Mastodawn

I wish we could break up the monopoly of TicketMaster.

Just bought a ticket to the Easter Show. Required to change my password - no reason given. They push you hard to install their app, apparently oblivious to how much people distrust them. This might be linked to the lack of a printable ticket.

I got to the QR code* in the webpage and took a screenshot with my phone. The page happens to say "Screenshots will not get you in" which is kind of nuts as the screenshot is exactly the same as what the webpage looks like. So if the webpage will work, the screenshot should too?

It's getting awfully user hostile

* it's not a QR code - it's a PDF417, also called a 2D barcode.

decryption 1d ago

@static for the AFL at least, the QR code/barcode is animated and moves around, a screenshot doesn't work :(

@decryption I saw the moving thing on the webpage. The code also changes? I was going to have the webpage up long before I reached the gate anyway.

decryption 1d ago

@static personally I just install the app, login, add the ticket to my Apple Wallet, then delete it after the event

@decryption I don't have Google Wallet setup.

And the Android app has a rating of 2.6. And it asks for a lot of permissions I'm not sure it needs.

@static @decryption If you do install the app then during first launch it asks for permission to know your location and appears to not allow you to proceed without accepting, but you don't have to accept to proceed; you just have to force close the app and reopen it, where on the second go it won't ask you again. Shifty shits

@marcEndingInC @decryption I didn't install it. I didn't have the spoons last night to fight it.

But the website worked fine on my phone's browser. And my login session lasts a long time ago. I didn't even need to login again this morning.

AJ Sadauskas 1d ago

@decryption @static Can confirm. And (at least for GWS games) they only send it out to Google Wallet at the last minute sometimes.

Speaking of which, GWS members are supposed to get into the Royal Show on particular days for free. The instructions say you just need to enter your member barcode number to get in.

(Keep in mind, this is with me already logged into the Ticketmaster website from an account that's linked to my membership.)

So I enter in the barcode number and... An error message.

It's just frustrating.

#AFL

@aj @decryption

*sigh*

They don't have to be this bad. They really don't have to be this bad.

Graeme Hilton 1d ago

@static Some "QR codes" are dynamically generated with embedded timestamps which means a screenshot is only valid for, perhaps, a few minutes.

@fishter_uk I thought I saw it change. Then much later I _did_ see it change...

I think I'm peeved that they say "screenshots won't work" but They Don't Say WHY! My AuDHD brain wants to know whhhhyyyy.....

Which means I'm actually annoyed they expect us to trust them when they seem to have not grasped that many people would really rather not.

Graeme Hilton 1d ago

@static the briefest of expansions would help. And, yes, trust appears to be a one way street where the ticket s/sellers/scalpers are concerned.

Daniel Carosone 1d ago

@static the code may change over time to defeat screenshots and confirm a live session.

Agreed on all points otherwise though, especially if this is true

@uep Yah it does change. I thought I saw it but wasn't sure. Then I did see it.

This would be a method against stealing home printed ticket codes, which makes sense. I'm more annoyed that they don't say this; instead they herd you towards their app.

Mark Whybird 1d ago

@static Does anyone here know what became of the USA #TicketMaster monopoly lawsuit in 2024?

The thing I really, really resent is the per-ticket “processing fee”… for what, exactly?

(Same goes for ordinary movie tickets bought online too though. Hate it. At least the credit card surcharge will go away soon.)

@whybird Oh yeah - that "ticket processing fee" should definitely be illegal.