10 ms·

That would just return them to the status quo ante where scalpers sell through third parties.

Analemma_ 3y ago
If you tied tickets to names and required ID at the venue (allowing refunds in case you couldn't make it), this wouldn't work and scalping would basically end overnight. The fact that neither Ticketmaster nor the performers nor the venues has ever taken this simple step is the proof that it's not in their interest to do so. Note that events where the promoters are actually interested in having people show up instead of in scraping for every dollar (e.g. PAX) do this, and it works fine.
- musicale 3y ago
  Doesn't PAX just the badges out? They are readily and frequently resold, online and at the venue. More effective would be having to show your ID at the venue with no reentry. "Scalpy McScalper. Looks good to me. Enjoy the show!"
- emodendroket 3y ago
  Or proof that getting in would take much longer if they did that. Anyway, there are legitimate reasons someone might want to resell, like no longer being free on the event date, so I’m not sure even legitimate buyers would prefer such a strict system.
  - musicale 3y ago
    I've been to a few events that required ID check for entry and it was pretty streamlined. It seems to work OK as long as there is enough capacity to get everyone in quickly. Refund with a small charge seems fine to me.
  - krisoft 3y ago
    > there are legitimate reasons someone might want to resell, like no longer being free on the event date Which can also happen with airplane tickets. What makes it ok for an airplane ticket to be strictly tied to an ID, but not for a show?
    - emodendroket 3y ago
      The airline is allowed (in fact, required by law) to use security as a reason to pursue a policy that’s favorable to them. Do you like the experience of going to the airport and wish more things you did were similar?
- sundvor 3y ago
  Yup if you applied for a refund, your ticket(s) could go back in the pool for someone wanting to get one/some last minute. If it/they are picked up, you get your money back minus transaction fees and perhaps a small penalty, and if it doesn't, you don't - but at least you tried and someone else had a chance to get it. Ticketmaster obviously doesn't GAF / care. (The above was for a last few hours or days cancellation type scenario; there could be variations to this where if the event is months out, you could get an instant almost full refund etc - benefits could very well be linked to a premium subscription service perhaps. Lots of ways here to play.)
  - matsemann 3y ago
    This is how Ticket master works in Norway, where it's illegal to sell above face value. Or, more specifically you set your own price with the max being what you bought it for.
    - musicale 3y ago
      I want Norway Ticketmaster.
- johnnyanmac 3y ago
  I agree, but Devil's advocate, consider 1) when buying for young kids. Minors don't always have ID and are rarely expected to have them in public. 2) when you buy for a group. You may not have everyone's ID on hand at once, and it makes it harder for honest friends to get tickets together. You don't need to sit together at PAX.
  - musicale 3y ago
    The way I've seen it done is: - kids do not need ID because they usually don't have them - every adult in the group needs to have their name registered at ticket purchase time
  - doikor 3y ago
    > 2) when you buy for a group. You may not have everyone's ID on hand at once, and it makes it harder for honest friends to get tickets together. You don't need to sit together at PAX. Have a day or two window to assign the names to the tickets. Sure it is a small window for scalpers too but not really enough to make it work properly (and you could still force at least one of the tickets to be locked to a name at the moment of sale)
- kazinator 3y ago
  If you immutably tied tickets to names, everyone's name would have to be verified to be Mr. Ticket Master, grand scalper.
- jdblair 3y ago
  Thom Yorke did this when I saw him live in Oakland. All tickets had to be picked up at the Will Call counter, showing an ID. Then you could only go into the venue to the ticket check from Will Call (there were temporary barriers guiding the crowd). On the other hand, I had an extra ticket. I did manage to sell it for face value by organizing the deal just as I approached the pickup counter (someone else knew how to play the game), and we did a quick cash transaction for face value.
- dotancohen 3y ago
  > If you tied tickets to names and required ID at the venue Solution sounds worse than the original problem. What happens if I want to gift somebody a ticket? What happens if I don't want my name associated in a database for going to a gay artist's show? What happens if my wife is sick on show day so I invite my neighbor instead at the last minute?
  - rs999gti 3y ago
    Airlines allow gifting credits for flights, do the same for tickets. Gifter only gets refunds in credits not tickets. Then on acceptance, the receiver has the credit and only gets refund to them.

If you tied tickets to names and required ID at the venue (allowing refunds in case you couldn't make it), this wouldn't work and scalping would basically end overnight. The fact that neither Ticketmaster nor the performers nor the venues has ever taken this simple step is the proof that it's not in their interest to do so. Note that events where the promoters are actually interested in having people show up instead of in scraping for every dollar (e.g. PAX) do this, and it works fine.

musicale 3y ago
Doesn't PAX just the badges out? They are readily and frequently resold, online and at the venue. More effective would be having to show your ID at the venue with no reentry. "Scalpy McScalper. Looks good to me. Enjoy the show!"
emodendroket 3y ago
Or proof that getting in would take much longer if they did that. Anyway, there are legitimate reasons someone might want to resell, like no longer being free on the event date, so I’m not sure even legitimate buyers would prefer such a strict system.
- musicale 3y ago
  I've been to a few events that required ID check for entry and it was pretty streamlined. It seems to work OK as long as there is enough capacity to get everyone in quickly. Refund with a small charge seems fine to me.
- krisoft 3y ago
  > there are legitimate reasons someone might want to resell, like no longer being free on the event date Which can also happen with airplane tickets. What makes it ok for an airplane ticket to be strictly tied to an ID, but not for a show?
  - emodendroket 3y ago
    The airline is allowed (in fact, required by law) to use security as a reason to pursue a policy that’s favorable to them. Do you like the experience of going to the airport and wish more things you did were similar?
sundvor 3y ago
Yup if you applied for a refund, your ticket(s) could go back in the pool for someone wanting to get one/some last minute. If it/they are picked up, you get your money back minus transaction fees and perhaps a small penalty, and if it doesn't, you don't - but at least you tried and someone else had a chance to get it. Ticketmaster obviously doesn't GAF / care. (The above was for a last few hours or days cancellation type scenario; there could be variations to this where if the event is months out, you could get an instant almost full refund etc - benefits could very well be linked to a premium subscription service perhaps. Lots of ways here to play.)
- matsemann 3y ago
  This is how Ticket master works in Norway, where it's illegal to sell above face value. Or, more specifically you set your own price with the max being what you bought it for.
  - musicale 3y ago
    I want Norway Ticketmaster.
johnnyanmac 3y ago
I agree, but Devil's advocate, consider 1) when buying for young kids. Minors don't always have ID and are rarely expected to have them in public. 2) when you buy for a group. You may not have everyone's ID on hand at once, and it makes it harder for honest friends to get tickets together. You don't need to sit together at PAX.
- musicale 3y ago
  The way I've seen it done is: - kids do not need ID because they usually don't have them - every adult in the group needs to have their name registered at ticket purchase time
- doikor 3y ago
  > 2) when you buy for a group. You may not have everyone's ID on hand at once, and it makes it harder for honest friends to get tickets together. You don't need to sit together at PAX. Have a day or two window to assign the names to the tickets. Sure it is a small window for scalpers too but not really enough to make it work properly (and you could still force at least one of the tickets to be locked to a name at the moment of sale)
kazinator 3y ago
If you immutably tied tickets to names, everyone's name would have to be verified to be Mr. Ticket Master, grand scalper.
jdblair 3y ago
Thom Yorke did this when I saw him live in Oakland. All tickets had to be picked up at the Will Call counter, showing an ID. Then you could only go into the venue to the ticket check from Will Call (there were temporary barriers guiding the crowd). On the other hand, I had an extra ticket. I did manage to sell it for face value by organizing the deal just as I approached the pickup counter (someone else knew how to play the game), and we did a quick cash transaction for face value.
dotancohen 3y ago
> If you tied tickets to names and required ID at the venue Solution sounds worse than the original problem. What happens if I want to gift somebody a ticket? What happens if I don't want my name associated in a database for going to a gay artist's show? What happens if my wife is sick on show day so I invite my neighbor instead at the last minute?
- rs999gti 3y ago
  Airlines allow gifting credits for flights, do the same for tickets. Gifter only gets refunds in credits not tickets. Then on acceptance, the receiver has the credit and only gets refund to them.