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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/aug/13/ticketmaster-shut-seatwave-getmein-resale-secondary-ticketing
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ticketmaster to shut Seatwave and GetMeIn resale sites | Ticketmaster to shut Seatwave and GetMeIn resale sites |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ticketmaster is to shut down its two resale sites, GetMeIn and Seatwave, following persistent criticism of “secondary ticketing” platforms used by touts. | Ticketmaster is to shut down its two resale sites, GetMeIn and Seatwave, following persistent criticism of “secondary ticketing” platforms used by touts. |
| The ticketing company, owned by the global promoter and venue operator Live Nation, said it would replace the websites with a fan-to-fan exchange selling tickets at face value or below. | The ticketing company, owned by the global promoter and venue operator Live Nation, said it would replace the websites with a fan-to-fan exchange selling tickets at face value or below. |
| The move leaves Viagogo and StubHub, the offices of both of which were raided last year by the Competition and Markets Authority in an investigation into breaches of consumer law, as the last two major resale platforms. | The move leaves Viagogo and StubHub, the offices of both of which were raided last year by the Competition and Markets Authority in an investigation into breaches of consumer law, as the last two major resale platforms. |
| Secondary ticketing sites have been criticised for making it easy for professional touts to charge huge markups for artists such as Adele and Ed Sheeran, after harvesting tickets for face-value prices at the expense of fans. | Secondary ticketing sites have been criticised for making it easy for professional touts to charge huge markups for artists such as Adele and Ed Sheeran, after harvesting tickets for face-value prices at the expense of fans. |
| After the sites close down in October, fans will be able to resell tickets on Ticketmaster for no more than the original price plus booking fee. No new events will be listed on the sites from 13 August. Fans buying tickets through Ticketmaster will be given clear information about whether they are purchasing resold tickets. | After the sites close down in October, fans will be able to resell tickets on Ticketmaster for no more than the original price plus booking fee. No new events will be listed on the sites from 13 August. Fans buying tickets through Ticketmaster will be given clear information about whether they are purchasing resold tickets. |
| The Ticketmaster UK managing director, Andrew Parsons, said: “We know that fans are tired of seeing tickets being snapped up just to find them being resold for a profit on secondary websites, so we have taken action. | The Ticketmaster UK managing director, Andrew Parsons, said: “We know that fans are tired of seeing tickets being snapped up just to find them being resold for a profit on secondary websites, so we have taken action. |
| “Closing down our secondary sites and creating a ticket exchange on Ticketmaster has always been our long-term plan. We’re excited to launch our redesigned website, which will make buying and selling tickets fast and simple, with all tickets in the same place. | “Closing down our secondary sites and creating a ticket exchange on Ticketmaster has always been our long-term plan. We’re excited to launch our redesigned website, which will make buying and selling tickets fast and simple, with all tickets in the same place. |
| “Our new Ticketmaster ticket exchange lets fans sell tickets they can’t use directly through their Ticketmaster account, for the price originally paid or less.” | “Our new Ticketmaster ticket exchange lets fans sell tickets they can’t use directly through their Ticketmaster account, for the price originally paid or less.” |
| While many of the people using these sites are genuine fans who cannot attend an event and want to recoup their money, the practice has in recent years become increasingly dominated by a relatively small group of “armchair” touts. These traders use a variety of methods, some exposed in previous Guardian reporting, to harvest hundreds of tickets before genuine fans can get hold of them. | While many of the people using these sites are genuine fans who cannot attend an event and want to recoup their money, the practice has in recent years become increasingly dominated by a relatively small group of “armchair” touts. These traders use a variety of methods, some exposed in previous Guardian reporting, to harvest hundreds of tickets before genuine fans can get hold of them. |
| Digital and creative industries minister Margot James welcomed the move, saying in a statement: “We want real fans to be able to see their favourite artists and events at a fair price. This is a welcome move from Ticketmaster and shows that they’re following our lead and taking a tough stance on cracking down on unacceptable behaviour in the secondary ticket market.” | |
| Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, also welcomed Ticketmaster’s decision to close down GetMeIn and Seatwave. | Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, also welcomed Ticketmaster’s decision to close down GetMeIn and Seatwave. |
| “Ticketmaster’s move to close down their secondary platforms and concentrate resale efforts on their primary site is a welcome move,” he said. | “Ticketmaster’s move to close down their secondary platforms and concentrate resale efforts on their primary site is a welcome move,” he said. |
| “By ensuring that real fans can legitimately and securely resell a ticket, they have put the interests of artists and fans above the touts. I hope that other primary ticket providers will follow suit and tell the touts that their time is up.” | “By ensuring that real fans can legitimately and securely resell a ticket, they have put the interests of artists and fans above the touts. I hope that other primary ticket providers will follow suit and tell the touts that their time is up.” |
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