Comments on: Don’t outlaw scalping. Obsolete It. Teams should scalp their own tickets. http://www.whytheheck.com/2008/11/22/don%e2%80%99t-outlaw-scalping-obsolete-it-teams-should-scalp-their-own-tickets/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:11:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: How to Get Six Pack Fast http://www.whytheheck.com/2008/11/22/don%e2%80%99t-outlaw-scalping-obsolete-it-teams-should-scalp-their-own-tickets/comment-page-1/#comment-764 How to Get Six Pack Fast Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:42:42 +0000 http://www.thinkoob.com/?p=80#comment-764 The topic is quite hot on the Internet right now. What do you pay attention to while choosing what to write about? The topic is quite hot on the Internet right now. What do you pay attention to while choosing what to write about?

]]> By: Game Ticket http://www.whytheheck.com/2008/11/22/don%e2%80%99t-outlaw-scalping-obsolete-it-teams-should-scalp-their-own-tickets/comment-page-1/#comment-291 Game Ticket Sat, 31 Jan 2009 08:41:29 +0000 http://www.thinkoob.com/?p=80#comment-291 these comments, oh these comments. Just subscribed to your RSS. Was searching for "game ticket" when I found "outlaw scalping. Obsolete It. Teams should scalp their own tickets. | ThinkOOB". Yeah, very true. these comments, oh these comments. Just subscribed to your RSS. Was searching for “game ticket” when I found “outlaw scalping. Obsolete It. Teams should scalp their own tickets. | ThinkOOB”. Yeah, very true.

]]> By: joan http://www.whytheheck.com/2008/11/22/don%e2%80%99t-outlaw-scalping-obsolete-it-teams-should-scalp-their-own-tickets/comment-page-1/#comment-149 joan Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:47:10 +0000 http://www.thinkoob.com/?p=80#comment-149 DJ, tell me how this is a functioning marketplace. Last week I went on craigslist to buy tickets for today's Celtics game. the game today is sold out, of course, it being school vacation week. But a guy on Craigslist had four tickets for $200 less than stubhub. I said sure and he told me to meet him at the rest stop on Rte 128. He would be driving a Mercury Sable and he was 6'", 230 pounds with a shaved head, and could I give him my cellphone in case there was as change of plans? DJ, I am a 110-pound woman. Would you recommend that I show up? Is this how your marketplace works? Why can't the Celtics just leave a few aside for convenience-buyers like me. By the way, I DID show up and he didn't -- he sold the tickets to a higher bidder. DJ, tell me how this is a functioning marketplace. Last week I went on craigslist to buy tickets for today’s Celtics game. the game today is sold out, of course, it being school vacation week. But a guy on Craigslist had four tickets for $200 less than stubhub. I said sure and he told me to meet him at the rest stop on Rte 128. He would be driving a Mercury Sable and he was 6′”, 230 pounds with a shaved head, and could I give him my cellphone in case there was as change of plans?

DJ, I am a 110-pound woman. Would you recommend that I show up? Is this how your marketplace works? Why can’t the Celtics just leave a few aside for convenience-buyers like me.

By the way, I DID show up and he didn’t — he sold the tickets to a higher bidder.

]]> By: DJ http://www.whytheheck.com/2008/11/22/don%e2%80%99t-outlaw-scalping-obsolete-it-teams-should-scalp-their-own-tickets/comment-page-1/#comment-77 DJ Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:42:56 +0000 http://www.thinkoob.com/?p=80#comment-77 This isn't a basic need, its a luxury item, and I am surprised how so many people get worked up by it. If teams did this, no regular fan would be able to afford a ticket to a hot event. And what happens to events where no one shows up, do teams price these at $1? About 90% of the fans at any event are there at face value, the other 10% got shut out or were busy during the onsale, so essentially they pay a convience fee for someone else to buy tickets for them. The system works, if you don't get a ticket, turn on the tv or radio. This isn’t a basic need, its a luxury item, and I am surprised how so many people get worked up by it. If teams did this, no regular fan would be able to afford a ticket to a hot event. And what happens to events where no one shows up, do teams price these at $1? About 90% of the fans at any event are there at face value, the other 10% got shut out or were busy during the onsale, so essentially they pay a convience fee for someone else to buy tickets for them. The system works, if you don’t get a ticket, turn on the tv or radio.

]]> By: alewis http://www.whytheheck.com/2008/11/22/don%e2%80%99t-outlaw-scalping-obsolete-it-teams-should-scalp-their-own-tickets/comment-page-1/#comment-52 alewis Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:16:58 +0000 http://www.thinkoob.com/?p=80#comment-52 45 out of 50? 60%? I'm glad to see someone actually has data here. since I didn't actually have data, I can't disppute your points but I think it just makes my observation more of a head-scratcher. Why don't teams scalp their own if it's legal? Surely they can guess which events and games are likely to sell out (basically any that anyone would want to see). You seem to be saying that resellers take on risk because they sell tickets below face value sometimes but once again that doesn't change the basic point: Seats are priced according to one dimension (proximity). Why not also price them on another dimension (convenience of purchase decision)? 45 out of 50? 60%? I’m glad to see someone actually has data here. since I didn’t actually have data, I can’t disppute your points but I think it just makes my observation more of a head-scratcher. Why don’t teams scalp their own if it’s legal? Surely they can guess which events and games are likely to sell out (basically any that anyone would want to see). You seem to be saying that resellers take on risk because they sell tickets below face value sometimes but once again that doesn’t change the basic point: Seats are priced according to one dimension (proximity). Why not also price them on another dimension (convenience of purchase decision)?

]]> By: openmarkets http://www.whytheheck.com/2008/11/22/don%e2%80%99t-outlaw-scalping-obsolete-it-teams-should-scalp-their-own-tickets/comment-page-1/#comment-51 openmarkets Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:19:10 +0000 http://www.thinkoob.com/?p=80#comment-51 Tickets are a commodity. When people want to see the show, the price goes up (Wicked/U2/etc.). When no one wants to attend (Bengals/Mariners/etc.), prices fall. The truth of the matter is that 60% of all live event tickets go unsold each year. Brokers who re-sell their tickets often sell them for less than face value. And, contrary to Al Lewis' initial posting, ticket re-sales are legal in 45 out of 50 states in the US. Tickets are a commodity. When people want to see the show, the price goes up (Wicked/U2/etc.). When no one wants to attend (Bengals/Mariners/etc.), prices fall. The truth of the matter is that 60% of all live event tickets go unsold each year. Brokers who re-sell their tickets often sell them for less than face value. And, contrary to Al Lewis’ initial posting, ticket re-sales are legal in 45 out of 50 states in the US.

]]> By: fromvawithlove http://www.whytheheck.com/2008/11/22/don%e2%80%99t-outlaw-scalping-obsolete-it-teams-should-scalp-their-own-tickets/comment-page-1/#comment-46 fromvawithlove Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:18:43 +0000 http://www.thinkoob.com/?p=80#comment-46 It never occurred to anyone on the transition team to sell the tickets and haev the proceeds go right into the coffers of the government? the sales could be anonymous so there would be no influence-peddling. They need to demonstrate an understanding of basic economics for me to trust them running the country It never occurred to anyone on the transition team to sell the tickets and haev the proceeds go right into the coffers of the government? the sales could be anonymous so there would be no influence-peddling. They need to demonstrate an understanding of basic economics for me to trust them running the country

]]> By: andrews http://www.whytheheck.com/2008/11/22/don%e2%80%99t-outlaw-scalping-obsolete-it-teams-should-scalp-their-own-tickets/comment-page-1/#comment-42 andrews Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:30:38 +0000 http://www.thinkoob.com/?p=80#comment-42 I would go to many mroe events and games if I could walk up knowign there would be an orderly market for tickets. The entertainment and sprots people would not jsut make the moeny that the scalpers now make -- I think they would do even better. I would go to many mroe events and games if I could walk up knowign there would be an orderly market for tickets. The entertainment and sprots people would not jsut make the moeny that the scalpers now make — I think they would do even better.

]]> By: alewis http://www.whytheheck.com/2008/11/22/don%e2%80%99t-outlaw-scalping-obsolete-it-teams-should-scalp-their-own-tickets/comment-page-1/#comment-41 alewis Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:57:28 +0000 http://www.thinkoob.com/?p=80#comment-41 If it is illegal that's news to me and why haven't the teams and concerts been lobbying to change the law? What could possibly be the argument for a market interference which simply creates a black market. It's not the same as interfering in the market for prostitution of marijuana where the laws are designed to protect people from the consequences of their own behavior. This law -- if there is one -- protects nobody except black marketeers. If it is illegal that’s news to me and why haven’t the teams and concerts been lobbying to change the law? What could possibly be the argument for a market interference which simply creates a black market. It’s not the same as interfering in the market for prostitution of marijuana where the laws are designed to protect people from the consequences of their own behavior. This law — if there is one — protects nobody except black marketeers.

]]> By: GoSox http://www.whytheheck.com/2008/11/22/don%e2%80%99t-outlaw-scalping-obsolete-it-teams-should-scalp-their-own-tickets/comment-page-1/#comment-38 GoSox Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:14:39 +0000 http://www.thinkoob.com/?p=80#comment-38 it has to be illegal right now for teams to "convenience price." It is hard to imagine that this one blogger has thought up something that no team or rock group has ever come up with. BUt why is it illegal? And should be it illegal? It seems like there are three dimensions in ticket value. The attraction, the quality of the seat and the convenience of buying the ticket. The attraction, well, good rock groups charge more than bad ones and no one complains. Obviously the better seats cost more money and no one complains. So why would anyone complain about paying mroe for convenience? We already do pay it, to middlemen who operate outside the law and don't pay taxes it has to be illegal right now for teams to “convenience price.” It is hard to imagine that this one blogger has thought up something that no team or rock group has ever come up with. BUt why is it illegal? And should be it illegal? It seems like there are three dimensions in ticket value. The attraction, the quality of the seat and the convenience of buying the ticket. The attraction, well, good rock groups charge more than bad ones and no one complains. Obviously the better seats cost more money and no one complains. So why would anyone complain about paying mroe for convenience? We already do pay it, to middlemen who operate outside the law and don’t pay taxes

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