Is ticket scalping legitimate or should it be banned?
Ticket scalping is legitimate.
I do believe that ticket scalping is legitimate. It is a way for a person to make money. Also it saves consumers money. They do this by buying greatly reduced tickets. The company the tickets are being sold for are still profiting. It seems like a situation where everyone wins. From the large company all the way down to the little person.
Posted by: barbiegirllDon't ban it. Eliminate the need.
There IS a solution, if the ticket sellers and entertainers ever decide that they want one.
Sell tickets using a variation of a Dutch Auction. A traditional Dutch Auction (which starts with a high acceptable bid and drops until the sale) generally sets the price for ALL items at the highest bid price.
What I propose instead is a multi-price, multi-sale, online version of a “Dutch Auction.” Start at a very high price. Then drop the ticket price in announced increments at scheduled times, and people can make the purchase when the price reaches their acceptable level — IF any tickets are left.
EXAMPLE: 10,000 concert tickets. The sale would be online — Live Nation, eBay, the entertainer's own website, or whatever. Start with a (say) $3,000 ticket price. Then drop the price (say) $25 every 15 minutest until there are no tickets left. The number of tickets sold and the number remaining would be posted in real time. People could put in “limit” buy orders — again online. EBay is a fine model for this.
The result would be an exciting, highly publicized process where bidders would try to figure out how little they could pay, yet want to be sure they got tickets.
As I see it, this would maximize profits, and largely eliminate the widely-disliked scalping system (except for a few late buyers — a very small, specialized, and necessary market). It also eliminates the need to pre-price all the tickets — a system that almost guarantees that the tickets will be either over or under-priced.
If the concert producers and artists want to appear "fair," they can give away all or a percentage of the “extra” proceeds (say, above $400 a ticket) to charity. Of course, the performer and concert producers define what’s “extra.” And they generate positive publicity while increasing their profits at the scalpers' expense.
Offhand I can’t find a specific label for my variation. Henceforth let it be known as a “Rider Auction.” Unlike the sensitive Dutch, I won’t be offended.Posted by: Richard.RiderTicket scalping should be illegal because it rips off consumers who just want to provide simple entertainment for their family.
Families get the short end of the staff when it comes to entertainment. Everyone wants to make a buck. Tickets to events are not excluded. I think that this should be illegal because its completely unfair to those who really want to show up and support the event at hand. Resealing these seats for events should illegal because it defeats the purpose of an on sale event time in the first place.
Posted by: R3ubHockeyFree enterprise
My aggravation over not being able to get good concert tickets at a fair price is slightly outweighed by the right to free enterprise on a legal basis. However, ethically I feel that the justification ( If someone is willing to pay more why not) as it applies to event tickets is not the end of the world but ask yourself this, what if the item was food or medicine or shelter. As a matter of argument for the free enterprise someone could start a ticket broker business and charge less, fostering competition.
Posted by: AnonymousTicket scalping should be banned to prevent abuses of ticket pricing.
Ticket scalping should be banned because it allows people to profit excessively that really have no place in the industry. If profits are to be made by ticket sales, it should go to the performer and all the supporting employees that work on the event and not into someone's hands who just had the ability to buy blocks of tickets.
Posted by: babydoll93I agree that ticket scalping is legitimate. It should not be banned because it is perfectly legal.
Ticket scalping is perfectly legitimate because it represents the freedom we have in America to buy low and sell high at anytime to anyone as long as it is a legal product. That's the basic way business is done and how profits are made. A ticket scalper is not forcing someone to buy his ticket near the stadium. He's simply taking advantage of a situation and attempting to make a profit. The venues who sold him/her the tickets at the original price are not losing anything. They sold the tickets. Now it's a private matter to choose to sell those tickets to whomever wants to buy at the higher price on the day of the event.
Posted by: labitacoraI think ticket scalping is legitimate, on an individual basis, but should be banned on a commercial level.
I do not believe that companies should be able to use their superior resources to buy a majority of tickets and set their own prices on them. But, at the same time, I do believe that individuals have a right to resell their own tickets for market value, if they cannot attend an event.
Posted by: ToughEfrain26Yes, it should be legal, even though it is unsightly, this is America.
Even though ticket scalping is horrendous, it should be legal. It is supply and demand, plain and simple. Should Ticket master be able to charge outrages rates? That is another question. There are laws against monopolies. Scalpers have purchased the tickets legally, and are trying to make money off the rarity of the item. This should be legal in a capitalist society.
Posted by: BriaBlackenTicket scalping is totally fine in my books, because it's fair business.
If I bought something, and could sell it to someone for much more money than I purchased it for, its totally legal. There is no reason that ticket sales should not be grouped into this same category. If you have a legal product, and there is a market for it, by all means, get the most money you can for your product.
Posted by: R04chGrovYes, ticket scalping is legitimate and should not be banned. There are legitimate reasons to allow ticket scalping.
While I believe that ticket scalping may legitimately be regulated as to time and place, I do not believe it should be completely banned. If I own season tickets and cannot attend some of the events, I should not be prevented from selling the tickets I cannot use. Nor should I be prevented from selling some tickets to finance the purchase of tickets I could not otherwise afford. I should not be prevented from making a profit on tickets I buy and can later sell at a higher price. This is just a function of the free market.
Posted by: 5kyErtoYes, ticket scalping should be legitimate because making a profit on goods or services is the American way and to the rich go the spoils.
If someone purchases an item for X amount of dollars and the value of that item soars for whatever reason within the next year or two, should that individual be allowed to sell the item at a profit? Of course! The same holds true for ticket scalpers, even if the price of their item soars within only a few days due to an event becoming sold out. Whether or not the practice is morally right is beside the point. From a legal standpoint, ticket scalping is perfectly justifiable. Just as with stocks, while there may be signs that the tickets are going to increase in value, there are no guarantees, so the scalper is taking a risk in purchasing them, however minimal. During an extended power outage, say, from a snowstorm, backup generators are at a premium. If stores are sold out, should you be allowed to sell yours at a profit? Again, the answer is a resounding yes! The same applies to ticket scalping, no matter how unfair it may seem.
Posted by: GrandioseFrank59That's capitalism baby!
If someone is willing to pay a higher price than a ticket is worth on it's face then so be it. If there is a market, you must allow someone the right to sell something they own for the most someone is willing to pay for it. This one is basic, and straightforward. This is capitalism, and that is what America is all about.
Posted by: 5h035BowTicket Scalping should be allowed.
Ticket scalping is a legitimate entrepreneurial activity in which the scalper legally obtains entry rights to an event. As the owner of these rights, the scalper assumes the risk that he will be unable to sell the tickets at a profit later. The original ticketing agency could assume this risk by holding back some of the tickets to be sold at a higher price closer to the event in much the same way that airlines sell tickets for a higher price closer to the date of the flight.
Posted by: 5h4DevTicket scalping is a selfish, irresponsible behavior, but attempting to make people moral by fiat does not work.
If someone buys a bunch of tickets and sells them at jacked-up prices they are taking a risk of losing it all. I suppose it's a grand example of easy-come, easy-go -- what a waste to have control over all that capital and squander it. Of course, it is ALL ill-gotten gain in the first place -- if the person did not intend to use the tickets for their intended purpose. It makes buying tickets more risky for the intended users while giving no benefit worth the cost for the theater owners, performers, the ball players, and so on. However there are ways that this practice can be recognized as the rude behavior that it is that are more effective than making laws concerning this. It's bribery, essentially, and not sportsmanlike to do, does not support the arts.
Posted by: groovyboxOf course it's not okay
Why exploit fans that want to get close to their favorite band? These scalpers just buy up good tickets to oversell to dedicated fans... Who does that benefit? The scalpers' pockets and takes away from the tickets that could be more affordable and more available to those that actually want to attend the concert...
Posted by: AnonymousTicket scalping is simply people trying to make some money....supply and demand.
Banning people from ticket scalping is ridiculous. It's simply a matter of supply and demand. If I have a garage sale and someone buys an item for $2.00 and then someone offers them $3.00, and they take it, should I call the police? Of course not! Ticket scalpers are no different. They purchase the tickets and re-sell them. If the event happens to be sold out, they can make a good profit. If the event isn't sold out or tickets are still available, they may lose money. Simple business 101!
Posted by: A TateTicket scalping should be banned because, sometimes, it leads to criminal activity that is associated with violence.
Ticket scalping should be banned because, sometimes, it leads to criminal activity that is associated with violence. I can understand legitimate companies buying tickets and selling them for a reasonable profit. But when you have some Joe Blow on the street who is buying them and selling them for 2 to 300 percent above fair market value, then it leads to violent activity and possibly crimes, such as robbery, assault, and battery. Then again, you have some scalpers who are able to duplicate fraudulent tickets and basically sell people tickets that are in no way refundable that are useless.
Posted by: SlipArnalTicket scalping is a valuable service and should be legal.
Ticket scalping should actually be called ticket brokering and is a valuable service that should be made legal. The ticket scalper invests their time and money to obtain tickets that a person could not get on their own for some reason. The scalper purchases a ticket for resale to the person who could not get to the ticket office at the specified time or perhaps only decided to attend the ticketed event at the last minute. The scalper also runs the risk of having tickets that they cannot sell and the subsequent loss of his investment of time and money. The scalper deserves a profit for the risk that he bears. Ticket scalping is merely an example of the free enterprise system at its best and should be legal.
Posted by: FauIQu3yIt's a risk
Like anything else in life. They provide the opportunity for people who want to go who didn't get tickets for an extra price.
I think worrying about someone buying and selling tickets over other things like big corporate businesses is pretty sad. Everyone is trying to make a buck some way or another in this world that is becoming harder and harder to live in.Posted by: AnonymousTicket scalping is a legitimate business as there is supply and demand.
Just like any business, there needs to be an avenue of supply and demand. Ticket scalping is the perfect example of a business that may be questioned in terms of ethics, but does supply a service to fit the needs of a population. If someone can purchase tickets and then resell them to make a profit, how is that different than pharmacies buying drugs and marking them up 500%?
Posted by: TedieDelightUnfair corporate greed.
It creates an unfair limit to entertainment perks of life. These commercial ticket sellers are all tied together to manipulate profit.This is why scalpers started out illegal in the first place, now it is on a massive scale. Perhaps eventually only the elite will have access to great shows and/or seats.
Posted by: Anonymous
Ticket scalping is not legitimate and it should be banned.
Ticket scalping is not legitimate and it should be banned because it is driven by greed and people who want something for nothing. This is a major problem with our economy. Ticket scalping is just the tip of the iceberg. Speculators caused the housing bubble to break because they were out for a quick profit. When people elect to not work for gain, but to trick others for gain, there will always be a victim, which is morally wrong.
Posted by: JamieMTicket scalping should be banned because it is nothing more than price gouging.
The practice of ticket scalping should be banned because it is little more than price gouging to take advantage of those willing and able to pay a higher price for entrance to a specific event. Ticket scalpers purchase large blocks of tickets to popular events making access to the general public diminished, and results in those seeking a ticket to have to buy from scalpers or miss the event entirely.
Posted by: ThegaXenAlthough this is not a yes or no question, I feel that scalping should not be banned.
Scalping really doesn't seem all that different than buying and selling anything else for a profit, the ones who lose are the big corporations behind ticket sales and they are probably the ones most vocally against scalping. Gone are the days when people can afford tickets to start with but if people are desperate enough to pay huge amounts to see an event, then why not?
Posted by: 54IInfernoBad Question
if people will buy it, then whats the big deal.
its not illegal.
Its just like reselling anything elsePosted by: AnonymousTicket scalping is not a legitimate business.
Ticket scalping is not a legitimate business and it hurts the entertainment business. Ticket sclapers buy tickets that otherwise would go to fans, and then sell them at ridiculously high prices. This makes the tickets unattainable to many people. The sclapers also create an uncomfortable environment at the entertainment venue, trying to sell tickets. They pester the fans and at times make the area feel unsafe.
Posted by: EImerN4thI am against a scalping ban because it's private initiative- and that is what the USA is built on.
Ticket scalping is already illegal nearly everywhere, and yet the practice is still widespread. I think it's one of those issues where there's "No harm no foul"- the scalper almost assuredly got his tickets through legitimate channels, so the event manager is not hurt. And that scalper SHOULD be free to resell his tickets if he sees fit.
Posted by: tabundesI think that ticket scalping should be banned.
I think that ticket scalping should be banned. Ticket scalping has evolved into a practice where tickets are sold out for a concert or event so consumers have no choice but to go to scalpers, who then charge unbelievable prices. Because of this, the true fans of the stars are unable to enjoy their shows. I think that ticket scalping needs to be banned so that people can enjoy the arts rather than focus on the profits for charging exorbitant rates.
Posted by: ObaICheeseIt should not be banned, nut it is not legitimate and is unethical.
that said, we do live in a free society, and only the uneducated or undisciplined consumer loses out here. Stop buying the tickets and these leaches will go away. Or, we could outlaw it, and waste time pros better way to make a living than to buy a ticket cheap and sell it for a profit. If you ask me, let the dirt feed the dirt. It is a vicious cycle.
Posted by: jbriggsmmj12Have you ever been in that situation?
Ticket scalpers know they can get an astronomical amount of money for some tickets and they do just that, but in the process cheat out deserving fans who were hoping to get some reasonably priced tickets to see someone who they really like, now scalpers offer these tickets for over five or ten times the original price and it isn't fair to the fans who want to see a show. Scalping should be banned. Put yourself in the situation of a fan who wants to see their favorite person or band perform instead of a person who just wants to make money. That's what jobs are for not scheming and cheating.
Posted by: AnonymousThings people will do for money, especially if it takes little effort!
I don't go to too many concerts anymore and here's why. I have but a few bands I really want to see anymore and I find it very sad that I can log on to Ticketmaster (but not all the time) only to find that the seats I would "like" to have are gone which sometimes seems impossible. Like most us of I have to work and it is not always convenient to find a computer and get on line to purchase tickets or to make a call. However, when you go and search openly for tickets right away I can find a ton on every other rip-off's site. Why should the public have to pay some greedy guy who has a bunch of lazy so and so's sitting at computers eating up seats that other hard working people would like to have? It's bad enough that we get ripped of by the "Ticketmaster" but to add insult to injury is in my mind criminal. WE HAVE A DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE PRODUCT WHO DOES NOT EMPLOY REPRESENTATIVES, WE DON'T NEED MIDDLE MEN!
Posted by: NOTTMKIDTicket scalping should not be banned.
There are too many people in this world who are willing to purchase tickets way above face value. I do not see anything wrong with people taking advantage of that fact for profit. Those who scalp the tickets are in a business in which there are risk involved. The investment the scalpers make is upfront and there is no guarantee that they are going to sell those tickets for a profit. There is no difference between ticket scalpers and the retail stores we shop every day. The items are purchased at one price and than sold for profit. If there was not the market for such a high priced ticket out there then we would not have scalpers but obviously the market is there.
Posted by: w00tboycomicBut how do they get them?
I agree somewhat with the folks on the left of this page basically saying "that's America baby, so suck on it", but my question is HOW do these resellers get so many tickets? Maybe it's just the way they're being sold that's the issue. Computer programs can also be written to not allow the same credit cards to be used multiple times. I have sometimes been shut out of getting tickets, even though I am trying to buy them at the very moment they are supposedly going on sale. Something's just pretty rotten here, and that's how I feel and I won't go to these events. "That's America baby" too. Louis CK rules.
Posted by: raduzdbI do not believe ticket scalping should be legal. Electronic ticket sales make it too easy for unscrupulous people or organizations to buy multiple tickets.
I understand that sometimes people might have an extra ticket or two that they want to sell and in that case by all means sell it on Craigslist, EBay or even around the entrance. However when people buy up tickets in bulk for popular events with the intention of doubling the face value for resale then regular fans are prevented from buying their own tickets at a reasonable price. This needs to be prevented at all costs.
Posted by: Chr0IviobileI don't think ticket scalping should be banned.
Honestly, good for them. They bought the product, and people want it. So they sell to those people. It might not be the best way to go about it, but it's not the end of the world. It isn't something that I'd personally do, but more power to them. Who am I to change it?
Posted by: Qu4ntBenj