(Hypeb0t) — The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is calling on Yelp to stop directing users to affiliate websites selling fake and inflated tickets.
NIVA sent the letter to the review and recommendation platform after multiple attempts to contact Yelp to discuss the issue.
According to NIVA, Yelp has been misleading users by directing them to the Yelp-branded TicketNetwork website, which sells counterfeit and overpriced tickets. NIVA said in a statement: “By partnering with TicketNetwork, a company known for anti-competitive and predatory conduct, Yelp not only perpetuates these unethical practices, but also undermines consumer trust and diverts legitimate Ticket sales have come to heavily impact independent venues.
A question since 2016
Yelp partnered with TicketNetwork in 2016 to provide “a one-stop shop for high-demand entertainment tickets.” The partnership continues despite more than a hundred one-star reviews on Yelp, the platform’s lowest rating.
“This is a scam!” one Yelp user wrote last month. “Please be aware of this site, who is a scammer! They double the price of all activities and refuse to refund. Stay away!
Concerns highlighted in NIVA’s letter include:
- Selling non-existent or inaccurately listed tickets: “Many consumers purchased event tickets that either did not exist or had incorrect dates and times, leading to confusion and disappointment.”
- Lack of transparency on ticket details: “Tickets are often sold without designated areas or seats, leaving consumers in the dark about what they are purchasing.”
- Selling voting tickets or counterfeit tickets: “Tickets sold through the Yelp platform are often not owned by the resellers, and many of these tickets are outright fraudulent.”
- Price gouging: “Tickets are typically sold at 2 to 15 times their face value, even though tickets at face value can still be purchased directly from the venue’s legitimate ticketing platform.”
“Yelp has a responsibility to the communities it serves, but its platform currently engages in predatory ticket sales practices that exploit consumers and undermine independent venues,” said Stephen Parker, Executive Director of NIVA. “This is not just a matter of business ethics; this is about protecting the cultural fabric of our community. By partnering with companies like TicketNetwork, which has a long history of legal action, Yelp is promoting a system that preys on consumers and undermines the integrity of the live entertainment industry. History of problematic and unethical behavior.
Yelp response
In response to NIVA’s letter, a Yelp spokesperson told Pollstar: “For 20 years, Yelp’s mission has been to connect people with great local businesses, including independent venues. We thank NIVA for bringing their concerns about TicketNetwork to our attention and have immediately responded to them.” Take steps to turn off the integration.
However, as of Wednesday morning, many deceptive links for tickets were still visible on Yelp.
Read NIVA’s full letter to Yelp here.
Bruce Horton is the founder and editor of Hypebot, a senior consultant at Bandsintown, president of Skyline Artists Agency, and a professor at Berklee College of Music.
