Harvey Goldsmith Blog
LED ZEPPELIN 5 Oct ‘07.
05.Oct.2007 15:32
I am fully aware that there seems to be concerns about people who became winners in the ballot and then decided to use somebody else’s credit card to pay for the ticket.
However, I am convinced that those who are bleating the loudest seem to be protesting too much for other reasons.
I was obviously aware that there would be huge demand for tickets to this event. This is the reason why we devised the ballot system and therefore registration of your name.
On this basis we presumed that those that registered wanted to actually see the show. It is painfully obvious that if the ticket is not transferable then the method of obtaining the ticket is not transferable either.
The reason why there is now confusion amongst the few is simply because a number of people who were lucky enough to be winners in the ballot decided to capitalise on their winnings.
We take a very dim view of this as we want genuine fans to come to the concert. I would have thought that if you were a genuine fan and were lucky enough to win you would have been overjoyed at the opportunity and played the game and paid for your tickets as have the vast majority of winners.
Having looked at eBay, StubHub, viagogo and various other touting websites, it has become obvious that a number of you only joined this ballot for commercial gain. It also appears to me that those who have used this for commercial gain are the ones who are protesting the most.
Of course there are a few people who genuinely want to come but may not have had a suitable credit card to pay for them. The answer to those people is very simple; if you are GENUINE you will contact us and give us a justified explanation.
FOR CLARITY THE SYSTEM WORKS AS FOLLOWS:
1) You registered for the ballot
2) The ballot chose YOU as a winner and issued YOU with a pass code
3) You immediately pay for your 2 tickets with YOUR credit card
HOW TO REDEEM YOUR TICKET:
1) Turn up to the O2 arena on either Sunday 25th November between 10am and 6 pm or Monday 26th November from 10am
2) Bring photo id to prove who you are
3) Bring the credit card that you paid for the tickets with you
4) Bring the person with you who is your guest
5) Receive the ticket and ENJOY THE SHOW!
This is will work for the vast majority of people who genuinely would like to see the concert and is simple and effective.
Now for the small minority, if you think that you can beat the system by buying from eBay or any other website you are wrong, you will NOT be allowed in to the concert and your application for tickets will be cancelled within the next 14 days.
Those cancelled applications will then be offered out to further lucky, genuine winners who registered in the ballot and would like to come to the concert.
Finally for the very few genuine fans that have other problems you will no doubt contact us and plead your case.
I have no interest in supporting parasite businesses who prevent fans from supporting their artists by the increased price of the tickets and who ultimately put nothing whatsoever back into our business to support it.
Comments
| Submitted by ZedLep on 05.Oct.2007 15:44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| And who is laughing the hardest now??? THE SCALPERS!!!! Because they already have their money and they wont refund for sure. And the people who bought the tickets with a passcode from the scalpers are real fans and the cannot go. That is such a shame!!!
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| Submitted by fbc2 on 05.Oct.2007 15:57 | |||||||||
| And, if we are one of the "few, genuine fans that have other problems"...how and/or whom do we contact? Ticketmaster? Your agency? Both? Please give us a means to contact you in an expeditious manner before the tickets get axed!
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| Submitted by atomicbombdismantler on 05.Oct.2007 15:58 | |
| Stick it to them Harvey !! |
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| Submitted by relliott04 on 05.Oct.2007 16:04 | |||||
| Harvey I really really do think that those arguing the loudest about this are TRUE FANS who have purchased tickets and really didnt violate the rules by using someone elses code. I understand your points, I do, but you need to understand that people using other people's codes should NOT have been able to purcahse in the first place. But the reality of it is -- THEY WERE. And now thousands thought they had tickets -- were ECSTATIC -- and now you want to cancel them. THOSE are the people arguing the loudest. The ebay sellers dont care -- They already have their money and that's that. People like me, who were gifted the passcode, are now suffering and its just not right. I am a huge huge huge Zep fan and have been since a very young age. I entered the ballot. My friend entered too. I didnt win and he did. He didnt really do anything against the rules by letting me use his code and your system allowed us to get it! I am arguing because i have tix reserved in my name and I am willing to show up in London with the card used to purchase them-- just like the rules say. and now you want to take them and I am sure everyone here is arguing because of the same reason.
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| Submitted by Kim Madden on 05.Oct.2007 16:10 | |
| I realize than professional scalpers are unethical, but for them to loose the ticket value of these particular tickets is no big deal for them. It's the fans that are being hurt by these extreme measures. Obtaining tickets to this concert has been almost impossible from the very beginning with the website crashing. As a huge fan - Zep is my all time favorite band- I would have paid top dollar to get tickets, along with the cost of the trip from the US, but now I will not have the opportunity. I realize promoting this concert has been very difficult, but ultimately I feel it is the fans who are being hurt. I can only hope that they decide to do a tour and that my luck will be better. |
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| Submitted by kidekat on 05.Oct.2007 16:11 | |||||||||
| Also what's he doing about the people selling there spare seats for thousands? Aren't they just as bad as the touts? If they were "genuine fans" shouldn't they phone TM and say I bought 2 tickets by mistake - one can't be used so please can I have a refund and put my spare back in the draw so that other genuine fans can go.
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| Submitted by wuzznbuddy on 05.Oct.2007 16:12 | |||||
| I am as 'genuine' as a fan can get, but will now have my tickets cancelled. Your rules may have been 'painfully obvious' to you, but they were not to many others. Those that are bleating loudest are those that have booked plane tickets/hotels on the understanding that they had tickets, only to now be told that they will be taken away. Those that sought to gain commercially have taken their money and run.
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| Submitted by Crowley_1 on 05.Oct.2007 16:12 | |
| What are you going to do then people start selling their other ticket to someone else, YOU can’t stop that?! The next thing on eBay is people selling their other ticket… |
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| Submitted by SammyC on 05.Oct.2007 16:16 | |||||
| Hello Harvey, I filled in a contact form on your site a few days ago now, and have had no reply.
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| Submitted by meerlorre on 05.Oct.2007 16:53 | |||||
| There is one problem for me though. I'm under age, I don't own a credit card. I don't believe the site said that anyone under 18 isn't allowed to register. So what, my father isn't allowed to pay for tickets? We planned on going together, but since the registrations in my name, that won't be possible? Genius
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| Submitted by pl on 05.Oct.2007 17:01 | |||||||||
| I have no interest in supporting parasite businesses who prevent fans from supporting their artists by the increased price of the tickets and who ultimately put nothing whatsoever back into our business to support it. That's fine, but how are you hurting the touts by cancelling the tickets? Are you making the assumption that we can go a get our money back? We have no legal basis to do that - based on the fact that your initial Terms and Conditions didn't explicitly say codes couldn't be sold, whether you think it's 'painfully obvious' or not - legally it must be explicit. So we would have a legal basis to recover the money from you. However, rather than just beating this drum endlessly, I have a suggestion. Why not set up an amnesty for the tickets you intend to cancel. Allow us to contribute some money to the Ahmet fund as a way of guaranteeing our ticket. I know by buying the tickets we have already contributed, but I can also see some of the arguments from the people in the pool. But, there's a lot of people who could lose a serious amount of cash if their tickets are cancelled. So a donation could be a way out that would be in the spirit of the event. And maybe move this debate on.
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| Submitted by sarah lewis on 05.Oct.2007 17:02 | |||||
The guys who made fortunes selling these passcodes dont give a monkeys they have made thier money, you are punishing the true fan who would at any cost try and get tickets. You wont understand being in the ivory tower of power. People who bought the passcodes early didnt realise you would cancel their tickets. Only the touts profit from these uncompromising actions.
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| Submitted by ZedLep on 05.Oct.2007 17:12 | |
| [b]This is will work for the vast majority of people who genuinely would like to see the concert and is simple and effective.[/b] The people who WANT to see the concert are the people who desperatly bought the codes! |
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| Submitted by dave_watson48 on 05.Oct.2007 17:12 | |||||
| You tried to take on the touts and YOU LOST!! How embarrassing!! And now you are digging a bigger hole for yourself that is making you look more and more clueless and selfish by the minute. "However, I am convinced that those who are bleating the loudest seem to be protesting too much for other reasons." Pull the other one!! No tout could give a sh*t about this now as they have their money, and without doubt will be keeping a hold of it. THE ONLY PEOPLE YOU WILL BE PUNISHING NOW ARE THE FANS OF LED ZEPPELIN WHO WERE WILLING TO SPEND HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF POUNDS TO SEE THEM ONE LAST TIME. What a complete and utter shambles.
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| Submitted by Kashbeer on 05.Oct.2007 17:16 | |||||
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| Submitted by Dandu on 05.Oct.2007 17:33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mr. Goldsmith, I commend you, at least, for breaking your silence on this issue. I have some serious concern with your allegations. I have protested loudly as have many others on this website. I did not enter the contest for financial or commercial gain, I like many others on this site entered for the opportunity to purchase tickets. I did not win. A friend in my office won. I begged him up and down to take me, but he had committed to another person at the time he entered the ballot. I heard that passcodes were for sale on ebay. I am an attorney. I carefully read all terms and conditions of the winning ballot and of the ahmettribute website. I determined that nothing in any of the regulations precluded the transfer of passcodes. Having satisfied myself I made a purchase. I sought tickets through ticketmaster with the passcode I obtained. Tickets were issued. I was so ecstatic I was acting like little kid. This is my GENUINE reason for why my tickets ought not to be cancelled. Your rules did not preclude what I did until you changed them after the fact. I don't support scalpers and touts, but to be honest, I thought YOU had let the fans down when I read the terms and conditions and realized there was such a massive loophole in them. I did not want to miss this event. Frankly, I think I am legally entitled to attend. Given the fact that so many of the tickets for sale on ebay came from a few sources, how is it that you expect the next draw will get tickets into the hands of fans. I registered once and stuck to the rules. Surely these people registered hundreds of times. You will be redrawing winners until 2009. Please let me know if my GENUINE reason is satisfactory. If it is not please let me know why. Assuming it is, I will then give you my ticketmaster booking number so that you can make whatever notation is necessary to allow me to attend. Regards, Dandu.
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| Submitted by Louise on 05.Oct.2007 17:34 | |||||||||
| I can understand totally the want and need to keep these tickets out of the hands of touts but the first e-mail that was sent to us confirming the winning passcode did not say explicitly that the winner had to be the one buying the tickets! I intended to go to the concert but do not own a credit card or have stashed away a spare £250 plus to pay for the ticket, so my mother kindly offered to lend me the use of her card as means of payment! She would then accompany me to the concert, as the terms of your first mail stated that the ORIGINAL PURCHASER had to collect the tickets, nothing about the winner. This does not make me a ticket tout and I am upset at the implication that according to Mr Goldsmith, that's exactly what I am! I don't have a credit card.....how is that my fault?! The tickets were bought on the 1st October, imagine my horror when 3/4 days later I received an e-mail to say that what I had done was now not a legitimate transaction, when all I had done had followed the terms and conditions stated in the winning e-mail! Luckily though it seems that I have rectified this problem and now the passcode and tickets belong to the same person, i.e. me. This was not done easily and took lots of phonecalls and e-mails and at considerable heartache and stress to myself!
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| Submitted by makoholica on 05.Oct.2007 17:54 | |||||||||
WHO DO I CONTACT TICKETMASTER OR THIS WEBSITE?
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| Submitted by mjgarcia7 on 05.Oct.2007 17:56 | |||||
| Harvey, First, let me say that I genuinely appreciate you putting together this show. I realize it could not have been the easiest logistical undertaking. I am one of those who purchased a passcode but did so only after checking the terms and conditions both on concert website as well as TM's website. Look, I, like many I know, are big fans of LZ. A big enough fan to spend significant sums of my hard-earned money to purchase tickets, plane fare, etc. I consider this to be THE concert of my life. Frankly, I would not have purchased those tickets had it been clearly spelled out in the T&C's. I understand and applaud your desire to devise a manner to work around the parasites who feed off your hard work without adding any value. Having said that, the horse is out of the barn, so to speak. If your goal is to punish the scalpers, cancelling the tickets will not achieve that end. They've made their money. The undeniable fact of the matter is that the only party who will be punsihed will be the true fan. My quick suggestions are: 1. Face the reality that you win some, you lose some. The scalpers won this battle, no matter what you do with the tickets. 2. Look at this as a learning experience, which I'm confident you've done. 3. Move ahead with the tickets as they stand, and don't punish the wrong people. 4. Take these learnings to move forward when you take it to the next level and promote a full-blown World-Wide Led Zeppelin tour! I'm sure you see the numbers. Interest in this concert was big; the demand for a tour exists. Think of this as a dry run for the tour. Do the right thing and karma will reward you. Have a great day. Peace.
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| Submitted by alison on 05.Oct.2007 18:07 | |
| What a mess! You should have made everything so much clearer from the start. Yes, the touts are laughing as they have their money. I on the other hand, a 'genuine' fan of Zep for 28 years who unfortunately was too young to see them first time round, look set to lose my tickets because you didn't make things clear. Both myself and my friend in New York registered for tickets, agreeing to take the other one if one of us won. They won, I didn't. Because there is a very slight chance that they can't make it ( unlikely, but a chance all the same), I bought the tickets due to having to produce credit card etc to pick them up. I can supply name, address, email, phone, blood group etc of the ballot winner but I suspect it will be no good. We either risk either of us not being able to go if he can't make it , leaving two empty seats(if we transfer the booking into their name), or give up any hope of going now. This just stinks! |
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| Submitted by jazzbass777 on 05.Oct.2007 18:07 | |||||
| Harvey, I've been reading with fascination the various posts and rants regarding the situation for the past week. I too am one of the unlucky multitude who failed to receive the "Golden Email", but I've been utterly amazed at the anger this has caused. In the first place, we all entered a lottery - we took a chance, and the odds or the gods failed to be with us. This is the nature of a lottery, and these are its consequences. But perhaps more importantly, it stuns me to think that anyone would have expected you to foresee or control the ugly underside of human nature. Contractual language be damned – were it not for our own greed we’d not be in this situation. I don’t expect you to be the one who sets the world aright, nor should anyone else. I believe you’re correct – many of those “bleating the loudest” do so for reasons beyond poor luck. Personally, I thank you for bringing this event to the world. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this day would come, and it’s something as a musician I’ve contemplated for years. I truly hope that, in the end, the show brings all of us (even those not present) a certainty to know that some miracles can, and do, happen. To those of you who feel the need to flame this post, please do. But know that, in the grand scheme of things, an event without peer will take place on 26 November 2007, and we should honor it in a way befitting and worthy of its magnitude. There’s always a bright side. Perhaps I could use my shiny new passport for a trip to Kashmir… Peace and good fortune to all of you, and thank you Harvey.
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| Submitted by YouranIdiotHarvey on 05.Oct.2007 18:22 | |
| Harvey, these are the reasons you should be fired: 1. You are ultimately screwing all the fans by invalidating passcodes that were sold. FANS ARE THE ONES WHO BOUGHT THE CODES YOU BLEEDING IDIOT! 2. If you really wante dto eliminate any chance of scalpers getting tickets (And I am not against scalpers becuase it is not illegal whether you think so or not. Its like any other business. Buy low sell high. common economic terms. If Walmart posted the prices they bought there merchandise for you would go apeshit too. 3. YOU COULD HAVE SIMPLY MADE IT A 1 TICKET LIMIT YOU IDIOT! 4. I ALMOST WISH YOU DIDNT SEND THIS EMAIL OUT AND I WAS IN LONDON TO WITNESS THE CHAOS AND ZEP FANS LITERALLY TEAR YOU APART WHEN YOU TELL THEM THEY CAN'T GET INTO THE SHOW AFTER THEY FLEW THOUSANDS OF KILOMETERS TO GET THERE. THAT REALLY WOULD HAVE BROUGHT A SMILE TO MY FACE. 5. YOU CAN'T WIN THEM ALL! STOP SCREWING PEOPLE OVER FROM MAKING A LIVING. IF PEOPLE WANT TO SELL TICKETS OR CODES LET THEM. RAISE YOUR PRICES IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT. OH WAIT YOU PROMOTERS DON'T DO THAT BECUASE THEN YOU MAY NOT SELL OUT A TOUR. SO YOU ONLY COMPLAIN WHEN TICKETS SELL FOR A LOT? BUT WHEN A SHOW SUCKS CAN SCALPERS ASK FOR THERE MONEY BACK? NO WE TAKE RISKS YOU BLEEDING FOOL. 6. WHO IS IT THAT YOU ARE HELPING WITH THESE EXTRENE RULES. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO SCALPERS WILL GET TICKETS! THEY BUY 2, SELL 1 AND GO WITH THE PERSON TO PICK IT UP....HOW STUPID ARE YOU NOT TO REALIZE THAT! 7. ITS 2007. THERE IS CRIME AND TERRORISM ACROSS THE WORLD. AND YOU HARVEY ARE CAUSING ENOUGH CHAOS. WE HAVE OTHER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT NOT YOU RUINING THE OPPURTUNITY FOR FANS OT BUY TICKETS OR BALLOTS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. 8. DO THE WORLD A FAVOR. RECANT YOUR PRESS RELEASE. QUIT YOUR JOB AND JUMP OFF A BRIDGE BECUASE PEOPLE LIKE YOU ONLY CAUSE GRIEF AMONG OTHERS. WHO ARE YOU HELPING OUT BY THESE EXTREME MEASURES ANYWAYS? DO YOU REALLY THINK 26 MILLION PEOPLE ENTERED A DRAWING? COME ON YOU HAVE TO BE AN IDIOT TO THINK 5 MILLION PEOPLE ENTERED EACH HOUR. THERE WERE PROBABLY COMPTUER PROGRAMS AND BOTS ENTERING YOUR SO CALLED "LOTTERY" HARVEY GOLDSMITH YOU SUCK! |
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| Submitted by Jimmy on 05.Oct.2007 18:24 | |||||||||||||
| Dear Sir, There was nothing in the original terms and conditions that said I must have my own credit card to enter the ballot. There was nothing in the original email that said that I must purchase the tickets with a credit card in my own name. Even if the notification email had that stipulation, it would not have been possible for me to obtain a credit card in the allowed 72 hours. I purchased the credit card using my own ticketmaster account with the same details as my winning ballot. I used my mothers credit card as I do not have my own. Her credit card has the same billing address and surname as myself. I will be able to produce this credit card when picking up the tickets, which was the only stipulation spelled out in your original email. I contacted ticketmaster and they have told me that my tickets will likely be cancelled. I do not see any reason why the credit card used need to be in the same name as the ballot winner when a condition of winning is that I must produce state ID to verify that I am a legitimate winner of the ballot, when collecting the tickets. If my tickets are to be cancelled, I should at least be given an opportunity and sufficient time to obtain my own credit card and "transfer" the transaction over to my own account. If that does not happen, you are simply handing a black cheque to the biggest scalpers of them all, i.e. ticketmaster, who will make a handsome profit from all of the £25 booking fees that they will steal.
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| Submitted by Mary on 05.Oct.2007 18:30 | |||||||||||||||||
| To be honest I totally agree with Harvey, the whole idea behind the ballot was for tickets to be available for all fans at REASONABLE prices. It is so unfair that people with millions of dollars would get to see them instead of people with less money. I'm very sorry for all those persons who bought passwords on ebay, but just enter the ballot like normal people, if you win you win if you don't you don't. That's the fairest way, and don't pay huge amounts of money. How great Led Zeppelin may be a concert is NOT worth 10 grand, imagine Led Zeppelin only cost 5$ back in the days. I think everyone should just wait if they get selected and if they do great for them, and I can't possibly think Led Zeppelin not doing any other concerts after this and dissapointing millions of fans. It would be a horrible thing to do.
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| Submitted by Chipinoh on 05.Oct.2007 18:48 | |||||||||
| I am deeply aggrieved. My friend, who will be using the 2nd ticket, bought the tickets on his credit card. Now, I'm required to beg & plead that they not be canceled?!? Fine. I'm begging & pleading. In fact, in the past 48 hours I've submitted a contact form, called, faxed, & e-mailed. I have yet to receive the courtesy of a reply.
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| Submitted by kazza16 on 05.Oct.2007 18:57 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hello, I was devastated not to get THE Email but it was the luck of the draw. and was i the only one who understood how this ballot system was to work!! *you registered *you get picked *you buy the tickets, turn up get the tickets & see the gig. simple yes - apparently not! All those who bought pass-codes from Ebay deserve to get them cancelled, You are lining the pockets of touts and keeping them in business. the ballot seemed a fair idea but there will always be those individuals who are purely in it for the money and I don't know how to stop the rackett maybe photo IDs on tickets not you on the pic no entry.
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| Submitted by Crowley_1 on 05.Oct.2007 19:04 | |
| I have a really serious recommendation to you Mr. Goldsmith. The best thing for you to do right now is just to leave it all alone. Don’t send out any e-mails, don’t cancel any tickets, etc. Just leave it. Right now there are so many discussions on the Internet forums, blogs, etc. and soon some newspaper will blow up this story. And I think that what you are doing right now will harm your reputation. You should also consider that the rules in “The Golden email” wasn’t clear, even if YOU think so, but allot of people didn’t realize your rules. And please don’t talk about real fans, isn’t a person a real fan if they pays allot of money just do get the pass code? I think that you have many Zepp fans that don’t hesitate to take this very, very far. |
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| Submitted by Rocky on 05.Oct.2007 19:12 | |||||
| And what of those of us who maybe were duped into buying the passcode before we heard from you we couldn't, who are TRUE Zeppelin fans. I'mm 55 and have been listening to Zep since I was 17, played their music in rock groups through high school, saw them 4 times in L.A. in the seventies, and even talked to Jimmy several times at his London and Boleskine House residences by phone. I have been an avid collector or Zep memorabilia and followed every move the group or it's individual members made since the break-up. I've seen Jimmy on a solo tour with Jason, and several Page/Plant concerts. Am I now out for both paying for the passcode and the fees I honestly paid for tickets to Ticketmaster too?! Not to mention getting my first passport and booking the flight and accomodations in London from my home in California. All before I was notified we couldn't buy the passcode. If you want a "true" Zeppelin fan, you don't have to look much further than me. Rocky Dickerson
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| Submitted by doublea on 05.Oct.2007 19:08 | |||||||||
| For everyone that bought pass codes who obviously now aren't going to admitted will definitely attempt to get their money back for the code. The ticket selling sites selling codes/tickets will refund the money due to the cancellation. Now, eBay is going to have a time on their hands when all these buyers screaming they were ripped off by pass code auctions which were fraudulent. Also, those who bought pass codes can also contact their credit card companies and refuse the charge due to fraud. By doing this, HG is definitely going to be taking money out of the scalpers hands. Of course, there will be some fans that will lose money from buying a code but HG stated from the beginning that he will do everything in his power to stop touts from making money off this event. He is doing just that. If you want to complain about not going after supporting the people the HG is trying to keep out, fact is you weren't picked. Give it up. Now for the very few were picked, plan to go, that actually received a code and just had to use another credit card it sounds like you have nothing to worry about according to HG's post. 99% of these people will have used a credit card of a spouse, parent, or other family member so the last names will likely be the same.
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| Submitted by bullseye on 05.Oct.2007 19:18 | |
| Hi!! How do I know if my purchase is valid or not?? there is a list somewhere? Ticketmaster confirmed my tickets with a mail, I bought them with the code I received in my mail and used MY credit card! But a friend of mine used my mail to register for the ballot (he wanted to register as soon as possible and did not have an e-mail. strange but true...). now... in the mail with the golden-code there was no indication of the NAME of the winner!! how could I know? There is a mail if the purchase isn't valid? when? can I relax and prepar for the concert of my life?? thank you. please. for all of us here, try to be more clear!! |
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| Submitted by relliott04 on 05.Oct.2007 19:20 | |
| Harvey --- Please consider that the next round of winners, next after that, and after that, is JUST giving the "touts" another chance to make money. You say you want to keep from supporting parasite businesses, but by having another drawing/lottery would do just that!! HOW do you not see this? I mean, there is the possibility that whats yet to come has the potential to be WAY WAY more frustrating than it is right now and that would be a nightmare!! There is no doubt in my mind that this lottery would be going on until the new year, and the concert is only less than two months away!! You need to really think this through. Cancelling orders is NOT the smartest move here anyone who knows anything will tell you that. |
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| Submitted by Zoso on 05.Oct.2007 19:48 | |||||
| I like many here entered the ballot and was unlucky enough to not get a passcode. I looked around the net(AhmetTribute.com included) desperately to see what the situation was and found a passcodes for sale. Having seen the T&Cs on the passcode email I was happy enough to purchase it. I bought tickets straight away with Ticket Master and received my confirmation. You can only imagine how estatic I was. I was in work going to everyone, "I've got Led Zep tickets". I was so happy, it was a dream come true, the one band in the world I wanted to see live doing a re-union concert and I was going!!! I'm only 24, I wasn't born when Zep split, I'm not made of millions but I love them enough that I was happy to pay over £500 for the opportunity to see my favourite band of all time. Later that day(2nd October) I get home and realise that the FAQs on AhmetTribute have miraculously changed since the morning before I bought the passcode email. There is also a lot of press about tickets being voided if purchased using sold passcodes. Forgetting all the legal implications which many have already mentioned, I'm now absolutely distraught and feel like a complete fool!!!! Is this what you REALLY want for the TRUE fans??? Please understand that this is my one and only chance ever to see this band as I wasn't around when they were in their prime. I'm begging, PLEASE let me in!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Submitted by viewsonic575 on 05.Oct.2007 20:19 | |||||||||||||
| I see that many lawyers have commented on the original terms of the agreement, and how the terms were changed after the fact causing such an uproar. I am not a lawyer, but being a business person, I know what you can and can't get away with with contract law in general. It is very clear that Mr. Goldsmith has set himself for legal percussions. By breaking the terms of the original contract, Mr Goldsmith is responsible for all damages, and you might throw in personal suffering, by denying entry to someone who fullfilled the original terms of the contract. I also suspect, that if the lawyers on this board are smart, they have already filed an injunction to prevent the cancelling of any tickets, until a court hearing on the matter. Since it was several weeks between the registering for the lottery and the actual draw, I suspect that their are a lot father-son and husband-wife name mismatches. Also, what happens if a credit card is lost or stolen before the concert, and a new card is issued with different numbers What consitutes proof then. I strong suggest that Mr. Goldsmith finds a lawyer, or fire the one he has, because the legal advice he is currently getting is setting himself up for a disaster, not to mention the riot that will happen at the O2 if he continues along the same path. AHMET ERTEGUN deserves a better send off than this.
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| Submitted by Goodgulf on 05.Oct.2007 20:30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hey Harvey, I hope you’re still reading these messages. I first want to thank you for staging some of the best events I have ever attended. Let me tell you a quick sob story. In 1977 I bought tickets for Led Zeppelin in Buffalo New York. I flew the Atlantic for the show and it was cancelled due to a tragedy befalling the band. In 1980 I bought tickets for Led Zeppelin in Buffalo and the very same day, yet another tragedy befell the band, this time ending their career. I had owned the tickets for only a few hours, which I bought on the telephone thanks to some kind soul working at the band’s Swansong offices in London. Less than 12 hours later the news came in about John Bonham. In 1983 I paid a scalper $1500 to see Jimmy Page get back onto a stage at the ARMS concert and flew to New York. This is the pathology of a real disciple. Not some hacker or scalper or someone who happens to think it would be “cool” to hear those Zeppelin guys do Stairway to Heaven. Let me play this back for you. I entered the lottery and lost. A friend of mine called me up and said he had “Got tickets”. He asked if I’d like to go with him because he knew how much this meant to me. I booked my airfare and hotel to fly back to England (because I now live over this side of the pond). Now it turns out that he may lose his tickets because he bought the passcode from someone else. That person has their money and they aren’t going to give it back. Ebay will not insist on a refund (heck they won’t even cooperate with you for goodness sake!) Credit card companies over here do NOT allow you to just call up and demand that they stop payment, in fact they categorically refuse to do this. So the scalpers won. The only person who stands to lose now, is not you, or the charity, or the band, or the scalper, just a fan. Technically we did absolutely nothing wrong. The rules did not state that you had to make the purchaser match the passcode. You may have thought this to be clear, but it didn’t SAY that. I urge you to reconsider your current course of action. In your earnest desire to stick with the spirit of the event you are now only hurting the people who have actually paid for and bought the tickets. It surely must make absolutely no difference to you, or the band or the charity who now sits in those seats, and regardless of who it will be, they will have PAID to be there. Any further retraction and reallocation of passcodes will only serve to lure in further people who are not aware of this controversy but happen to see an advert or whatever. Please do not terminate the tickets that have been already sold.
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| Submitted by Wisconsin Zep Fan on 05.Oct.2007 21:38 | |||||||||
| Alittle bit about myself... 22 years old, from La Crosse Wisconsin, USA Fell in love with the music of Led Zeppelin at a very early age. Mom and Dads wedding song was Stairway to Heaven. First songs I learned to play on the guitar was Zep songs. Needless to say its in my blood, IM A LED ZEPPELIN FAN. Oh yeah almost forgot GENUINE fan. I did play the game you had set up... seemed simple you sign up you win you get the chance to be able to buy tickets. So on that particular day I waited and waited and waited, no luck. I was really depressed. Then I went to JimmyPage.com to learn some stuff on guitar I saw a link for tickets to the show at the O2. It took me to ebay and I was confused because I thought people won tickets... not a code. After reading all the listings and the rules on Ahmettribute.com and all over the net I realized this was totally LEGAL. Yes I know the CODE came from the scalpers but the tickets came from ticketmaster and were bought by a GENUINE FAN. I was not sold a scalped ticket I was sold 2 real tickets to see the greatest band to ever take the stage EVER! Everything I read on the internet even YOUR site said nothing of the ballot and code being "Married" all it says is to show your card you used to buy the tickets and your ID when at the door. It made total sense and I was happier than any GENUINE FAN that sat and patiently waited to win. A TRUE fan doesnt sit around and wait they get up and find a way to see the band they love, at all costs. Scalpers... yes they are scum and shouldnt have played this game. But the people that paid more than their fair share to get the tickets and went that extra step to get it should NOT be punished. True GENUINE fans bought those tickets not the scalpers. What does a person have to do in YOUR book to be a GENUINE fan. I have 2 tickets to a LED ZEPPELIN concert my mom and dad were to happy for me. They signed up as well to give them to me. Which I find out later is taboo. People signed up people won. Yes ticket CODES were sold but the tickets were bought by GENUINE FANS. I've already got my passport being made and that cost me a lot. Im only 22 I dont have a whole lot of money but I took a LOAN out to pay for this once in a lifetime event. You have no idea how much this concert means to me. I dont care how much it costs me to get there. I WILL SEE LED ZEPPELIN! Its been my dream for ever.... god what if they got back together? Well they are and this is it, my chance. I seized the opportunity and Im not some sleezeball that tried to cheat the system you make it out like Im evil. This is wrong and you know it. You should have thought it out before you did this. You cant just change the rules after the fact. When I bought the code it was totally legal and would work. The next day when you woke up and heard about it you changed the rules and ruined the hopes and dreams of the true GENUINE DIE HARD LED ZEPPELIN FANS. My story is of a GENUINE fan who played the game with the rules that were given and when I won the rules became changed. Please allow me to keep my tickets... I AM A GENUINE FAN!
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| Submitted by wasabi_boy on 05.Oct.2007 22:21 | |||||||||
| This seems unfair. Published information indicated that approx 2,000 tickets were being set aside for commercial interests, mostly in the US. I bought tickets from someone who had many passcodes, as did some brokers on eBay. Assumption was - these were the commercial interests that had paid you a premium for whatever reason. Thought maybe they made a special donation to the Fund, or whatever. Now you're saying I should have known better... You left the door open for people to believe some tickets were going thru other channels than the lottery. Very questionable tactics...
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| Submitted by zosopup on 05.Oct.2007 22:43 | |||||||||
| For each story here about what a hardship it would be to lose the tickets that were obtained through ebay etc or were gifted I am sure there are plenty more, like me, who have played by the rules and accept that their only chance now is to patiently await the second draw. I appreciate Harvey's plan to give each fan an equal chance of buying a ticket to see the show with a companion. This was the only way to ensure that the deciding factor was not how many people you could have register for you or how much money you have.
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| Submitted by Poorrealfan on 05.Oct.2007 22:54 | |||||
| Hi Harvey, If you have read this far you like me probably have sore eyes by now. You have been quoted as saying that you hate the way ticket touts "Fleece" genuine fans and I am right with you on that one. By cancelling tickets already paid for though the only difference will be that this time around not only will the touts be fleecing us but you will too!! I have never bought from touts in the past but I entered the draw as I wanted to give my wife what would have been for her (ok and me as well!) the best 50th Birthday present ever. Hell we even extended the completion date on our property sale before we emigrate to NZ for this gig!. like others have stated earlier I checked and re-checked the T&Cs and couldn't find anything other than the" original purchaser" having to present their card. I must be incredibly naive not to know that the touts would have put in countless applications but it seems that you obviously have had many many registrations from people who are genuine fans of a profit and nothng else! If you do want to stop touts fleecing genuine fans then here is a suggestion for the future which I am sure will include other stellar gigs... 1. Registrations must include credit card details and if successful the amount of the tickets will be debited from the card. 2. The original credit card that was used to register must be presented to collect the tickets. If the card is lost or stolen in the intervening period then bills matching the card must be provided as proof as well as the new replacement card. Add these conditions to the ones you already put in place and all of this almighty mess won't happen again and everyone will be happy........well except for your friends the scalpers of course ;-0) What can you do now? I know you probably don't agree but I would have thought that the fact that many people have paid way over the odds for tickets surely makes them very genuine fans? Registering for tickets that you know could be worth a fortune doesn't make you a genuine fan. If you re-allocate tickets to other registered applicants can you be sure that they are genuine fans? I don't think so. You got ever so close to your goal of beating the touts this time. The Ahmet Ertegun fund has got it's money. You have got your money. Ticket master has got its money and definately a few scalpers didn't as I saw several ticket code offers mysteriously end early with 0 bids on them. Let this one go as a warning shot across the bows to the scalpers. I like many others here am a genuine fan who got sucked into something that they wouldn't ordinarily do and now stand to not only not get to see Led Zeppelin but lose a whole pile of money as well. You are a big man in the entertainment industry. You are big enough to be able to make a difference so why not use the publicity that this whole debacle has and will generate to declare war on the touts not the fans? Because you buy on Ebay doesn't make you scum. We live in a free market economy as your thriving business stands a testament to. Supply and demand rules. You have control of the supply and you almost got it right this time. Make a couple of changes to the T&Cs for next time and your goal will be achieved. By cancelling tickets at this stage after all that has happened you will hurt genuine fans much more than scalpers. Hope you are still awake? Ever hopeful
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| Submitted by magee on 05.Oct.2007 23:02 | |||||
| I rang your office, several times today and yesterday, and your staff told me to email them and i rang again. they confirmed they'd received my email and that they'd reply - i have heard NOTHING. I am absolutely outraged at this situation. And i'm in deep concerns my tickets are going to be canceled. so thanks Harvey. Why not have some balls and admit YOU are wrong for once.
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| Submitted by Rocky on 05.Oct.2007 23:41 | |
| I have tried contacting Mr. Goldsmith and Ticketmaster, but neither replies. I even mailed a letter to Mr. Goldsmith today requesting a refund or tickets. My credit card company won't cancel the sale. If I was taken in by the "tout", so be it. But to be taken in by both ticketmaster and Harvey Goldsmith is a double-scam. |
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| Submitted by pegasusphil on 05.Oct.2007 23:42 | |||||
| Good one Harvey ! Instead of H's Gripes, how about "True Zeppelin Fans' Gripes" ? After 30 years of following the band, including trips to Earl's Court 75 and Knebworth 79, which makes me one of your "genuine fans" I think, I find that because I was gifted a passcode and purchased my tickets myself on my card, they are to be made invalid because of your NEW terms & conditions, which were only made explicit AFTER the purchase (i.e. the contract of sale) was made. That is (a) shoddy legal business, and (b) just punishing a genuine fan (and there are many, many in this same situation out there - read your blog coments). While what you aimed to do was laudable (i.e. beating touts) it has BADLY backfired and screwed the chances for many genuine fans who have already made purchases and ordered tickets - you have a moral obligation to honour the terms as ORIGINALLY written (and they did NOT clearly state that the ballot winner had to be the purchaser and card-owner, you introduced that clarification AFTER the event). I waited 28 years to see this band again (never thought I would) and you have totally screwed the chances I had, along with many other genuine fans. In the end, you and the Ahmet charity have got your ticket money - how does it hurt you or them if it comes from someone other than the passcode winner ? I'd be grateful if you could reply and explain how the decisions (and the unlawful contracual changes you made, post-facto) can be justified in cases like mine ? PW
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| Submitted by maccafan10 on 06.Oct.2007 01:45 | |
| HARVEY (ballwanger) LEGAL WARNING Thanks for your TRUE COLOURS comments on us ' BLEATING' minions who have lined your pockets over these many years. You have just upset me now 'big time' and lost any respect I had for you as I am not a tout, and bought innocently from ebay as a desperate and eager fan BECAUSE SOMEBODY DID NOT WANT THEIR CODE !!! Money seems to be your only love (as is evident of the way you disgustingly prejudice and label us as common sheep), so you are therefore not our friend or benefactor, or a hero in these so called fair play/draw issues. Are YOU any different from the touts in that case ? NO, you are just a heartless selfish businessman !! You 'also' make big money off the back of dedicated fans !! An extortionate £137.50.00 (total) per ticket, (and so beyond anyone on sick benefits or low income). How's the Rolls running by the way? I just got 2x Sir Macca tickets for myself and my son for a fair £25 each, fairly and squarely on the day by phone. £399 on ebay now as you will NEVER beat the touts, or the folk who are willing (or have to) sell for some reason. It all evens out in the end. You pay what you think it's worth and not by force. We don't like touts either, but they are a necessary evil for desperate fans willing to pay. At least they do not cruely give false hopes and dreams as you do with threats of second draws (and by taking candy off other 'genuine' babies too). "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" so to speak. A lot of us are just Dads and their lads, as touts tend not to go to gigs like we genuine fans. Your own blog quote (as too of the draw site 'original' terms), and also printed evidence for purpose of a court of LAW. --------------------------------------------------------------------- "FOR CLARITY THE SYSTEM WORKS AS FOLLOWS: 1) You registered for the ballot 2) The ballot chose YOU as a winner and issued YOU with a pass code 3) You immediately pay for your 2 tickets with YOUR credit card HOW TO REDEEM YOUR TICKET: 1) Turn up to the O2 arena on either Sunday 25th November between 10am and 6 pm or Monday 26th November from 10am 2) Bring photo id to prove who you are 3) Bring the credit card that you paid for the tickets with you 4) Bring the person with you who is your guest 5) Receive the ticket and ENJOY THE SHOW! ------------------------------------------------------------------- "BRING PHOTO ID, AND THE CREDIT CARD YOU 'PAID' FOR YOUR TICKET WITH YOU" (No mention of wrist bands here either) OK, seems like simple and concise instructions, and not even a mention here of actually WHO owns the codes, and proof thereof of being a winner in sole order to ''purchase'' tickets. THEN YOU SHOULD STICK TO IT !! Why do you then widen the goal posts 'AFTER THE FACT' and 'then' claim that you will x-check tickets 'for your own benefit' just to purge touts and hurt innocent fans on a last minute whim ?? It's too late to issue this (currently dated) and updated rule/warning as an 'after thought' all because YOU never thought it out properly in the first place and got a shock when it DID NOT WORK as you planned. 1. This is illegal under the Data protection act as MY Ticketmaster agreement (and held private data with them are nothing to do with you) as I have acceptance and contract with them 'only', and also under the terms you list above. NO PROOF OF DRAW ASKED FOR AT TIME OF PURCHASE. TM are in deep trouble x 1000's if they issue any FULL private data about me (and others) to you FOR ANY REASON and worse IF YOU ACTUALLY ACT ON IT. I will personally have you 'all' arrested and in court, and I am now therefore withdrawing all my details and future business with them as of now because of the NOISEY threats and RISKS you have made on my privacy agreement, if they are so easily banded about. Data provision from a third party, or theft of such is a crime !! NOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO, NOW THAT I PREVENT X-CHECK DETAILS BY MY WITHDRAWING THEM. As self appointed judge and jury of all cases of complications over rightful ownership of codes, maybe we should all stand fast and take you before a Judge and watch YOU become a MISERABLE 'PLEADER', because many WILL. Macca |
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| Submitted by pl on 06.Oct.2007 01:54 | |||||
| I have set up a mailing list for discussion of any formal legal case: Just send an email with SUBSCRIBE as the subject to: ledzep.legal@level83.com To unsub just send an email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject at any time. Once subscribed any email sent to ledzep.legal@level83.com will go to every member on the list.
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| Submitted by LONDON OR BROKE on 06.Oct.2007 03:28 | |
| Hi Mr. Goldsmith, I very much understand what you are trying to do to the scalpers of the ticket codes and I wish that there were a better way for those of us who had to get codes via this route to get the email in the first place, but to see our musical heroes in concert is sopmething we never would have imagined possible. I like many other true fans these days was only able to begin to appreciate the music and magic that Led Zeppelin is after the passing of our dearest John Bonham. And as for want to be able to make sure that true fans can get a chance to see their idols on stage in what may be the very last appearance of them together.... well, let me tell you my wife and I had a very hard decision to make when it cam e to our wedding song as Led Zeppelin has produced all of our favourite music and we decided on "The Rain Song". I will tell you that we are TRUE LED ZEPPELIN FANS as we spent our entire savings on getting to London and booking accomodations and now all of that is in risk because some of these parasites need to be taught a lesson. PLEASE Mr. Goldsmith don't torture the true fans like us with what we thought was the opportunity of a lifetime and may turn into a total disaster economically and psycologically. We will be travelling from Canada with the flights and other arrangements already booked and then I was told today by one of my classmates to check out your blog and that I better get looking for a couple of more jobs to make up for my loss of savings. I am a student with huge loans and cannot afford to lose this money, nevermind losing my sanity associated with losing the dream of a lifetime. I think that this show is really an honourable memorial to both Mr. Ertegun and John Bonham. The ultimate reunion since I heard Jason playing drums when I was a teenager brought chills hearing similarities to his fathers style. Please Mr. Goldsmith, don't punish us, the real fans, the only thing we did wrong was to do anything humanly possible to see our idols. Please be kind to those of us who did this all for the right reasons, I truly wish all money would have gone to the Education Fund, but I did donate my money to it and to get seats in the nosebleed section, but it doesn't matter as long as the spirit of Zeppelin runs through the place for us all to remember. Thank your for your consideration. God Bless! |
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| Submitted by thegazza on 06.Oct.2007 03:59 | |
| Harvey, We are just going to wait for the next round of e-mails to arrive,do we know when that will be? Gazzagary |
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| Submitted by Original Purchaser on 06.Oct.2007 07:09 | |
| Mr. Harvey Goldsmith...and I hope you truly do get around to reading this... I am afraid you blew it. You absolutely blew it. All the chips landed in the right places except one. You stated, "It is painfully obvious that if the ticket is not transferable then the method of obtaining the ticket is not transferable either." Believe me, I am trying to be respectful here when I say that this is your opinion and simply is NOT TRUE. Absolutely nobody in their right minds would have dared pay $400, $600, $900 or more for the passcodes IF YOU HAD MADE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR, and you DID NOT, that the person that registers in the ballot and WINS the passcode MUST also be the person who purchases the tickets. I have screenprints from the website, pre-October 1, and I have studied the verbiage, and you simply drop the ball by NOT stating that this is how it should be. I am afraid that you will face some massive lawsuits if you cancel tickets, really any tickets, because you did not make this clear. You made a valiant stab at foiling the touts and I believe, for the most part, you held practically ALL at bay. Your best bet is to let things be. The number should be small as far as what took place on ebay or any other auction site. The numbers could be massive for people who are legitimate and the spouse or boyfriend, etc, paid for the tickets when they did not win the ballot. Let things be. It truly is best. And if you really want to come out smelling like an English Rose, talk the boys into 1 additional show...the following night. The equipment will all be ready to go and the preparations minimal. It will make the public happy, 20,000 additional fans will see this great band and the Ahmet Fund will benefit greatly. And I certainly know that it is not your goal...but you will be loved! This all seems so easy to understand. Please give it a thought. Take care. |
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| Submitted by zepfan123 on 06.Oct.2007 07:34 | |
| Hi Harvey I like many others have got up early again this morning, after being unable to sleep properly. I have kept quiet on this issue until now, but am feeling so worried and strongly about it that I felt I had to add my own feelings to the comments. I am a life long Led Zeppelin fan. I saw them in ballrooms, and city halls in the UK in the early days. I queued all night for tickets for Earls Court and went along to Knebworth. I have seen Page and Plant many times since; together and separately. I never thought that I would get the chance to see the best band in the world again. Now I am worrying that my tickets will be cancelled and can think of nothing else. I have booked trains and hotels for the concert and am desperate to go. Please please rethink this Harvey and honour those tickets already bought. There are many many more people like me who have not commented on here yet, and are just sitting quiet praying you will not carry this through, or that you will not pick up our details in any canelling move. Even now I am not sure if it wise to do raise my head and leave a comment and I am not using my normal email account for this, in case you can pick this up and cancel my tickets. And if there is some way of us contacting you to plead my case in a way that will not prejudice our chance for tickets please let us all know so that we can do so fairly. |
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| Submitted by Dave G on 06.Oct.2007 07:47 | |
| Dear Harvey, I registered for the Zep ballot in all good faith and I understand the conditions that apply. I will be very happy to comply with the conditions if I am successful in the second ballot (FINGERS CROSSED). I fully support your efforts to make the tickets available to fans only and can't understand the moans and groans of people who, like me, signed up to comply with the conditions set out. All that said and done, if I am not succsessful with the accepted manor of aquiring a ticket, I would try to obtain a ticket in other ways. While I accept this may be playing into the hands of the very people you, and I, wish to deter, I am just desperate to be at this event. I first saw Zeppelin play in 1971 and have been a true fan since 1969 when I first heard Zepp 2. I have also seen them on every tour they did in the '70's including the last gig in the u.k. 1979. I can assure all the people with valid tickets they will not be dissapointed, enjoy this event an count yourself very lucky indeed. Cheers, Dave. |
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| Submitted by john m on 06.Oct.2007 08:31 | |
| I really feel like that the fairest option to proceed in this truly messy situation is to make sure everyone who managed to purchase tickets BEFORE the updated FAQ's on ahmettribute.com gets to have their tickets honoured regardless of how they acquired the passcode. Saying it is "painfully obvious that if the ticket is not transferable then the method of obtaining the ticket is not transferable either" is just not good enough, I really feel you have to have broad enough shoulders to admit that in all your efforts to keep the scalpers at bay you missed something. I like so many other it seems was sad to find I didn't win ticket in the ballot and irrate when I saw passcodes being sold on ebay but a quick check of the rules seemed to show no reason why this couldn't be done. At the end of the day its pretty simple the scalpers got their money.... |
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| Submitted by gman on 06.Oct.2007 09:34 | |||||||||
| Reading the majority of the comments this may be unpopular but I agree with jazbass777 and comments made by him/ her on 5th October and have to commend Harvey on trying to stop touts and anyone trying to buy there way in to the concert over and above winning the actual ticket draw. I, like the majority of people, was not fortunate to win but accept that was part of the rules - I was one of the unlucky ones (and best of luck to thse who did). I do not think it was in the spirit of the event to go and buy the tickets from touts / on auctions etc - if it was an auction then Harvey would have done this and tickets would have gone to the highest bidders (he didn't and well done for not doing that). Sour grapes - a little - but I think people should not be allowed to just buy codes and then buy the tickets - this was not what this event and the ticketing process that goes with it was all about. It was a lottery - you win you but the tickets. Well done Harvey for making a stand - and you did make it clear that you were doing everything you could to stop touts . people making a profit off the sales of the ticket which is just what you are doing. If the tickets do go back in the lottery then best of luck to all of us that registered and didn't get a ticket - I'll be checking my e-mails like everyone else. In the meantime enjoy the concert to everyone who is going - I'm off to listen to How the West was Won Regards
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| Submitted by newrecords on 06.Oct.2007 11:16 | |
| I like many others read in detail the terms and conditions on both the Ahmet Ertegun and ticketmaster sites before going ahead and buying a passcode There was no mention at that time that these passcodes would not let you buy tickets or that you had to be the person who had recieved them via the ballot Now we see that the terms and conditions have changed and people that have bought tickets this way will lose out, a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted dont you think ?Again the people making money are the touts and ticketmaster unless they give people a full refund. Come on Mr Goldsmiththis is your chance to do the right thing and let the fans keep their tickets however they came by them . |
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| Submitted by jp4480 on 06.Oct.2007 11:35 | |
| Harvey Let me state at the outset that I really admire the sentiment behind the ticket allocation process ofr the the Ahmet concert. Anything that goes some way to keeping hands out of touts/secondary agents (call them what you will) is to be applauded. The problem here is that people completely unconnected with such parties are getting shafted. I'm a life-long Zepp fan and have been to many of your events. However, my friend won the ballot, has no credit card (as he has recently emigrated) so I completed the pruchase on Ticketmaster. Now, I'm really worried and angry that I might have to travel to London with him only to find that I can't get to the gig . . . . This really is causing me sleepless night. Harvey - I am not a tout . . . I did not purchase my tickets from a tout . . . the T&Cs did not state I couldn't do this . . . I have booked flights and accommodation for me and my friend. Do I have any recourse here or am I screwed out of lot of money (tha I don't really have)????????????????????????????? |
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| Submitted by StevieP on 06.Oct.2007 11:47 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Harvey, Like most of the other people on this site i have been a life long Zeppelin fan since i saw them at Knebworth in 1979. I was not lucky enough to win in the ballot and after reading the T&C's purchased a code off of Ebay. I have since contacted the seller on Ebay and he has agreed to give me my money back if my tickets are cancelled. This guy was a genuine winner of the ballot, who could not attend, so they are not all bad. I have tied to contact Ticketmaster to see if i will still be able to get into the concert. I have not managed to contact them by phone, so i sent my first email on the 2nd Oct and a number since without reply. Is there anybody else i should be contacting ??? Has anybody got an anwer from Ticketmaster, what is their view on this mess ?? I agree with most people on this blog, how can you change the rules after you have done the ballot, you made a mistake so you need to let it go. Everybody who is going will be TRUE fans so you have still got what you wanted. So a few people have made some money on Ebay, but thats what Ebay is all about. You dont purchase off there unless you want whats being sold. If you are willing to pay the money then how does that not make you a TRUE Fan? The ticket prices were already very high, so they were aimed at people with the means to spend that amount, these same people in most cases can afford to buy the codes from the likes of Ebay. You have avoided the situation of tickets going to corporate companies where you then end up with people not turning up and empty seats and this has to be commended. So at least you are going to have 20000 Led Zep fans at the show. I was really looking forward to the show, as was my girlfriend who has never had the chance to see them, but now we have no clue if we are going or not. Like most people here all we want to know is whats happening. Either make it very clear on your site that we will be granted tickets or arrange for our money to be refunded. You cant leave everybody in limbo like this, its just not fair to the fans. Look forward to hearing from you very soon. Steve
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| Submitted by tooloudbob on 06.Oct.2007 13:00 | |
| Since this is a charity event, why did you not set the ticket price in accordence with market value? Would two shows ( New York & london) have been a bad idea? How about three? Given the circumstances, eveything resonble has been done to prevent scalpers from making a buck. Let the tickets stay as they are. Given the demographics of the band's fan base, one can assured that some financially stable individuals may have provided financial assistance to their less fortunate friends and relatives who won the auction. These individuals would not think twice about filing suit for breach of contract, and while they may not win, it would be a time consuming an expensive process for you to defend. Think about the greater good. |
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| Submitted by roger on 06.Oct.2007 13:06 | |||||
| Sirs, We are two friends, Led Zep fans that, hopefully, we'll fly from Spain to see the show: one of us is the GENUINE ballot winner and the other is the GENUINE ticket purchaser. Our only mistake is that the ballot winner didn't buy the tickets with his card (we bought them before the rules where explicited more). We have sent an email to you and on Monday we will send a fax with our plead / explanation (just to make sure that you get it, sorry for insisting) that explains our case which encloses the plane tickets that we bought after booking the concert tickets and our ID cards for you to check that the GENUINE ballot winner and the GENUINE ticket purchaser are the people that will travel to London in those dates (all ballot/booking references are enclosed). We hope this will be enough for you to not to cancel our tickets. However, in case you need further information in order to sort this problem, do not hesitate in contacting us. Losing the money of the plane tickets is the least of our worries: it would be very hard to miss what will probably be Led Zeppelin's last flight only because of which of us paid the tickets. Hope to hear from you soon, Joan & Roger Barcelona - Spain
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| Submitted by airwavey on 06.Oct.2007 14:01 | |||||
| So, I am somewhat reminded of Shakespeare's Shylock in all this. Shylock thought he had a contractually tight system to extract his 'pound of flesh', but was readily shown to be way off the mark when it came to legal realities. Does this not, in a way, seem similar to the situation we have here? With Harvey trying to post-justify legal changes to a system that wasn't legally watertight in the first place, and still not so following the supposed retrospectively operating changes.
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| Submitted by Hearbroken in NY on 06.Oct.2007 14:10 | |
| Dear Mr. Goldsmith: Despite my persistence, I have been unable to get a response from your office via other means since Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 2. Please cancel my tickets and issue a refund. As you should already know from my multiple attempts to contact you since the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, via your Contact box and fax number, I am the recipient of this awesome fellow Zeppelin fan's random act of kindness: http://www.planet-zeppelin.com/vb/showpost.php?p=221632&postcount=33 It was NOT clear to us that he could not share his passcode with a fellow fan because you did not include that stipulation in the Oct. 1 winning lottery email. Ticketmaster allowed the ticket purchase on Oct. 2. Your press release was posted too late on Oct. 2, after tickets had already been purchased. The followup explanation of Oct. 4 was emailed much too late to prevent this mess. In a nutshell, our misunderstanding was caused by your people's lack of attention to detail. I do not want to be associated with this debacle any longer. As I wrote in my fax to you yesterday, nothing in this world is worth such aggravation and heartache. Please cancel my tickets and issue a refund asap. At this point I would not want to be anywhere near the O2 Arena on Nov. 26: thousands of angry people being turned away is a recipe for disaster. I sincerely hope that this event does forever tarnish the legacies of Ahmet Ertegun and Led Zeppelin. Kind regards, W.A. |
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| Submitted by Hearbroken in NY on 06.Oct.2007 14:15 | |||||
| Reposting for legibility: Dear Mr. Goldsmith: Despite my persistence, I have been unable to get a response from your office via other means since Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 2. Please cancel my tickets and issue a refund. As you should already know from my multiple attempts to contact you since the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, via your Contact box and fax number, I am the recipient of this awesome fellow Zeppelin fan's random act of kindness: http://www.planet-zeppelin.com/vb/ showpost.php?p=221632&postcount=33 It was NOT clear to us that he could not share his passcode with a fellow fan because you did not include that stipulation in the Oct. 1 winning lottery email. Ticketmaster allowed the ticket purchase on Oct. 2. Your press release was posted too late on Oct. 2, after tickets had already been purchased. The followup explanation of Oct. 4 was emailed much too late to prevent this mess. In a nutshell, our misunderstanding was caused by your people's lack of attention to detail. I do not want to be associated with this debacle any longer. As I wrote in my fax to you yesterday, nothing in this world is worth such aggravation and heartache. Please cancel my tickets and issue a refund asap. At this point I would not want to be anywhere near the O2 Arena on Nov. 26: thousands of angry people being turned away is a recipe for disaster. I sincerely hope that this event does *not* forever tarnish the legacies of Ahmet Ertegun and Led Zeppelin. Kind regards, W.A.
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| Submitted by Duke on 06.Oct.2007 14:29 | |
| Dear Harvey I like so many on this site hope that your comments are designed to create doubt when TRUE fans consider using whatever means are available to them to obtain a ticket. In creating that doubt you reduce the potential profits of the touts, this is also a benefit of having 72 hours to register. A tout for example could actually end up paying out to acquire passcodes but then fail to make a return if the code is unsold because of doubts on behalf of the potential purchasers when the code evaporates. All of this is great and certainly suits all our collective aims. However having understood all that - the GENUINE fans that would move heaven and earth to attend could ultimately suffer twice for being a true fan. Firstly they lose their money to the tout who is happy anyway, secondly they lose their ticket which they worked hard to acquire. This cannot be your intention. If you are not one of the many fans who follow LZ almost religiously then it may be hard for you to understand that the present strategy is actually cruel, it keeps people awake at night etc etc. As a TRUE fan from Earls Court, Knebworth (both dates), ARMS Concert, Outrider Tour, Cambridge Folf Festival, The Firm, Honeydrippers, numerous Plant Tours, Page and Plant, Zooma etc etc etc - I am not sure if its a good idea to highlight the fact I spent hard earnt money to acquire a code in the hope it will be fully confirmed, or do i keep my head down on the basis I currently have a confirmation from Ticketmaster and my card has been debited for the tickets? What should I do ? Please advise. If this was truly your intention form the start - why didn't the ticketmaster site originally highlight an issue when purchasing tickets? One of your earlier comments even suggested that people would be turned away when collecting tickets from the box office - if thats the case who is going to be able to buy those tickets ? You are surely not going to do another ballot are you ? So the office will then have to resell them - so why not to the original purchaser rather than the touts lined up happy to take them off your hands then sell them back to the original purchaser for more money. I applaud your attempt to cut out the touts - I really do - but if one TRUE fan gets shafted as a consequence of your attempts then it was not worth it. The tickets are for me and my daughter to go who experienced Achilles Last Stand and others as lullabies - I paid £500 for a code plus the cost of the tickets and would have paid more. If you cancel my tickets I will lose he £500 anyway so the tout has his/her winnings I will have nothing and I will then have to spend more to acquire a ticket another way. Please advise what you think I should do to protect my tickets and allow me some sleep - I am spending far too much time looking at news sites trying to comfort my anxiety. Regards and Good Luck Duke |
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| Submitted by merileestar on 06.Oct.2007 14:48 | |||||
| Dear Harvey, I echo many here that bought a passcode , then tickets,on ebay oct 1st, then was horrified oct 2 when you announced this method would be unacceptable. Some say we should have known, but I plead ignorance and innocence. I want to see Led Zep so bad that I paid $2, 500.US for the passcode. This is extravagant for a me as I am disabled and on disability. I would give a kidney to see them! I am an honest person and agree with stopping Touts, but in those moments of rushing oct 1st eve, I truly believed this method of buying passwords would be acceptable and not shady or shifty. I hope you find a way to help us TRUE FANS got caught in this mess to obtain tickets, and not be punished. I sent a fax with ALL my transactions, including password, ebay reciept, etc. so it can help you review my situation, as well as calls and emails to you because I want to help. Please see in your heart a way to help us not punish us Led Zep fans. And please do not classify us desperate fans as touts and the bad guys!!! Thank you Merilee Moscardelli Trenholm
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| Submitted by pegasusphil on 06.Oct.2007 16:26 | |
| Well come on Harvey - what's up, cat got your tongue ? We know you've read the many, many legitimate complaints on this blog (otherwise why have a blog and comments at all ?). Time to stop being cowardly and actually respond to some of us. It seems that even your "offer" that genuine fans' cases would be considered is also (like your "added contractual terms") worth nothing - no responses from you. Be a man and respond - you know you've upset many true fans and you know you've taken the money already - and what exactly IS the interest on £137.50 times 2, times the number of fans treated this way, and held by you for "up to two weeks" ? No doubt it's enough to pay for your next holiday...... If anyone has shafted anyone here, it's you taking money under false pretences from genuine fans, not the touts. Be a bigger man and respond properly, eh ? PW |
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| Submitted by rpwcpw on 06.Oct.2007 16:38 | |
| I have read many comments on this issue in the past days and the outcome is very unfortunate. I honestly believe you cannot promote ethics and what is just by changing rules as needed to promote ones own agenda. These are "people" that are being severely impacted in a very negative manner. Not scammers or cheats. Just good people who have a dream and followed all the rules to realize that dream. Maybe a bit corny, but Mr. Goldsmith has gotten a bit "high and mighty" controlling tickets as he deems necessary. Reading his blog, I sense that he has forgotten that these Led Zeppelin lovers put him in the britches he is wearing today and they are being demeaned in a inappropriate manner. The message is heard, but let's let it go. |
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| Submitted by pegasusphil on 06.Oct.2007 16:41 | |||||||||
| Friends, if you have already purchased tickets from TicketMaster using a valid passcode obtained from someone else (i.e. gifted or purchased), you may like to note the following : Ticketmaster's privacy policy does not explicitly authorise them to share yur personal FINANCIAL details with the promoter. Doing so would be a breach of contract with you, a breach of their Data Protection registration, and a misuse of finacial information. You can telephone the TicketMaster automated helpline and by working through the menu system you can be given a verbal confirmation (note "c" the word !) of your purchase, and what's more, you can also request a WRITTEN confirmation to be sent as well. Added to the fact you will have already received an email confirmation, I'd say that is prima facie evidence of a valid purchase, and a CONTRACT which is binding on TicketMaster and the promoter. Hope this is helpful. PW
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| Submitted by kagey1 on 06.Oct.2007 16:54 | |
| Dear Harvey Please ask the boys to play a second show. This would really help ease this uneasy situation. Let the code purchasers keep their tickets and their plans. It has been done. I did not receive the "Winner" email. I did not purchase a ticket from eBay. I easily could have and think now I should have, but you told us not to. But I do, ohhh, sooo very much want to go to London to see this show and be a part of this celebration. Please add a second show. The rules and regulations can better be adhered to the 2nd time around. |
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| Submitted by Anita Angell on 06.Oct.2007 17:02 | |||||
| I think it's really good that you've tried to set up a system to beat the touts. I wish this had been in place for the Springsteen concert. Anita Angell
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| Submitted by zepfan on 06.Oct.2007 17:08 | |
| A few points: -Most Zep fans are in their 40's and 50's, with the financial means to acquire these tickets, unlike when they were teens etc. You should have treated this like a normal concert and let the tickets be bought by the highest bidder. We were fans for over 30 years, worked at our jobs, supported LZ and now find ourselves in the position to pay dearly for this, and you want to have a ticket lottery??? You've taken a capitalist system and turned it into a communistic one. Survival of the fittest (and richest) should apply. -Page/Plant should be ashamed. This is how they let their most ardent fans be treated? A 20,000 seat gig is the best they can do for their fans who've been with them for 30+ years? They suck, plain and simple! Yes, it's their choice not to tour, but let's face it; without us, the fans, they would be nothing more than a footnote in history, famous for ripping off poor black American blues artists. So in effect, we made them what they are, and we deserve more! I hope Plant's home in Shatterford is overrun by violent, pissed off ex-fans. He'll need more than an iron fence to keep the mobs at bay. I hope Jimmy and Robert read this. Are they too lazy to get on a plane and play another gig in the US? The country that made them? Page/Plant and Harvey Goldsmith, you all suck. I hope the LZ curse hits you hard one day! |
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| Submitted by pl on 06.Oct.2007 17:33 | |
| I have set up a mailing list for discussion of any formal legal case: Just send an email with SUBSCRIBE as the subject to: ledzep.legal@level83.com To unsub just send an email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject at any time. Once subscribed any email sent to ledzep.legal@level83.com will go to every member on the list. |
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| Submitted by Geoff on 06.Oct.2007 17:46 | |||||||||
| Hello Harvey Stick to your guns Harvey, the system has been flouted by a small number of people who want to make a fortune out of true Led Zep fans. I feel sorry for all those people who bought passcodes on ebay and then tickets but it was against the spirit of the ballot. The vast majority of those buying passcodes on ebay had to pay by PayPal so they can easily claim their money back. The tickets should be put back into the draw and reallocated. This process can be repeated until all the tickets are sold to those who registered just the once (unlike the people I know of who entered 8 or more email addresses). Regards Geoff
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| Submitted by wbc-worker on 06.Oct.2007 18:03 | |
| Fortunately I am old enough to have seen the original LED ZEPPELIN at Knebworth { 11 August 1979 a year before John Bonham untimely death } and have seen Page and Plant on several occasions so really I did not enter the ballot. What intrigues me is your statement ' Now for the small minority, if you think that you can beat the system by buying from eBay or any other website you are wrong, you will NOT be allowed in to the concert and your application for tickets will be cancelled within the next 14 days. ' I cant see how you can enforce that claim. If a person won their passcode and bought two tickets using their own credit card they can advertise the spare ticket provided they introduce the other person as their Guest you or no one else can stop them getting in. Or perhaps you are going to use a polygraph test to work out if the guest is a friend or not ? Are you claiming that you can track who is selling their spare ticket ? Lets face it - if you wanted to stop all abuse then you should have limited it to one ticket + you cant change the T & C retrospectively. Michael Eavis { Glastonbury } nearly got it right although there was balls up when tickets went on sale - a person could buy 5,000 tickets if they had 5,000 registration numbers because the site did not ' timeout ' so people were calling their friends up once they had reached the sales area - I am sure by next year that will be sorted out. I work at many Music events { and have done so for 18 years - Note 1 } and most of the ' parasite's ' I run into is in the VIP Area { Guest area } most are ' friends of a friend ' and most cant be bothered to go into the main arena to watch any Band . At Glastonbury for example I have seen a VIP with a wad of Guest wrist tags { at least 30 tags } and this joker was selling them at the Guest entrance ' in full view of Security ' and that is not a isolated incident - I have also seen it at Reading as well. The only Band that ever did anything about it was ' Oasis ' when they went on stage the VIP Bar was forced to close so reluctantly the ' VIP's ' shuffled out to watch the Band . I appreciate that ticket touts are also ' parasite's ' and any scheme that will prevent them from making money should be applauded but you have to sort out your T & C before Registration. brian ps By the way - most systems can be beaten - your very own ' Disable right mouse click Script ' was defeated by me and this message is being posted direct from my clipboard. Note 1 - although I work at events in actual fact neither I or my Team makes a penny - over the years all our earnings went to Charity { a good £ 75,000 } |
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| Submitted by rockinmetalforever2000 on 06.Oct.2007 18:19 | |||||
| Hello Harvey.Didn't the most Genuine of fans wind up with the tickets.?I think only a Genuine Fan would spend thousands to get to the UK to see what will be the last LED ZEPPELIN show.How am I not genuine?They are my absolute fav band.The rules in the gereral email say nothing even remote/ elude to original winner or mention that only the original ballot winner can buy the tickets.I purchased the tickets on OCT 2nd.The follow up E-mail came out on OCT 4th.I booked my flight and am very excited.I am the most Genuine of Genuine fans.The Genuine Fans wound up with the tickets.Please let me into the show without any hastle.I did nothing wrong.I followed the instructions on the email and am the original purchaser via the rules of the original email.Please dont ruin what will be the kick off of the most joyous of Holidays that I can ever remember.Pleeeeeeeeeezzzzzeeee dont turn into the Grinch.Please let your heart grow 3 times larger than it is now.I entered the ballot and didnt win and got then passcode via a friend as a favor.Please return the favor.Do you want an additional donation the the foundation?so be it.I will do what I have to do.Can u not see that I am Genuine fan reaching out to you MR.GOLDSMITH ?Please be fair and have a heart for the upcomming Christmas Tide.May peace be with you Harvey. Steve M. New Hampshire USA
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| Submitted by Led_zep_so_what on 06.Oct.2007 18:24 | |||||
| Firstly, everyone that is crying about missing out on tickets (grow up) - it's only a band. As for you Harvey, you are only using this event as a excuse to ensure that you, othe promoters and ticket agencies such as ticketmaster gain control of the secondary ticket market. You are so two faced. Firstly, you say your in it to look after the fans yet you let the likes of ticketmaster allow to charge us stupid booking fees. Yet you do nothing about this. My mate got a pass code - he is going and sold the other ticket to someone for £2,5000. The way I see it that is a stupid amount of money to pay but if someone is willing to pay - good luck to them. So when you say your system will beat all the touts i have one word - WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just goes to show you can put all the top security SAS style measures to prevent touts. But as long as there is a demand the touts ain't going nowhere. Harvey if you and your friends actually did something to help thr fans instead of just taking their money - then maybe I would believe you when you say you actually look out for the fans
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| Submitted by Dandu on 06.Oct.2007 19:54 | |||||||||
| The BBC has picked up the story. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7031581.stm
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| Submitted by highland_rage on 06.Oct.2007 20:04 | |||||||||||||
| 4:00am here in Australia..... can't sleep.... :( curse all this stuff, i'm going paranoid. I have done everything right (i hope). i got a passcode in my email, logged onto ticketmaster, put in my code, bought my tickets (with 'my' card) and got a receipt. i sent an email here and still no reply just to confirm everything is all good.
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| Submitted by PissedOff on 06.Oct.2007 20:21 | |||||
| MR.GOLDSMITH- YOU ARE NO PETER GRANT!! EVERYONE LEAVE COMMENTS AT MY BLOG: LZTICKETRIPOFF.COM or E-MAIL ME AT RD@LZTICKETRIPOFF.COM. GATHERING NAMES FOR POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION! JUST THINK, IF WE ALL WHO BOUGHT OUR TICKETS PRIOR TO THE EX POST FACTO "NEW" RESTRICTIONS DON'T GET TICKETS OR A REFUND, ALL THAT MONEY STAYS IN "THEIR" POCKETS!! NOT A GOOD THING FOR A "CHARITABLE" EVENT, IS IT?
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| Submitted by Linda on 06.Oct.2007 20:31 | |||||
| I don't want the money! I want to go to the show! But if you Mr. Goldsmith wants to kick off us who played the rules you've changed, please do it quickly because I NEED TO KNOW IF I CAN FLY TO LONDON OR NOT! I live overseas, it's not as simple! Please put an end in this mess as quickly as you can! 14 days are too long! Also I've been sleepless these days because of it! Don't threaten us more time, please! I'M DESPAIRED!!!!!!!!
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| Submitted by HarveyGoldsmithBlows on 06.Oct.2007 21:16 | |
| Hey Goldsmith! Instead of ruining the dreams of almost all the people who have left comments here, why don't you go after the touts and leave us alone! How is this website able to sell up to 30 tickets per customer? Is this your personal stash? http://www.zimbio.com/pilot?ZURL=%2FLed%2BZeppelin%2Farticles%2F30%2FNEWS%2BBuy%2BLed%2BZeppelin%2BTickets&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.londonticketshop.co.uk%2Fbuy%2FLed-Zeppelin.html Be a man and admit that your plan failed! It's the only way to end this problem! |
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| Submitted by Led_zep_so_what on 06.Oct.2007 21:35 | |
| HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HARVEY GOLDSMITH HAS MESSED UP BIG STYLE - BETWEEN A ROCK AND HARD PLACE STICKS TO HIS GUNS WILL FACE LOADS OF LEGAL ACTION AND LOOSE LOADS IN DAMAGES CHANGES HIS MIND AND BACKS DOWN - WILL LOOK WEAK HARVEY MY MAN FROM AMSTERDAM -YOU HAVE DONE IT THIS TIME! THE TERMS PISS UP AND BREWERY COME TO MIND |
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| Submitted by zepfan on 06.Oct.2007 21:37 | |||||||||
| Y'know, screw Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. They have no regard for their fans. If they did, they would: -not allow this to happen. -issue a statement. -fire harvey goldsmith. -play a gig at a larger venue. -not have only 8000 chances to attend this done via email. -record the concert on DVD. -broadcast the concert on pay per view. LZ has continually screwed it's fans over the years. I for one am done with them. I hope Page and Plant read this blog, and I hope this hurts them. I hope they can feel a small amount of the pain that their biggest fans now feel. They have crushed the hearts of people, just obliterated 30 or more years of loving feelings toward their band. This is what you get for supporting them for all these years??? You guys should be ashamed. Forget Harvey Goldsmith. Why isn't anyone venting on the band? The promoter is just a promoter. Jimmy and Robert, you'd be nothing without us. Thanks for nothing!
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| Submitted by pl on 06.Oct.2007 21:47 | |
| I have set up a mailing list for discussion of any formal legal issue (60 people sub'd so far): Just send an email with SUBSCRIBE as the subject to: ledzep.legal@level83.com To unsub just send an email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject at any time. Once subscribed any email sent to ledzep.legal@level83.com will go to every member on the list. |
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| Submitted by Dandu on 06.Oct.2007 21:53 | |||||||||||||
| Just had another thought. Surely the touts, if forced to give up thousands of dollars in respect of cancelled tickets or if they face lawsuits for the recovery of that money, will sue or third party Mr. Goldsmith claiming that his unlawful rule changes have damaged them. Won't it be funny when the touts are on the winning side of a lawsuit against Mr. Goldsmith? They will have significant economic loss. It will be unrecoverable after the date the show passes. Mr. Goldsmith may very well wind up paying the touts for these losses suffered by his actions! But for his rule changes, they would have been able to sell something of value. I don't support the touts, I actually agree with many of the things that Mr. Goldsmith has said about them, but I will certainly laugh a little inside if this whole thing ends up with Mr. Goldsmith repaying the touts for their losses. The lunacy continues...
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| Submitted by kwprew on 06.Oct.2007 22:06 | |||||
| Harvey I registered in the lottery and am one of the unlucky ones. Can you let us know if and when you will be making tickets that were either not purchased or are being cancelled available to those of us that registered. KP
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| Submitted by Bonzoisturninginhisgrave on 06.Oct.2007 22:23 | |||||||||||||||||
| Looks like our loveable putz Harvey has got himself into some real sh!t . In fact I would go so far to say that he has got himself so far up sh!tcreek I don't know if he should start trying to swim or if somebody should call the lifeguards from Baywatch to help him out. The thing is this...the people who bought passcodes off of people lucky enough to win - and then bought tickets before the change of rules - have a legal contract. A contract with Ticketmaster too. Ticketmaster, by law, cannot ask for financial details etc when these people go to collect the tickets. What's this wristband thing as well? Is that like some kind of Schwazenegger film like The Running Man? If they move out of a 1 mile radius of the O2 on the 25th or 26th of November are their heads gonna blow off? Besides, think of it like this. Some people have been so desperate for tickets they got their Mum, Dad, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Granny, Cat and dog ad nauseum to register on the site. Sh!t, people were logging in as Mickey Mouse at Disneyland to try and get tickets. So I ask you this: If my 95 year old grandma got a ticket and I booked it for in my credit card to go with a friend, do they want me to roll her up in her wheelchair when I go collect. Also with regards to people giving their details over the internet on the sign up process. I want to see how many people have ID in the name of Mickey Mouse. Nice try Harvey, treat this one as a learning curve. Feck, the only people who may be out of pocket here are the actual fans trying to get the damned tickets. At the end of the day the people that sold the passcodes did so LEGALLY! It's Harvey that is now trying to change the rules for the actual ticket owners. Just think though. I should have bought shares in Ticketmaster the other day. 11,000 refunded tickets minus the booking fee....let's see - the 25 quid booking fee * 11,000 = 275,000 quid. Not bad for a days work. Anyway, do what I am going to do. I got myself a deckchair, some popcorn and a whole crate of Heineken and a bottle of Jagermeister to boot. I'm gonna make my way down to the O2 in London on the 25th early in the morning to watch something that only happens in nature once every 100 or so years. A bonafide full blown sh!t storm. Forget that cr@p Hollywood "Twister" film, this is gonna be the storm of the century. I want to see you, Mr Harvey Goldsmith, tell all those Zep fans that they can't get in. I was there when Van Halen cancelled the gig at Wembley Arena 2 hours before the gig started. And this was when Sammy was on vocals. I cannot tell you that it made a soccer riot look like a playschool punch up P.S. Harvey if you were an alien you would be from Uranus. I say this because it seems your head is stuck so far up it at the moment. P.P.S Does this mean that if I win the lottery and donate all the money to a cattery that the cattery will have to give the money back as the money ws meant to be for me? Would I be able to buy my mate a Ferrari with the money? According to Harvey this would just not be possible. Oh yeah, forgot to mention. I could do it but he would tell me 2 weeks after and then get the stuff re-possesed. P.P.P.S. With respect to the touts, these guys are scum but it's economics at it's best. Buy low sell high. The real a-holes in the music business are the promoters. I have some extensive experience in booking gigs in Europe and I am sorry to say this but promoters are the biggest scum you will ever meet. They will only book a band if they don't have to work. E.g. if you propose a good, solid band, who just need a bit of publicity to fill a vanue like Son of a Gun or Diamond Head then they won't bother returning your calls or e-mailing. If you propose Linkin Park they cream in their pants and are totally receptive. I had one once who booked a gig and arranged transport and promised to be professional etc but then turned up just to party and have a good time. No advertising no nothing. As, in his opinion, "his job" was to make sure the band were there. Period. He apparently was not there to make sure the backline was Ok, catering was sufficient, hospitality was good etc. Sorry mate, it's just not on. Your job is to entertain, not to be entertained. So Harvey, when you understand that, you will probably start to achieve not only success, as you already have that to some degree. However, you will earn respect. And that, my friend, is worth more than anything. I'll stop going on now but I could be here all night writing this! GO ON LOOSER DO SOME MORE IDIOTIC TOUT HUNTING
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| Submitted by PissedOff on 06.Oct.2007 22:45 | |
| EVERYONE LEAVE COMMENTS AT MY BLOG: LZTICKETRIPOFF.COM or E-MAIL ME AT RD@LZTICKETRIPOFF.COM. GATHERING NAMES FOR POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION! JUST THINK, IF WE ALL WHO BOUGHT OUR TICKETS PRIOR TO THE EX POST FACTO "NEW" RESTRICTIONS DON'T GET TICKETS OR A REFUND, ALL THAT MONEY STAYS IN "THEIR" POCKETS!! NOT A GOOD THING FOR A "CHARITABLE" EVENT, IS IT? |
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| Submitted by maccafan10 on 06.Oct.2007 23:08 | |||||
| HARVEY GOLDSCROOGE ARE YOU FEELING LONELY, NO FRIENDS, STUCK IN A DARK PLACE, SUICIDAL, THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON YOUR SHOULDERS ? CONFIDENTIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT HELPLINE FOR ANYONE IN A CRISIS. CALL 08457 90 90 90 THE SAMARITANS. (Please don't keep us on too long though as we are inundated with YOUR CUSTOMERS !!!)
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| Submitted by Wisconsin Zep Fan on 06.Oct.2007 23:14 | |||||
| if anyone has the t&c and faq's pre oct. 1st screw up post them on here for everyone to read. as i am making my case and telling the press i failed to collect every word as it stood when we all go the codes to by OUR tickets. anything from the ahmettribute.com site and where ever else. i might just have to get a pack of heineken or bring some Lienenkugels from here in Wisconsin to the O2 in november. what a great riot it'll be, maybe ill slip on by and catch the stairway solo?
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| Submitted by PissedOff on 06.Oct.2007 23:17 | |||||||||
No one has asked- where are Jimmy, John Paul and Robert on this? For a bunch of working class guys, where are they? You'd think they'd weigh in OUR side. But who knows, many years later, with manors and estates, who knows?
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| Submitted by rockinmetalforever2000 on 06.Oct.2007 23:57 | |||||||||||||||||
| sorry PaulBazzo but the rules aere in the email that contained the passcode.those are the ONLY rules as it said: Congratulations we are very pleased to be able to offer you tickets for the Ahmet Tribute concert at the O2 Arena in London on the 26th November 2007. Please read the below information carefully before you proceed to booking, by continuing to the booking page you are agreeing to all the below. 1. You have 72 hours to book and pay for your tickets. 2. Your individual passcode can only be used once and will be invalid after the deadline as mentioned above has passed. 3. NO tickets will be mailed out. All concert goers must pick up their tickets and non-transferable wristbands in advance of the show at the O2 Arena between 10am and 6pm on Sunday 25th November and between 10am and 6pm on Monday 26th November. To avoid long queues on the day of the show you are strongly urged to pick up your tickets and wristbands on Sunday 25th November or arrive as early as possible on Monday 26th November, please be aware that ticket collection will be busy at peak times and you should anticipate having to wait to be served. 4. To collect the tickets each original purchaser and the person accompanying them to the show must be present in order to pick up the tickets and wristbands. NO exceptions 5. Each original purchaser must provide the actual credit card used for the purchase along with valid state-issued PHOTO ID in order to receive the tickets and non-transferable wristbands. All wristbands will be fitted immediately. 6. There will be no exceptions to the above, no name changes or letters of authorisation will be accepted under any circumstances. 7. On the night of the show EVERYONE will be required to present BOTH the WRISTBAND and TICKET for entrance to the show. Wristbands must NOT be removed or tampered with prior to entering the show or your access will be refused. Original ticketholders must bring photo ID to the show as they may be required to present it upon entry to the venue. 8. The original conditions of sale will be enforced. These tickets are non-transferable and any resale will void the transaction without refund. 9. If you book the tickets and are unable to attend we will refund the face value of the tickets (£125 per ticket) if you contact us before the 20th October 2007. No refunds will be accepted after this date. 10. Customers with disabilities should forward this email and contact phone number to ticketing@theo2.co.uk to book accessible seating (subject to availability). We are doing our best to keep the tickets for this event out of the hands of secondary ticket sellers and in the hands of the fans so please help us by adhering to the above.
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| Submitted by smalleya on 07.Oct.2007 00:23 | |
| Mr. Goldsmith, You know what you need to do. Please issue a statement that you do not want to punish the fans, so you are not going to cancel our tickets. Continue that you are disapointed in how some of the tickets were distributed, but that this was a learning experience for next time. If there are any tickets that have not been bought re-issue those in the ballot with updated transfre rules in the terms in conditions. That way your intentions will be succesful in round 2. Please don't ruin my dreams. |
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| Submitted by rockinmetalforever2000 on 07.Oct.2007 00:37 | |||||||||
....again ..it does not remotely state anywhere that the ballot holder is the only one that can purchase the tickets.the original purchaser is the person with the ticketmaster confirmation code
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| Submitted by Duke on 07.Oct.2007 00:47 | |
| Hey It's fun to see Harveys blog only ever had a max 8 comments prior to this LZ thing !!! Boy have you got some reading to do Monday - and I tell you what if you cancel them tickets - your own site will crash the server.......that will be news! |
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| Submitted by rockinmetalforever2000 on 07.Oct.2007 01:00 | |||||
hey paulbazzo.I think your reaching here or just trying to aggravate.yes or no does it say anywhere on the purchase agreement from the winning email that the ballot winner is the absolute only peroson that can purchase the tickets???yes or no??it is a yes or no question.those are the purchase tems here by law.do you comprehend that?.that is what was sent out.again,a simple yes or no will do thank you
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| Submitted by rockinmetalforever2000 on 07.Oct.2007 01:14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
No It did not state that anywhere on the ballot.
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| Submitted by rockinmetalforever2000 on 07.Oct.2007 01:31 | |||||||||||||
frequently asked questions are not binding to a winning email that states nowhere that the original ballot holder is the the only person that can buy the tickets.Original purchaser again is the person that holds the tickets now.it doesnt say anywhere on the winning email that the code is not transferable.nowhere at all.they should have stated this on the winning email if that was the case.and that everyones point here.
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| Submitted by tooloudbob on 07.Oct.2007 03:05 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Harvey, Just out of curiosity... If Bill Graham was promoting a unique one time Beatles reuinion and you had no connections for admission, what would you do?
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| Submitted by Jorge(TEA) on 07.Oct.2007 03:17 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I think it doesn't matter what people say and think here. A decission has been taken and you can say what you want, but you won't be able to change the promotor's decission about this subject. I don't have tickets cos I didn't win the golden passcode. I was tempted to buy one code in ebay, but reading Mr. Goldsmith's blog from October the 2nd, I knew it would have been useless. Sorry folks but you have to learn to lose sometimes
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| Submitted by pl on 07.Oct.2007 04:01 | |||||
| For anyone who is interested, here are the original terms and conditions. Note: No mention of passcodes or tickets, or any limitations on re-sale or transfer. Remember an FAQ does not constitute a contractual agreement. TERMS & CONDITIONS (THE “TERMS”) These are Our Terms which you should read before you use Our site or before you register. These Terms are an agreement between the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund (“We/Us/Our”) and you. They will govern the relationship between you and Us and everything that you do on www.ahmettribute.com (the “Site”). If you do not accept the Terms, you should not view, access or otherwise use any part of the Site. In such a case, please leave this Site now. 1. Acceptance of Terms 1.1 These Terms govern your use of the Site, the information that We make available to you on the Site and any goods or services that We sell you directly from this Site. These Terms do not govern any other relationships with any third party. If you are entering into a contract with a third party such as buying tickets to an event, you ought to read their Terms carefully before entering into an agreement with them. By using the Site you accept that you will be bound by these Terms and any changes that may be made to them from time to time. If you do not agree to be bound by these Terms, please do not use the Site. 1.2 We may update these Terms from time to time and it is your responsibility to ensure that you are up to date with them at all times. Please note that your continued use of the Site will indicate your acceptance of any such updated Terms. 2. Registration Information and Your Privacy When you register on the Site, you will be required to provide Us with your full name, your address and your email address (the “Registration Information”). We use the Registration Information as detailed in Our Privacy Policy. 3. Provision of Service 3.1 This Site may be modified or discontinued by Us with or without notice to you and without liability to you or to any third party (except where any such action taken by Us causes you to suffer loss or death or personal injury as a result of Our negligence). The Site is made available to you strictly on an “as is” basis. 3.2 Where We have posted information on the Site, We endeavour to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. 4. Your Obligations to Us 4.1 You agree that you will only use the Site in such a way that adheres to these Terms. 4.2 You hereby confirm that you have obtained the consent of the telephone line user and of the person who pays the bill associated with that telephone line prior to accessing the Site. You are responsible for obtaining all necessary equipment to enable you to access the Site. 5. Intellectual Property Rights and Use of Site 5.1 Copyright and design rights extend to the design, look and feel of Our Website, all photographs, images and text appearing on it and any promotional material and We assert Our Intellectual Property Rights therein. 5.2 We do not give you any right or interest in any copyright, trade mark, trading style, trade name, goodwill, design right, patent, database, software right, whether registered or unregistered (“Intellectual Property Rights”) in any text, image, logo, trade mark, table, compilation, database, software or other material in which Intellectual Property Rights subsist featured on the Site because they are owned by Us. You can use all the material on Our Site and you may use, replicate, copy, modify, distribute or adapt any area of the Site only to the extent We specifically say so. 5.3 We do not give you any rights in relation to any Intellectual Property Rights in any product or service that you purchase on the Site and nor do We give you right to reproduce the same, except where you download a ringtone, image, wallpaper, video, music or other digital file whether free of charge or on a paid for basis (“Download”) from the Site (where such services are made available) and such Download use will be subject to the specific terms and conditions applicable to such service. 5.4 We do not make any warranty or representation in respect of the ownership or origin of any third party materials included on the Site. 6. General 6.1 If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or judged by a Court of competent jurisdiction to be unlawful, void or unenforceable the provision shall, to the extent required, be severed from these Terms and shall not in any way affect any other circumstances pertaining to these Terms or the validity or enforcement of these Terms. 6.2 We may add to, change or remove any part of these Terms at any time, without notice. Any changes to these Terms or any terms shown on this Site apply as soon as they are shown. By continuing to use this Site after any changes are posted, you are indicating your acceptance of those changes. It is therefore your responsibility to check these Terms each time you use this Site, so that you can take note of any amendments we may make. We may add, change, discontinue, remove or suspend any other content displayed on this Site, including features and specifications of products and services described or depicted on the Site, temporarily or permanently, at any time, without notice and without liability. 6.3 The provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 shall not apply to these Terms. 6.4 Our Site and these Terms are subject to the laws of England and the Courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction in respect of any disputes arising from or subject to this Agreement.
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| Submitted by GENUINE on 07.Oct.2007 04:14 | |||||
| Dear Harvey, I agree with the majority of those who have posted replies to your Led Zeppelin comment and am writing here to further enlighten you as to the number of GENUINE Led Zeppelin fans who will be unable to attend the concert as a result of your new rule. For starters, the scalpers have already made their profits. The fans, who must be pretty genuine if they are willing to pay big bucks for a passcode, are the ones being harmed. The most efficient way to achieve what you strove for in terms of equal opportunity for purchase of concert tickets would have been to make the lottery hopefuls enlist their credit card numbers upon entering the lottery. This would have eliminated people who realistically could not afford to travel to London or buy the tickets in the first place. Under these circumstances my best friend, who cannot afford to travel to London, would never have won a ticket. This effects me because he offered me his passcode and I followed all the rules and regulation listed to purchase the tickets. I was also listed in the lottery, as I am a genuine Led Zeppelin fan, but was not one of the fortunate winners. I have already booked my flight and hotel accommodations. Your new rules will not achieve anything. A second lottery will undoubtedly produce winners who cannot attend. You are only creating an angry group of Led Zeppelin fans who will not let tickets purchased legitimately taken out of their hands because of new rules. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE reconsider your statement, sir.
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| Submitted by AllZepp fans everywhere on 07.Oct.2007 06:12 | |||||
| AN OPEN LETTER AND A SOLUTION Dear Harvey, NONE OF THIS would have happened if the full rules of the ballot had been published BEFORE registration took place. The chancers would have known they were wasting their time registering, and the draw/database would have contained only true fans in the way you wanted and everything would have worked right (as it did with AC/DC Hammersmmith reopening, no touts there, Hurrah). NOW, every draw was, and will be clogged with chancers, and LZ will have empty seats, instead of selling out in seconds. (Unless there's an unseemly giveaway at the last minute.) DESPERATE FANS took a risk on the pre-sale codes (mostly they were cheap) (NOTE true fans are annoyed at paying extra, but its better than missing the show.) NOW, with only one route probably left to get in, true fans are having to pay THOUSANDS to become a legit ticketholder's new best friend to get his second ticket. Loads will be scalped this way, loads will be carrying large summs of cash outside the O2 etc etc. Yes we're sad, but we're prepared to give up a year's wages for this one. Finally, A SOLUTION?. You've done incredibly well in killing the secondary market - I applaud you. BUT let's have some sense - A COMPROMISE. If you must, cancel false passcodes used after the rules were properly, and retrospectively, announced on 2 October. BUT, show you're big, and initially it wasn't handled quite right, to grant an amnesty to those tickets bought before 2 October. It avoids the bad publicity from numerous small claims writs, and shows you've got a heart with a little charity. Frankly, even though I'm a huge fan and my 18 year old son is desperate to go, this is taking ALL the shine off the best news ever. AN EARL's COURT ORIGINAL
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| Submitted by highland_rage on 07.Oct.2007 07:10 | |
| dazed and completely confused......... :( :( :( :p |
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| Submitted by Mary on 07.Oct.2007 08:16 | |
| Does anyone know when the second ballot with all the tickets that have been bought on ebay etc. is gonna be? |
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| Submitted by GizmoUK on 07.Oct.2007 08:33 | |
| My wife and I are music fans who used to enjoy going to concerts. However, for the past year or two we have given up trying to get tickets from the likes of Ticketmaster and Seetickets, as their entire ticket allocation always seems to sell out within minutes, and then end up on eBay at silly prices. I congratulate Harvey Goldsmith for standing up to the ticket tout scum, and hope that other agencies and promoters take note and follow his lead. The those whinging … tough ****, find another way to make money. |
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| Submitted by Poorrealfan on 07.Oct.2007 08:50 | |
| Dear Harvey, In defence of genuine fans you may like to think on this? In my opinion there are 2 types of people who bought tickets on ebay. The first were genuine fans who didn't get a golden email and due to the ambiguous wording of T&Cs and FAQs saw it as the ONLY way to possibly see their all time favourite band. The second were people who sought to make a profit out of us!! Please don't lump me in with the latter category although before I get too high and mighty I will confess to a moment................................Yes, after successfully paying for my 2 standing tickets (which bizarrely have seat number allocations ;-) the feeding frenzy was still going on on ebay and your T&Cs were still not updated. Not being made of money I did just for a moment.............ok for a few moments seriously consider grabbing a code or 2 myself with the express intention of selling them at a profit to cover my expenses. Some might applaud this as a perfectly acceptable business decision? Supply and demand, and all that, but do you know why I didn't????????? Well whether you care to believe it is up to you, but as I had my tickets and resented having to pay way over the odds for them I was so grateful that it didn't seem right for me to make another genuine fan pay more than they needeed to!! You tell me I am not a genuine fan to my face if you want to but what you would be really saying is I and people like me are liars? I honestly do respect what you tried to do but the time has come to admit that you failed to do it......not by much but you failed none the less. First and most crucially you failed to prevent ticket touts from getting the ticket codes. Then you failed to make it clear to everyone except a few psychics that the code winner was the only person who could purchase the tickets. This is meant to be a tribute to Ahmet Ertegun and to raise money for a charity. So far you have achieved the latter. However we came about our tickets everyone has been paid and then some!! The tribute part......well that's in your hands. At the moment it looks like being remembered for one mans stubborn battle to not back down in his personal crusade? Maybe you see this as a modern day Custer's last stand? ;-) As I said in my first post you have the power to make a difference, hopefully you will make the right choice? I am sure that you will do the right thing by all the genuine fans who have got their tickets in a variety of different and some very expensive ways. Everyone has a great time and you learn how to stitch up your good friends the ticket touts next time! There we go. All sorted!! I hope to see you at the gig so I can thank you personally? |
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| Submitted by Crowley_1 on 07.Oct.2007 09:31 | |||||
| Mr. Goldsmith. You must understand that the rules were not clear. Now we have thousands of people that have transferred their original passcode to a friend (and we don’t know if they made any money on that deal) and we have the touts that were selling a few number of passcodes. If the rules were clear none of this would have happened. You can tell me that you made it clear in one press release or on your blog, but to me it doesn’t matter. I don’t live in UK or US. I only acted on the information from ahmettribute.com and Ticketmaster (before the rules were changed) and the information in the “Golden e-mail”. Let’s face it. We already have hundreds, maybe thousands, of fans that are taking part in this debate at the moment. What will happen then the tickets are cancelled and everyone else with a passcode that doesn’t match the winner will know about this? I doesn’t matter that you are saying that the rules was clear from the beginning, they was not. If they were none of this would have happened. So please, don’t ruin this for THE TRUE GENUINE FANS!
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| Submitted by highland_rage on 07.Oct.2007 10:51 | |||||
| I'm scared to book a plane ticket or hotel room, because i feel Harvey Goldsmith will just come along a cancel every ticket left, right and centre allowing him to start off fresh :( :( :(
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| Submitted by Bea on 07.Oct.2007 11:05 | |||||
| Please, Mr Goldsmith and team members, recognize that what has happened has happened, even if it is not what you had intended. And, as for NOW, please HONOUR all the tickets that have been purchased through Ticketmaster up to now by the fans, based on an "ambiguous" set of rules (to say the least...) ! This will only show BENEVOLENCE and MAGNANIMITY on your part towards them and will preserve the festive spirit of the event. Moreover, I don't see that this will prevent you from making a second draw for remaining tickets, this time with rules clear from the start to everybody. As for the touts you legitimately want to fight, please realize that they would not be affected in any way by a cancellation of tickets at this point ! So please, make the right decision, the generous one : HONOUR THE TICKETS PURCHASED AND MAKE A 2ND DRAW !
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| Submitted by martin on 07.Oct.2007 11:56 | |||||||||||||
| Communication Breakdown My son (18) won tickets in the ballot and as he didn't have a credit card I paid for them with my card. I am going as his guest to the gig. I have finally got through to ticketmaster this morning (sunday 12.00) they told me the tickets would definitely be cancelled as I paid and was not the ballot winner and there would be no exceptions to this rule. I asked what I could do and was told if my son could get a credit/debit card in the next 48 hours he could change the payment to his name and the tickets would not be cancelled. He has a debit card and so we transferred money online into his dedit account and the payment went through instantly. Success after much wasted time and worry. Ticketmaster have now charged a further £2.50 for transferring this payment on top of the original £25 handling charge. Can you believe it? I hope this will help other legit ticket holders get things sorted out. Why aren't ticketmaster contacting us to let us know what is going on? Call this customer service more like customer rip off! What is and what should never be!
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| Submitted by M.C. Glammer on 07.Oct.2007 13:02 | |
| Shyeah, right, Harvey, because the music business is so egalitarian when signing contracts and making sure "fans" get value for money. The entire music business is a parasite. Spare us your sanctimony and save it for the record companies. Please tell uis what you consider to be a "genuine" fan? Because it seems there'll be people from way back who saw Zeppelin's early gigs but won't be there while some record company exec's latest girlfriend will have a prime view. And what about all your hangers-on, Harvey? How many of them are genuine fans? I'd rather have the touts back. At least they're not peeing on my shoes while telling me it's raining. |
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| Submitted by Geoff on 07.Oct.2007 13:20 | |||||||||||||
| Those people who bought passcodes on ebay are obviously up in arms that their tickets may not be valid. They have paid a small fortune to see their favourite band. However, Harvey may be right to refuse them entry because they were NOT the original applicant for registration. The terms stated on the winning email …..”YOUR individual passcode can only be used once”….. with the emphasis on YOUR as the buyers of the passcode on ebay are not the YOUR in the terms and conditions. Harveys lawyers will easily defend his decision. The main culprits here are the people on ebay who were selling the passcodes. How did someone called ticket-wiz manage to sell 14 passcodes at $999.95 each? Everyone would have paid by PayPal so they should have £500 of protection with this seller. As it is true fans who have spent a fortune on these passcodes and tickets it would be nice if Harvey still let them in. It would also be nice if he could use whatever influence he has with the band members to persuade them to do a few dates at somewhere like Wembley Stadium so more of the true fans can see them. With black and white Terms and Conditions for ticket allocation it would hopefully stop scum bags like ticket-wiz making a fortune out of true fans on ebay.
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| Submitted by viewsonic575 on 07.Oct.2007 14:07 | |||||
| Their has been some concern that Harvey may cancel everybodies tikets and start fresh. Trust me, this will not happen. The will expose both Harvey and Ticketmaster to huge financial losses to due breach of contract, and ticketmaster will not have anything to do with this. Ticketmaster is not going to cancel anybodies ticket for the same reason. Ticketmaster has sold their tickets, made their commision, and is now done with the process. The last thing ticketmaster wants is bad publicity and lawsuits. So nobody is going to see a ticket cancelled message from ticketmaster. I also don't remember consenting ticketmaster to share my info with Harvey, and they are not going to risk being in violation of the privacy act. This only leaves Harvey ability to refuse entry at the door, which unfortunately, will result in people being dragged away by the police, a huge media circus, and in the worst case a small riot. Also he will face many lawsuits from people who were denied entry at the door. Trust me, when people pay thousand of dollars for airfair,hotel, tickets and passcodes, and get denied entry, people are going to lose it. Harvey is not a stupid person, and I imagine he is in contact with his lawyers, and I know what the lawyers are going to say. I expect Harvey to keep this tough front up for a little while longer, to discourage anymore scalping, and to get people to confess and give you there ticket for a ticket refund only. I feel sorry for Harvey. His intentions were good, and I believe the rules can be refined next time to eliminate most scalping. Im not sure when Harvey will wave the white flag in his blog, but eventually contract law will win the day, and I don't believe Harvey will risk damaging his professional reputation, by fighting this to the bitter end in court.
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| Submitted by General Stryder on 07.Oct.2007 14:08 | |||||||||||||||||
| Just curious if anyone already had contact with Harvey like he said in his reply? If so, what was the outcome??
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| Submitted by zepfan on 07.Oct.2007 14:14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I HAVE SO MANY EMAIL CORRESPONDENCES FROM SELLERS ON EBAY. MAYBE WHEN THE TICKETS GET CANCELLED, I'LL BE CHOSEN IN THE SECOND LOTTERY. I'M FORWARDING ALL THOSE EMAIL ADDRESSES TO HARVEY GOLDSMITH, TO MAKE THE CANCELLING EASIER. There were people on ebay selling codes by the dozen. They shouldn't have gotten them in the first place. Had they not, real fans like me may have had a chance. List of email addresses to follow. I wouldn't be suprised if the "touts" have already forwarded a list to HG, after all, if their system worked the first time, I'm sure it will work again when the 2nd lottery happens. The "touts" are making a fortune off of this! Way to go Harvey. I'll be sending you my list.
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| Submitted by maccafan10 on 07.Oct.2007 15:39 | |||||||||||||||||
| ANY LEGAL GUYS OUT THERE to pick this one apart, as the way I see it, if one buys an item in a shop, they CAN'T chase you out and demand it back on a whim. Especially in this case where no terms are broken by ticket 'OWNERS'/PURCHASERS here, NOT CODE OWNERS, (not even mentioned here). Replies on here please, and also to the ever growing email ACTION GROUP ledzep.legal@level83.com (TYPE 'SUBSCRIBE') We actually have the UK press involved now too as well as other countries press. Ticket Terms and Conditions As an authorised ticket agent, Ticketmaster sells tickets on behalf of the venue, promoter or producer that produces the event for which you buy a ticket. We refer to the venue, promoter, or producer from whom we obtain tickets to sell to you as our "Event Partner". This ticket remains the property of the Event Partner and is a personal revocable license which may be withdrawn and admission refused at any time upon refunding the printed purchase price. The purchaser represents and warrants that the ticket is purchased for personal use only, and that it is not purchased as part of any form of business or commercial activity (save as expressly authorised by the Event Partner and its agents), and in particular, that (save for ticket resales via Ticketmaster's TicketExchange facility, where applicable) the ticket may not be resold or offered for resale by anyone whether at a premium or otherwise and may not be used for advertising, promotion (including contests and sweepstakes) or for any other trade purposes. Resale or attempted resale at a price higher than that printed herein (save for the addition of TicketExchange seller fees, where applicable) is grounds for seizure or cancellation without refund or other compensation, this includes, for the avoidance of doubt, any publication via the internet or any other means with the intent to resell for commercial gain. The Event Partner and its affiliates, successors, or assigns may enforce these terms in accordance with the provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the Act). Except as provided above, this agreement does not create any right enforceable by any person who is not a party to it under the Act, but does not affect any right or remedy that a third party has which exists or is available apart from that Act.
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| Submitted by A Led Zeppelin fan on 07.Oct.2007 15:43 | |
| Dear Mr. Goldsmith, It may seem silly,but please read the following to illustrate a point. If I am sick during ticket pickup or the day of the show, will you accept a doctors note for my guest to attend in my absence? What other documents would you require them to bring? Photocopies of my credit card, or the actual card? A note from me authorizing my guest to still attend? What if I broke my arm or were unconscious? What then? This is a ridiculous example, and there are many to imagine, that shows the system you designed to thwart touts is flawed and has only ended up with the potential of hurting Led Zeppelin's true fans. How ironic. The touts have their money and are gone. You lost your stated goal. You cannot change that. Is your solution now, in a fit of pique, to punish Led Zeppelin's most die-hard fans? I urge caution before you do that. Actually, you made a mistake. You didn't bother to coordinate with Ticketmaster so that no one with a name other than the winning passcode holder could purchase tickets. That would have eliminated the market for passcode selling as well as saved you the administarative nightmare of dealing with legitimate purchasers who paid with someone else's credit card. There would be no controversy now, but you made a mistake. Best at this point to acknowledge your first attempt at defeating touts didn't work. Let the tickets stand and don't hassle people when they pick them up or you will have a riot on your hands. Do better next time. By the way, are you going to cancel all the tickets of those selling their guest tickets on eBay? You didn't put any restrictions on those tickets other than the two people being able to get along with each other for a few hours. By doing this, you made every legitimate passcode winner a potential legitimate tout. How does making half the tickets available to be sold at any price serve your stated purpose of defeating touts? What you are saying at present is you intend to punish passcode buyers (true LZ fans), but not passcode sellers (the touts have their money and are gone). At the same time, by not putting restrictions on guest tickets, winners can quietly sell their guest ticket to touts or become touts themselves. The system you set up does not serve your stated purpose of defeating touts. Wake up. The passcode touts are paid and gone. Have you really thought through the consequences of cancelling tickets? Don't be cocky. Be wise. A Led Zeppelin fan |
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| Submitted by JonnyB on 07.Oct.2007 18:35 | |
| Maybe Harvey originally set out to defeat the ticket touts as he says, but the process he put into action was fatally flawed. He should have made it plain from the outset that the codes were strictly non-transferable and required ballot entrants to submit the last four digits of their CC number. This could easily have been compared with the purchaser CC number when buying tickets and if the two didn't match, the order process could be halted then and there. I smell a rat here as it's almost as if he wanted fans to fall into the trap - Ticketmaster are charging 12.50 booking fee for each application which won't get refunded if the tickets are cancelled. That's a nice little earner on 11,000 tickets! |
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| Submitted by Duke on 07.Oct.2007 18:54 | |
| Personally I prefer the touts to Mr Goldsmith. At least you know what your dealing with and it's unlikely that they try to mug you as you walk away. HG is a self appointed legitamate tout with more money than all of them put together. The word Hypocite doesn't even start to cover it. This man is literally causing me anxiety and sleepless nights. I am normal Led Zep fan who wants to go to the concert. I bought a passcode from a lucky individual who didn't want it. Why oh why am I having to go through this. This man is not interested in true fans - if he was all tickets would be available not just some with the rest reserved for VIPs who dont even know who the band are most likely. As I said at the Top..... What's the difference between HG and a Tout? You can trust a Tout! More Touts less HG that's how I feel.....which is ironic in the circumstances don't you think! Duke |
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| Submitted by Rocky on 07.Oct.2007 18:55 | |||||
This uproar is getting big. I am one who bought the passcodes BEFORE Harvey changed the rules. There is talk of a lawsuit etc. Hey Harvey, all any of us really want is our tickets which we bought legitmately at Ticketmaster to be honored. Some such as myself had already booked flights and rooms BEFORE you changed the rules (I live in California). You say you don't want to support the touts, but you already have, they have their money. Now it's only the fans you are screwing, who weren't aware of your "refined" rules since they hadn't been created yet. EVERYONE, check out the blog LZTICKETRIPOFF.COM or if you want your name entered on a possible "action" list, e-mail RD@LZTICKETRIPOFF.COM . Come on Harvey, do right by the FANS!
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| Submitted by deepinder cheema on 07.Oct.2007 19:07 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I have been away from the virtual world for a few days, and a lot has happened; Harvey has announced his presence back to the blog after 30 days. Harvey has NOT taken down the previous blog and has taken all the brickbats from all the bleating ones as he calls it, and I give credit to him. Dandu my old canadian sparring partner has revealed that he is an Attorney, and he has become famous thanks to the BBC. The new blog has caused such feverish activity that in the space of 2 days its 200+ strong. My position is that if you, as a non registered applicant, and were passed on a passcode and made a purchase then you have broken the orig terms and conditions and you are therfore excluded. All those people that claim that the winners email failed to distinguish between purchaser and passcode winner are usually the ones that did not register, as a registered winner would have read, and been notified in advance that these words are an obligation to be read and understood the orig terms and conditions. This has slipped the passcode purchasers armoury ( I believe that it is illegal to purchase a passcode, and to be given one FOC) The only legitimate passcode owner is one that registered for it, and no money was transacted. Method of Purchase The original terms and the FAQ when I registered on 12th september did not state how purchase was to be effected. There was no mention of the passcode mechanism in order to apply for your Led Zeppelin entrance ( I did not assume it was by billet or ticket). So I feel that those who have no credit or debit card have no choice but to asked a trusted friend or family member to make a purchase on their behalf. I understand that Harvey has made positive noises to this camp, and WILL look at each case on their merits. making a Gift. I feel that those that disposed of their passcode having won the ballot, as a gift and/or act of charity and WILL NOT attend the LZ gig have to be excluded as they have prevented a ballot loser from gaining a LZ passcode. If they win they have to go and take one other, as that is the limit. ebay & others If you are a true Led Zeppelin fan and you bought a passcode, then you have been stupid enough to line the scalpers pockets, and its they only who are laughing. Being a Real Led Zeppelin fan does not preclude you from being a Stupid true Led Zeppelin fan. Am I up Harveys arse? Pl on the previous blog reckoned that I was up Harveys arse. Well, no I am not all I want is a weeding out process that cancels all passcodes that the bleaters are on about (except that personal hardship of non- credit card holders) so I can live in the hope that my one application to the ahmettribute website will beat the MORE than 1/50 or 1/100 odds of the previous round. I await all your brickbats
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| Submitted by emperorsclothes on 07.Oct.2007 19:30 | |||||||||
| After reading your impassioned comments I feel compelled to add my own. What is “painfully obvious” to me is that we are being played for fools. Harvey Goldsmith is a highly intelligent man. The people that work for him are some of the best in the business. These ballot and ticket technicalities were not brought to light retroactively, nor were they merely an unfortunate oversight, hastily corrected the day after emails went out to lucky ballot winners. I would suggest that this heated controversy has been carefully orchestrated in advance. Goldsmith is an enormously successful concert promoter. What he does best is “promote.” And he’s made sure that Led Zeppelin and the name Harvey Goldsmith is on the tip of every tongue from one side of the Atlantic to the other. Some of you have even suggested writing to BBC news, to the Sun newspaper etc. And in fact there are news reports daily, if not hourly on the subject, not to mention the thousands of comments being left in blogs and chat rooms and forums all over the intenet. Ladies and gentlemen don’t you see this is exactly what Goldsmith's team want. They are dancing with glee at the hundreds, maybe thousands of column inches this has generated. This episode is not a vigilante attack on “unscrupulous” touts; he is not really that interested in protecting the financial interests of the “true fan”; this is not about implementing a fair ticketing system for all. This is about generating publicity and guaranteeing that the next time Goldsmith promotes a concert, tens of millions will sit up and take notice. It means next time round, they can hold every concert venue under the sun to ransom because the public will be even more skeptical of buying off other sources. Let’s remember that literally weeks before the announcement was made, Robert Plant himself denied that a reunion would take place at all. Speculation flooded the internet, tongues wagging with Will they, Won’t they? Then there were those peculiar fliers accidentally leaked in London from promoters selling Led Zeppelin concert packages, so called “forcing” Goldsmith to make a statement, where he weakly denied the gig, purposefully wink winking the idea. All the while feeding the frenzy to Zeppelin fans. So that by the time the lottery was finally officially announced, we’d been on a carefully calculated and quickly escalating roller coaster already. Frankly the anxiety, ecstasy and despair being experienced by thousands of Zeppelin fans all over the world is every concert promoters wet dream. Let’s just remember the reality. While we are on our knees pleading to Harvey to be merciful and validate a pair of tickets which we've paid a hard earned £277 for, these powerful PR media moguls are grinning form ear to ear, swanning around with their fat cigars, basking in our misery and enjoying their success. All behind a front of doing the right thing for the fans. This kind of publicity, money can't buy.
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| Submitted by krishnasjewels on 07.Oct.2007 20:34 | |||||
| Dear Harvey, This should have been more simple. 1.Bring "Golden email" to O2 on the 23rd or 24th. Pay and pick up tickets with wristband (1 person per email with name matchin your ID). 2.Unused winning ballots to be sold on the 25th and 26th. Everybody que up at the O2 and try your luck. 1 ticket per person...PERIOD. Results. 100% Real, hardcore LED ZEP fans attendence. Come on man.......its not rocket science. Or are you using LED ZEP as your publicity stunt?? Shame on you. Let the real fans in!!!! Please announce it ASAP!!
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| Submitted by maccafan10 on 07.Oct.2007 21:53 | |||||||||
| OH HARVEY DEAR !! EVER HEARD OF CHIP & PIN, AND SWIPE CARDS ??? IT WORKS GREAT FOR THE BANKS AND FOR OPENING DOORS IN HOTELS, AND I EVEN HAVE ONE FOR MY GAS AN ELECTRIC METERS, IT'S USELESS TO ANYONE IF IT GETS LOST (OR SOLD IN YOUR CASE) AND CAN BE CANCELLED AND REPLACED AT SOURCE. NOW, AT £125 + £12.50 PER TICKET (AN EXTORTIONATE PRICE WHICH YOU HIKE UP FOR EVERY CONCERT JUST LIKE THE TOUTS), I THINK YOU CAN AFFORD A NEAR FOOLPROOF, NONE TRANSFERRABLE, NONE RE-SALEABLE, 'FAIR' METHOD OF IMPLEMENTING YOUR BRIGHT IDEAS (OR WAS THAT ONE 'MINE'). NOW CAN I COME AND WORK FOR YOU PLEASE SO THAT I CAN GET A FREE TICKET FROM ALL THE HUNDREDS YOU KEEP BACK TO IMPRESS AND BUY YOUR FRIENDS WITH ?? (YOU KNOW THE ONES, THEY ARE THE 'HANGERS ON' WHO COULDN'T GIVE A TOSS WHO IS ON STAGE, AND SPEND ALL NIGHT IN THE BAR, THUS WASTING A PLACE FOR THE GENUINE FANS YOU 'BLEAT' ON ABOUT BEING 'FAIR' TO) YOU HAVE DOUBLE STANDARDS MY FRIEND. ALSO, 'PLEAD YOUR CASE' TO ME ABOUT HOW ONE LONDON TICKET AGENCY, ADVERTISING CURRENTLY ON THE NET, IS EVIDENTLY 'SELLING' TICKETS FOR £977 UPWARDS.
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| Submitted by Alexis Severis on 07.Oct.2007 22:16 | |||||||||
| Dear Mr Goldsmith, I am a huge fan of Led Zeppelin and unfortunately (like thousands of others) one who did not receive tickets as i was not lucky in the ballot draw. However I would greatly appreciate it if you could take some time to answer my question: Why are led Zeppelin having the concert at O2? Could they not organize it in a larger venue? such as Wembley? This would firstly allow thousands of extra fans to go and see their favourite bands. In addition to this, the more than 70,000 availble extra places (if it took place in Wembley Stadium whose capacity is 90,000) would also mean a larger amount of money in the Ahmet Erdegun foundation! I would understand that the sound quality may not be as great as O2 but I am sure technology today can change that or at least minimize the difference and give the opportunity to almost five times as much fans to see this legendary band. Yours Sincerely Alexis Severis
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| Submitted by Dandu on 07.Oct.2007 22:42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I have seen, on this site and others, many references to the language on Ticketmaster that a ticket is a "revocable licence". This seems to have some people worried that Mr. Goldsmith can do what he wants. You needn't worry. I have done some investigation on this issue on the Candian law and luckily the Candian courts have adopted the British law on the matter. The original case in the UK on the issue is a case called Hurst. The following is an excerpt from a Canadian case involving a local baseball team in an attempt to revoke a patrons ticket. It contains a discussion of the English law on the issue: --------------------------------------- The Ontario Court of Appeal in Heller v. Niagara Racing Association, [1925] D.L.R. 286 (C.A.) considered and adopted Hurst. A ticket is a licence for value and is an enforceable right to attend the event in question until its conclusion, provided the ticket holder complies with the implied contractual condition that he or she behaves properly in accordance with the rules of management. Hurst and Heller were recently adopted by Ground J. in Livent Inc.(Re), [1998] O.J. No. 5268 (Gen.Div.) at para. 10: In Heller v. Niagara Racing Association (1924), 56 0.L.R. 355, dealing with the right of a ticket holder to enter a race track and witness the race, Hodgins J.A. stated at p. 361: It appears to be settled law in England that a license granted by the sale of a ticket includes a contract not to revoke the license arbitrarily, which contract entitles the purchaser to stay and witness the whole performance, provided he behaves properly and complies with the rules of the management, and that this license and agreement, if given for value is an enforceable right: Hurst v. Picture Theatres Ltd., [1915] 1 K.B. at p. 1O. There is no reason why this Court should not adopt what seems to be a most reasonable view, having regard to modern conditions. --------------------------------------- In addition to Hurst, Mr. Goldsmith, you can have your counsel review the House of Lords decison in: Wintergarden Theatre (London) Limited v. Millennium Productions Ltd., [1948] A.C. 173 (H.L.). Which states: ---------------------------------------- There is yet a third variant of a licence for value which constantly occurs, as in the sale of a ticket to enter premises and witness a particular event, such as a ticket for a seat at a particular performance at a theatre or for entering private ground to witness a day's sport. In this last class of case, the implication of the arrangement, however it may be classified in law, plainly is that the ticket entitles the purchaser to enter and, if he behaves himself, to remain on the premises until the end of the event which he has paid his money to witness. Such, for example, was the situation which gave rise to the decision of the Court of Appeal in Hurst v. Picture Theatres, Ld. (2). I regard this case as rightly decided, and repudiate the view that a licensor who is paid for granting his licensee to enter premises in order to view a particular event, can nevertheless, although the licensee is behaving properly, terminate the license before the event is over, turn the licensee out, and leave him to an action for the return of the price of his ticket. The licence in such a case is granted under contractual conditions, one of which is that a well-behaved licensee shall not be treated as a trespasser until the event which he has paid to see is over, and until he has reasonable time thereafter to depart, and in Hurst v. Picture Theatres, Ld. (2), where these rights were disregarded and the plaintiff was forced to leave prematurely substantial damages for assault and false imprisonment rightly resulted. ------------------------------------ Accordingly, the law is clear, obey the rules and you are entitled to enter and remain and nobody can cancel your ticket without justification. Buying passcodes did not violate the rules and is thus not sufficient justification to cancel tickets. If anybody is aware of law which calls into question the principles above please advise.
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| Submitted by Acint241 on 07.Oct.2007 23:01 | |||||
| Has anyone heard from Ticketmaster about this mess? What are they doing and saying? How can I confirm booking prior to the concert? I have placed a booking confirmation request on the Ticketmaster site have received no answer.
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| Submitted by rpwcpw on 07.Oct.2007 23:06 | |
| I realize Mr. Goldsmith mentions the death of Luciano Pavarotti in his blog, but the fact that the big photo of Pavarotti on his homepage and the bold text that stages the artist as another of his business feats, really tells us what type of person we are dealing with. This is a person totally consumed with only himself and his agenda. Got bigger fish to fry right now Harvey? No time to mess with one of the greatest 20th century tenors that helped you get in the position you are today. At least separate him from Sting and Mondonna!!! I guess Pavarotti is ancient history. Got to work that legacy and screw with the Zep fans now! -By the way, "bleating" is a very condescending word that is a pathetic way to refer to business partners (fans) or any human in general. |
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| Submitted by peace on 07.Oct.2007 23:13 | |||||||||
| I'm an attorney who posted a few days ago. I pray it doesn't come to this, but given the deafening silence from Mr. Goldsmith in the face of such passion and reason, I've set up a website and have been consulting with other attorneys and firms with international ties. If anyone wants representation, should it come to that, then go to: www.ledzeppelinlawsuit.com and/or email straight away ledzeppelinlawsuit@gmail.com and give me your contact information. Nothing fancy to see there yet, but you can give me your contact info and we'll all go from there. Peace.
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| Submitted by merileestar on 08.Oct.2007 00:12 | |||||
| Dear Harvey, I posted earlier, You have had all sorts of posts. I am just pleading for you to let us know what is going on! Please make a statement & physical action as to what is going to be done with people who bought passcodes oct 1st, then tickets from ticketmaster. I faxed all my transactions and just want a YES or NO On paper so I can proceed with plans or unplans. Please let ticketmaster know what you plan. So we can move on. So another round of tickets can go out. SO everyone can move on with their lives and some go to see the concert. I am ready to go to bed on monday nov 26th, listen to led zep and use a bic lighter for a lovley little flame. This is exhausting! Thanks Merilee
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| Submitted by pl on 08.Oct.2007 01:35 | |
| Sorry for repeating this, it's for people who aren't reading all the comments I have set up a mailing list for discussion of any formal legal case (we have a couple of attorneys/lawyers on board - including 'peace' from above - and there's plenty of general discussion about our options): Just send an email with SUBSCRIBE as the subject to: ledzep.legal@level83.com To unsub just send an email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject at any time. Once subscribed any email sent to ledzep.legal@level83.com will go to every member on the list. |
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| Submitted by viewsonic575 on 08.Oct.2007 03:15 | |||||||||
| Another interesting wrench in this mess is the question of jurisdition. Does the laws of the UK apply to the ticket purchase or does the law of the country of the purchaser apply in this case, since it is an internet purchase. Sometimes the law of the two countries conflict. On an earlier post, somebody said that harvey is getting tons of free publicity on this, which is true. Pretty soon Harvey is going to realize that the publicity is going to turn ugly. Instead he will annouce that he won't be cancelling tickets afterall, and he will be perceived as a hero. Lets look at the options: Harvey cancel tickets or refuse entry: 1) lawsuits 2) court injuctions 3) loss money when CC transactions are reversed 4) a riot at the O2 If he gives in 1) The scalpers win 2) Everybody is happy and the problem goes away. 3) he learns from his experience, and devises a better system next time. 4) A well crafted apology letter, will divert any eggs that may be sticking to him on this mess. Now which route do you think he is going to choose?
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| Submitted by Rocky on 08.Oct.2007 03:48 | |||||
In all this, where are Jimmy, Robert and JPJ? F0r a group from the working class neighborhoods, not a word. I know for a fact PETER GRANT would not have put up with this. No balls? Jimmy? Or too much money to be made.
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| Submitted by Peter Jones on 08.Oct.2007 05:47 | |||||||||
| Mr. Goldsmith, I'm not here to lash out at anyone. As you have seen by now, passions are strong on this and some comments are well reasoned and others are vitriolic. Part of the venom I see comes from a reaction to your choices of words: "bleating" which suggests that people are a bunch of sheep, and "painfully obvious" which suggests that people are idiots. Most of the outrage, though, is from the perception that the rules of the game were changed after the ball was in play. I don't think any of these passionate fans were out to cheat the system. I'm not a lawyer, but I've been reading their arguments, the T&C's on the Ahmet Ertegun tribute page, and Ticketmaster's T&C's, and I would have to agree with the fans who say the rules didn't explicitly state that the passcode could not be passed along to anyone else. If it had been truly obvious from the very start, people would not have done so. Additionally, if Ticketmaster had prevented anyone from using someone else's passcode, that would have stopped all this before it began, but that didn't happen, and now there are a lot of justifiably upset fans. They're not the touts, they are genuine fans who want to see the show and have already bought tickets, even if that means they used their friend's passcode or paid someone a premium for it. They have bought and paid for tickets, and the money they paid to Ticketmaster will eventually get to the charity for which it was intended. Your desire to level the playing field was well-intentioned. If the tickets had been offered in the usual way with no lottery, the touts would indeed have snatched up all of them in seconds and resold them at an enormous profit. Your system was not 100% perfect, but it did get more tickets into the hands of fans. However, by threatening to cancel tickets you are bashing the wrong people. The touts are not bleating about this, they already got their money. There may be a relatively small number of them too, an indicator that the system worked fairly well. I ask that you please be magnanimous about this situation. You have made your point, and the system can be perfected for the next event you present. If you cancel any tickets now, especially after people bought them and made travel plans before the changes in the rules were announced, you will not be the hero who took on the touts. You will be the cruel bad guy who crushed the dreams of fans - not touts, fans, who are really only guilty of wanting to see their favorite band, perhaps for the first and only time. I'm not a tout either; I dislike their business as much as anyone. I'm a long-time proud and genuine Led Zeppelin fan, and I'm seeing a lot of ugliness tainting what should be a celebratory event. Please let everyone who has already bought tickets, however they got them, relax and get on with their plans. I'm still hoping that if this show goes well, maybe Led Zeppelin will want to perform some more. This dismal state of affairs needs an influx of good karma, and you're the one who can do that.
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| Submitted by M.C. Glammer on 08.Oct.2007 08:00 | |||||
| Harvey, having a backstage pass your entire career has caused you to lose sight of what a genuine fan really is. A genuine fan doesn't sell their tickets on eBay, so why are you trying to force these people to attend? These ae not the genuine fans you seek. Genuine fans are the people trying to buy tickets from eBay or any which way. A genuine fan doesn't just luck out in a lottery. Changing the rules when you realise you weren't as smart as you thought you were making up those rules. Genuine fans used to queue for tickets. Now you promoters want to make it easy on yourselves with credit card sales on the internet. Fair enough, but quit talking about genuine fans, because all your bothered about is stopping reselling. Only in the concert ticket market is reselling such an issue. By a car and you can sell it for whatever price you can get for it. It's called market forces, something a rich capitalist like Harvey Goldsmith should understand all too well.
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| Submitted by roger on 08.Oct.2007 09:04 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Has anyone succeded this morning in contacting Harvey Goldsmith offices by phone or fax? The lines are busy, so how we can send the plead / explanation? We have posted our situation in this blog, through the contact form, by email to some addresses found in internet... Does anyone know a valid email address where to contact them? Joan & Roger Barcelona - Spain
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| Submitted by Fuming Fan on 08.Oct.2007 09:25 | |
| "It is painfully obvious that if the ticket is not transferable then the method of obtaining the ticket is not transferable either". I've never heard such crass stupidity! Surely, as a promoter, you're more aware than most in this litigious society that such terms & conditions need to be spelt out from the start, NOT TRYING TO APPEND THEM RETROSPECTIVELY! When I received my passcode I didn't immediately have the funds available to purchase the tickets. It was always the intention that me and my brother-in-law would be going together, so he used the passcode to purchase the tickets. He's got the ID to cover the tickets, I've got the ID to cover the passcode. What further bloody hoops do you want us to jump through? I would hope that you don't have a legal leg to stand on. How do we officially "contact" you to plead our more than just case? Surely you should be pleading with us? Why wasn't it one ticket per passcode? I'm fairly confident we're going to see some hefty prices paid on auction sites over the coming weeks for 'accompanying tickets'. Wouldn't be surprised if people are going to get tagged, walk through the door and walk right out again with their winnings. You screwed up!!! |
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| Submitted by highland_rage on 08.Oct.2007 09:30 | |
| MY passcode MY creditcard ME attending i should be alright ??? i just have to spend $$$$ to get to the UK. |
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| Submitted by pegasusphil on 08.Oct.2007 09:39 | |||||||||||||||||
| Some random thoughts : Harvey's web release of Oct. 2nd. says : ---------- Each ticket holder has an individual pass code that has been issued by Ticket Master, that pass code and the name of the applicant are married together. ----------- AND...... ----------- Anyone who chooses to purchase tickets in this way will lose their money! ----------- Does this mean then (according to Harvey's own logic) that people who won a passcode were immediately "ticket holders" ? I think not, as they hadn't yet exercised the option to buy a ticket ! Does it also suggest that Harvey planned deliberately to allow people to make purchases (knowing the were "invalid" under his ex post facto rule) and PLANNED to keep their money after declaring them invalid ? I hope not - that would be THEFT ! Also, elsewhere in his new rules, Harvey posted that the passcode winner should "immediately" buy their tickets..... does this mean that anyone who didn't buy immediately on receipt of their email is in breach of his terms - I reckon that would mean about 99.9% of buyers are also invalid. Think about it Harvey - your wording and your intentions are as muddled as hell, and you have about as much legal strength in this as I have gold bars. If I were you I'd be sacking my legal team or my PR drafting team, one or the other.......
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| Submitted by StevieP on 08.Oct.2007 11:57 | |||||||||||||
| I have just received this from Ticketmaster.co.uk. I emailed them for details on the 2nd October. The T&C's below now say ballot winner, even though it still has not changed on the website. It states at the bottom that non ballot winners will have there money refunded in due course. I give up with this, what a mess !!!! Sorry if anything similar has been posted before. Steve --------------------------------------------------------------- Response (MIKE FIRTH) - 08/10/2007 10:54 AM Dear Customer, Thank you for your email regarding Led Zeppelin at the 02 Arena, London on November 26 2007. Please accept our apology for the delay in responding to your enquiry. After searching through the main themes of the Led Zeppelin customer enquiries, we have put together an information bulletin that we hope will answer your question: Making a booking If you wish to make a booking for the Led Zeppelin you will need to have entered and been successful in the ticket ballot. All ballot winners have been issued with an individual pass code which will enable them to book online only. If you are experiencing problems using the pass code to book tickets, please ensure that the code is in the correct case as the code is case sensitive, i.e. all capital letters. The code can be used to purchase no more than 2 tickets in total. Can I have a refund for my tickets? Unfortunately we cannot offer refunds or exchanges. Ticketmaster’s policy once a booking has been confirmed, is that the booking cannot be exchanged or refunded unless the event is cancelled. This is made clear at the time of booking. How can I check the confirmation of my booking? You can check the details of your booking by: 1, viewing “My Account” on line 2, by calling our 24hr order confirmation telephone line on 0870 2424442 You will need your booking reference number or the credit card number used at the time of purchase. Collection of Tickets – UK and Overseas Customers No tickets for this event will be posted. All concert goers must pick up their tickets and non-transferable wristbands in advance of the show at the O2 Arena between 10am and 6pm on Sunday 25th November and between 10am and start of the show on Monday 26th November. To collect the tickets the ballot winner and the person accompanying them to the show must be present in order to pick up the tickets and wristbands. Each ballot winner must present the actual credit card used for the purchase along with valid state-issued PHOTO ID in order to receive the tickets and non-transferable wristbands. All wristbands will be fitted immediately. There will be no exceptions to the above, no name changes or letters of authorisation will be accepted under any circumstances. On the night of the show everyone will be required to present both the wristband and ticket for entrance to the show. Wristbands must NOT be removed or tampered with prior to entering the show or your access will be refused. Ballot winners must bring photo ID to the show as they may be required to present it upon entry to the venue. What if the ballot winner is not the person who paid for the tickets? Only the ballot winner can purchase the tickets for this event. Bookings where the ballot winners details do not match the card holders details will be cancelled and refunded in due course. There are no exceptions to this and no transfer of payment will be authorized.
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| Submitted by Chipinoh on 08.Oct.2007 12:23 | |||||
| I still have received no answer from Harvey's people. I've called, faxed, & e-mailed. HELP!
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| Submitted by deepinder cheema on 08.Oct.2007 12:34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hot news, On Google News I have read that harvey goldsmith may now cancel the concert. If this is the case then all those who had the balls to press the purchase button on ebay ( original purchaser) are in an interesting position. They may be excluded from the new ballot
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| Submitted by UpstateNYZepFan on 08.Oct.2007 12:59 | |||||||||||||
The one thing I wonder: Why didn't the promoters put 1000 or so tickets on ebay and collect as much as possible from the true fans who were not lucky enough to even get on the website to register? If they don't want ebay scalpers to get rich then why not do it themselves and put the money in the pockets of the Education Fund? Isn't that what this whole show is about? They had the perfect opportunity to make ALOT of money from people like me who are lifelong fans. I saw Robert and Jimmy five times in 95 and six times in 98. I spent 999 for my passcode and would rather spend 5000 and not have to worry that I may or may not get in. I'm sure many others would pay the same. 5000X1000 which could have generated five million for only five percent of the audience. My passcode seller has guaranteed me a full refund if I don't get in which is greatly appreciated but it's not about the money. It's about Zeppelin and the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund. I cannot say how upset I will be if I do not get in. I will cry on the doorstep until the end of the show and you will have to carry me away, but seriously PLEASE make some tickets available to highest bidder with the proceeds going to where they should - with a guarantee that the winner would get in.... Dave B.
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| Submitted by hmsusauk on 08.Oct.2007 13:30 | |||||||||||||
| As an ex-pat Brit, now living in the USA, anyone who was able to get selected from the lottery and get tix should feel very lucky - I am hoping they decide to put a wider tour together, which includes the east coast of the U.S. My biggest frustration for any big name band, is that the touts and others get their hands on tix before the real fans. I think what Harvey and others are trying to do is send the proverbial message to the touts and "get rich quick" schemers that enough is enough. Don't spoil it for the true music fans who want to see the bands.
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| Submitted by doktored on 08.Oct.2007 13:42 | |||||
| Although isn't this all just the basics of a capitalist society if you have something someone else wants you can sell it to him. If they really want it you can name the price. Surely it has been a corner stone of promoting and especially agents since time began? Ebay are very unco-operative in these cases I have worked on some big events and requests to have attempted to get ticket removed are futile. You can always set up ebay accounts to outbid all bids and not pay for them. Why not actually offer to work with ebay. Since it is a charity gig if you went to ebay and offered 1000 tickets (saturating the auction market for non-official tickets) for them all proceeds to charity. Ebay would take that up and because dialogue was flowing better then resorting to remarks about 'parasite businesses' you would be in a lot better position to get those tout tickets down in the future. Just my twopence.
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| Submitted by Acint241 on 08.Oct.2007 14:00 | |||||||||||||
Has anyone had their booking canceled by Ticketmaster yet? I just checked and my booking is confirmed, at least as of 1000 US eastern time.
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| Submitted by deepinder cheema on 08.Oct.2007 14:08 | |
| There has been another news item on contact music, just in . 14:30 bst Harvey detests eBay, he begged them to remove the Led Zeppelin passcode sellers, and eBay told him effectively to F**K off. I do not think passcode purchasers will be able to change his mind if he is in such a foul mood, if you abuse him, or threaten him with litigation. I await how quickly the passcode buyers can get the legal wheels moving. If this starts then he may cancel the concert. If not I think the next ballot may occur next monday However he has stated that non credit card holder/passcode winners will be listened to as he understands their dilemma. I believe this may have been recently taken from Harvey appearing on Kerrang Radio |
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| Submitted by zepfan on 08.Oct.2007 14:12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HERE'S THE LATEST!!!! YOU'RE GONNA LOSE THE TICKETS YOU BOUGHT! Harvey Goldsmith, legendary music promoter, has slammed eBay after tickets to the upcoming Led Zeppelin reunion concert appeared on the online auction site. Details of a one-off charity show were announced last month, with the ticket registration website crashing after some 20 million fans tried to get their hands on a ticket for the November 26th gig at London's O2 Arena. And now the £125 tickets for the tribute concert - held for late Atlantic Records big cheese Ahmet Ertegun - are appearing on eBay for almost £1,000. Having convinced Led Zeppelin to reunite for the show, Goldsmith told Kerrang! Radio: "I wish eBay would drop dead and die... I have begged them to take [the tickets] off and they have basically told us to f**k off." "So I will do everything I possibly can to ruin their lives," he added.
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| Submitted by nycrob on 08.Oct.2007 14:49 | |||||||||||||
Want to know how the scalpers made money and you can't block the tickets? credit/ gift cards you can enter your name at any time. at least that the trick we used lol thank$ harry
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| Submitted by rockinmetalforever2000 on 08.Oct.2007 15:03 | |
| I called Harvey Goldsmiths office.Awoman answered the phone and I explained that I am calling to "plead my case about my Led Zeppelin ticket problem"I was informed that the woman handeling this matter will back in the office tomorrow(tuesday) and ask for Maria.So Maria is the person to ask for. |
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| Submitted by manicmuppet on 08.Oct.2007 15:04 | |||||||||
| Harvey It's obvious that, like it or not, if you really only intended for the winners of the passcode to attend, that you've messed up. It would've been so easy to do that, but you didn't and so there you have it. The reality is that if you now cancel tickets you will only be hurting the real fans who so desperately wanted to see the band. The touts have taken their money. In fact, if you then re-issue the tickets you'll only be giving further opportunity to touts to make more money. It is also fairly obvious that you've no legal grounds on which to cancel the tickets and so if you do, you're just going to cause damage to the good name of led zeppelin. What's done is done. Let the tickets be. You can be sure that they are in the hands of genuine fans. Thanks Arnie
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| Submitted by Duke on 08.Oct.2007 15:51 | |||||
| Here's another web ref to the story http://www.webuser.co.uk/news/news.php?id=148326 HOW CAN MR GOLDSMITH BE SO WIDE OF THE MARK AS TO SAY THAT THOSE BLEATING THE LOUDEST ARE THOSE THAT HAVE NON GENUINE INTERESTS. I'M BLEATING BECAUSE I BOUGHT MY PASSCODE - HAVE BEEN CHARGDED FOR THE TICKETS I BOUGHT - HAVE RECIEVED A CONFIRMATION FOR TM - AND I CAN'T SLEEP BECAUSE THIS MAN IS THREATENING TO TAKE IT ALL AWAY! WAHT HAVE I DONE TO DERSERVE THAT AND WHERE IS THE FINANCIAL GAIN HE ELUDES TO? I JUST WANT TO SEE THE BAND - SIMPLE, OR YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!
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| Submitted by SammyC on 08.Oct.2007 16:06 | |||||||||
| Reply Submitted by Harvey on 08.Oct.2007 11:06 I am the Almighty Harvey Goldsmith and I make the rules. If you do not want to stick to them, then tough. I was sent by "Him" in person to help rid this world of touts. Thy work shall be done. P.S. I am just real bitter actually as I could have sold these tickets for a lot more. If I had only realised before. Harvey - is that really you? I can't believe you just said that... Nice quote for the news... or is that what you want by any chance?
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| Submitted by Acint241 on 08.Oct.2007 16:26 | |
| I wonder when we will here from Mr. Goldsmith. After looking at the ebay sites for Zep tickets and the stipulations put forth by the seller's of those second tickets how does Mr. Goldsmith intend to deal with the second party that is with the original purchaser who paid more than what the ticket was worth? This is going against Mr. Goldsmith's policy from the start. He did not want the tickets sold for higher than the ticket price well that is now happening. What now Mr. Goldsmith? Will you persecute everyone fairly or those whom you deem in your opinion to not be Zep fans like those thousand or so industry folks whom you invited? |
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| Submitted by smalleya on 08.Oct.2007 16:51 | |||||||||||||
I THINK WE SHOULD ALL LIST OUR TICKETS ON EBAY RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELL, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE THEM ANYWAY. JUST LIST THEM FOR OUTRAGOIUS PRICES SO THAT NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WILL BID ON THEM. WHEN HARVEY'S FAT A#* SEES OVER 1000 TICKETS LISTED ON EBAY, HE WILL S*%# A BRICK AND RELIZE THAT HE HAS LOST. I TRIED TO BE NICE, BUT NOW I JUST WANT TO HIT HIM WHERE IT HURTS.
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| Submitted by Crowley_1 on 08.Oct.2007 17:01 | |
| What would actually happen if Goldsmith decides just to leave it? The people that have bought THEIR tickets can keep them. It doesn’t matter if your grandma won the lottery, you paid with your moms credit card, bought the ticket from a friend or from someone on eBay. Now we have lawyers that thought everything was ok with a transferred pass code. Right or wrong, cheating or not cheating. Let’s face it, right at this moment it’s a complete mess. Thousands of TRUE GENUINE FANS would be really happy. They can continue with their travel plans and go to London. Goldsmith may have learned that next time he runs a ballot he make the rules explicit. The rules wasn’t explicit on this ballot, if they were none of this would have happened. Right now hundreds of fans are in contact with newspapers, lawyers, and spreading the word on many internet sites. This can’t be too much fun for Goldsmith. I think this will end up in court, because SO MANY FANS didn’t understand the so called rules. Please Goldsmith, don’t let your frustration over the touts on eBay harm the fans. |
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| Submitted by Geoff on 08.Oct.2007 17:10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IMPORTANT INFORMATION To put Harveys predicament in perspective I have had a quick look at all the passcodes sold on ebay. nykorman sold 90 passcodes on ebay at about $300 each. first15_com sold 67 passcodes at about $250 each. fronttix sold 27 passcodes at $200 each. ticket-wiz sold 14 passcodes at about $1000 each. goldlake11 sold 11 passcodes at £299 each. I could go on but the facts speak for themselves. Harvey has no option but to cancel all these tickets and offer them to other people in as many ballots as it takes until those people who only registered ONCE end up with a ticket.
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