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National Association of Ticket Brokers
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About NATB
The NATB was organized by a group of ticket brokers who recognized the need for a united voice and representation in a highly changing regulated business environment. It was apparent that the industry's strength and voice would be best heard and utilized through a trade group of legitimate ticket brokers.
The NATB is a non-profit trade association governed by an executive Board of Directors composed of representatives from each region of the United States, and a thirteenth at large director who may be from any region. Our primary function is to represent the interests of the Ticket Brokering industry by promoting consumer protection, and educating the public about our industry. The NATB encourages our members to be "Good Neighbors" in their communities. We also believe that free market pricing of tickets, (the buying and selling of tickets at their actual market value, and not that of the face value printed on the ticket) is the only way our members may attain hard to get tickets for their clients, therefore pricing limits of a percentage or a dollar amount limit above face value would be detrimental to our industry.
We meet two to three time a year, meetings are not only informative but a great way for Brokers to network with other members across the country. Our officers and Directors are elected every two years, and the Board of directors run the organization with meetings throughout the year. The NATB does not sell tickets, or recommend which ticket broker that you do business with. We do however recommend that you consider the protection that our members must provide to you the consumer in adhering to our code of ethics, in short we do recommend that if you do buy tickets on the secondary market that you ask the seller if they are a member of the NATB.
Finally if you feel one of our members has not made a refund due to
you, or has taken money for tickets and not fulfilled his obligations
as prescribed in our code of ethics then contact NATB to learn how
to file a complaint with the us.
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Code of Ethics
WHEREAS, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS is a national organization representing firms engaged in the reselling of tickets to entertainment and sporting events;
WHEREAS, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS requires its members to maintain the highest level of ethics in the marketplace;
WHEREAS, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS has adopted a set of standards and procedures that govern the conduct of members; and
WHEREAS, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS has memorialized those standards in this document.
IT IS HEREBY AGREED that the following principles are adopted and shall be known as the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS CODE OF ETHICS.
EACH MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS ("NATB") SHALL:
1. Maintain regular business hours from a permanent business address,
excluding a post office box or similar address, within the United
States or Canada, at which site the resale of tickets will be a principal
business activity.
2. Maintain a business telephone, with a published number, at such
location.
3. Maintain good character and reputation in the community.
4. Disclose to the purchaser, prior to purchase, the location of the
seats represented by the tickets, either orally or by reference to
a seating chart.
5. Not deceive, mislead, misinform or otherwise misrepresent any information
related to the location of the seats represented.
6. Not alter tickets sold in any detrimental way.
7. To the best of its ability, ensure the tickets with obstructed
or limited view are marked as such, and that purchasers are advised
of this fact prior to purchase.
8. Maintain complete and accurate records of all purchases, sales
and refunds.
9. Inform customers, at the time of taking an order, whether or not
ordered tickets are guaranteed.
10. If delivery of ticket is guaranteed, and the ticket is not delivered,
the member shall provide a refund equal to 200% of the contracted
price or a refund equal to the contracted price plus $1,000.00, whichever
is greater for each guaranteed ticket not delivered, unless non-delivery
is caused by any Act of God (snowstorm, flood, earthquake, etc.).
If a problem occurs and delivery of an exact ticket location becomes
impossible, no penalty shall apply if the member offers the buyer
a comparable ticket at the same or lower price as the contracted ticket.
In the rare instance that a ticket purchased by a member for a client
is later found to have been stolen, counterfeited or reported lost
by the original purchaser, and the member purchased these tickets
in good faith, then the member shall be responsible only to refund
the full contracted price.
11. Maintain a refund, rescheduling and cancellation policy which
shall be conspicuously posted at each location where the member does
business.
12. Advise all purchasers of its refund, rescheduling and cancellation
policy upon request.
13. Include, at a minimum, the following conditions in its refund
and cancellation policy: All deposits for tickets not delivered must
be refunded within 30 days of the event; and
Will offer a full refund within 30 days after the request for a refund
is made on events canceled for any reason other than an Act of God
(rained out, earthquake, flood, etc.), strike, or lockout. This refund
may be monetary, a store credit, or a mutually agreed upon ticket
exchange.
14. Any refund or other provision set forth herein shall not limit
the right of the NATB to enforce any other sanction it deems fit.
15. Conduct business professionally and ethically with customers in compliance with the policies set out above;
16. Act honestly with all other members of the industry, and not deceive, mislead, misinform or otherwise misrepresent to another broker information concerning the availability of tickets or the location of seats;
17. Refrain from acting in a manner that is detrimental to the ticket brokerage industry or the NATB;
18. Display the logo of the NATB, if permitted, on all forms of advertisements, including stationery, business cards, flyers, whether buying or selling tickets.
19. Pay all undisputed invoices to fellow brokers in the agreed upon time. If after 30 days from the date of the purchase, funds have not been received by the seller, the total amount due must be forwarded to the seller within five calendar days of written notice ("Notice Period") either by bank wire or any form of shipping for which a tracking number for the package is given. After the Notice Period has elapsed a request via telephone and facsimile must be made from the seller to the buyer with a copy to the NATB. At that time a call will be made and a facsimile will be sent to the buyer by the NATB serving notification that the outstanding undisputed invoice must be paid within five days. If the five day period elapses without payment, the member who has not paid their outstanding invoice will be warned and assessed a $100 penalty payable to the NATB. More than one violation in any NATB membership year and the member in question will be removed from membership and lose all privileges. If full payment has not been made within two months the member in question will also by removed from membership. A one-year period must elapse before a member be removed for violating this policy can seek a new membership.
This Code of Ethics for members of the NATB has been adopted to promote and maintain the highest standards of conduct among its members. Adherence to the standards cited herein is required for membership in the NATB and serves to assure public confidence in the integrity and service of ticket brokers.
As amended 10/4/2001.
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FAQ
Why Buy Tickets From A Ticket Service/ Ticket Broker?
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Say you don't want to stand in long lines for tickets or you just
don't have the time. Many times you don't like the seats you get
after waiting in lines or after finally getting through over the
phone, or ...
You just heard your favorite performer is coming to town and you
just have to get those close upfront seats, or ...
Your most important clients or family are coming in from out of
town, you may need tickets at the last minute, when only a ticket
service can help you, or ...
That basketball game is sold out or it was impossible to get tickets
to the Super Bowl, Indy 500, World Series, Kentucky Derby, Final
Four, or a variety of other World Class events, or ...
You're going out of town on business or vacation and want to surprise
or entertain clients with tickets to an out-of-town event, or simply
entertain yourself! Whatever your reasons for buying tickets on
the secondary market, the NATB members want to make your buying
experience a pleasure.
Why do Ticket Brokers sometimes charge so much above the face value?
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Our members costs for obtaining tickets are always related to the
market demand. At times members may pay many times the original
face value to obtain tickets that are in high demand. Other times
members may purchase tickets at a small price over the face value
and then they may sell them for prices closer to the face value.
The amount you pay for your tickets above the face value relates
to the cost of obtaining these premium tickets.
How do Ticket Brokers get their tickets?
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Ticket Services/ Ticket Brokers put their capital at risk daily
by purchasing tickets from season ticket holders, conventional public
sales, and soliciting through advertising.
What if the NATB member I call doesn't have what I want?
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Our members may also use their vast network of contacts to get
you tickets to an event that they may not have in stock as well
as those events that they have tickets on hand.
Don't Ticket Brokers buy up large blocks of tickets prior to the
public sale of tickets?
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NO. Our members are NOT affiliated with Ticketron®*, Ticketmaster®*,
or any other computerized ticketing agents who are primary sellers
for venues.
* Ticketron and Ticketmaster are copyrighted trademarks of Ticketmaster.
The NATB and their Members are NOT affiliated with Ticketmaster.
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