Depressed by TomPetty.com

I just bought my tickets to see Tom Petty (my all-tim favorite band) in some town called Estero, FL May 1, 2012, and I am very disillusioned and depressed by the long, arduous purchase process.

To get pre-sale tickets, I had to sign up for the Highway Companion Club (HCC). I was already a member from a few years ago when I attended a Tom Petty concert. I kept waiting to get my pre-sale access code in my email on the morning of the ticket sales, but nothing arrived. I went to the account page of the site, and it said my HCC membership was expired. So I had to renew – for $45! There was no indication on the website that the club costs money. I don’t remember paying for it before. Do you?

So I went ahead and renewed the membership, feeling ripped off and deceived.

Then I log into the Tom Petty page AGAIN, waiting for the code and how to buy tickets, only to learn you have to go to Ticketmaster.com.

So I had to log into that page (meanwhile I’m at work; I asked my boss for permission to buy the tickets using my computer at work because you’re not supposed to shop online during work).

I did not realize the tickets were on ticketmaster, and I did not have my password for their website with me. So I had to request a new one, go to my gmail, get that, log in AGAIN only to be notified that the credit card I entered does not match the one they have on file for me. What the hell? Who cares which card I use? They make it hard for you to give them your money, and they charge a fee; no wonder everyone hates them. So I have to start all over with them, entering my account information (meanwhile the counter is ticking away about to give up my seats and my blood pressure was going up).

The best seats I could get from this pre-sale are in the third section back. Each section has 20 rows! That’s not pre-sale, if you ask me. And I paid $250 by the time all was said and done. That kind of price should get me into the first 10 rows or so.

What happened to the Tom Petty who said he fights to keep ticket prices down?

What happened to the Tom Petty who fought the record company and industry when they wanted to raise the price of an LP?

What happened to the Tom Petty who wrote the songs on the album “The Last DJ” , excoriating the radio business that has been taken over by corporations, greedy record executives, high prices for seats, the Golden Circle, etc?

What happened?

I can’t imagine he when over to the Dark Side. That’s as inconcievable as Neil Young loving war or Bruce Springsteen hating the USA! Impossible.

I am very disillusioned, and this may be the last concert of his I ever go to. I feel that the presentation of the information about the pre-sale was deceptive. The fees are too high, and the choices are too limited, considering all the hoops you have to jump through. And I don’t live anywhere near Estero, FL, so I have to drive hours to get there, spending even more money to see the show.

I compared prices on brokers’ website ,and they are selling seats in the first 20 rows for $450 each and more. That’s insane. How do they get those seats, and why does Tom Petty allow them to buy them? He’s got enough clout to set a standard.

I don’t go to as many concerts as I used to because of the price. I pick and choose, and Tom Petty shows are on the top of my list of shows I am willing to pay a little extra for good seats. But to get seats three sections back for an exorbitant price is more than I think I’m willing to do anymore, even for my all –time favorite band. It’s a sad day for the rock and roll fan.

He should listen to what he wrote in his own song, “When Money Became King”:

http://www.lyricstime.com/heartbreakers-the-tom-petty-money-becomes-king-lyrics.html

Addendum: It’s 24 hours later, and I’m still pissed. Good thing the concert is five months away. Give me time to get over it, I hope.

Two weeks later: Those “premium” seats they are selling go for$250 each, and they do not let you know what seat you got until you pick up the tickets! Ha! They could be anywhere in rows 1 – 15. In the Germaine arena, the first section has 8 rows. That means you may pay premium, but you don’t get premium. “Premium” to me means the first section. I am very disappointed. I know I have to get over it. I have been a T.P. devotee since 1981. It’s hard to adjust.

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