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Post by d'James on Nov 1, 2018 2:19:26 GMT
What are Theatres like at exchanging tickets? Specifically if I’ve booked a massively inconvenient ticket before they’ve announced an extension which would be much more convenient?
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562 posts
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Post by jadnoop on Nov 1, 2018 4:18:17 GMT
What are Theatres like at exchanging tickets? Specifically if I’ve booked a massively inconvenient ticket before they’ve announced an extension which would be much more convenient? You will need to call and check with the specific theatre as the rules vary from place to place (or google their Ts and Cs). However, quite a few will allow you to exchange tickets for another date for a small charge (e.g. NT and Barbican are £2/ticket if I remember correctly). |
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426 posts
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Post by dlevi on Nov 1, 2018 9:17:19 GMT
The subsidized theatres such as the National , the Donmar, Almeida etc. are usually sympathetic and helpful. The chains - Delfont Mackintosh, Nimax and especially ATG are, excuse the expression - assholes. It's best to try and do it in person and hope for a human element.
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Post by crowblack on Nov 1, 2018 9:21:15 GMT
If you contact them well in advance of the date they seem to be OK, though they do charge a fee and wouldn't let me go for a cheaper ticket on a later date. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2018 9:21:46 GMT
Delfont Mackintosh do have an official exchange policy that's basically the same as the subsidised theatres (exchange for another performance, for a small fee). It can be extremely difficult to get through to them on the phone, but in my experience they've always been very helpful when I have finally managed to get through to them (if you can go to a DM theatre in person though, it's probably easier). Without knowing specifically which theatre you're referring to, it's impossible to know how helpful we're being! But whoever it is, call and ask politely. If they have an official exchange policy, then you'll be able to do your business there and then, and if they don't have an official exchange policy, they still might be willing to help if you ask really nicely (explaining that you're still keen to see the production and emphasising that they're not losing a customer by facilitating this might help).
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840 posts
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Post by Steffi on Nov 1, 2018 10:27:09 GMT
Delfont Mackintosh have always been very helpful whenever I have exchanged tickets. I usually do it in person at the box office. They do charge a small fee - I think it’s around £2 - but occasionally the lovely box office people have even exchanged my tickets for free.
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426 posts
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Post by dlevi on Nov 2, 2018 12:23:54 GMT
I've heard Delfont, LW, Nederlander and Nimax are pretty good now. I'm glad to hear that things have changed. I still get angry when I think of the hoops I had to go through with ATG when I had bought the insurance, was knocked out with the flu and they demanded a note from my GP saying that I on that particular day I was unable to travel. I told them that I hadn't consulted a my GP but I have a drawer full of flu medicines to prove I wasn't lying. The response back was send us a picture and a copy of the reciepts and we'll look again at your situation. I did as they asked and 2 months later I received my refund. And with Delfont Mackintosh I attended a performance of Half a Sixpence which was halted about halfway through the first act - it took them about an hour before they cancelled the performance entirely. I called the next day about a refund and they said that since I was there on a front row day seat I wouldn't be able to get a refund but they were willing to exchange my ticket for another weeknight performance. I chose a date and while we were speaking went online to see how well sold the performance was and indeed the stalls were 1/3 sold, the dress circle the same and the Royal Circle was basically empty. The person said I'm seating you in the Royal Circle she told me the seat number and not only was it on the extreme side but it was marked "obstructed". I asked if she could do better than that. "You're lucky we're doing this." I explained that I really can't climb those stairs and that's why I often do a front row lottery. Her response was: Then that's what you'll have to do again. And she promptly refunded my money to my account - something which she had indicated she was unable to do because I was a 'day seat". Perhaps enough people complained that they all went on a customer relations training programme - because a ticket that the theatre chain doesn't sell is one less booking fee into their coffers which they don't share with the show. |
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