiamgal · 15/10/2023 16:36

YourNameGoesHere · 15/10/2023 16:27

See I wouldn't. I'd just be grateful the ticket wasn't going to waste. Presumably they are only going because the ticket is going to be wasted of someone else doesn't use it and therefore they are doing the ticket owner a favour. If they had wanted to go originally they would have just brought a ticket when they went on sale.

Show quote history

This makes no sense. Nobody has to take up the offer of a ticket.

The ticket owner has paid for the ticket. If they're not going then from their POV it's already wasted. How is it a favour to the owner, to have someone else go?
I'd want face value, 50% off at the very least but I wouldn't give it away for free.
if it's an event for a cultural institution and the like I consider it my charitable deed of the year and write it off as that.

Exception for someone who's genuinely struggling I'd offer it for free - everyone else I state the value upfront, open to negotiations. If I don't like what's offered I just keep the ticket.

YourNameGoesHere · 15/10/2023 16:41

kopitiamgal · 15/10/2023 16:36

This makes no sense. Nobody has to take up the offer of a ticket.

The ticket owner has paid for the ticket. If they're not going then from their POV it's already wasted. How is it a favour to the owner, to have someone else go?
I'd want face value, 50% off at the very least but I wouldn't give it away for free.
if it's an event for a cultural institution and the like I consider it my charitable deed of the year and write it off as that.

Exception for someone who's genuinely struggling I'd offer it for free - everyone else I state the value upfront, open to negotiations. If I don't like what's offered I just keep the ticket.

Edited
Show quote history

Why does it make no sense?

If the original ticket holder now isn't able to go then whether the ticket is used or not the money for the ticket is a cost that's already been written off.

If someone else agrees to go as a favour to accompany the other person or people who were attending the event then why should they pay full price?

Presumably I'd they had wanted to go they'd have brought a ticket at the time for the same price they are now expected to pay?

Of course they don't have to take up the ticket but if they do they are most likely only agreeing to ensure the ticket doesn't go to waste or someone isn't left attending alone.

UsingChangeofName · 15/10/2023 16:42

As others have said, it so much depends on the context.

Last minute, can't go or 5 months in advance can't go ?
Who is having the ticket - good friend / a relative / a stranger ?
How difficult is it to get tickets for this event ?
What is the financial situation of the person who owns the ticket, and the situation of the person who is receiving it ?
How much does the person really, really, really want to go, or is it just "okay, I'll come along with you as I'm not doing anything else" ?
etc

Original poster
dvictosjb · 15/10/2023 16:46

kopitiamgal · 15/10/2023 16:36

This makes no sense. Nobody has to take up the offer of a ticket.

The ticket owner has paid for the ticket. If they're not going then from their POV it's already wasted. How is it a favour to the owner, to have someone else go?
I'd want face value, 50% off at the very least but I wouldn't give it away for free.
if it's an event for a cultural institution and the like I consider it my charitable deed of the year and write it off as that.

Exception for someone who's genuinely struggling I'd offer it for free - everyone else I state the value upfront, open to negotiations. If I don't like what's offered I just keep the ticket.

Edited
Show quote history

Mumsnet is so funny, I genuinely never come across people like you ever in life.

Enlighten me, you and a friend bought tickets to see a play and then you for whatever reason couldn’t go - would you give your ticket to the friend already going and say for them to bring someone else?

Or would you negotiate and consider it a charitable donation? And ultimately would you rather a friend sat there alone whilst you clung on to an unused ticket?

OP posts:
rookiemere · 15/10/2023 16:46

I think even if no money changes hand, the person receiving the ticket should offer a bottle of wine or box of chocolates.

I've given some relatives tickets to things I've won a couple of times. We couldn't use them so I was happy for somebody to actually go, but I did expect an effusive thank you and - I must admit - a token gift. I got neither and have made a mental note not to give them any freebies again.

Blanketpolicy · 15/10/2023 16:46

Try for face value (your facebook, local facebook, work email type thing) with an open to offers.

If you can't shift then give away to any interested friends.

RandomMess · 15/10/2023 16:53

I would give it to the person still going but still pay them for it and ask if they are able to recoup some of the cost I'd appreciate that money back.

I wouldn't expect them to be out of pocket and I wouldn't want them going on their own.

vapesareforsnakes · 15/10/2023 16:55

kopitiamgal · 15/10/2023 16:36

This makes no sense. Nobody has to take up the offer of a ticket.

The ticket owner has paid for the ticket. If they're not going then from their POV it's already wasted. How is it a favour to the owner, to have someone else go?
I'd want face value, 50% off at the very least but I wouldn't give it away for free.
if it's an event for a cultural institution and the like I consider it my charitable deed of the year and write it off as that.

Exception for someone who's genuinely struggling I'd offer it for free - everyone else I state the value upfront, open to negotiations. If I don't like what's offered I just keep the ticket.

Edited
Show quote history

So you would rather let the ticket go to waste than give it to someone who could use it. THAT makes no sense whatsoever.

PeakABoocha · 15/10/2023 16:59

dvictosjb · 15/10/2023 16:46

Mumsnet is so funny, I genuinely never come across people like you ever in life.

Enlighten me, you and a friend bought tickets to see a play and then you for whatever reason couldn’t go - would you give your ticket to the friend already going and say for them to bring someone else?

Or would you negotiate and consider it a charitable donation? And ultimately would you rather a friend sat there alone whilst you clung on to an unused ticket?

Show quote history

In THAT particular case, I’d give it to the friend because you were supposed to go together.
If I was the friend, I’d do my best to see if whoever is then going could pay you 50%or all if the price for the ticket. But as the one not going, I wouldn’t ask.

If it was for an event let’s say an art and craft show and either I was going myself or there was a whole group going, I’d resell the ticket full price if I could.

1month · 15/10/2023 17:03

Enlighten me, you and a friend bought tickets to see a play and then you for whatever reason couldn’t go - would you give your ticket to the friend already going and say for them to bring someone else?

In this situation I would apologise to the friend and give her my ticket for free, so she can invite someone else.

I assume you are the friend/extra person and the person who bought the ticket wants the full amount?

kopitiamgal · 15/10/2023 17:07

dvictosjb · 15/10/2023 16:46

Mumsnet is so funny, I genuinely never come across people like you ever in life.

Enlighten me, you and a friend bought tickets to see a play and then you for whatever reason couldn’t go - would you give your ticket to the friend already going and say for them to bring someone else?

Or would you negotiate and consider it a charitable donation? And ultimately would you rather a friend sat there alone whilst you clung on to an unused ticket?

Show quote history

@vapesareforsnakes

My ticket, my money - my responsibility to find someone else. Not my friend's. As it happens, I've got a very large social circle. I'm also assertive enough to ask for money , unlike the 'unspoken back and forth' I see so much of on here.
As a result, I've never had to give a ticket away for free.

If someone didn't want to pay even a small amount I'd think them a CF so I wouldn't want to give them a free night out (unless I knew they couldn't pay). A play is also one of the worst examples you could've possibly chosen as you don't even talk to each other - just sit there and watch.

Also, if you're talking about your friend's comfort, at what point is that more important than getting your money back? If you paid £200 for a Taylor Swift ticket and couldn't go, would you just hand it over to your friend to 'find someone else'? When you could get all your money back by selling to someone they only vaguely knew, or a stranger?

If you go to an event with one other person they might drop out so you need a plan B. If you're not OK going to an event alone then don't go with only one other person. I mean, even if you give it away for free nobody might want it still, so you always need to keep that possibility in mind.

Original poster
dvictosjb · 15/10/2023 17:15

kopitiamgal · 15/10/2023 17:07

@vapesareforsnakes

My ticket, my money - my responsibility to find someone else. Not my friend's. As it happens, I've got a very large social circle. I'm also assertive enough to ask for money , unlike the 'unspoken back and forth' I see so much of on here.
As a result, I've never had to give a ticket away for free.

If someone didn't want to pay even a small amount I'd think them a CF so I wouldn't want to give them a free night out (unless I knew they couldn't pay). A play is also one of the worst examples you could've possibly chosen as you don't even talk to each other - just sit there and watch.

Also, if you're talking about your friend's comfort, at what point is that more important than getting your money back? If you paid £200 for a Taylor Swift ticket and couldn't go, would you just hand it over to your friend to 'find someone else'? When you could get all your money back by selling to someone they only vaguely knew, or a stranger?

If you go to an event with one other person they might drop out so you need a plan B. If you're not OK going to an event alone then don't go with only one other person. I mean, even if you give it away for free nobody might want it still, so you always need to keep that possibility in mind.

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You definitely do not have a large social circle 😅.

OP posts: