The Chicago White Sox are currently in 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 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 addresses the issue of how these fees are charged. In a statement, Schwalb accuses StubHub of deceptive and unfair practices by hiding mandatory fees until the end of the purchase process.
Schwalb explained, “StubHub lures consumers in by advertising a deceptively low price, forces them through a burdensome purchase process, and then finally reveals a total on the checkout page that is vastly higher than the originally advertised ticket price.”
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“This is no accident — StubHub intentionally hides the true price to boost profits at its customers’ expense,” Schwalb added.
Schwalb further claims that StubHub utilizes a technique known as ‘drip pricing’ to entice customers with low prices, then adds fees without proper explanation during the purchasing process.
According to Melanie McGovern from the Better Business Bureau, it is essential for consumers to fully understand what each fee covers before making a purchase from a reseller. McGovern advised consumers to ask questions and compare prices with fees in mind.
The BBB suggests protecting yourself from hidden fees by:
- Questioning the promoted price
- Budgeting for fees
- Comparison shopping with fees in mind
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In response to the allegations, StubHub stated, “StubHub is committed to creating a transparent, secure, and competitive marketplace to benefit consumers.” The statement also mentioned support for federal and state solutions that enhance consumer empowerment, such as requiring all-in pricing uniformly across platforms.
