This is the type of stuff that just frosts me. First and foremost, it's common knowledge that pre-sales offer some of the worse tickets possible. Hell, regular on-sales are for the birds as well (although people do occasionally get lucky).
I received the following from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. Notice the fine print:
*Beginning Thursday, Nov 5 at 10 AM through Sunday, Nov 8 at 10 PM consumers that pre-order Bon Jovi's new album, The Circle, through Ticketmaster can purchase up to 8 tickets in Stadiums or 4 tickets in Arenas. If you purchase tickets during this time frame, one digital album will be added to your ticket order for a price of $10.84 (includes applicable sales tax). You will receive an email from Ticketmaster with instructions on how to redeem the new album. Redeem your digital download code for "The Circle" by 11/15 11:59 PM PST you'll receive 3 previously unreleased bonus tracks recorded live at Madison Square Garden and an exclusive audio interview with Jon Bon Jovi himself! This offer is only available to U.S. residents and does not apply to VIP tickets.
OK, so it's not bad enough that these pre-sale tickets will most likely be among the poorest available and now to be blessed with the opportunity to buy lousy pre-sale seats, it's going to cause you $10.84 for a digital copy of this record. Even worse, the tally will be reported to Billboard as a album sale. Because they have the option to wait until the regular pre-sale, it gets counted, because there's an option. Through iTunes it will cost you $9.99 and I'm guessing the physical copy in stores next week will be $10 and under as well.
People are tired of being screwed. By their companies, their governments and now their rock stars. If you're blessed enough to have fans willing to pay up for lousy seats, don't insult them by forcing them to buy your new record.
