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> Don’t concert ticket re-sale sites like StubHub encourage and take a cut from scalping? Yes, and I’m not a big fan of them for that reason. If the demand for

by jbackus 12y ago

> Don’t concert ticket re-sale sites like StubHub encourage and take a cut from scalping? Yes, and I’m not a big fan of them for that reason. If the demand for a band’s ticket is high, they’re the ones that should be making the mark-up, not some sleazy guy with 20 computers who bought 40 tickets the second they went on sale to turn around and flip them. But at least that guy has to bet his own money that he can resell a private commodity he bought. This is a weird opinion. This kind of resale is common in markets where producers would rather guarantee selling their entire product at a certain price as opposed to risking overpricing. Same reason many farmers sell off crops immediately to middlemen instead of trying to maximize price selling directly. They aren't being exploited, they're hedging risk. I would imagine that centralized ticket websites like StubHub also improve the venue's distribution in this case. If venues don't like resellers, they can follow Louis CK's actions[1]. [1] http://thenextweb.com/media/2012/07/03/louis-c-k-sees-ticket-scalping-drop-over-96-by-switching-to-selling-tickets-himself/ http://thenextweb.com/media/2012/07/03/louis-c-k-sees-ticket...

jasonlotito 12y ago
The author isn't linking StubHub to these other startups, rather, they're saying "at least that guy has to bet his own money that he can resell a private commodity he bought."
- jbackus 12y ago
  Yes, I'm glad he isn't dismissing them. I'm just saying that it isn't as simple as returning profits to the producer.
Nursie 12y ago
Some venues and some acts think this behaviour is scummy too, and go to great lengths to stamp it out. It's pretty antisocial to snap up as many tickets as possible and then relist them at double the price within seconds. If you can't go, fine, but if you're just profiteering then you're inserting yourself into a transaction where you're not wanted. It's the shows that sell out in seconds that these guys try to get in on, so there's no risk to the venue or the act anyway, scalpers are just basically extortionists at that point.

by jbackus 12y ago

jasonlotito 12y ago

The author isn't linking StubHub to these other startups, rather, they're saying "at least that guy has to bet his own money that he can resell a private commodity he bought."

jbackus 12y ago
Yes, I'm glad he isn't dismissing them. I'm just saying that it isn't as simple as returning profits to the producer.

Nursie 12y ago

Some venues and some acts think this behaviour is scummy too, and go to great lengths to stamp it out. It's pretty antisocial to snap up as many tickets as possible and then relist them at double the price within seconds. If you can't go, fine, but if you're just profiteering then you're inserting yourself into a transaction where you're not wanted. It's the shows that sell out in seconds that these guys try to get in on, so there's no risk to the venue or the act anyway, scalpers are just basically extortionists at that point.