With the recent outbreak of COVID-19, many artists have cancelled or postponed their upcoming live shows.
As a result, ticket brokers have seen a decline in ticket purchases. However, Ticketmaster, a direct ticket seller, is also feeling this sting..
Due to this, Ticketmaster has chosen to quietly change its refund policy.
Previously, the company would offer refunds for events that were cancelled or postponed. Now, the new policy, as stated on Ticketmaster’s website, only allows refunds if an event is cancelled, meaning that you will not receive a refund if your event is postponed.
Many Ticketmaster customers have voiced their anger towards Ticketmaster on Twitter, even starting the hashtag #TicketmasterIsOverParty.
#Ticketmasterisoverparty https://t.co/bkqLeHSmiq
— katie🦋 (@0NLYANGELMARAIS) April 13, 2020
With this hashtag, many have used it to explain why they feel the new policy is inherently wrong due to the pandemic.
this is awful, it’s not fair at all for them to change policy after tickets have already been purchased. #ticketmasterrefund #ticketmasterisoverparty https://t.co/rlKelvGCQk
— hayley (@shouIdbesad) April 13, 2020
That's bullshit! What if someone can't make it to the rescheduled date? Or what if someone needs the money back bc they're out of work and they need it to pay bills or buy groceries with this virus going on? Ticketmaster, you lost my respect! #ticketmasterisoverparty 😠 https://t.co/UD01z1awrZ
— 🌼Kayla🌼 38 LOUIS & 82 HARRY (@BurningUp4JoeJ) April 15, 2020
Though Ticketmaster has made this new policy prevent loss of money, it appears that many have stated they will no longer support the company, hurting the company after all.
I have no problem never ordering from #Ticketmaster again. #ticketmasterrefund #ticketmasterisoverparty https://t.co/VWHJ8kXEDy
— Steve Murphy (@Wine_Vinyl) April 14, 2020
Rather than show anger, some Twitter users have chosen to defend the company.
Verbally abusing customer service representatives because you're not happy about the company is not only useless it's also fucking wrong and just makes you a fucking terrible person. So if you do, fuck you. #CustomerService #Ticketmaster #ticketmasterisoverparty
— wth?! (@just_a_walk) April 14, 2020
I did read somewhere that they don’t have enough money to refund everyone. The process of getting the money back from the vendors then to the customer would take months. That’s the reason they are doing credits. I don’t agree but that was their excuse.
— DonRob™️ (@DonTicallion) April 14, 2020
It is clear with the events that have been postponed and Ticketmaster’s new policy, many customers will be financially burdened, only furthering the detriment of COVID-19.