i'd never buy a ticket off of one, only sell one if i have a spare and theres no way to get rid of it.

I don't think touts are necessarily bad. On one level, they provide a useful service, and essentially of course it's all about supply and demand. No doubt they make a lot of money out of sold-out events, but they probably lose money when the event doesn't sell out. When I was at Leeds festival a couple of years ago, there were still tickets available on the gate, and lots of rather pathetic-looking touts trying to sell. I imagine they ended up having to sell them for somewhat less than face value.

I've never bought a ticket from a tout, but I have sold spare tickets on occasion. When it's at the last minute and you can't return them for a refund, you have little other option. As I said, providing a service which, if event organisers really want to get rid of touts, they should do something about...

I really dissaprove of "touts" but that in truth they do provide a useful service for those not able to purchase their tickets in time before an event sells out.

I would prefer if there was a more convenient way for venues to recoup unused tickets in time for resale prior to the event.

I've never bought, and would probably never buy, from a tout, I've seen far too many folks receive fake/voided tickets from them and be refused admission and of course you have no legal comeback on them and no way to get your money back Prices vary widely depending on the venue and artist and seating if applicable. Another thing to do might be to look at ebay etc. as concert tickets often crop up there usually for larger (read US) venues and stars but you never know.

It's also really good fun to watch them get arrested by undercover police *wEg*, often as much fun as the event itself

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by MonSTeR
It's also really good fun to watch them get arrested by undercover police *wEg*, often as much fun as the event itself

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Never seen that happen. One of the strange things about the whole business is that they're usually doing it quite blatantly near where there's a strong security/police presence.

If anyone was serious about a crackdown, you wouldn't think it'd be very hard to achieve, would you?

One question springs to mind

If its "sold out" and therefore people are saying it's a good thing to have touts because you can get a ticket as its "sold out"

Is not the reason it's "sold out" to do with the ticket touts having purchased all the tickets?

ie: if no ticket touts then no "sold out" concerts etc

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by Sweet-Sange
One question springs to mind

If its "sold out" and therefore people are saying it's a good thing to have touts because you can get a ticket as its "sold out"

Is not the reason it's "sold out" to do with the ticket touts having purchased all the tickets?

ie: if no ticket touts then no "sold out" concerts etc

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Well yes. This is the main (as far as I'm concerned, only[1]) argument against touts.

I don't think things are that simple though. Firstly, it would only be worthwhile for touts to do this for events they think are going to sell out anyway, otherwise, as I said, they stand to lose money. If the event wasn't popular enough that it would sell out, it's very unlikely people will be willing to pay the kind of premiums which make the business profitable. So I very much doubt many events sell out just because touts buy up all the tickets.

They do, of course, limit the supply of legitimately available tickets, and this is a problem. I'd actually be interested to see any figures for what proportion of tickets do get bought by touts at the box office, cos I have a feeling it isn't a huge number.

At the end of the day, apart from a few exceptional events (World Cup tickets in France, Oasis gigs a few years ago), things may sell out but you'll generally have a few weeks before that happens. I know there are often circumstances where it's not possible, but I would suggest that, in general, anyone who is willing to pay the ridiculous sums touts often charge should really be on-the-ball enough to buy the tickets before they sell out...

[1] edit - On reflection, I should have rephrased that. The only objection to people trading proper tickets, and not forgeries.

(Edited by In a State of Dan 12/04/2002 13:02)

When I was at the National last week there were touts outside with tonnes of tickets. The event wasn't quite sold out and everyone was ignoring them.

There was even a copper standing right by them maiking sure anything they sold was at face value. Maybe this would be a good way for other events to regulate the touts?

i hat etouts coz i get accosted by them on the way to my train home every time theres someting on at the MEN arena.

I mean i'm walking along in a suit with a taylored coat and a smart bag and its a teletubbies concert - i'm really going to have spare tickets or want to buy some?!?

Plus one made me miss my train once. Grrrrr

I was quite confused to see quite a lot of ticket touts buying and selling tickets around Cardiff prior to the Wales v Italy six nations match a few weeks ago. Given that this match was at no point expected to be a sell-out and that it was possible to buy tickets at the Stadium up until kick off time, I really didn't understand the point. How could they be making any money from it?

I think most touts buy as many tickets as they can for prospectively popular events in the hope that they do sell out. If they don't they just try to get back as much as they can and try to minimise their losses.

(Edited by MonSTeR 12/04/2002 16:37)

I remember going to a Pantera gig once (I was young, I needed the money ) and a friend of mine had a spare ticket so he decided to sell it to one of the touts. He was amazed to only get £1 in return (the face value was £12.50).

When I went to see Green Day a tout was trying to sell a ticket to a kid for 3 times the face value. When I told the kid he could have one of my spare tickets for the face value (I felt sorry for him) the tout told me in no uncertain terms where to go, LOL. The kid had my ticket off me and we all laughed at the tout who continued to call me a few choice names

I have bought many tickets off touts and have never really paid much over the odds for them (it's better if you want several tickets). When I lived in Milton Keynes I never bought a ticket for any of The Bowl gigs and quite often got in to see bands for £10/£15 once the first support band had played.

Now I live near Cambridge I can usually blag free tickets to see bands when they play here.

{Edit: Meaning was still clear, mystified it a little }

(Edited by Stoo 12/04/2002 17:24)

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by DJ Billy
When I was at the National last week there were touts outside with tonnes of tickets. The event wasn't quite sold out and everyone was ignoring them.

There was even a copper standing right by them maiking sure anything they sold was at face value. Maybe this would be a good way for other events to regulate the touts?

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It would seem the most sensible way Billy, I surpose it all depends on the size of the event and wether the security/police can cover the whole area?


I'd did some checking up and found the THE PROHIBITION OF TICKET TOUTS BILL, 1998

The purpose of the Bill is to render it a criminal offence to advertise for sale, offer for sale or to sell a ticket for a major musical, sporting or theatrical event at a price in excess of the price designated on the ticket.

The objective of the Bill is to ensure insofar as is possible that tickets for such events are available for purchase by genuine fans and are not purchased by third parties exploiting the event being held for their own personal advantage. A ticket tout is liable under the Bill on conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 and/or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months.

Moreover, where a member of an Garda Siochana has reasonable cause for believing that a person is committing an offence under the Bill, such person is liable to arrest and the tickets he/she is seeking to sell for a specified event may be confiscated. Consequently, under the legislation it will be illegal for people to tout tickets for sale at excessive prices adjacent to the place at which a major event is to take place. and anyone who does so may be arrested.

Finally, the Bill recognises that on occasions registered charities, voluntary or community organisations have donated to them tickets for such events or purchase tickets for such events which they sell at a price in excess of the face value to raise funds for charitable purposes, community organisations or voluntary activities.

The Bill allows such organisations to sell tickets in excess of their face value where they have been authorised to do so "in writing by an organiser or the organisers of the specific event in question". This Bill will provide a new form of consumer protection in Irish law. It imposes no charge of any nature on the Exchequer.

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by Sweet-Sange
(quotes)

It would seem the most sensible way Billy, I surpose it all depends on the size of the event and wether the security/police can cover the whole area?

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The ones I saw were congregated outside the entrance to the train station, which is right opposite. However with the sheer scale of a racecourse there's the possibility that toutes could also spread themselves around the perimeter and catch people who have walked/got the bus, so for and event that size the toutes would probably find a way around the policing sooner or later

Well ... misgivings about the morality and legality of it aside, I managed to get tickets from an agent.

I paid a premium because it was sold out, but I get to see the concert so it seems fair.

Have a good time!

I've never bought tickets from a tout yet (although I tried to buy tickets for 3 Colours Red today and they were sold out, I only found out about it yesterday and I really want to go, so I may try the touts on the night ...) My mate has though. I had a ticket to see Alice Cooper, and he didn't, so he got one from a tout. I think he paid almost twice as much, but he got in and considered it well worth it!

I haven't ever used ticket touts as I have always been afraid of giving them my hard earned cash in return for a fake ticket

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by Sange
Moreover, where a member of an Garda Siochana has reasonable cause for believing that a person is committing an offence under the Bill,

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Er, I borrowed Sanges' blonde hat today - what is that?

"Garda Siochana" is the Irish police force. Looks like that is the law on ticket touting in the Republic of Ireland!