If you are a Justin Bieber super fan and you haven’t heard the news, brace yourselves. This one’s gonna hurt. Fans paid up to an astronomical $2,000 each for a special package to his concerts that includes a meet and greet. Now, he has decided to cancel the meet and greet portion of the “I’ll Show You” package and, instead offer a VIP Lounge with a cameo by him – no pictures with him. Even though this is not what fans purchased, he is only offering refunds if fans also give back their tickets. So no concert, either.
Justin Bieber Meet And Greets Canceled: Here’s Why
Justin Bieber meet and greets for his Purpose tour have been canceled because he feels its too difficult to try to live up to other people’s expectations and he finds the meets and greets “depressing.” They are also reporting that there was a security scare.
I get it. Well, at least the depression part. You need to take care of yourself first. Mental health issues are no joke, so definitely take “me time” when you need it. If things are getting to you and life is becoming hard, you can’t just let it pile up. If you are in a position where you can take time off when you need it, I am totally advocating for that.
I would also be scared if I was trapped in a room with a pack of crazed pre-teens, too. But that is a different story.
Here’s Where That “Refund” Will Cost You
But here is where it gets sketchy. Concerts only have so many seats available and once those sell out, that is that. Justin Bieber is offering a refund of the $900-$2,000 {yes, you read that right} that fans spent on these meet and greet packages – if you also return your concert ticket. That’s messed up.
Fans who purchased the Ultimate #Purpose Experience package still get their meet and greet. Fans who bought the “I’ll Show You” package {the ones who are losing their meet and greet} can not upgrade. So, what I am taking from that is that he isn’t too depressed to meet the fans who paid the most. Or is it that people who paid more are less of a security threat? I am confused. I guess he “showed them” alright.
Do you want to be the mom who promised your child a ticket to see Justin Bieber, a ticket that you saved up months for. You promised your child meet and greets and a concert, but now you are left deciding between 1} telling your kid that there will be no concert or meet and greet {so you can get your refund} or 2} taking your child to the concert and it costing you $900-$2,000?
I am all about getting your life together, but don’t do it at other people’s expense. Not all of us have a multi million dollar fortune. This $900-$2,000 is a lot of money to me {not that I bought a ticket, but still} and I definitely wouldn’t want to waste it like that.
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I can understand the trials and tribulations that go into being on tour. It's hard stuff. Having to perform for 2 hours, before that rehearsals, and couple nights before that being on a bus or plane going to the next city. You know what? I get it. I really do.
What I DON'T get is him cancelling his M&G's for only ONE of the VIP packages. It seems like he's saying the ones who payed $1500 aren't good enough to meet him, let alone breath his space but the ones who paid $2500 are well worth the effort.
I say be fair to the adoring fans who dished out the thousands of dollars to stand next to him and cancel ALL M&G's. Period. Why should one be preferred over the other? It's like you prefer to be in the company of those white collars who can drop around $10k for his daughter and 3 of her friends than to 'sully' yourself to be near the lower working class people who struggle to buy your merchandise, and these VIP passes, for their kids to make them happy.
Again, be fair and CANCEL ALL M&G's for BOTH packages if your health is prohibiting you from being able to be social.
I agree. I think they should also get to keep their tickets. Either give them a full refund and let them keep their tickets or prorate the refund amount to allot for a regular seat ticket. Otherwise, it's just not cool - and it's not the fans' fault.
Exactly. If he can't do the M&G's any longer due to 'health issues' (and I use it loosely based on he's only cancelling ONE VIP package and not the other), then at least give a refund of, at least, the amount of what the 3rd package cost since the only reason why the price is high is due to the Meet & Greet. Otherwise, you're only getting the "Where Are You Now' treatment. Oh wait! You get to meet his back up dancers...well, I guess that still calls for the $1500 ticket price.
Besides, I didn't pay $1500x4 to meet his backup dancers. I can do that for FREE at the bar after the show!
Right! That is insane to expect people to be cool with that.
I would be ticked if I payed all this money. I would not go to the concert
That is an unbelievably amount of money for a Justin Bieber Meet and Greet! I can't believe he expected people to be okay with this decision. It's fine that he needs to focus on his mental & emotional health, but people deserve a refund for the service that they didn't get!
This is what you were supposed to get:
The “I'll Show You” VIP #Purpose Experience
Package price: $1225 (service charges included)
• 1 Premium ticket
• #GetClosertoJustin Meet & Greet + Group Photo Op with him (photo taken in groups)**
• 1 premium merch package created exclusively for VIP #Purpose fans
• Access to the pre-show hospitality lounge immediately after your meet & greet
• Early entry into the venue
• On-Site VIP host
• Exclusive #GetClosertoJustin Laminate
• 1 digital download of Justin Bieber's album “Purpose”
**Minimum of 4-6 people per group
This is what they are NOW offering due to the cancellation of the Meet & Greet:
What exactly does the I’ll Show You #Purpose Experience include now?
EACH PACKAGE INCLUDES 1 Premium ticket* Purpose VIP hangout with appearances by Justin, his dancers and his band in the hospitality lounge** 1 premium merch package created exclusively for VIP #Purpose fans Early entry into the venue On-Site VIP host Exclusive #GetClosertoJustin Laminate
Instead of the Meet & Greet, they are now offering 'appearances' by Justin, his dancers and his band in the lounge. You get the same thing seeing him onstage and you are placed in the pit right NEXT TO THE STAGE. So basically, you SEE him BEFORE you see him...
I have already spoken with other ticket buyers and they are seriously contemplating a lawsuit.
I wouldn't pay $2,000 to meet anybody... This is about the most awful customer service I've seen in a while. You can't charge someone for A and B, only deliver A and not refund some of their money. Especially when other people who only paid for A in the beginning only paid half as much.
OMG! I would be so upset...especially if I paid all of that money.
Who on earth would pay $2000 in the first place? They should get a partial refund and be able to see the show!
If I had the money, I would. lol That sucks how they had to cancel this. Although it makes sense! They're just looking out for his security.
Maybe. I think if it was a security thing, though, they would cancel meet and greets for all, not just a select price point. Again, I am not sure why they are assuming the people who paid less are more of a security threat than the people who paid more.
I think it has something to do with middle class vs upper class.
Exactly what it looks like to me. And that is messed up {if that is the case}.
That's EXACTLY what it is!! No doubt about it.
Talk about having disposable income. That does sound like a rip off and very disappointing to his fans.
I think its horrible to do this to people who paid good money.