Rip-Off Britain - The O2 culprit

[Blipi]

Here is another example of what makes me sad about Rip-Off Britain. I looked up Ben Hur Live tickets at the O2, seemed like a good live show that might be worth going to.

My letter sent to O2 below will explain what got me narked and I wonder if anyone else here has some comments or similar experiences. Should we just not pay out, let these people get poor attendance and force them to be more realistic?

Dear Sirs

I have just looked up with great interest tickets to see Ben Hur live. Now I guessed the cheapest tickets would have all gone and at £75 each for the next best price I think it is expensive, however, perhaps still possible.

What gets my gripe though, are the £7.50 EACH 'Service Charge' (whatever that is) and then, to top it off, a totally extortionate £17.50 to park a car??!! Does that include a full valet? Is it secure under-cover parking? Do you really think I'd have much option to park anywhere else?

I'm sorry to say that 'Rip-Off Britain' is excelling in it's title and that I might as well just not go anywhere for sake of being saved from the money hungry sharks blocking every step towards having fun.

Until something is done about these blatant 'fun taxes' I'm is sad to say that I won't be going to the O2 Arena, let alone the Ben Hur Live experience.

Although this email will probably just get lost in the mist of those who are willing to empty their wallets into your business, I live in hope that maybe it will have some minor affect and I look forward to your feedback.

Kind regards

Stephanie

[Dr.Doofenshmirtz]

It's gets better once inside...
Two soft drinks (Fanta and a sprite) and two bags of sweets - that'll be £12.50 please!!

NEVER again.

The seating in that place made me feel quite queasy - we had seats in the top row the first and last time we went...not good if you don't like heights!!

[ofcorsa]

I do get narked by booking fees, especially when its per ticket, You would think like most products and services the cost to provide them is included in the price, I once bought sold out concert tickets on ebay, I paid slightly more than face value, But when i factored in booking fee and extortionate postage costs of ticket master i was actually slightly infront

[Gareth79]

Ticket prices for some events is insane, and yes the service charge is a complete rip-off.

However on parking - it's well known that the Dome was never built with much parking. Best idea I can come up with is to use the parking near Excel and get the DLR/Jubilee line in, but that might not be any cheaper.

[bigandclever]

Your angst is misdirected... it's TicketMaster who dictate the fees.

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/h/service_charges.ht...

[Blipi]

OK, so Ticketmaster have to sell the tickets for O2 because they can't do it themselves? They are in the business...

Also £7.50 EACH does still seem a high charge.

Concerning the parking, here is the reply I had:

The higher rate of pay for parking for arena events is due to the levy that we must pay to Greenwich Council due to the high number of cars on the roads directly after a show. This money is used for improving the infrastructure of roads surrounding the venue and for extra emergency services to be on standby. Our charges are in-line with Wembley Arena, Wembley Stadium, Earls Court and other similar venues.

Surely these 'costs' are part of running a business and should be factored in? And perhaps a case for Grenwich Council to sort out as I'm sure they are milking from other rates and enjoying the business the Arena brings to the area...

Still bewildered

[Podie]

Do what we do - make a weekend of it. Take the train, have a nice meal out, go to the show, have fun, get drunk, stay in a hotel (the De Vere in Greenwich will cost you about £60), then saunter back home the day after having had a nice breakfast.

Completely agree on the £7.50 charge though...!

[Alex]

If you want to see a proper Roman re-enactment in a full-size replica of the Colosseum, including Gladiators, chariot racing, lions, hyenas, and much more, and have a nice break in France while you are at it, visit Le Puy du Fou theme park in the Vendée:

http://www.puydufou.com/uk/

The Viking show is even better than the Gladiators! I cannot recommend the place enough.

[Neil_H]

NEVER buy from Ticketmaster, they are rip-off merchants.

Buy from Seetickets: http://www.seetickets.com/see/popup_frame.asp?site...

£2 booking fee on the £75 tickets. Their website is also much better.

Also, don't drive, park somewhere along the Jubilee Line and get the tube, or park in Greenwich and walk/ get the bus (yes, the bus, sorry).

[henrycrun]

But will the show be as long as the film ?

[bigandclever]

Blipi said:

OK, so Ticketmaster have to sell the tickets for O2 because they can't do it themselves? They are in the business...

I agree. But you don't have to use TicketMaster....

Blipi said:

Also £7.50 EACH does still seem a high charge.

Agree again, but take a look at LastMinute's booking fees for this show...
Reserved Seat - £75 (plus £9 booking fee)
Reserved Seat - £55 (plus £7 booking fee)
Reserved Seat - £25 (plus £2.75 booking fee)

So the exact same process but for different face value tickets means different booking fees. Now that's a rip off!

Blipi said:

Concerning the parking... Surely these 'costs' are part of running a business and should be factored in?

Depends how you look at if course... if you didn't want to use the parking, and found out that your ticket cost was subsidising someone who did, is that fairer?

[markh1]

I'm seeing this tomorrow night. I booked months ago (tickets were £75 each) The booking fee did piss me off! I will be getting the tube there so have not looked at parking but £18 is taking the mick!

[Menguin]

bigandclever said:

Blipi said:

Concerning the parking... Surely these 'costs' are part of running a business and should be factored in?

Depends how you look at if course... if you didn't want to use the parking, and found out that your ticket cost was subsidising someone who did, is that fairer?

This is the key... Most people who go to the O2 don't drive (due partly to lack of spaces) so why should they pay? The booking fees are excessive though, £1.25 or £2.50 is reasonable considering the feck all work involved in ticketmaster's job. They also charge a massive amount for postage too if i'm not mistaken.

[f13ldy]

Park in vue cinemas car park (second on the left).

Tell the attendent you're going to the cinema or dinner. He will let you in and it costs like 6 quid for 3 hours or something.

[kazste]

never done it myself but a friend stated the tube station car park is only £5!! worth a look

[Mannginger]

Blipi said:

OK, so Ticketmaster have to sell the tickets for O2 because they can't do it themselves? They are in the business...

And in fact O2 (the media company) are title sponsors as it were, the long term lease to hold and run the place is actually owned by AEG I believe and it'll be they who decide who sells / prices tickets.

[Snoop Bagg]

I wouldn't get narked about that, the food in the 02 is a rip off. Last time I went to the 02 to see NME's Big Ones with The Cure, etc I bought a hotdog for £4 (the same price as the beer) where my friend got fish chips and peas for £8. The worst part was he got a level tablespoon of peas, I think about 9 chips and a fish which looked like a hash brown!

Went to see U2 in Cardiff £3 for beer and the food was pretty reasonable, went to see Coldplay and same there, it must just be a Londinium thing!

[markh1]

Well I saw Ben Hur last night and it was very good! I am not usually a fan of 'plays' but I thought this was definately worth seeing. I was sat quite near the front but don't think it would be that good from seeing it up in the seats really high up. Whether it was worth about 80 quid a ticket is debatable.