The Edinburgh Reporter heard from one of our readers, Robert Terry, who was concerned about proposed booking fees that the Fringe are charging this summer.
Mr Terry is a long time Fringe supporter who has until now been a Friend of the Fringe. He got some information about booking fees which initially gave him cause for concern.
He realised that the booking fees had been changed, but was also originally told that the booking fee of 80p a ticket would also be imposed by the Virgin Half Price Hut.
This alarmed him as he realised that this facility is used by people who have no choice but to queue up in all weather conditions. It can be that tickets are not available online, but these worthies are prepared to risk seeing something different, or indeed sign up for shows that otherwise would be beyond their budget.
We checked the position with The Festival Fringe Office who came back to us quickly to tell us that their fees have changed, but explained that this is designed to make it cheaper for everyone.
In particular (and contrary to the advice initially given to our reader) they will not be changing the regime at the Virgin Money Half Price Hut.
A spokesman said : ‘We will not be charging booking fees on tickets purchased from the Virgin Money Half Price Hut.’
The Fringe spokesman continued : ‘The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is committed to reducing the cost of engaging with the Fringe. As a result, and after careful review and with particular consideration of the huge growth in online Box Office channels in recent years, the handling fees across the Fringe Box Office have been restructured, resulting in a fairer, simpler fee structure which will result in approximately 80% of customers paying less to purchase tickets.
‘The Box Office handling fee has been reduced to £0.80 per ticket (previously £0.90) with the maximum fee capped at six tickets (£4.80).
The fee will now be charged across all channels, including in person at counters, except for tickets purchased from the Half Price Hut.’
So to avoid paying any booking fees head for the Half Price Hut is our advice. But the booking fees are a way of supporting the Fringe, even if like our reader Mr Terry you will no longer be a Friend of the Fringe.
Read more about all Fringe tickets here.
The key point here is that you now have to pay a booking fee on standard tickets bought in person at counters – which is a big change and very annoying.
To say that “approximately 80% of customers will be paying less to purchase tickets” is very misleading.
I am not at all happy about paying a booking fee when buying from the Fringe Ticket Office. No more ticket purchases for me!
Being an Edinburgh resident I can pick and choose shows year in year out. Therefore decidedly taken aback now buying full price with £1.80 for two tickets on top for ‘the privilege’ when it would take me two minutes walk to pick them up for free! Not chuffed at all. Only ever doing free stuff now 🙁
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