The Chicago White Sox are currently on a franchise-record 17-game losing streak, following another loss on Wednesday afternoon. Ticket prices for Wednesday’s game against the Kansas City Royals were initially listed at a low $6 on ticket reseller StubHub.
However, at checkout, the total cost unexpectedly jumped to $14 — more than double the original price when factoring in fees.
A lawsuit filed on Wednesday by Washington D.C. attorney general Brian Schwalb centers around how these fees are applied. In a statement, he alleges that StubHub’s practice of hiding mandatory fees until the final stages of the purchase process is “deceptive and unfair.”
Schwalb stated, “StubHub entices consumers with a misleadingly low price, puts them through a cumbersome purchasing process, and then reveals a much higher total at checkout than the originally advertised ticket price.”
RELATED STORY | Three states pass concert ticket transparency protections
“This is a deliberate tactic by StubHub to conceal the true price and increase profits at the expense of customers,” Schwalb asserted.
Schwalb accuses StubHub of employing a marketing strategy known as “drip pricing,” where the company advertises low prices to lure customers and then guides them through unnecessary steps with a countdown clock to create a false sense of urgency.
Melanie McGovern from the Better Business Bureau advised consumers to understand the purpose of each fee before making a purchase from a reseller.
The BBB recommends protecting oneself from hidden fees by:
- Questioning the advertised price
- Factoring in fees when budgeting
- Comparing prices while considering fees
RELATED STORY | Super Bowl tickets near record high as fees alone cost thousands
According to StubHub’s response to Scripps News, the company is committed to transparency and fairness in their marketplace, stating that their user experience aligns with the law, industry standards, and e-commerce practices.
The statement also expressed support for federal and state initiatives that enhance consumer protection, such as requiring clear and uniform pricing across all platforms.
