Why isn't ebay doing anything to stop ticket scalping?

[emma_76]

I am disgusted to see the amount of people on here selling concert tickets, in particular, Rolling Stones tickets, for double, triple what they are worth.

I wasn't able to get tickets through Ticketek, and I can't afford to pay out my week's wage to see the Stones.  What these scalpers are getting away with is sickening and what's even worse is that Ebay is doing practically nothing to stop it.

[davewil1964]

That's because it is not illegal.

Depending on the agent you might be able to report them to the ticketseller. Ticketek have a blanket no-transfer policy, but I don't know how well they enforce it.

Sold out all except real expensive seats in less than 3 minutes, I believe.

[emma_76]

Well it should be illegal.  It's disgraceful and just plain greed.

I really wanted to go to this concert and now I can't because I can't afford to fork out $2,000 for a ticket.  The laws in this country have to change.

[davewil1964]

Talk to your MP.

eBay won't and can't do anything about it, unfortunately.

[phorum_junkie*]

Well it should be illegal.  It's disgraceful and just plain greed.

Why is it wrong for somebody to sell a ticket for as much as somebody is prepared to pay for it but OK for them to pay more for a clothing item than it costs new in the shops or a lot for some old painting just because the artist is famous?

If people weren't prepared to pay silly prices for a couple of hours entertainment then nobody would sell them.

Buyers not sellers dictate the price on an auction site.

[emma_76]

I do agree that some, I guess shall we say wealthy people that can afford these prices, do dictate the price but what about all the fans out there that have missed out because they can't afford to go. Where does that leave us??

[davewil1964]

Unfortunately...

I agree with you. Scalping is a bane. Regardless of those who claim it is a supply and demand issue, it ain't.

All you can do is to report the scalpers to the ticket agent. Which will probably only result in those who buy getting turned back at the door. And the scalper still having the $$

[emma_76]

Yeah its a shame. I am going to talk to my MP because this has to stop.

[digital*ghost]

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@phorum_junkie* wrote:

Why is it wrong for somebody to sell a ticket for as much as somebody is prepared to pay for it but OK for them to pay more for a clothing item than it costs new in the shops or a lot for some old painting just because the artist is famous?

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If I buy a dress at a store and re-sell it for a profit, I daresay I'm not denying someone else the opportunity to experience owning a dress by pricing mine out of their range. Also, I think it's pretty rare for people to camp in lines for days for the chance to buy a dress, and even in such circumstances, the desire for a dress is based on vanity, whereas the desire to experience a music event is rarely, if ever, based on such a thing.

If I buy a painting by a famous artist, there's a good chance I'm not completely denying anyone else the opportunity to enjoy the work.

At the end of the day, I don't think this is really a wrong/right issue - it's personal ethics, which tend to be inarguable.

[putney32]

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@emma_76 wrote:
Yeah its a shame. I am going to talk to my MP because this has to stop.

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totally agree, the government needs to stop these foreign bands coming into this country and making a stack of money out of the masses (people should not have to pay a cent to hear them),  .... ban the bands and there wont be a need for ticket scalping I say.