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[Enilced2]

Granted this is purely anecdotal and for all I know is only this bad in my city but somehow I suspect not.

Over the last year in my city (Edmonton,AB) I have noticed that every concert that I have tried to get tickets too for my wife and I they are sold out in literal seconds. I wouldn't have so much of an issue with this if it wasn't for that you see minutes later hundreds and hundreds of tickets up on resale sites for upwards of 4x the face value of tickets.

It would be fine if they were selling out to fans and people actually going to the concerts but scalping has just gotten out of control. Garth Brooks is doing 9 concerts here just to combat this so his fans could actually get tickets and see him perform.

I'm wondering if there's really anything that can be done to combat this or if I just need to resign myself to never seeing anyone in concert because I refuse to pay 600 dollars for 2 nosebleed tickets with a 45$ face value.

 

[captive]

geez this is like our third thread on this in 2 weeks or so.

yea it sucks and its super annoying. The only thing i see fixing it is 1) outlawing selling tickets for higher than face value 2) preventing companies from "preselling" the tickets to other ticket companies.

 

[Raticus79]

I've wondered why places don't put tickets up for bid instead (starting from the base price), keeping that scalper's cut for themselves. Maybe there's a law against it.

Edit: guess they're effectively doing this via presale deals with the resellers.

 

[Grimm Fandango]

I think some venues are requiring an ID at the event to match the name of whoever bought the ticket (so if John Smith bought the ticket, his name will be on it and ID will need to match).

If you can't go, you should be able to get your money back and people can get a ticket either at the venue or some other method.

 

[ElNino]

geez this is like our third thread on this in 2 weeks or so.

yea it sucks and its super annoying. The only thing i see fixing it is 1) outlawing selling tickets for higher than face value 2) preventing companies from "preselling" the tickets to other ticket companies.

I believe 1) is already a law here (Ontario), but it doesn't stop anything. It's a big reason why people sell through StubHub here so they are technically selling from the US even though the buyer, seller and event are in Canada, but paying in US dollars.

 

[old manatee]

nes mini scalping is even worse

 

[The Albatross]

The cure would probably be worse than the disease for this.

The only real solution that I can think of would be something like ticket DRM where a ticket has to be bought through a certified app, and that app has to be used when entering the venue, and you can only transfer tickets to another account at face value through the app.

An issue with requiring that license to enter the stadium for each ticket would be that it would prevent someone from buying a gift for someone else. I just bought my wife Lady Gaga tickets for her and her friend, for her birthday, and I'm not going to the show (and I don't want to give my wife my license for the night).

Ticket DRM through an app could work, but it would seem very user hostile, and anybody without the app would be up a creek.

geez this is like our third thread on this in 2 weeks or so.

yea it sucks and its super annoying. The only thing i see fixing it is 1) outlawing selling tickets for higher than face value 2) preventing companies from "preselling" the tickets to other ticket companies.

Ticket scalping always has been illegal, at least in most states in the US and Canada, but I don't understand the legal grey area with ticket scalping websites.

 

[border]

I've never really had a problem with it, but then I don't try to go to big arena-style concerts that scalpers flock to.

Got 1st row seats at face value for Book of Mormon when it toured here.

When I was looking to go to a sold out Cyndi Lauper show, I looked up scalper prices and actually found them to be pretty reasonable.

 

[shira]

It would be fine if they were selling out to fans and people actually going to the concerts but scalping has just gotten out of control. Garth Brooks is doing 9 concerts here just to combat this so his fans could actually get tickets and see him perform.

Lul, who do you think gets a cut of the 2nd hand market sales.

It's just how performers save face and everyone gets paid.

 

[krae_man]

I believe 1) is already a law here (Ontario), but it doesn't stop anything. It's a big reason why people sell through StubHub here so they are technically selling from the US even though the buyer, seller and event are in Canada, but paying in US dollars.

OP said Edmonton so mentioning Ontario laws is not relevant.

Also you're incorrect:

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada...nt-made-ticket-scalping-legal-in-ontario.html

Regardless, more resellers operate in the states in jurisdictions where it is legal.

The only real solution that I can think of would be something like ticket DRM where a ticket has to be bought through a certified app, and that app has to be used when entering the venue, and you can only transfer tickets to another account at face value through the app.

What's stopping someone from sending a payment outside the app on top of the face value transfer?

 

[Enilced2]

geez this is like our third thread on this in 2 weeks or so.

yea it sucks and its super annoying. The only thing i see fixing it is 1) outlawing selling tickets for higher than face value 2) preventing companies from "preselling" the tickets to other ticket companies.

My bad I did a search but if my search skills are anything like my thread titling skills I probably messed that up haha.

The cure would probably be worse than the disease for this.

The only real solution that I can think of would be something like ticket DRM where a ticket has to be bought through a certified app, and that app has to be used when entering the venue, and you can only transfer tickets to another account at face value through the app.

An issue with requiring that license to enter the stadium for each ticket would be that it would prevent someone from buying a gift for someone else. I just bought my wife Lady Gaga tickets for her and her friend, for her birthday, and I'm not going to the show (and I don't want to give my wife my license for the night).

Ticket DRM through an app could work, but it would seem very user hostile, and anybody without the app would be up a creek.

This sounds infinitely better than this wasteland of scalpers we have now

 

[ElNino]

OP said Edmonton so mentioning Ontario laws is not relevant.

Also you're incorrect:

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada...nt-made-ticket-scalping-legal-in-ontario.html

Regardless, more resellers operate in the states in jurisdictions where it is legal.

I specified Ontario because I wasn't sure if the law was across Canada or only in the Province. The change in laws supports my comment though, it is illegal to sell tickets for higher than face value, unless it's done online though a "verified" ticket provider. That is why StubHub is so popular since it makes it "legal" to sell there, even though you end up paying in US funds for a Canadian event (where both the seller and buyer reside).

 

[BigJonsson]

Ticketmaster has it's own secondary market too

Even if there was no scalping, a lot of shows would still sell out in seconds, just gotta get lucky

 

[LionPride]

Don't get the hate for scalping

 

[yellow submarine]

In before GAF defense force equating scalping to regular commercial activity or Costco.

 

[ElNino]

Don't get the hate for scalping

You don't understand how people don't like to spend above ticket price for (almost) any event they wish to go to, and that a large number of people buy tickets for the sole purpose of selling them?

 

[LionPride]

You don't understand how people don't like to spend above ticket price for (almost) any event they wish to go to, and that a large number of people buy tickets for the sole purpose of selling them?

Can't knock the hustle

Just don't like it when people sell the same ticket to multiple people

 

[Defuser]

Can't knock the hustle

Just don't like it when people sell the same ticket to multiple people

"Sucks to be them as long as it ain't me!"

 

[Brashnir]

Don't get the hate for scalping

How long have you been scalping?

 

[ElNino]

Can't knock the hustle

Just don't like it when people sell the same ticket to multiple people

Of course I can, particularly when those who are "hustling" get access to tickets not available to the public.

It's one thing if you are a season ticket holder and choose to sell some of you tickets, feel free to sell those for whatever you want. But when there are people/organisations that get pre-access to buy thousands of tickets only to sell them for big profits, I don't support that.

 

[krae_man]

I still think the "trick people into paying more then face value when they don't have to" market is worse(and growing).

The "sells out as quickly as the website can process orders" shows are but a small fraction of all ticketed events and even if 0 tickets were resold, everyone who missed out on getting tickets would still feel screwed. The resellers just make everyone extra angry or just change where the venting is directed.

 

[Compbros]

Can't knock the hustle

Yes you can. It's people artificially lowering the supply to inflate prices.

Don't get the hate for scalping

They have no interest in the tickets beyond gaining money from them by doing almost no work. If people see that ticket prices for seats they want are 45 bucks but the entire venue is sold out then they see dozens or hundreds of tickets on sale for 5 times their price it's going to create animosity. Fans of the event with expendable money will buy those tickets and people looking for reasonable prices are boxed out because they can't spend 400 dollars on two tickets that should be 100.

 

[indigo lily]

I get worried selling any spare tickets for face value because I think people may buy for resale. I usually just meet people at the venue and make sure they are going if I sell a spare ticket or two.

It sucks because I will usually just ask mutual friends instead of helping out fellow fans. I have this dilemma tonight actually because one of my friends is sick and I have a spare ticket for Sampha tonight (which has been sold out for awhile). I don't know what to do

 

[kendrid]

Just wait for the day before the event and on the scalping sites the tickets will be face value or possibly below.

It sucks but that is modern ticket buying.

 

[Goldenroad]

Can't knock the hustle

Just don't like it when people sell the same ticket to multiple people

It's like saying, "I don't get why people hate pimp's, drug dealers, human traffickers, poachers, etc...you gotta respect the hustle". No I don't. Those people are garbage, who make other people's lives worse for the sake of profit. It is not respectable and should be shit on at every chance by good, normal, hard working people.

 

[x Power Pad Death Stomp x]

The only way to do it now is to go through the bands fan club for early access to tickets. When my wife and I saw Iron Maiden last year, tickets sold out in 1 second online and we had to pay through the nose on Stub Hub. This summers show, we joined the fan club and got early access. Bought amazing seats no issue. Now that cost us like 35$ to join the club but we save about 250$ altogether so screw it

 

[Stinkles]

"convenience fee"


How convenient.

 

[SynthFetish]

Don't get the hate for scalping

Let's say a show is coming to town. Tickets are about to go up and your refreshing the page looking for 2 tickets.
They go up for sale and nothing, you can't get 2 tickets.
You keep refreshing and trying for a hour or so, still nothing. You try again and again SOLD OUT.

Point your browser to Stub Hub, 2500 tickets for sale at 3-6x markup.

This happens, Ticketmaster enables it. It is wrong.

 

[slightconfuse]

99% of tickets are pre sold to companies and scalpers.

General sale is the remains 1%

 

[LionPride]

How long have you been scalping?

Don't scalp, just don't get the hate. I'm also smart enough to wait till the day before or day of and get tickets at basically original value or less

Just wait for the day before the event and on the scalping sites the tickets will be face value or possibly below.

It sucks but that is modern ticket buying.

Yeppers

It's like saying, "I don't get why people hate pimp's, drug dealers, human traffickers, poachers, etc...you gotta respect the hustle". No I don't. Those people are garbage, who make other people's lives worse for the sake of profit. It is not respectable and should be shit on at every chance by good, normal, hard working people.

So your life gets worse or equal to that of a prostitute or addict because you gotta pay more for a fucking ticket

Nope, your life is not exponentially worse off than before because you had to pay a ticket. Sit yo ass down somewhere and get some perspective for fuck's sake

 

[Got]

meh

 

[Goldenroad]

Nope, your life is not exponentially worse off than before because you had to pay a ticket. Sit yo ass down somewhere and get some perspective for fuck's sake

Well, paying $600 for a ticket that should cost $50 is actually spending exponentially more money. Obviously it's not to the same degree as the other examples I provided. Nor are a drug dealer and human trafficker on the same level of "bad", but people who only exploit others for their own profit, get put in the same broader category. It's exploitative and wrong, and if you want to defend that, you go ahead, but I think you're fighting for the wrong side.

 

[Allforce]

Didn't we have a radio guy on the last thread saying that basically it's the artist snatching up all the great tickets and then reselling them for a profit on sites like StubHub like 90% of the time?

 

[LionPride]

Well, paying $600 for a ticket that should cost $50 is actually spending exponentially more money. Obviously it's not to the same degree as the other examples I provided. Nor are a drug dealer and human trafficker on the same level of "bad", but people who only exploit others for their own profit, get put in the same broader category. It's exploitative and wrong, and if you want to defend that, you go ahead, but I think you're fighting for the wrong side.

If you paying $600 that's on you

You can wait and only have to pay $80 my guy

I don't really care if you think I'm fighting for the wrong side, scalping is a thing. If people are able to do it and aren't complete dicks by selling the same ticket multiple times, fuck it why not?

Be smart and wait for prices to go down instead of needing to buy the ticket immediately like an impatient child

 

[katsubento]

Yes it sucks. Happens all the time.

 

[Deadstar]

Your ID should be required to match your ticket when you get to the venue. If you can't make the show the venue refunds your ticket and releases it to someone else who can buy it.

 

[SynthFetish]

If you paying $600 that's on you

You can wait and only have to pay $80 my guy

I don't really care if you think I'm fighting for the wrong side, scalping is a thing. If people are able to do it and aren't complete dicks by selling the same ticket multiple times, fuck it why not?

Be smart and wait for prices to go down instead of needing to buy the ticket immediately like an impatient child

It shouldn't be a thing, buying all the tickets so no one else has a chance to get them at face value is fucking wrong.

 

[SummitAve]

It's not even really scalping. These ticket sites are making and have deals with the event organizers. You do not have the same opportunity to buy those tickets even if it appears that way. More and more noise is surrounding this nonsense and I expect it to be legislated against in the near future.

 

[Goldenroad]

If you paying $600 that's on you

And if someone is charging that much, that's on them. I agree with your notion, of "don't buy from scalpers", but it's all in service of eliminating scalpers. In fact, you saying not to buy the $600 ticket is inherently anti-scalper...which you were just saying you were not. Make up your mind.

 

[diablos991]

It shouldn't be a thing, buying all the tickets so no one else has a chance to get them at face value is fucking wrong.

Doesn't this just mean the face value is undervalued?

Scalpers cannot flip something if they are pricing it above what people are willing to pay.

 

[LionPride]

It shouldn't be a thing, buying all the tickets so no one else has a chance to get them at face value is fucking wrong.

You have a chance to get them, probably as you get closer to the date of the show and not months out

Lesson I learned from my mom: Fucking wait and you will likely get them tickets at face value or pretty damn close

And if someone is charging that much, that's on them. I agree with your notion, of "don't buy from scalpers", but it's all in service of eliminating scalpers. In fact, you saying not to buy the $600 ticket is inherently anti-scalper...which you were just saying you were not. Make up your mind.

I'm not anti scalper in that I don't knock them doin what they do

Now that isn't to say I'll buy a ticket marked up 50%, I'm not an idiot

Which is why I wait, like a normal person

 

[Deadstar]

Doesn't this just mean the face value is undervalued?

Scalpers cannot flip something if they are pricing it above what people are willing to pay.

Should all food costs increase? I guarantee people would be willing to pay three times the amount they currently pay for food, if it meant they wouldn't die from starvation. Doesn't mean it's right.

 

[diablos991]

Should all food costs increase? I guarantee people would be willing to pay three times the amount they currently pay for food, if it meant they wouldn't die from starvation. Doesn't mean it's right.

Food has a largely inelastic demand.
Concert tickets have an entirely elastic demand.

Reasonable people can't really compare those.

 

[JHoNNy1OoO]

I stopped going to shows and concerts when the scalping got completely out control aka online insta-buying. I miss the days of being in line at the local music store with others waiting for Tickets to go on sale. We would talk to whoever was 1st or 2nd in line and we would pool the money so they'd order the 10-20 tickets for the rest of us so we wouldn't be screwed. Everyone came out ahead and everyone was happy.

Those were the days and met some good people.

 

[ElNino]

Be smart and wait for prices to go down instead of needing to buy the ticket immediately like an impatient child

It's funny that you assume people are impatient children if they want to plan their trip around an event that they need tickets for, and having those tickets in advance means they are spending 3-5x the ticket price for them.

Also, don't assume that all ticket prices will be that cheap either. The local events that I would buy tickets for are generally still well over ticket price after the game has even started.

 

[fredrancour]

Can't knock the hustle

Just don't like it when people sell the same ticket to multiple people

if you're doing nothing but inconveniencing other random average people, then yes people are gonna knock the hustle.being willing to do anything to make a buck isn't a virtue.

"don't hate the player, hate the game" is an idiotic sentence in cases like this because the game is just what you get when you add all the "players' " behaviour together.

 

[Hungry Ghost]

Idk what concert you are trying to see, but I got two tickets to drake for 75 bucks each. Kanye was like 130. Maybe If you want floor seats then they can be upwards of 600.

I'm also in Edmonton.

 

[The Albatross]

What's stopping someone from sending a payment outside the app on top of the face value transfer?

Nothing, other than some amount of inconvenience. Scalping can ultimately never be stopped, but reasonable efforts can be taken to try to curb it. And, when you introduce a system that brings some reliability and credibility to the sale, it can have a dramatic affect on the overall market. For instance, I wish the NFL did away with their stupid policy with their ticket exchange program that you have to be a season ticket wait list to buy from the market. It's just a terrible, dis-incentivized system.

Though... It doesn't help the legitimate ticket offices that often times buying through a secondary market like StubHub, AceTicket, etc., are better processes than buying through TicketMaster or whatever system the boxoffice uses.

I consistently have horrible TicketMaster/affiliate experiences where their websites don't work, the prices still have an insane markup, the sites are a mess, user accounts are broken, etc. And then you go to StubHub and in 10 seconds have 2 tickets that are only nominally higher.

Doesn't this just mean the face value is undervalued?

Scalpers cannot flip something if they are pricing it above what people are willing to pay.

Not really. The face value is being driven up by artificial scarcity. The seats aren't scarce and the value of the product is not changing, it's that one market motivator can afford to buy all of the tickets and it creates an artificial scarcity. It's the equivalent of a cartel.

A sad truth about ticket offices, box offices, first party ticket sellers, etc., is that they don't care about scalping. THey may pretend that they care by putting some stupid security or captcha systems in place that don't work, but those are just saving face. A small investment could cut down on 70 or 80% of scalping, but the box officers don't care, because once the ticket is out of their hand, they get paid, and they consider the seat filled. Performers can care because real profits on a tour come from merchandise, and only a small portion of revenue is from the gate.

 

[LionPride]

Idk what concert you are trying to see, but I got two tickets to drake for 75 bucks each. Kanye was like 130. Maybe If you want floor seats then they can be upwards of 600.

I'm also in Edmonton.

The day Kanye was in Nashville I could have gotten good seats for relatively cheap