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U.K. competition watchdog probing use of ‘dynamic pricing’ in Oasis ticket debacle
Britain’s competition watchdog on Thursday launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over the sale of Oasis tickets, including the use of “dynamic pricing” to hike the cost to fans at the last minute.
Thousands of fans waited long hours in virtual queues last weekend to get their hands on tickets for the British band’s reunion shows next summer, only to find that prices had jumped in a “dynamic pricing” scheme.
Many thought they would pay the advertised rate of £148.50 ($264 Cdn) but ended up paying more than double at £355.20 ($632).
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was scrutinizing whether the sale of Oasis tickets by Ticketmaster, the official ticketing partner for the concert, may have breached consumer protection law.
It said it would examine if Ticketmaster had engaged in “unfair commercial practices,” if fans were given “clear and timely” information to explain tickets could be subject to dynamic pricing and if people were put under pressure to buy tickets within a short period of time.
The CMA said it should not be assumed Ticketmaster had broken consumer protection laws. As part of the probe, fans were being asked to submit evidence of their experiences.
In a statement issued to PA Media and cited by the BBC, Oasis said decisions on ticketing and pricing were the responsibility of promoters and management.
Ticketmaster did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the investigation. Read more
Luxury shopping? Lifestyle destination? This is what it’s like inside Montreal’s newest supermall
A little less than 48 hours before the first shoppers were expected to start spending money inside the new Royalmount shopping mall, the place still looked like a construction site.
Workers were drilling, digging, installing and hammering away on Tuesday morning as Andrew Lutfy, the real estate and retail mogul behind the project, led a group of journalists and influencers on a tour.
Lutfy, wearing a smile and a pair of Tom Ford shoes, stood in the mall’s main atrium in front of storefronts that will soon be home to Tiffany and Co. and Yves Saint Laurent, among other luxury brands. He pitched Royalmount as a retail haven, destination for curious families, culinary hot spot and cure for the loneliness epidemic.
“What we’re providing is a physical canvas that is master-planned — and I’m gonna say genius master-planned — that brings people together,” he said, standing in the mall’s main atrium.
But will people come? Royalmount has drawn criticism and pushback from local officials who warn it will make traffic worse in the area, with a constant slowdown on the Décarie and Metropolitain expressways already.
Lutfy isn’t worried. If they don’t want to contend with traffic, he said shoppers can take the Metro to De La Savane station and walk over the highway via a $50-million footbridge to get to the mall’s second floor. Read more
Hundreds of thousands of Samsung electric ranges recalled in Canada over fire hazard
Samsung has recalled hundreds of thousands of electric ranges used for stovetops in Canada because they’re a fire hazard.
In a recall notice posted this week, Health Canada said the slide-in ranges have front-mounted knobs that humans or pets can activate by accident if they bump into them. Since people might not realize the stovetop is running, the stoves create the risk for a fire.
Health Canada said more than 57 “incidents” have been reported to Samsung nationwide, with seven reported injuries. The notice did not provide further details on the incidents or the severity of injuries.
Consumers can determine whether their slide-in electric range is included in the recall by looking at the model number printed on the product — either on the inside upper left corner of the range door or inside the storage bin located on the bottom of the range. Health Canada has published a list of affected models online.
The affected products were sold between 2013 and August 2024. Read more
What else is going on?
Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 4.25%
This is the central bank’s 3rd consecutive rate cut
‘This is a scam’: Attendee disheartened after Regina music festival’s debut
Safety issues, cancellations mark inaugural Sweet Escape festival
Would commercial rent control protect small businesses in Canada?
B.C. councillor proposes ‘special economic zones’ to help preserve neighbourhoods as owners face growing costs
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