AusLeisure

In an effort to hinder ticket scalpers, pop superstar Robbie Williams has scrapped a pre-sale for his upcoming Australian tour.

The Heavy Entertainment Show world tour, which will reach Australia in February and March next year, will see all tickets go on sale at the same time on 7th September. The move means that mega fans will be lumped in with the general sale and won’t be able to secure early bird tickets.

Promoter Michael Chugg said it is hoped that removing the pre-sale option will prevent scalpers from securing early bird tickets and selling them for inflated prices.

The pre-sale gives promoters a chance to evaluate the demand for a show, though Chugg said he is “very happy” authorities appear to finally be cracking down on ticket resellers.

Talking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Chugg explained “they (Williams’ management) were doing it in Europe when I was there checking out the shows about six weeks or so ago and we talked about it then

“All this Viagogo stuff is blowing up now, so I thought it’d be a good way to test out how it works.”

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced last week that it is taking action against Viagogo in the Federal Court for alleged misleading representations and huge booking fees.

The secondary ticketing site also promoted itself through the use of the word ‘official’ in its Google Ads, which the ACCC said misled customers to believe it was the primary ticket seller.

Chugg added “we’ll check it out and see how it goes.

“The (Viagogo) court case mightn’t happen for 12 months, so we can’t rest on our laurels. We’re gunna beat this one way or another.”

Robbie Williams’ six-date tour in starts in Brisbane on 20th February next year. 

Update: 5th September 2017

As pointed out by reader John Smith, earlier this year a BBC investigation alleged that Robbie Williams's management team had been placing tickets directly on to resale ticketing websites at higher prices.

The investigation alleged that Ie:music put tickets for Williams's 2017 tour on Get Me In and Seatwave - in one case for £65 ($106) more, before fees, than a similar ticket on Ticketmaster.

Click here to read the full BBC report.

Image Robbie Williams performing at the Perth Arena. 

1st September 2017 - GOOGLE URGED TO BLOCK ONLINE RESELLERS WHO DUPE TICKET BUYERS

30th August 2017 - CONSUMER NZ CALLS FOR CLAMPDOWN ON TICKET RESELLERS

28th August 2017 - ACCC COMMENCES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST TICKET RESELLER VIAGOGO 

18th November 2016 - 2016 BILLBOARD TOURING AWARDS RECOGNISES THE BEST OF THE GLOBAL CONCERT INDUSTRY

16th October 2016 - MICHAEL CHUGG NAMED INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT BUYER OF THE YEAR

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