Kings Place rip off

Subject: Kings Place rip off
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 02:19 PM

My wife just booked for an event at Kings Place in London. The website made it look as though there was a compulsory £3 booking fee. Turns out it was a donation.

Very bad practice indeed.

Subject: RE: Kings Place rip off
From: Noreen
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 03:58 PM

?

Ticketing Information

The ticket prices displayed on the Kings Place website are online prices. Please add an additional £2 per ticket if booking via the Box Office directly, either by telephone or in person.
Kings Place do not charge booking or postage fees.

Subject: RE: Kings Place rip off
From: Noreen
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 04:04 PM

While I don't think the above information is easy to understand, the 'donation' section when booking tickets seems pretty clear; you can remove it or increase it. Just below it says:


Donations
We have added a £3 donation to the items in you basket. You can increase or decrease the amount or select 'None'. Your donation will support the charitable aims of Kings Place Music Foundation, its artistic programme and help support our community projects.

Not sure how they could make that any clearer.

Subject: RE: Kings Place rip off
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 04:58 AM

Thanks, I'll tell my wife.

Subject: RE: Kings Place rip off
From: GUEST,Woodsie
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 06:27 AM

This is the classic rip-off tactic used by unscrupulous online traders. The option to opt out after the charge has already been added in the hope that the unwitting punter doesn't notice. It. Stinks.

Subject: RE: Kings Place rip off
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 06:37 AM

Inertia selling is not allowed now. You know the scam, send you a set of books etc., and tell you to return it if you don't want it. Human nature being what it is, we forget, and next thing we get is a bill.
This is a bit like that scam, it relies on the astuteness of the booker, to avoid the donation, should they wish to do so.

Subject: RE: Kings Place rip off
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 07:21 AM

Good practice would be to ask if you want to make a donation, not if you don't.

If you go into an OXFAM shop and buy something for £1.00, they don't charge you £1.50 and then tell you you've made a donation.

One word for it, scam

Dave H

Subject: RE: Kings Place rip off
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 12:59 PM

We shall mention it when we go there.

Subject: RE: Kings Place rip off
From: GUEST,Kings Place
Date: 21 Sep 11 - 11:10 AM

Hi guys, thanks for raising this issue.

We put a lot of time and effort into making the voluntary nature of the donation very clear but if people are finding it confusing then we take this seriously and will have another look at how things are done.

The last thing we want is for our customers to feel like they have been ripped off and that certainly is not our intention. We add the donation to raise funds for our charitable work which benefits the local community as well as artists and musicians. Check out more about our work here http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/interact

Do bear in mind too that it is unusual to offer a ticket purchasing service online with no booking or postage fee. We always try and give great value for money and in fact our tickets themselves are often a lot cheaper than other venues. We charge just £9.50 for an online saver for example and run a yearly festival which offers tickets for just £4.50.

If anyone wants to discuss this, or anything else, direct then we are happy to have a chat. Just call us on 020 7520 1490 and speak to our Box office team.

Bonzo3legs, if your wife would like a refund on the £3 then just email [e-mail]

Hope that helps

Subject: RE: Kings Place rip off
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Sep 11 - 01:26 PM

Many Thanks, I've forwarded you post to her.