Shocked at Broadway.com's Fees

[Playland]

I was recently given a $225 gift certificate to Broadway.com.   I was shocked to learn that Broadway.com adds huge fees.  A $159 ticket with fees came to $219.   How does this site  continue to exist charging these fees?  

[Jay Lerner-Z]

They are scalpers/touts/gougers...rip-off merchants...con artists...a scam...

I'm sorry that the person probably bought you that voucher in good faith, not realizing they were handing over money to an unnecessary third party. The reason they continue to exist is because there are a lot of people like her/him, and the name "Broadway.com" lends the site an air of legitimacy it does not deserve. Sad!

[dramamama611]

Because people dont realize yheyre being scammed. I even saw recently they lied about performance schedules and shows being sold out since they didnt have tix.

[BroadwayConcierge]

They're really, really egregiously bad. It's why I specifically tell people to only buy from Telecharge or Ticketmaster and why I sigh a little when I see printed-out Broadway.com tickets in the theater. 

[dmwnc1959]

I bought a ticket from them once while in a really big hurry getting ready for work one morning, not realizing (and not thinking) I had hit the wrong website. The service and handing fees where a whopping $71. I’m not sure if a portion of that goes towards advance the theater arts, but I won’t be buying from again. Lesson learned too late. Always use Telecharge.

[adamgreer]

Careful. You’re not allowed to criticize Broadway.com or Paul Wontorek around here. If you do, Nameless Faceless Moderator will delete the posts and claim they’re “personal attacks.”

[AEA AGMA SM]

The reason they are able to get away with it is because they've managed to keep themselves at the top of the listings in Google search results. Search "Broadway tickets" and they pop up first. It also seems to take a while before individual show pages are able to become that first Google result over the Broadway.com listing for that show. So people will click on the Broadway.com result and have no idea that they are dealing with a reseller with exorbitantly high fees.

[QueenAlice]

I’m not sure anyone can blame Paul Wonterek for running a successful business. Obviously Broadway.com has been quite savvy about their positioning and visibility in the marketplace. I doubt have huge sympathy for anyone willing to pay 71 dollars in fees to see a play; they clearly haven’t done their research.

[dmwnc1959]

^ ^ ^ I’ll assume you’re talking about me.

When I bought that ticket it was only my second or third time ever buying a Broadway show ticket. I had done some research, and had been looking on Telecharge for a Front Row Loge Center for “My Fair Lady”. There were none available during the numerous times I had been on their website, and the morning I woke up and bought the ticket unknowing hit the wrong website and voila, there was a Front Row Loge Center. I had very little time to make the decision to buy the ticket and get ready for work, or perhaps let it disappear and miss the chance. So I grabbed it.

Only later when I got the confirmation email did I realize it was Telecharge but Broadway.com where I had bought the ticket. Yes, I made a mistake buying from them, but I’m happy with my seat for the show.

Like I said, lesson learned despite my research and impulse buy.

[LxGstv]

I’m just glad that Harry Potter’s website isn’t recommending broadway.com as way to buy tickets anymore... a while back it was listed as the second way to get tickets on their “5 ways to get tickets” page, can’t imagine how many people got ripped off because they didn’t know better and it was recommend by the official Potter site...

[Jay Lerner-Z]

I’m not sure anyone can blame Paul Wonterek for running a successful business.

I can, quite easily. This "business" is daylight robbery.

[EllieRose2]

Keeping at the top of Google has been key to them.  Most people who buy Broadway tickets are tourists, and a lot of them are very green when it comes to tickets.  They don't know what websites they can go to for promo codes, don't know what TKTS is, and just want to secure some tickets.  I think that's how they can get away with those fees.  

[Wee Thomas2]

they were a good place to get Hamilton tix back in the day if you didn't want to pay quardruple on the resale market.

[CT2NYC]

It doesn't help that Telecharge's website is consistently glitchy. For almost 2 weeks, I haven't been able to see ticket availability on my laptop using the seating chart. It makes it look like the show is sold out, yet, if I use the app or let the website choose seats, there are seats available. I've also been able to bypass the mobile site on my phone to use the full site, which has also worked, but it's not easy to get there. Telecharge Offers is working for me, but that's only helpful for shows with discounts. I believe others are having the same problem. 

[KFC1991]

^^ It is astounding that the official website to buy the majority of Broadway tickets functions about as well as irs.gov on tax day.