Has anyone else noticed that ticketweb has now started to introduce a £1.50 "pickup" fee to pick tickets up from the box office on the night? (or rather, just get your name ticked off a list usually). This is in addition to the "service charge"? What the fuck is going on???

Example; Robyn Hitchock tonight at Islington Academy, face value of ticket £16.50. Service charge = £2.06, pickup fee £1.50. Total charged by ticketweb: £20.06p.

If you didn't want tickets posted, Ticketweb used to be relatively ok in comparison to, say, seetickets, who charge a booking fee as well as a "transaction fee" (WTF?) and postage (which can be up to £4).

The situation of booking fees is spiraling out of control, only wegottickets seems to offer anything approaching an honest service (10% flat rate fee, eg: £1.60 on a £16 ticket).

I know that there is a cash box office eg. at Shep's Bush Empire, but if you live and work outside or on the other side of London, this is not much use.

Seriously guys, if everyone boycotted ticketweb, ticketmaster and seetickets and just bought tickets on the night, these guys would face a choice: either go out of business or stop charging ridiculous fees.

(Saying all that, I'll still be on the web at 9am tomorrow for Arcade Fire tix, damnit!)