A $150 experience.

R. · 10 Jul 2005, 18:01

"I paid $150 and all I got was this lousy wrist band."

By absolutely pure coincidence a friend of mine asked me, if I would be interested to join him atttending the Meat Loaf Show in Leeds Castle on July 8. He purchased two Gold Package tickets for $150 each. This Gold Package should include:

Quote:

Originally Posted by meatloaf.net

* For $150 fans can purchase a Gold Package that includes:
* Ticket for a highest-priced seat in rows 2 - 15
* For General Admission shows - early entry will be arranged
* Collectible laminate - if spotted wearing fan may be upgraded to the meet and greet.
* Online store coupon for $35

So, i took a day off from work, bought Eurostar tickets and booked a hotel room near Leeds Castle. We arrived there on Friday afternoon, a little late, probably due to increased security measures because of the London bombings. We met a few friends in a pub nearby and eventually went through the rain to the venue. We missed the Box Office at first and had to go back again in oder to pick up our Gold Package. The friendly guy at the box office gave us an envelope containing ... tadaa ... two "Unreserved Picnic Area" tickets. After listening to our complaints that these tickets definetly couldn't be worth $150 each, he phoned someone and finally told us that an email was sent out to all Platinum purchasers that they had to be at the venue at 5 pm. These tickets would just be used to get inside the the venue. If we would have got there in time, we would have been picked up by a Fanclub representative, who then would have lead us our seats. We never got that email, probably because we didn't purchase a Platinum package. It's posted on meatloaf.net that an email was sent out to the Platinum Package owners, but what about the people who purchased a different special package?

Anyway, I was given a phone number of a local fanclub representative. I talked to her on the phone and we eventually got our problem sorted. Kelli was very friendly and helful and she did a great job in picking us up in the huge crowd and brining us to our seats. Thanks again, Kelli!

Why did we purchase the Gold Package anyway? Exactly, for the highest priced seats in rows 2-15. Well, I didn't even bother to count the rows, but these seats were actually pretty bad. There is absolutely no way that these seats would be anywhere near row 15. They were on the right side of the stage, probably around row 30. Pretty good deal for $150, eh? Wait, I'm not finished yet ... one of the guys we met in the afternoon had two spare tickets left for row 3, center stage for us to use. These tickets were not bought through the fanclub. Now, what really pissed me off big time is the fact that these center stage row 3 tickets were actually cheaper and definetly better than the fanclub Gold Package tickets we purchased. Afterwards, sitting in row 3, center stage, I had a look around and I actually recognized nobody wearing a laminate (see above) or the blue wrist band. Now, with regard to the stories about people with front rows tickets being pushed back because of fanclub reservations, how is it possible that people (and probably not fanclub members) could actually purchase high class tickets for lower prices than the fanclub could offer?

I am happy to read that some of our visitors enjoyed their Platinum Package and their Meet & Greet, but the piss poor ticket allocation and (re-)distribution, the lack of customer information and the lack of a fall back plan for people who couldn't be there in time left me with a bitter taste in my mouth that nearly spoiled the whole evening for me.

[/rant]

Oriel · 10 Jul 2005, 18:55

So you turned up late, you missed out.
Your fault, I'm afraid.

If you buy a £200 plane ticket, and you turn up late, do you start to complain to the airline?

Heli · 10 Jul 2005, 19:04

Thats a bit unfair to say. Only platnum ticket holders got told when to be there....not gold, so in my opinion, if you don't get told about these sort of things, it's technically not your fault.

L96 · 10 Jul 2005, 19:06

And how was the actual show?
Details please! :)

R. · 10 Jul 2005, 19:16

I'm complaining about the quality and the price of the seats.
You could get the impression that buying tickets via meatloaf.net would get you a 1st class seat for a good price.
It doesn't. That's all.

The local service was very good, if not excellent.

What would you do if you order 1st class tickets for a flight overseas and they give you a tourist class seat?

It was a good show. Check the reviews forum.

Oriel · 10 Jul 2005, 19:24

Fair enough. I suppose it's good to see you complaining for once!

It's healthy to do it every once in a while...

R. · 10 Jul 2005, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinecure

Fair enough. I suppose it's good to see you complaining for once!

It's healthy to do it every once in a while...

It actually helps.

Michel · 10 Jul 2005, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by R.

I'm complaining about the quality and the price of the seats.
You could get the impression that buying tickets via meatloaf.net would get you a 1st class seat for a good price.
It doesn't. That's all.

And we can learn from that.

KebLou · 11 Jul 2005, 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinecure

So you turned up late, you missed out.
Your fault, I'm afraid.

If you buy a £200 plane ticket, and you turn up late, do you start to complain to the airline?

No you're way out on that one, a concert doors doesn't open until a certain time and a plane you know that you have to be early that's like comparing apples with oranges. You pay $150 to get in the first few rows just because you aren't there early doesn't mean you should lose what you payed for. For most of the concerts they have (Meat and the representative) have been running late and on Friday it was pouring with rain.

Al · 11 Jul 2005, 14:57

Complain to Fanfire direct and ask for your money back. Or part of it.

Alex · 11 Jul 2005, 15:56

I've done the same this time. £200 I'd set aside for Meat Loaf concerts this year and going to as many as I could. Foolishly maybe, I decided a VIP ticket for Liverpool was in order - I am hoping that my adventure proves to be a damn site better than yours R.

Btw, R did mention in his original post that he had not received an email telling him to be at the stadium at 5pm or he misses out. While being orange as Keb says, it would be a shock to you if your airline didn't let you into first class because they didn't send you a note to say you needed to be early.

Ahhh well, it makes me feel happy it's not just me these things happen too. I still remember the fiasco with the Night Of The Proms tickets. They wanted payment in a way that took 4 days to process, but stated that if they didn't have the money in 3 days, the tickets would be reallocated! ... They took the money anyway of course... and I was left with two crappy seats in the clouds... so I went to the general admission area and stood with SueW I think on one of them I think (of course, getting bashed about something wrotten). :P

*AndyK* · 11 Jul 2005, 15:59

Just to add insult to injury R. Those 3rd row seats you were sat in, were actually purchased from TicketMaster as Front Row seats, TicketMaster then moved them back to the third row, because "the front rows were reserved for the fanclub packages".

As it turned out the people sat in the front row centre seats had purchased their tickets on May 7th from ... you guessed it TicketMaster!!!

Words are going to be had with the powers that be!

Alex · 11 Jul 2005, 16:07

Goooooooooooooooooo Andy!

ChoccyBat · 11 Jul 2005, 17:15

Sounds very badly organised indeed. If anything I would let it be a lesson that meatloaf.net is VERY different to this website - money seems to feature heavily on their agenda in place of respect for fans

faolteam · 12 Jul 2005, 20:54

Ardgillan Castle, In Dublin that really pissed me off us Irish Fans were let down here, and when i complained to the Meat Loaf .net they did what they do best IGNORED me

as i always say R : be weary of this Club.

faolteam · 12 Jul 2005, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChoccyBat

Sounds very badly organised indeed. If anything I would let it be a lesson that meatloaf.net is VERY different to this website - money seems to feature heavily on their agenda in place of respect for fans

I totally agree with ChoccyBat,

Its the fans that suffer When certain people needed our help and support we were there for them now when they don't need it they charge us !!!

KebLou · 12 Jul 2005, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by faolteam

Ardgillan Castle, In Dublin that really pissed me off us Irish Fans were let down here, and when i complained to the Meat Loaf .net they did what they do best IGNORED me

as i always say R : be weary of this Club.

They didn't offer packages for that venue.

faolteam · 12 Jul 2005, 21:26

yes but why not

KebLou · 12 Jul 2005, 21:34

They didn't offer it for any of the festivals. Possibly because it was a festival, maybe because it was too late to.

Chris · 12 Jul 2005, 22:27

As I understand it, for the festivals (and summer pops) Meat is booked as an act to appear so his management team won;t be able to control what packages are available whereas for the rest of the tour, it is Meat's tour so his team arrange it all.

faolteam · 13 Jul 2005, 00:17

what was to stop having a meet n greet exact same thing could have happened its a bit unfair to have it for some of the tours and not all of them

*AndyK* · 13 Jul 2005, 03:07

All of the Platinum Package seats that we're aware of at Liverpool tonight got the raw deal. They were located in row KK - which is 11 rows back and 4 rows behind the seats avaialble through TicketMaster.

faolteam · 14 Jul 2005, 01:07

really doesn't surprise me !!!!

12 Jul 2005, 20:54	#15
faolteam Super Loafer Join Date: 28.05.2002 Posts: 244	Well i couldn't even get a package for the DUBLIN Ardgillan Castle, In Dublin that really pissed me off us Irish Fans were let down here, and when i complained to the Meat Loaf .net they did what they do best IGNORED me as i always say R : be weary of this Club.

13 Jul 2005, 00:17	#21
faolteam Super Loafer Join Date: 28.05.2002 Posts: 244	yes but what was to stop having a meet n greet exact same thing could have happened its a bit unfair to have it for some of the tours and not all of them

14 Jul 2005, 01:07	#23
faolteam Super Loafer Join Date: 28.05.2002 Posts: 244	doesn't surprise me really doesn't surprise me !!!!

10 Jul 2005, 18:55	#2
Oriel Senior Loafer Join Date: 14.04.2003 Location: Ireland Posts: 161	So you turned up late, you missed out. Your fault, I'm afraid. If you buy a £200 plane ticket, and you turn up late, do you start to complain to the airline?

10 Jul 2005, 19:04	#3
Heli Daddy's little internet junkie Join Date: 29.01.2004 Location: Grimsby Posts: 4,596	Thats a bit unfair to say. Only platnum ticket holders got told when to be there....not gold, so in my opinion, if you don't get told about these sort of things, it's technically not your fault.

10 Jul 2005, 19:06	#4
L96 Inaugural goldfish winner Join Date: 04.07.2005 Location: In a handbasket. Believe me, for someone my height, it's hell... Posts: 2,373	And how was the actual show? Details please! :)

10 Jul 2005, 19:16	#5
R. You dig. Join Date: 02.04.2002 Location: On the fothermucker Posts: 7,179	I'm complaining about the quality and the price of the seats. You could get the impression that buying tickets via meatloaf.net would get you a 1st class seat for a good price. It doesn't. That's all. The local service was very good, if not excellent. What would you do if you order 1st class tickets for a flight overseas and they give you a tourist class seat? It was a good show. Check the reviews forum.

10 Jul 2005, 19:24	#6
Oriel Senior Loafer Join Date: 14.04.2003 Location: Ireland Posts: 161	Fair enough. I suppose it's good to see you complaining for once! It's healthy to do it every once in a while...

11 Jul 2005, 14:57	#10
Al Banned Join Date: 29.08.2004 Posts: 7	Complain to Fanfire direct and ask for your money back. Or part of it.

11 Jul 2005, 15:56	#11
Alex Ooh weee ooOOoh! Join Date: 14.04.2002 Location: In the Land of the Manc's Posts: 445	I've done the same this time. £200 I'd set aside for Meat Loaf concerts this year and going to as many as I could. Foolishly maybe, I decided a VIP ticket for Liverpool was in order - I am hoping that my adventure proves to be a damn site better than yours R. Btw, R did mention in his original post that he had not received an email telling him to be at the stadium at 5pm or he misses out. While being orange as Keb says, it would be a shock to you if your airline didn't let you into first class because they didn't send you a note to say you needed to be early. Ahhh well, it makes me feel happy it's not just me these things happen too. I still remember the fiasco with the Night Of The Proms tickets. They wanted payment in a way that took 4 days to process, but stated that if they didn't have the money in 3 days, the tickets would be reallocated! ... They took the money anyway of course... and I was left with two crappy seats in the clouds... so I went to the general admission area and stood with SueW I think on one of them I think (of course, getting bashed about something wrotten). :P

11 Jul 2005, 15:59	#12
AndyK Relentless Join Date: 21.11.2003 Location: Over the top..... seeing what's on the other side Posts: 18,694	Just to add insult to injury R. Those 3rd row seats you were sat in, were actually purchased from TicketMaster as Front Row seats, TicketMaster then moved them back to the third row, because "the front rows were reserved for the fanclub packages". As it turned out the people sat in the front row centre seats had purchased their tickets on May 7th from ... you guessed it TicketMaster!!! Words are going to be had with the powers that be!

11 Jul 2005, 16:07	#13
Alex Ooh weee ooOOoh! Join Date: 14.04.2002 Location: In the Land of the Manc's Posts: 445	Goooooooooooooooooo Andy!

11 Jul 2005, 17:15	#14
ChoccyBat Yorkie Join Date: 27.07.2002 Location: York Posts: 415	Sounds very badly organised indeed. If anything I would let it be a lesson that meatloaf.net is VERY different to this website - money seems to feature heavily on their agenda in place of respect for fans

12 Jul 2005, 21:26	#18
faolteam Super Loafer Join Date: 28.05.2002 Posts: 244	yes but why not

12 Jul 2005, 21:34	#19
KebLou Mega Loafer Join Date: 02.03.2004 Location: The Arena of the Unwell Posts: 3,177	They didn't offer it for any of the festivals. Possibly because it was a festival, maybe because it was too late to.

12 Jul 2005, 22:27	#20
Chris Mega Loafer Join Date: 14.04.2002 Location: Somewhere in the real world. Posts: 7,527	As I understand it, for the festivals (and summer pops) Meat is booked as an act to appear so his management team won;t be able to control what packages are available whereas for the rest of the tour, it is Meat's tour so his team arrange it all.

13 Jul 2005, 03:07	#22
AndyK Relentless Join Date: 21.11.2003 Location: Over the top..... seeing what's on the other side Posts: 18,694	All of the Platinum Package seats that we're aware of at Liverpool tonight got the raw deal. They were located in row KK - which is 11 rows back and 4 rows behind the seats avaialble through TicketMaster.