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M.Mouse · 7th Nov 2009, 17:25

I have recently bought (very) expensive tickets to Cirque du Soleil in February and some less expensive tickets in January to see Billy Connolly.

For the Billy Connolly tickets I booked online and the ticket cost was £35 + £4.75 Payment Processing Fee per ticket + a single charge of Delivery Cost/Transaction Fee £1.85. Given that it is often only possible to book tickets online and that the tickets in this case are only available by collection on the day the fees are just a thinly disguised charge to boost profits of the vendor when the online method of booking is entirely automated and costs bugger all once the system has been developed!

The Cirque tickets were £75 each + a 'Web Convenience Fee' of £1.50 each + a single postage fee of £2.00. The postage is reasonable but the 'Web Convenience Fee, although not outrageous is just another ploy to hike the price. It was also interesting to note that 'London Tax' was included in the price and totalled £45.86!

I can accept all sorts of charges if I have the option of buying in person and accept paying for the convenience but it strikes me as wrong that the only choice I have is either pay up or don't buy at all.

Is it just me?

As an aside although Cirque tickets are expensive the last time I saw them it was the most polished, professional and truly amazing show of its type I have ever seen and can recommend it. They are appearing in January and February in London but are almost sold out already.

7th Nov 2009, 17:25	#1 (permalink)
M.Mouse Controversial, moi? Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: UK Posts: 1,410	'Booking fees' and other charges. I have recently bought (very) expensive tickets to Cirque du Soleil in February and some less expensive tickets in January to see Billy Connolly. For the Billy Connolly tickets I booked online and the ticket cost was £35 + £4.75 Payment Processing Fee per ticket + a single charge of Delivery Cost/Transaction Fee £1.85. Given that it is often only possible to book tickets online and that the tickets in this case are only available by collection on the day the fees are just a thinly disguised charge to boost profits of the vendor when the online method of booking is entirely automated and costs bugger all once the system has been developed! The Cirque tickets were £75 each + a 'Web Convenience Fee' of £1.50 each + a single postage fee of £2.00. The postage is reasonable but the 'Web Convenience Fee, although not outrageous is just another ploy to hike the price. It was also interesting to note that 'London Tax' was included in the price and totalled £45.86! I can accept all sorts of charges if I have the option of buying in person and accept paying for the convenience but it strikes me as wrong that the only choice I have is either pay up or don't buy at all. Is it just me? As an aside although Cirque tickets are expensive the last time I saw them it was the most polished, professional and truly amazing show of its type I have ever seen and can recommend it. They are appearing in January and February in London but are almost sold out already.