Ticket Scalping

So after watching the events of last week’s amazing 3 minute sellout of rugby Sevens tickets and the almost instantaneous emergence of those very same tickets reappearing on Trade Me I realised that the internet has provided another platform from which people can rip off other people.

Does anyone remember the days where to get a high demand ticket you used to have to line up outside the store for night/nights just to get a ticket? You knew that the shop would have a certain stock and as long as you were reasonably placed you had a good chance of getting a ticket. Do you remember the party atmosphere as day turned to night and all those queuing around you got tired of sitting around? Pulling shifts with friends? I don’t know, I guess what I’m trying to get at is the fact that pre online ticket sales there was a sort of investment not only in money but in time for certain desirable tickets.

It seems that the detachment from the whole process leads to the ability to make a quick buck. Anonymity in selling and the simplicity of purchase are also factors, distancing themselves from the purchaser and the possible moral implications of illegitimate ticket sales. Though not all scalping is bad, sure there are those who legitimately have to sell their tickets for whatever reason, I just disagree with the few that but tickets solely for resale.