WPIC 11 Help Me Howard: Fan needs ticket exchange for After Midnight

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 9:19am

Did anyone see the WPIX 11 segment last night called Help Me Howard? A woman had a genuine family emergency, could not attend the performance she had tickets for in April. Suddenly the show is closing, the box office couldn't accommodate her so she goes to Help Me Howard.

Immediately upon seeing this story I thought "omg what will the BWW board have to say about this!?"
- Poor woman...good for her!
- Tough luck, life happens and everyone knows that when you buy tickets?
- Good customer relations by the Nederlander Company?
- Will the Nederlander Company regret this and get a million complaints when someone cannot use their tickets for whatever reason?
Help Me Howard: After Midnight ticket exchange story

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 10:34am

Well, it is rather odd to have waited for the last few days of the run to try to exchange the tix. The box office person likely had no authority to offer house tickets which is likely what they were given.

Post dated tickets are never guaranteed.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 11:01am

It was never a "promise". It was an offer to let her redeem her tickets on a slower night (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) when seats were not sold.

She was never taken advantage of or "wronged" which is the intention of the Help Me Howard segments. He helps people get their money back or the services that they intended to purchase. It is well known that when you purchase theater tickets - you attend or you forfeit the money. Clearly says "no exchanges, no refunds".

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 11:03am

Wait, whose side are you on? We're supposed to say it's bad that they helped her do an exchange?

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 11:23am

It is nice that she got to see the show.

I do not like that she portrayed herself as a victim to get the replacement tickets. Her actions can only fuel others who could decide to miss their performance for whatever reason and then create a problem.

Remember, it is a nice gesture that the theater will try to accommodate when possible. This is not a policy and it goes beyond what the theater owners are required to do. When something gets abused...it is quickly no longer available. So unfortunately this woman is proud of her accomplishment and got it broadcast? I hope it doesn't backfire and result in this being retracted by people pushing buttons and becoming a nuisance.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 12:17pm

Yeah, the segment was rather tacky. A textbook of example of "the customer is always right" being wrongheaded.

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 1:59pm

I'm sure if she had tried doing it any time in May, she'd've been fine.