COUNTRY Arts SA has issued a warning to its regional theatre patrons – including the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre – to be wary of online ticket scalpers.
Tickets to the upcoming Celtic Illusion stage show, scheduled for October 29 in Mount Gambier, are being resold at two to three times their market value from unauthorised ticket websites.
There is no guarantee the tickets being sold are authentic, meaning patrons may be turned away at the door or not get the seat they chose on the night.
“We’d like to remind our patrons to only purchase tickets from the Country Arts SA website, the venue website, or the touring show’s website,” Country Arts SA arts centre manager Sussan Baldwin said.
“Tickets to Celtic Illusion are being sold for up to $169.60 from some online resellers, which is a significant increase from our highest ticket price of $69.90, so it is not in anyone’s best interests to purchase from other sites.
“We would hate to disappoint any of our patrons and have to turn them away on the day of a show because they do not have legitimate tickets and we do not have capacity for them.”
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) began proceedings in the Federal Court against one such site in August last year, claiming it breached Australian Consumer Law when reselling entertainment, music and live sport tickets from May 1 to June 26, 2017.
The ACCC claimed the company made false or misleading representations on their website by making tickets appear scarce, creating a false sense of urgency to encourage on-the-spot sales.
They also alleged the website was misleading and deceptive by failing to disclose substantial fees.
Other Country Arts SA venues which could be impacted unauthorised ticket sales include Noarlunga’s Hopgood Theatre, Whyalla’s Middleback Arts Centre, Port Pirie’s Northern Festival Centre and the Riverland’s Chaffey Theatre.
