Footy fans fuming over MCG AFL match ticket ‘delivery’ fee onlineHerald-Sun
February 26, 2014 FOOTY fans booking a berth at MCG matches are being slugged a new fee for emailed tickets.
Fuming supporters claim the $2.50 “service/delivery” charge to print off their own tickets for home and away games is a blatant cash grab.
“Handling fees” for Etihad tickets bought online have also jumped 50c to $7.
The Melbourne Cricket Club negotiated the MCG emailed ticket transaction fee when renewing its contract with Ticketek.
MCC spokesman Shane Brown said the change was part of a “simpler” system that had lowered costs for phone bookings and direct purchases at an agency.
“Under the new price structure, the same flat per-transaction fee will apply to all methods of ticket purchase,” Mr Brown said.
“While Ezy Ticket customers will incur a $2.50 fee this year for the first time, customers who purchase at an agency will have their fee reduced by $2.45 compared to last year, and those who use operator-assisted phone bookings will pay $6.50 less.”
The cost for tickets posted after being booked online has risen 50c.
Ticketek refused to discuss pricing or what proportion of AFL tickets were emailed, saying it was “an agent acting on behalf of the venue”.
Etihad spokesman Bill Lane said Ticketmaster’s handling fee for tickets bought online had risen to $7 this year.
A call centre operator transaction was up 40c to $8.85, and the cost for buying via an automated voice response was up 30c to $7.
A Herald Sun survey yesterday found music lovers face transaction fees on concert tickets from $4.95 to $11.30, depending on delivery type and venue.
Geelong fan Gavin Whyte said the email ticket charge was a clear attempt to milk money from the most convenient booking method.
Having escaped transaction charges for years, he was hit with the fee for the first time last week when reserving an AFL members’ area seat in a pre-sale for a round five clash with Hawthorn.
“It’s another slap in the face for the average footy fan,” Mr Whyte said.
“We do all the work online, an automated system emails a ticket, then you have to print it yourself and you get charged $2.50 for the privilege.
“How on earth could it cost Ticketek anywhere near that much?
“Surely the most popular and easiest way to book is to have it emailed rather than hang on the end of the phone for ages or queue to pick them up elsewhere.
“It smacks of a cash grab.”
http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/footy-fans-fuming-over-mcg-afl-match-ticket-delivery-fee-online/story-fnii5sms-1226837590261
