Comments on: Massive mark-up on All Black tickets brought from Sports Tickets International Limited

By: Barry

Barry — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 12:12:22 +0000

I agree, I purchased tix last year through Stil for AB’s England, and got ripped off as per all the info above. And to think they arrest scalpers, but these criminals, with the support of the NZRFU fleece the fans. Shame shame shame.

By: T

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:17:25 +0000

Damn it, I wish I read this before I purchased our four tickets at £120 each with face value of £71.

Go NZRU GO!!!

By: The New Zealand Herald ran a story about the All Black tickets markup scam | HUBBERS DOT COM BLOG

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:29:17 +0000

[...] The original post is here [...]

By: NZ Supporter

NZ Supporter — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:36:35 +0000

I too purchased Cat 1 tickets to the Wales game.

Being the first all blacks game we had ever been to, my partner & I forked out the bit extra for Cat 1 tickets, expecting to have a seat somewhere along the side of the field.

We ended up seating directly behind the goal posts… in the north stand, which only has 2 tiers, and you sit lower than the rest of the 3rd tier around the stadium.
Not what I would call Cat 1…

By: The New Zealand Herald ran a story about the All Black tickets markup scam | The Blog of Hubbers

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:30:08 +0000

[...] Original post here. [...]

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:50:45 +0000

I purchased a ticket for the Cardiff game which cost £63.49. Only on receipt did I realise the face value was £40.00 That’s a 58% mark up. I know people who purchased several tickets and felt very uncomfortable asking for payment from people when the tickets clearly stated £40.00.

Generally in the UK a ticket processing fee of around £5 per ticket is charged, and perhaps postage of around £5 depending on how it is posted. This is the absolute top range of cost. I picked up my ticket from NZ house, which would have required minimal rental. There were hundreds of tickets there for pick up. Assuming AFTER £10 of costs were taken out, the profit per ticket would have been NZD40.

Furthermore, the majority of STIL seats were in the nosebleed section of the stand. So I paid 58% more, and after having to take personal time out to pick the ticket up, ended up being in one of the furtherest seats from field.

I’m all for people making a profit but I feel ripped off and will be taking my chances with the general public next time if STIL are involved. Also, yes, NZRFU have a duty of care to fans. NZ is attempting to make ticket scalping illegal for the RWC in 2011, in principle, how is this any different?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:46:28 +0000

I was disgusted by STIL’s mark up and poor distribution if based in London (think you had to pick the tickets up from them during working hours on only two specific days). One would think with the extra charge on the ticket they could have personally delivered it with a dozen speights to go…
Myself and many mates living in London did not buy tickets from STIL out of principle and would rather watch it in a pub than give money to these fools. NZRU should clean up their act and make these charges and tender process transparent. We all want to see the money going back to kiwi rugby to keep it being tops in the world.

By: James

James — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:52:35 +0000

The tickets that I purchased were labelled category 1 on the website. However, I can confirm that the seats were not of category 1 quality. I feel this is equivalent to false advertising. The seats are behind the goal posts – far from a category 1 tier in any other sales system. I went to some world cup games and the tickets I have purchased are equivalent of category 3 – certainly not category 1.

Additionally if that wasn’t enough, the price paid for the ticket is ludicrously higher than the face value.
I can understand there must be some fee added to the face value – but the shear percentage is an insult. I’d be very interested in knowing what the NZFU pay for these tickets..
I feel this percentage increase is an insult, and will not be purchasing any more tickets to any All Blacks games again if this is the kind of shady practice the NZRU is going to be involved in.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:00:39 +0000

Would you believe it Ticket Master have released further allocation of tickets to twickenham this weekend 3 days before the match at face value.

Thats right for the people who bought tickets through STIL, just to rub salt in the wounds. Those $300/ £120 tickets are selling for £71.

I hope STIL have a very merry xmas, as many people all over the world struggle in the current environment STIL can enjoy the profits of their exploitation.

By: Billy Bob Tweed

Billy Bob Tweed — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:03:58 +0000

I feel your pain, but at the end of the day nobody holds a gun to my head to attend sporting contests. I made a conscious decision years ago that it was more affordable for me to watch the big expensive matches on TV. I attend games that I can afford. I would urge every other rugby fan to do the same. If the people running these operations see a fall-off in ticket sales, and if they hear feedback from their inevitable surveys, they’ll wise up quickly and realise they have priced themselves beyond not only the middle class rugby fan, but the ones with fat wallets too. Don’t reward them and permit them to roll over you. Penalize them. And don’t do it with just a warning. Give them a yellow card. And if they don’t change their behaviour, show them a red card and stop going. The only thing these people understand is your pocketbook.