Where's My Damn Sunset Junction Refund?

By Ben Westhoff Mon., Aug. 29 2011 at 4:11 PM

Dr. Evil and Sunset Junction. Separated at birth?

Stay tuned to West Coast Sound for more updates until this matter is resolved.

Wednesday afternoon update: Origami Vinyl has begun refunding folks who bought tickets there.
Wednesday morning update: Silver Lake Farmer's Market manager Edwin Gomez is saying that folks who bought discounted $10 tickets at the Market can get a refund if they come by there on Saturday or Tuesday.
Monday update: Both of Sunset Junction's phone numbers appear to have been disconnected.

So, Sunset Junction was canceled. It wasn't a total debacle. A lot of the bands played anyway -- like 400 Blows and Butthole Surfers -- and there was still something of a festival feeling in the air. (Check out Lina Lecaro's account for a full report.)

But what about refunds? Prospective attendees paid anywhere from $15 for advance one-day tickets to $100 for two-day VIP passes. And, as word came down on Wednesday that the city was once again denying its permit, Sunset Junction's Twitter feed offered this cryptic bit of hope: "Tickets/vendors money will be refund, it will take some time to clean up this mess Hope every1 understands thanks." (Sic throughout)

Um, not so much. In fact, five days later, it looks like they're simply not picking up phone calls from ticket vendors.

Nobody's gotten their money back, and everyone is getting irritated. Over the weekend Buzzbands.la posted a letter from the ticketing agency Flavorus.com to a prospective attendee asking for money back. It reads in part:

Unfortunately, the event organizers have not responded to us and it seems, at this time, they are reluctant to issue any refunds for any tickets sold....
Please be advised, as the Ticket Agency our normal course of action for any and all cancelled events, for which we processed the funds, would be to immediately refund all ticket sales to you. But complicating this situation and unlike the normal course, the ticket funds collected and the donations to the festival were all processed and collected through Sunset Junction's own credit card processing account. As a result, we are unable to issue refunds without the cooperation of the event organizers as we do not have access to the funds.

Currently, the only resolution we can offer is that you contact your bank and file a charge back/dispute claim. We understand that this is not the most convenient method of securing your refund. However we are absolutely confident that it will be the most effective way in resolving theissue.

Lovely! In any case, rest assured that we feel your pain, and that West Coast Sound will stay on top of this debacle. Check back here regularly, and we will let you know how to get your money back.

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Madamechaos

What is the update on refunds?

S_P_

Has there been any update on refunds?

mark

The fair organizers (Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance) also run the Silver Lake Farmer's Market on Saturdays in the Sunset Junction. Interestingly, even as they were ignoring phone calls and ducking refunds, they somehow found the time to run the Farmer's Market this past Saturday! The Circle Jerks should organize a loud protest there - you can usually find Michael McKinley or his right hand man Edwin there.

Thank you, Mark . . . I now have a solution. SJ advance tick purchasers should attend a Silver Lake Farmer's Market and take goods equivalent in cost to the money that was stolen from us via failure to refund plus something extra for our time and trouble. I heard that Michael McKinley has a nasty crack cocaine habit he is trying to support. I guess that is where the money went.

favio

I WORKED FOR SUNSET JUNCTION FOR YEARS. YOU'LL SE BOTH SURPRISED AND SICKENED TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY REALLY GOES, OR HOW ITS REALLY SPENT...

Eric Potter Cooling Time

Y'all should be aware of some BS laid down by one Jennifer Tefft (Satellite booker and Sunset Junction booker). A friday column in the LA Times about the cancellation quotes her saying "If I had known Mckinley was such a deadbeat, I would NEVER have booked ANY bands at all" Us bands find that VERY HARD to believe! She was pretty tight with this guy and must have known about the unpaid bills for YEARS! So all you bands out there that have to deal with this skank should know this.

Eric Potter Cooling Time

mark

Re Jennifer Tefft: At the Wednesday City Hall Appeal hearing - which Michael McKInley the fair organizer skipped - only two people showed up to speak on behalf of the SJNA: the lawyer and Ms. Tefft. She even went as far as to call those opposed to the fair "a small bunch of haters". She has not yet apologized for this unfortunate remark.

M.Ramone

Walkthebalnkmind

Jennifer Tefft is an absolute moron. She is hideous and only got into booking bands so she could meet guys in bands. She refuses to speak to, or deal with a bands booking agent and instead insists that a band member call to make a deal to play. I bypass her every time and speak with Mitchel Frank, a stellar individual and consummate, well rounded music lover and professional.

Urrhymeswithfur

THERE ≠ THEIR ≠ THEY'RE

Sunset Junction has shut down its Facebook wall and the ability for anyone to comment on photos it appears, perhaps because people were railing about the lack of refunds...

mark

Sadly, the rest of the world now understands what Silver Lake and the Sunset Junction neighborhood have had to deal with when it comes to the fair organizers "Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance" and its head Michael McKinley. The City Attorney needs to get on the SJNA for last year's street permit fee AND refunds for all vendors/ticket buyers/promoters.

Please stay on top of this and question/verify every statement they say!