Emails and hard copy mailers were received that stated that for preferred customers who had registered on Ringling Bros. website, that if tickets are purchased early, there would be a 20% discount. The fact is that this is a bait and switch. When the 20% discount key code is placed into the Ticketmaster purchase window, the only seats with a 20% discount are the seats in the nose bleed section that no one is interested in purchasing.

The second scam is when tickets are ordered online. Ringling Bros. and Ticketmaster gouge families in charging $45 in processing fees to purchase four circus tickets online. This is abusive and consumers should be warned that if tickets are purchased at the box office, where the event is to be held by phone, there is no processing fee but there is a minimal handling fee to mail the tickets. There is nothing advising preferred customers that the box office could be contacted to avoid the $45 processing fee.