JHW, that simply makes it a hidden not an explicit cost. And most small promoters haven't got the set up to arrange online ticket sales themselves, which is why they use agencies. Do you expect those agencies to work for free?

Arthuritus, whilst your approach may work for you (and no-one is trying to make you stop doing it), I think it's totally uncalled for to pan people for offering a discount for buying a ticket in advance. You choose not to offer that discount, even though it's common practice and has been for years. Were I to use equally emotive language to yours, I could argue its you who are 'doing' the fans. However, I'm not going to.