Those wiley handicapped people.

On occasion I like to go to concerts, plays, musicals, etc. and when I do, I usually go with a couple of friends, or maybe my sister-in-law and my brother or niece. In the past, I’ve encountered minor problems when purchasing tickets, however. See you can’t just log on to ticketmaster or call them if you want a wheelchair accessible seat. Those tickets are sold only through the venue’s box office. Many times I have called the Alltel box office and requested to purchase 1 wheelchair accessible seat, and 2 accompanying seats, only to be told that they will only sell 1 accompanying seat for each wheelchair seat. I usually argue and end up with the requested tickets, but it’s a hassle.

Recently, I wanted to purchase tickets for myself, my mom, and her friend Joyce to see a show at the Robinson. This is my experience. I called and stated that I wanted to purchase Taylor Hicks tickets (enough already, it isn’t about that) and waited about 2 minutes for the voice on the line to respond, and when she ddidn’t, I said, “are you still there?” to which she replied, “yes, I’m getting on the computer, we don’t sell many of those tickets on the phone.” She proceeded to take my order, and then stated, “we can only sell 1 accompanying seat for the wheelchair accessible seat. You can only sit together if I can find an empty seat in your row.” To which I stated, “I just don’t understand how you can limit the number of seats I can purchase, but you can buy as many as you’d like,” to which I received, “I SAID I MIGHT find an empty seat on your row.” Now I’m generally nonconfrontational, but this attitude hacked me off and the “well that was rude” escaped before I could stop it. She then laughed and said, “I didn’t mean to be rude. We just have to tell people that.” And get ready for this part, “Because some handicapped people take advantage.”

Now will SOMEBODY please explain to me how a handicapped person wanting to purchase an accessible seat and X number of seats could be taking advantage??!! Folks, the tickets cost the same price!! So if I purchased 1 accessible seat, and 4500 accompanying seats, how is that taking advantage, and what’s their beef, they fill their auditorium???

I just don’t understand how they can legally limit the number of tickets I can purchase but not limit a non-handicapped person. If they are concerned about the availability of wheelchair accessible and accompanying seats, why can’t it be first come first serve like it is for the general public??