BTS ARMY fume after Ticketmaster offers only one 30-day window for refunds despite no new tour dates
Ticketmaster, a ticket sales and distribution company, appears to have angered the BTS ARMY after they were offered a 30-day window for refunds on canceled concerts despite there being no new concert dates yet. BTS had to cancel their 'Map of the Soul: 7' world tour on account of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The group has had a successful record-breaking run with their album but were unable to complete their promotional tour. Fans worldwide were left devastated after many spent significant amounts of money to buy the album, merchandise, tickets and more, all in preparation of what was sure to be quite the extravaganza.
Nonetheless, fans who already received refunds donated the money towards coronavirus relief efforts. Ticketmaster has naturally taken significant hits as events continue to be canceled or postponed. As part of their procedures, they are sending out emails to people who have purchased tickets for these events, offering them refunds or assuring them that their tickets will remain valid for new dates, whenever those may be announced.
Unfortunately for the BTS ARMY, this isn't good enough. Many of them have taken days off in order to be able to attend the concerts, with several even making travel and accommodation plans for the event. For them, a refund just isn't an option, but they also might not be able to attend the concert on the new dates. And without having those dates in hand, it's difficult to decide whether a refund is the better option or not.
"Ticketmaster really saying they only allowing refunds in this 30 day window, but like how we gonna know if we can go to the new dates until the dates are actually announced," asked one fan, while another said, "Ticketmaster is being a whole ass clown."
One stated, "Ticketmaster really reminding me 2 weeks after the date my concert was supposed to be that my concert date has been postponed," while another shared, "@Ticketmaster the email I just got. Not all bts fans are from a single place. I was supposed to fly to US for their concert. And now you want me to decide on either getting a refund or to keep my ticket without knowing the actual revised tour dates? Wtf."
One angry fan tweeted, "F*CKKKK Ticketmaster!!! Why only 30 days?!?" adding, "My dad's gonna kill me if I don't get a refund if its cancelled!" while another wondered, "Yes and even if we do get a refund will there be another ticket sale so some could get better seats or how is this whole thing going to work?"
Some fans were staunchly opposed to getting a refund at all, stating, "Thanks, but no thanks Ticketmaster. It took blood, sweat, and tears to get that sound check silver package...So I’m good."
Others had difficulty accessing the refund, tweeting, "I don’t even have the option to get a refund for one of the concerts I planned to attend. Does Ticketmaster not know there are people losing their jobs and need whatever money they can get?"
Many called out Ticketmaster, stating, "Welcome to corporate America which places profit ahead of customer service," and adding, "…citizen's lives and well-being."
Some fans, however, thought their fellow BTS fans may have been overreacting. One shared, "I’m pretty sure you’re misreading the email, this says hang onto your tickets until the new date is announced, at which point they will email you and the 30 day refund window will start," along with an image of the email attached which indicates that Ticketmaster is offering a refund for the tickets within the 30-day window. However, they do state plainly that the tickets for postponed events will continue to remain valid for the new dates.
The point of contention, however, seems to be the end of the email, which indicates that no additional refund windows will be offered, combined with the fact that the refund window appears to already be open for some users now. This means fans can only request a refund during the window that is open now and will most likely have to forfeit their ticket and lose their money if they are unable to attend the concerts on the new dates.
"That’s what I’m confused about as well," shared one fan, adding, "Overall, Ticketmaster just needs to do better at communicating," to which another responded, "Yeah, TM is notoriously bad at communicating (and at most everything involving being good to their customers) and they don’t even care."
Needless to say, they're probably looking into how to smooth this over at Ticketmaster. After all, incurring the wrath of the ARMY is probably not going to be particularly beneficial to them. "Lol Ticketmaster next time you say something make it about BTS new concert dates," joked one fan, while another declared, "In all likelihood, kpop fans will be the ones responsible for dismantling @Ticketmaster before single-handedly installing a new system of governance that is more balanced, fair and equal across all the lands."