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BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

I'm outraged. In fact, and not for the first time, I'm incandescent with rage (to quote Joe Mays the manager of New Rhodes after a particularly annoying moment). My anger stems from not being able to go and see a band New Rhodes supported on their last set of live dates. Bloc Party are playing the barfly and tickets went on sale about 40 minutes ago. I tried to buy them 20 minutes ago and found they had sold out. Fair enough. Its a small venue. But I also found out that if you go to the following link:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16067&item=6506149372&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
you can buy a ticket from a tout based in Birmingham for 900% of the asking price. Yes, £45.

How is that fair? What can we, music fans, do to stop touts profiting from this sort of gig and how can we ensure that everyone, rich and poor alike have access to the best of live music in intimate venues such as the barfly?
baboon | 17 Jan '05, 10:41 | Send note | Report this | Reply


  • Re: BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

    Either
    a) ask the tout a question about their location under the pretext of being able to pick them up rather than being posted.
    b) Write a letter of complaint to Ebay/trading standards/mp/venue pointing out that ticket touting is frowned upon.
    c) maybe someone with a spare computer could make a false bid and win....drag it out and not pay....merely send a letter of abuse to the tout..shame for Bloc Party being one audiance member down. But I am sure they would understand.
    creakyknees | 17 Jan '05, 10:50 | Reply

    • Re: BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

      I like c) - I might go and false bid.
      Darcy | 17 Jan '05, 11:29 | Reply

      • Re: BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

        Good call but even that's not going to stop them. Fact is, for every person like you guys who decides to make a stand, they'll be another ten who will shut up and pay the money and, as such, the touts are always gonna win; you're relying on other people to not only share your views but also to feel compelled to do something to change the situation. And personally, I can't think of a fool-proof way to stop this occurring...
        loveless | 17 Jan '05, 11:54 | Reply

        • Re: BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

          I think we should start a petition and send it to ebay or trading standards or something.

          I am so sick of this, the same thing happened with interpol, I wanted to go that but im not buying tickets on ebay.
          homesick_alien | 17 Jan '05, 12:08 | Reply

          • Re: BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

            The sad thing is that most tickets which end up in the hands of touts usually come direct from the artists themselves or members of staff at the venue.
            domgourlay | 17 Jan '05, 12:22 | Reply

            • Re: BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

              Really? I'll never look at the scummers hanging around Brixton tube station in the same light again...

              There should be something to stop the racketeering though, it is getting ridickerus
              darkpigeon | 17 Jan '05, 12:36 | Reply

              • Re: BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

                True, but the point is there are very few practical ways to prevent it happening. As long as the touts have a market, they're gonna operate and, legally if not morally, they have every right to do so.
                loveless | 17 Jan '05, 12:52 | Reply

  • Re: BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

    point is that this sort of touting means that you have to be rich to go to the gig. nothing wrong with entrepreneurs but £45 to go the barfly? that is fucked up. if people didnt buy the tickets then the market would collapse but the problem is some people will buy them. maybe time has come to stop people buying more than one ticket on one credit card?
    baboon | 18 Jan '05, 17:11 | Reply

    • Re: BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

      That really is shocking. Ebay might be brilliant in principle, but this example is exactly why I tend to steer clear of it.

      And isn't there people on there selling links to other sites?
      the_patient | 18 Jan '05, 17:54 | Reply

      • Re: BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

        very true there are. i infact know some scum around my town who infact sold (for 30 squid) a word document with the title "where to buy a playstation cheap", the document contained one line "bid for it from my other items im selling"

        its ridiculous and very easy to be scammed, fact is im sure this issue will resurface come glastonbury and the summer leeds/reading festivals. im already seeing one seller claims
        "The tickets will fly out when they go on sale so get them now from me at a Buy It Now price of £160.00 each [nearer the time of the concert, they will be £180.00 from me].
        Face Value is £130 approx

        BE QUICK AS I DID HAVE 16, NOW ONLY 8 LEFT. "

        one word..scum

        i bought mine just as they came out for me and two friends, face value 105 quid. ebay touts..frauds fuck em all
        anger_is_a_gift | 18 Jan '05, 18:18 | Reply

  • Re: BLOC PARTY AND EBAY TICKET TOUTS

    All though I wouldn't tout tickets, I was forced to sell my NME tour ticket as I have been told (after I bought it) I had an exam the next morning. After a bidding war, it was sold for 44 quid - although I think I'm entitled to the profit (about twenty five pounds) as I am rather pissed off I can't go.
    stuartyoung | 18 Jan '05, 19:39 | Reply