I've just booked four tickets for a show at a local theatre, and I did it by phone. It cost me £24, plus £4 booking fee, plus £1 postage. Total price £29. I got to choose where we sat.

If I'd have bought the same four tickets online, it would have assigned me seats in the stalls (we wanted to be on the balcony) and it would have charged £24 for the tickets, plus £2.50 fee per seat, plus a 50p "transaction fee" making a total of £34.50.

I thought the whole idea of buying online was more convenience and less staff costs. Therefore it should be cheaper!?