12 Feb 2017

A question about : Ticket resale websites need regulating, MPs say

Second-hand ticket sales should be regulated so buyers know who they are purchasing from, a group of MPs say.

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Ticket resale websites need regulating, MPs say

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  • The government approved and passed a bill, with no debate, to prevent the resale of tickets for the Olympics.
    They have passed laws preventing ticket touting for soccer matches.
    Bearing the above in mind, why no laws regulating other ticket resales?
    I'm sure that the lobbying powers and contributions to party funds by The Society Of Ticket Agents And Retailers has no bearing on the issue
  • I wouldn't want a total ban on reselling tickets. Why not just ban re-sales above face value?
    People sometimes genuinely can't make a concert or similar event. They should be able to sell their no longer needed ticket to someone who, either wasn't able to get one when they went on sale or decided to go after an event sold out.
  • Already Rejected.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27155986
  • Personally I would hate to see onerous regulation imposed on ticket reselling. I've benefited both as a buyer and seller.
    Occassionally I've found that I've not been able to attend a concert that I'd booked months earlier and I've been able to resell the ticket - I've always listed at face value our less. In the past I would have been left with the ticket, lost all the money and denied someone else the opportunity of going.
    I've also bought tickets for sold out gigs, sometimes a little above face value and sometimes less. It is certainly much safer and less expensive than getting a ticket from a tout outside a venue.
  • Add another one to my list above, it is against the law to resell tickets for this years Commonwealth Games.
    You see the government can do it when it suits them.
  • I don't see that prohibiting the sale of a ticket for more than its face value would be an onerous restriction. Such a prohibition would have to apply only in advance of the event (so that tickets could be sold afterwards as souvenirs). Any commission on the sale price of the ticket would be paid by the seller, and a delivery fee and credit card surcharge of no more than the actual cost could be charged in addition.
    This would prevent the touts from profiting, would make tickets more readily available when originally offered, and would eliminate any cosy arrangement which might exist between an event organiser and a ticket agency to sell blocks of tickets at grossly inflated prices and split the proceeds.
  • Ticket sales for Kate Bush's residency at the Hammersmith Apollo this autumn stipulated that you have to show photo ID which must match the name on your ticket to be allowed in on the night.
    Seems to be a new way to beat the touts.
    Still lots for sale for silly money online though. Not sure whether people buying from the re-selling agencies are going to be denied entry when their photo ID doesn't match the name of the person who originally bought the ticket.
  • They can run a fan club, and fans have priority, and flexibility.
    If a fan becomes ill or a relative dies, etc. he/she can get a full refund, before a deadline. After the deadline, if the system can sell the ticket, you get a reduced refund, or maybe some credit on your fan account. The fans may pay more, but they have the certainty of getting in.
    Obviously the ticket will have fan club details printed on it, and you should bring ID to prove who you are.
    They can hold back a tranche of tickets for last minute sale.
    Depending on demand, they can raise the price, or drop the price.
    With mobile apps, it's easy to register for standby tickets.
    For example, Ticketmaster can produce an app, where you can register for standby tickets for a given show. The app can show how far down the line you are if you want to check.
    There is no reason why Ticketmaster shouldn't auction the remainder tickets on eBay.
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