A quick message to all Ticket Scalpers. - Page 3

MMMMMM · #21 03-05-2005, 12:38 AM

Where when why is scalping illegal? This is a serious post; I don't go to sporting events.

3rdEye · #22 03-05-2005, 12:39 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Where when why is scalping illegal?

[/ QUOTE ]

Within the boundaries of a defined radius around the venue, scalping is illegal in certain jurisdictions.

MMMMMM · #23 03-05-2005, 12:45 AM

OK, thanks.

Now, why?

Stork · #24 03-05-2005, 12:52 AM

Because it's bullshit.

Wouldn't you be pissed if you wanted to go to a show but it was sold out because half the tickets were bought by scalpers who are now going to sell them to you at twice the price?

Lazymeatball · #25 03-05-2005, 12:57 AM

wacki, no one is negating your point, we believe you when you say the price of diamonds are artificially inflated by the practice of DeBeers. The point it is that diamonds are a status symboly because they are so expensive. If they were 10x cheaper they would lose their appeal, so who really cares how much they cost. When someone buys a diamond, they go out looking to spend X amount of dollars, not to find X amount of carats of diamond.

3rdEye · #26 03-05-2005, 12:57 AM

[ QUOTE ]
OK, thanks.

Now, why?

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For a number of reasons, I'd imagine. First, scalpers often buy tickets in bulk, which decreases the immediately available supply to the "normal" consumer. In addition, scalpers generally sell tickets at a premium. Of course, scalping benefits the typical consumer in other ways, but that obviously is not understood by your typical politician/"consumer advocate" who has a weak understanding of basic economics.

Slacker13 · #27 03-05-2005, 12:59 AM

I think nearly every ticket I have purchased in the last 5 years has been from a ticket agent or scalper.

The scammers are ticketmaster.

3rdEye · #28 03-05-2005, 01:03 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Because it's bullshit.

Wouldn't you be pissed if you wanted to go to a show but it was sold out because half the tickets were bought by scalpers who are now going to sell them to you at twice the price?

[/ QUOTE ]

You fail to understand certain basic facts.

First, scalpers often overestimate the demand for certain tickets. They are then forced to sell their overstock at a price *below* the initial market value. This happens all the time.

Second, scalpers increase the profitability of putting on a concert, which increases the supply of concerts.

Those points aside, the simple fact is that scalpers are engaging in completely voluntary monetary transactions of perfectly legal commodities, and that it is economically inefficient to restrict such transactions in any way whatsoever.

Anyway, read this: Bastiat

wacki · #29 03-05-2005, 01:11 AM

understood

razor · #30 03-05-2005, 01:24 AM

[ QUOTE ]
scalpers who are now going to sell them to you at twice the price?

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I assume most people who use scalpers regularly do what I do, which is to negotiate a price. I can recall only one situation where I paid more than double face value. More often than not I pay nowhere near twice the price.