Boitano! + Manilow! = $27 in Convenience Fees :(
What would Brian Boitano do about convenience fees?
Let’s say you want to take your honey to see the “Aflac Presents Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular” starring musical guest Barry Manilow on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 8:00 PM at AT&T Park. Even though this official graphic shows Brian to be quite tall, you’re worried that he’s not actually the 20 feet in height portrayed. So you might as well spring for floor seating for a nice view, right? It’s for a good cause after all — the George Mark Children’s House.
But after you make the call or go online for tickets, you’re hit with thirty-something dollars in total fees. Is that a lot? Details after the jump.
Well of course, you make the call. This miraculous pairing will be joined by all the people listed below as well so factor that in. But convenience fees are designed to compensate the online vendor for the cost of online ticket vending, non?
Does it actually cost $27 to process an order online? Does it cost more money to process an online order for more expensive tickets versus cheaper tickets? The sale of event tickets is not taxed directly in California, so maybe people are habituated to fork over a certain percentage more for almost everything they buy, so this is O.K.? Is driving down to the ballpark to the Giants Dugout Store to avoid the added charge carbon neutral?
So many questions. Certain online vendors might want to consider that other states are pondering regulations to limit fees associated with ticket sales. It could happen here, especially during this time of middle class rage over the Hannah Montana tour that recently alighted in the Bay Area. How about $3 a ticket max? Is that fair?
As always, you make the call.
“Olympic Gold Medalists Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi [really? Not sure about this one], and Dorothy Hamill [or this one] will perform live on the ice for the first time in AT&T Park in San Francisco to be taped live for NBC and aired on Sunday, December 22, 2007. The program will feature Music of the 70’s with live guest artist, Barry Manilow featuring his new album being released on Arista Records.”
“Joining Olympic Gold Medalist Boitano and music legend Manilow will be Olympic gold medalists Dorothy Hamill, David Pelletier and Viktor Petrenko as well as world and Olympic skaters, including world champion Yuka Sato, two-time U.S. pairs champion and Olympian Jason Dungjen and eight-time British champion and Olympian Steven Cousins. In addition, ice acrobats Vladamir Besedin and Oleksiy Polishuk will perform.”
