1,502 posts
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Post by foxa on Mar 10, 2018 15:57:10 GMT
I think companies allow credit for returns because it works for them. I suspect a lot of people either don't use their credit notes or take a chance on a show they wouldn't normally have booked because they have a credit note, so I don't think theatres lose much if anything at all.
The only time I returned tickets at the NT was for Salome. I got a credit note which I finally used towards 'Nine Night' - which I hadn't been planning to see at all but the credit note was burning a hole in my wallet. I still have about £5 left on the credit note - so will apply that to something else, obviously topping up with more of my ££- possibly, again, for something I hadn't originally been planning to attend.
I think there is an additional plus to credit returns in terms of how I approach the shows I see at the NT. I am more willing to book far in advance because I know if something comes up I can get credit back and I feel I have more agency in terms of what I do see. For example I'd heard bad word of mouth about both St George and the Dragon and Pinocchio but chose to see them anyway. However knowing I could have returned the tickets made me feel less resentful in the case of St. George which I didn't much like and pleased that I'd made a positive choice about Pinocchio which I rather did.
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Post by Jan on Mar 10, 2018 16:35:23 GMT
Other theatres will let you do this - Barbican, RSC, Bridge, Royal Opera House (will exchange for other shows currently on sale). Why on earth shouldn't people return tickets? I'm much more likely to book for stuff knowing this is an option. Well this just not really correct is it Tricycle Hampstead Bush RSC Almeida ROH ATG at Richmond Birmingham Rep Royal court Barbican CFT Have all allowed me at one time or another To have a credit note A couple have even refunded on the rare occasion I didn’t realise other theatres allow you to do this, mainly Art funded theatres. Still don’t understand why the subsidised sector allows you to exchange your tickets. I suspect it started as a good gesture to allow people who genuinely cannot make the performance not to be out of pocket, not to be abused - to be chopped in because the reviews are bad. The theatres should stop this service. If they stop then less people will book in advance and wait for reviews. The service doesn’t lose them any money, in fact it probably makes them some money because credit vouchers get lost and forgotten and are never redeemed. Somewhat more problematic possibly is that there’s a secondary market in NT credit vouchers on eBay. |
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Mar 10, 2018 16:38:52 GMT
Other theatres will let you do this - Barbican, RSC, Bridge, Royal Opera House (will exchange for other shows currently on sale). Why on earth shouldn't people return tickets? I'm much more likely to book for stuff knowing this is an option. Well this just not really correct is it Tricycle Hampstead Bush RSC Almeida ROH ATG at Richmond Birmingham Rep Royal court Barbican CFT Have all allowed me at one time or another To have a credit note A couple have even refunded on the rare occasion I didn’t realise other theatres allow you to do this, mainly Art funded theatres. Still don’t understand why the subsidised sector allows you to exchange your tickets. I suspect it started as a good gesture to allow people who genuinely cannot make the performance not to be out of pocket, not to be abused - to be chopped in because the reviews are bad. The theatres should stop this service. I have to agree. |
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Mar 10, 2018 16:41:42 GMT
I didn’t realise other theatres allow you to do this, mainly Art funded theatres. Still don’t understand why the subsidised sector allows you to exchange your tickets. I suspect it started as a good gesture to allow people who genuinely cannot make the performance not to be out of pocket, not to be abused - to be chopped in because the reviews are bad. The theatres should stop this service. If they stop then less people will book in advance and wait for reviews. The service doesn’t lose them any money, in fact it probably makes them some money because credit vouchers get lost and forgotten and are never redeemed. Somewhat more problematic possibly is that there’s a secondary market in NT credit vouchers on eBay. Do you seriously think less people will book in advance? I doubt it especially in the subsidised sector and "off west end". People book they should go. End of |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 16:49:52 GMT
If they stop then less people will book in advance and wait for reviews. The service doesn’t lose them any money, in fact it probably makes them some money because credit vouchers get lost and forgotten and are never redeemed. Somewhat more problematic possibly is that there’s a secondary market in NT credit vouchers on eBay. Do you seriously think less people will book in advance? I doubt it especially in the subsidised sector and "off west end". People book they should go. End of "Excuse me sir my leg fell off" "It's just a fleshwound you have Macbeth tickets therefore you should go. End of" |
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3,040 posts
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Post by crowblack on Mar 10, 2018 17:48:35 GMT
People book they should go. End of I'm travelling from the North-West. I book early to get a decent seat or the best restricted view I can - and they are snapped up quickly. Like many of those who don' t live in London, I tend to book for Saturday matinees, so my chances to visit London are restricted both by that and of course money. However, there are often track works at weekends which we don't find out about until relatively late in the day meaning I then have to cancel: replacement buses on train routes mean I won't arrive in time for the play. In the case of Macbeth, I bought a mid-priced seat far at the back because the £15 had all gone, then returned it when a £15 front row popped up on the date I already had trains booked. Then the reviews came out and I'm now thinking, do I really want to sit through two and a half hours of misery, or should I return the £15 and see something else - hopefully better - that afternoon, e.g. The Prudes? |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 18:06:20 GMT
If they stop then less people will book in advance and wait for reviews. The service doesn’t lose them any money, in fact it probably makes them some money because credit vouchers get lost and forgotten and are never redeemed. Somewhat more problematic possibly is that there’s a secondary market in NT credit vouchers on eBay. Do you seriously think less people will book in advance? I doubt it especially in the subsidised sector and "off west end". People book they should go. End of For God's sake. Going to the theatre isn't a moral duty, it's something people do for enjoyment. No one is obliged to turn up to something rubbish if they bought a ticket on the perfectly reasonable assumption that it wouldn't be rubbish. And life happens - if I have to book tickets six months to a year in advance, sometimes a work or personal obligation will crop up. |
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Post by david on Mar 10, 2018 18:07:34 GMT
People book they should go. End of I'm travelling from the North-West. I book early to get a decent seat or the best restricted view I can - and they are snapped up quickly. Like many of those who don' t live in London, I tend to book for Saturday matinees, so my chances to visit London are restricted both by that and of course money. However, there are often track works at weekends which we don't find out about until relatively late in the day meaning I then have to cancel: replacement buses on train routes mean I won't arrive in time for the play. In the case of Macbeth, I bought a mid-priced seat far at the back because the £15 had all gone, then returned it when a £15 front row popped up on the date I already had trains booked. Then the reviews came out and I'm now thinking, do I really want to sit through two and a half hours of misery, or should I return the £15 and see something else - hopefully better - that afternoon, e.g. The Prudes? I agree with your comments here. Travelling down from Merseyside for a London theatre weekend means because I have only a few theatre slots available, from reading from both board member’s thoughts as well as press reviews of the NT production, it was an easy decision to ditch the ticket for a credit note. I’m not normally one for doing this, but as I wrote in an earlier post, I ignored the comments for NT’s Common production last year and spent 2hrs sat in my seat bored senseless. Ok it was my decision not to take the ticket back, but I thought I’d give it ago anyway. Lesson learnt! Anyway, it leaves me with a free matinee slot so I may end up at the Royal Court as I haven’t been there yet. |
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Post by n1david on Mar 10, 2018 18:16:41 GMT
Have to say the Macbeth platforms on 30 April seem a little more interesting as a result of these reviews - Rufus Norris talking about his Macbeth could lead to a lively Q&A...
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3,550 posts
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Post by Rory on Mar 10, 2018 18:23:35 GMT
I personally think it's fair enough to return tickets and get a credit note if you have booked something months in advance when booking opens, when you only have the chance to see around 6 shows a year in London and you have to travel far enough to get there, and then something else is announced in the meantime that you want to see more. In an ideal world you could see it all but sometimes you have to make choices.
I returned a ticket to the National when the show I'd booked to see later announced an NT Live screening. I can only see a very limited number of shows in London in any year so I opted to see something else instead when I was there and watched the NT Live of the show I'd originally booked.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 18:47:32 GMT
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Mar 10, 2018 18:52:23 GMT
Do you seriously think less people will book in advance? I doubt it especially in the subsidised sector and "off west end". People book they should go. End of "Excuse me sir my leg fell off" "It's just a fleshwound you have Macbeth tickets therefore you should go. End of" Well freaking obviously life happens! I live over 100 miles from London so i cant go every week. But then again would i anyway? You cant see everything. |
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Post by Jan on Mar 10, 2018 18:52:57 GMT
Just an aside, but that last review says the Porter is often cut from the play. I’ve seen it about 12 times and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Porter cut (more’s the pity). |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 18:54:22 GMT
Zero stars:
City A.M.
One star:
WOS
Londonist
Two stars:
Guardian
Telegraph
Daily Mail
ES
The Times
The Stage
Arts Desk
Time Out
The Upcoming
BWW
Gay Times
Three stars:
FT
London theatre
Independent
Radio times
Four stars:
Metro
I am so pleased
Always said RuNo was sh*t
It’s been proven now
Utter idiot
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 18:56:53 GMT
Zero stars: City A.M. One star: WOS Londonist Two stars: Guardian Telegraph Daily Mail ES The Times The Stage Arts Desk Time Out Three stars: FT London theatre Independent Radio times Four stars: Metro I am so pleased Always said RuNo was sh*t It’s been proven now Utter idiot Ouch. Those don't look good. Seems like Anne-Marie isn't the only Duff in it. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 18:58:32 GMT
Zero stars: City A.M. One star: WOS Londonist Two stars: Guardian Telegraph Daily Mail ES The Times The Stage Arts Desk Time Out Three stars: FT London theatre Independent Radio times Four stars: Metro I am so pleased Always said RuNo was sh*t It’s been proven now Utter idiot Ouch. Those don't look good. Seems like Anne-Marie isn't the only Duff in it. I do wonder If Critics Don’t take Norris seriously And think of him as inferior re: director I think so |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 19:03:09 GMT
Ouch. Those don't look good. Seems like Anne-Marie isn't the only Duff in it. I do wonder If Critics Don’t take Norris seriously And think of him as inferior re: director I think so Don't worry. When I take over at The Nash, I won't let him back in the building ever again. Except to collect his P45. |
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Post by crabtree on Mar 10, 2018 19:07:07 GMT
Didn't Rufus direct Festen all those years ago....I thought that was rather thrillingly staged.
Poor NT. There's a battle with the RSC now, with their Duchess of Malfi, to see who can get the worst reviews. I so loved their last Malfi, and it really can still work as a brilliant play. This seems director damaged.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 19:13:31 GMT
God I *wish* people would cut the Porter. Alas, I think his role is vital for allowing Mr and Mrs M to get blood-free before carrying on.  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 19:16:51 GMT
The comments here about returning tickets for a credit note being morally wrong are just surreal.
Good job I didn't mention my frequent habit of returning previously booked tickets when a special offer turns up or I manage to get a Friday Rush ticket.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 19:20:23 GMT
God I *wish* people would cut the Porter. Alas, I think his role is vital for allowing Mr and Mrs M to get blood-free before carrying on. Solution: Macbeth in a car wash, everyone gets a quick hose down and we carry on. See this is why I should be running the NT. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 19:23:45 GMT
The comments here about returning tickets for a credit note being morally wrong are just surreal. Good job I didn't mention my frequent habit of returning previously booked tickets when a special offer turns up or I manage to get a Friday Rush ticket. I originally booked a £31 row G circle ticket for Network, you BET I sent it back when I got my paws on a £15 row A stalls ticket. I use credit vouchers to get decent seats in the Dorfman, whereas I wouldn't set foot in the Dorfman at ALL if I had to use my debit card at the time of booking. Lord knows they've had pleeenty of £2 exchange fees from me over the years... |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 19:34:43 GMT
Yep, for "John" I initially booked a side seat, then swapped it for the back of the stalls, then swapped that for front row rush. I've also done this loads at the RSC when they start doing offers close to the show date.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2018 19:38:36 GMT
The comments here about returning tickets for a credit note being morally wrong are just surreal. Good job I didn't mention my frequent habit of returning previously booked tickets when a special offer turns up or I manage to get a Friday Rush ticket. I originally booked a £31 row G circle ticket for Network, you BET I sent it back when I got my paws on a £15 row A stalls ticket. I use credit vouchers to get decent seats in the Dorfman, whereas I wouldn't set foot in the Dorfman at ALL if I had to use my debit card at the time of booking. Lord knows they've had pleeenty of £2 exchange fees from me over the years... Snap and snap. I've got credit on my account that will be used to see something I no doubt would otherwise have gone 'nah not justifying that money' And just to show it's horses-for-courses. I returned a cheap Perestroika ticket last summer and bought a more expensive 2-show-day ticket instead. Likewise this returns policy also helped when a friend had an epic fail and booked us all in for the wrong bloody weekend...(this is why I no longer let other people book tickets for me) |
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Post by crowblack on Mar 10, 2018 19:52:31 GMT
for "John" I initially booked a side seat, then swapped it for the back of the stalls, then swapped that for front row rush. Ditto, after the advice on here about the view from the side seats not justifying the price - I got front row rush seats too, for the same performance. |
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