…to think Ticketmaster are rip off merchants.

[TheJoanCollins]

So, a one day festival popped up on SM. The artists are people I would love to see. Clicked on the link 🙄 (idiot) and arrived at the official website. Tickets were offered through ticketmaster and Axs. Never heard of Axs, so went to ticketmaster. Prices ok, but needed to look at hotel options before booking. I went back and the price has increased from £249 to £440 per ticket! WTAF!
Am I being stupid? Is this normal? It’s not an Oasis sort of gig.
Update. Ive now purchased them from AXS, Hoping it’s a legitimate website.

AXS is American Express’s ticket booking partner. I use it because I am a cardholder & get priority.

Thank you. I’d never heard of them, so was a bit worried.

I love AXS. Hate ticket master. We have tickets for Ghost Simply Red and Madness through AXS this year as they do tickets for utilita in Birmingham

Ticketmaster facilitate the artist to sell tickets. It's a platform and imo the Devils work. Your favourite artists are in league with them for good or bad. TM control the market. If the prices rise (dynamic pricing) the artist gets more money. AXS are legit. But best way is to not pay these prices.

I had heard of dynamic pricing, but assumed it was only for the big bands. Was quite taken aback to see how pricing changed on TM. Dh looked and could get the original price I was shown. Absolute, flippin rip off.

Use incognito mode or clear cookies out after searching. Same as airline pricing. Your favourite artists have to agree to this pricing system. It's not just TM scamming you. Also VIP tickets that are just regular tickets but charged at a higher price

I will only use ticketmaster if there is no other agent selling, they always cost more with dynamic pricing and fees. I used to work at a venue box office and we always sold them as per the promoter’s prices. It was not unusual to see for example front stalls left allocation to the venue box office £50, front stalls right allocation ticketmaster £70 (with TM claiming that tickets are at market rate price or such disclaimer). Imagine paying more for the exact same seats. Always worth checking venue box offices first.