Ahmanson Theater- would rather have…
Ahmanson Theater- would rather have empty seats than grant a change date request due to a minor emergency
My family and I are live theater goers. We have been going to the Center Theater Group, more particularly the Ahmanson Theater, and the Mark Taper Theater for more than 10- 15 years. Until the Pandemic hits, we were going at least once a month. I normally buy my tickets either in the box office, online on their website, and sometimes on third party websites. Even made small donations for the theater during check outs to help the theater in my own small way.
The pandemic hit.. no live theater for us for about 2 1/2 years..
Last week, I received a promotional email, sort of a welcome back, for a really low price on weeknights presentations of the A Soldier's Play.
I bought two tickets for me and my wife, and called customer service about the validity of my "welcome back tickets promotional price" I was told weeknights , up to 6/9/2023. I chose 6/7/2023
6/6/2023, late in the evening, we learned about the results of wife's x-ray taken days ago about her pains in the lower back and right thigh. She was advised to rest for a 2-3 days and seek appointment for an Orthopedic Dr to get a 2nd reading on the x-ray results. It was too late to call the box office to request for change, and so I called today, 6/7/2023.
I have spoken to a certain Joshua, and I was told since it's the day of the show, I have to pay for for change tickets fee and upgrade fee since the promo ends Friday 6/9/2023. I tried to explain the situation and he consulted his supervisor and he came back with a " we will waive the change fee" but you still have to pay for the upgrade fee; the fee is more expensive that the promo price of the tickets. I think he tried his best to help even though he kept putting me on hold to ask somebody.
After what seems like forever that I was on hold, I requested to speak to the Customer Service Manager , but Joshua already warned me that the answer is still no, even if I talk with the manager. I could hear his keyboard on the background frantically typing what is probably a summary of my request for the Manager to see.. then I finally I got transferred.
I have spoken to a certain Jennifer and tried to explain the situation (again); she practically just echoed what Joshua told me earlier. I then asked her are you sold out on Friday 6/9/2023 that's why you cannot give me an exchange without paying a fee? If they are, then I said I understand there's no way to accommodate my request. She said no; however, she said the producers would rather bet on the possibility of the tickets being sold for a full price rather than accommodate my request since I am holding cheap promotional tickets.
On the profit oriented side, her answer makes sense. On the relationship of a patron and his family attending that theater for about 10-15 years, I guess they don't care. They rather have empty seats, than accommodate an exception to their profit centered agenda.
Yes, they are one of the more prestigious live theater in the Los Angeles area, but there are so many other others to choose from, in the Los Angeles area and nearby cities; those other theater value their relationship with their patrons and their communities, not just their profits.
Sad as it may seems, I will move on and forget the 10-15 years; my family and I will never set foot in the Ahmanson and Mark Taper Theater again.