I Really Hate Scalpers/Ticket Brokers

[puppetmaker]

We tried to get Billy Joel tickets this morning for the show on July 18th but had just as much luck if not less than we had last week. The thing that stinks is that we want to see the concert rather than wanting to try to make money off of the tickets. This happened when I got a ticket to the Police concert. The two seats next to me were empty. Good for those of us sitting in the area because we had a little more room, but I would have liked to take Ariel to the concert and was willing to pay for the seat. The only glee I can take is that someone lost money on those seats.

This happens in New York all the time. The hot Broadway show is sold out except the hotel ticket counter who has tickets at 4 times the price on the ticket. I want to take Caroline to see the Lion King but it is going to be a while before I can get tickets that work for us. Sports tickets? It amazes me how many tickets are available outside the gate of the game for something that everyone wants to see. There are places like Stubhub but those tickets go for a mint too. There was a tricky way that scalpers use to get around the rules that no longer exist in New York. You would pay an absurd price for a CD or a tape and get the tickets "free" with this purchase.

This all annoys the heck out of me. Basically the bad guys (scalpers) win and the guy who just wanted to take his daughter to a concert that they would both enjoy lose.

I am grateful for the tickets we do get to the hard to get places.

Comments

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I think TKTS has a website where you can see what shows they'll have at last-minute half-price. It means a stand in line, but the seats are decent and the prices are good.

[quarkwiz.livejournal.com]

And then there are performers like Bruce who hate scalpers so much, they just schedule umptyzillion concerts so everyone who wants to go gets a chance, and the sheer availability of tickets devalues them (for scalpers, that is). I'm sorry, I know this doesn't help you with your situation. Just a small comfort that some of the big guys hate it as well.

[amarafox.livejournal.com]

Funny you post this. CBC Marketplace is having a story about ticket scalping next week. I think they broadcast the shows on their web site after they air.

Http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace

Sometimes their show is a lot of biased trash, but I've learned a lot about how to negotiate condo purchases and a lot of buyer beware stuff.