Comments on: eBay’s Place in the Dirty World of Ticket Scalping http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:56:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: operator manual 1975 elna sewing machine http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-2570137 operator manual 1975 elna sewing machine Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:16:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-2570137 Cool site. Thank you!!! Cool site. Thank you!!!

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]]> By: TicketMaster Buys Online Scalper TicketsNow For $265 Million http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-2302942 TicketMaster Buys Online Scalper TicketsNow For $265 Million Sat, 17 May 2008 07:46:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-2302942 [...] acquire online ticket scalper TicketsNow for $265 million. This follows eBay’s acquisition of StubHub for $310 million last year. TicketsNow is the second-largest online ticket scalper after StubHub, having sold $200 [...] [...] acquire online ticket scalper TicketsNow for $265 million. This follows eBay’s acquisition of StubHub for $310 million last year. TicketsNow is the second-largest online ticket scalper after StubHub, having sold $200 [...]

]]> By: Super Bowl Tickets At A Fraction Of The Price: Super Deal Or Super Swindle? http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-1926587 Super Bowl Tickets At A Fraction Of The Price: Super Deal Or Super Swindle? Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:20:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-1926587 [...] The world of secondary tickets for sporting events, shows and concerts is murky at its best, and downright fraudulent at its worst. I have first hand knowledge of this industry and wrote about it a year ago. [...] [...] The world of secondary tickets for sporting events, shows and concerts is murky at its best, and downright fraudulent at its worst. I have first hand knowledge of this industry and wrote about it a year ago. [...]

]]> By: Ryan Egan.com » Ebay Extortion http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-1643422 Ryan Egan.com » Ebay Extortion Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:07:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-1643422 [...] the title would suggest, I have recently fallen victim to some vicious extortion on ebay. Granted… My own stupidity is to [...] [...] the title would suggest, I have recently fallen victim to some vicious extortion on ebay. Granted… My own stupidity is to [...]

]]> By: Mike http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-1124380 Mike Sun, 04 Mar 2007 06:34:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-1124380 I just received my Braves season tickets.....right behind homeplate. Anybody interested at buying them at only double the face value? I just received my Braves season tickets…..right behind homeplate. Anybody interested at buying them at only double the face value?

]]> By: Tim R http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-1053717 Tim R Mon, 26 Feb 2007 02:48:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-1053717 There are quite a few ebay sellers not reporting their profit to the IRS. Get them Uncle Same :) There are quite a few ebay sellers not reporting their profit to the IRS. Get them Uncle Same :)

]]> By: Jimbo Colburt http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-778460 Jimbo Colburt Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:49:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-778460 The fact that scalping is ILLEGAL in many states, would make it dirty. eBay not only helps its sellers get around state laws by not checking the actual face value of the tickets being sold, BUT it now is buying into a bigger operation of scalpers. I do not hold the scalpers at fault here. I hold the teams that let scalpers profit of the backs and the bills of THEIR fans. Most NFL teams have a written rule against selling any ticket above face value PERIOD. I would love to see teams yank these tickets from the scum who only use them to make a profit. Sell them to local fans you want to actually use them. New England and Washington have documented cases where they revoked season tickets of holders who scalped them. I think that should be the rule for every team, every ticket. Give the tickets back to the people who want to use them. The fact that scalping is ILLEGAL in many states, would make it dirty. eBay not only helps its sellers get around state laws by not checking the actual face value of the tickets being sold, BUT it now is buying into a bigger operation of scalpers.

I do not hold the scalpers at fault here. I hold the teams that let scalpers profit of the backs and the bills of THEIR fans. Most NFL teams have a written rule against selling any ticket above face value PERIOD. I would love to see teams yank these tickets from the scum who only use them to make a profit. Sell them to local fans you want to actually use them. New England and Washington have documented cases where they revoked season tickets of holders who scalped them. I think that should be the rule for every team, every ticket.

Give the tickets back to the people who want to use them.

]]> By: fthead9 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-697812 fthead9 Fri, 12 Jan 2007 08:33:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-697812 It boggles my mind that this market is semi-legal at best. Anyone remember Econ 101 and the ideal of perfect competition that this country supposedly adopted as its economic platform? The problem is just as Michael states, a surprisingly few own this market and therefore set artificial pricing structures. As a life long music junkie I can say I've spent every penny I had outside of my rent while in college to get pit seats at Nine Inch Nails concerts to spending a few dollars on lawn tickets at the Bridge series even though in relative terms the cost for the front row was a pittance compared to my college days. It all comes down to what the event is worth to the individual buyer. If I was the concert promoter or the artist I'd be frustrated as hell that I couldn't legally set up a marketplace for tickets that actually reflected demand. I sincerely hope that eBay has enough market clout that it can leverage the Stubhub ticket buying system into something more closely resembling perfect competition. It can only be an improvement over the current system. It boggles my mind that this market is semi-legal at best. Anyone remember Econ 101 and the ideal of perfect competition that this country supposedly adopted as its economic platform? The problem is just as Michael states, a surprisingly few own this market and therefore set artificial pricing structures.

As a life long music junkie I can say I’ve spent every penny I had outside of my rent while in college to get pit seats at Nine Inch Nails concerts to spending a few dollars on lawn tickets at the Bridge series even though in relative terms the cost for the front row was a pittance compared to my college days.

It all comes down to what the event is worth to the individual buyer. If I was the concert promoter or the artist I’d be frustrated as hell that I couldn’t legally set up a marketplace for tickets that actually reflected demand. I sincerely hope that eBay has enough market clout that it can leverage the Stubhub ticket buying system into something more closely resembling perfect competition. It can only be an improvement over the current system.

]]> By: Humphrey Bogus http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-695375 Humphrey Bogus Thu, 11 Jan 2007 18:26:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-695375 I think peopel are confusing gross and net revenues. The face value of ticket sales by StubHub is ~$400M, but the net amount of revenue they report is a fraction of that (maybe $100M or less, depending upon the fee schedule). Nothing to sneeze at, by any means. By the same measure, the total amount of merchandise sold by eBay is in tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars, but they only really "keep" a fraction of that. I think peopel are confusing gross and net revenues. The face value of ticket sales by StubHub is ~$400M, but the net amount of revenue they report is a fraction of that (maybe $100M or less, depending upon the fee schedule). Nothing to sneeze at, by any means. By the same measure, the total amount of merchandise sold by eBay is in tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars, but they only really “keep” a fraction of that.

]]> By: Dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-694537 Dave Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:18:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-694537 I echo want the post above says. The way Tech Crunch words it's headlines smells of disinformation. I echo want the post above says. The way Tech Crunch words it’s headlines smells of disinformation.

]]> By: Dave Barnes http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-692698 Dave Barnes Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:07:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-692698 I agree with Duncan. Why is scalping dirty? Buy low, sell high. Me, I never pay more than list price. It is easy NOT to attend an event. I mean, how is this different than parking lots raising their rates when a big event occurs nearby? Supply and demand. Economics 101. Hate scalping? Don't buy. So simple. I agree with Duncan.
Why is scalping dirty? Buy low, sell high.
Me, I never pay more than list price. It is easy NOT to attend an event.
I mean, how is this different than parking lots raising their rates when a big event occurs nearby?
Supply and demand. Economics 101.
Hate scalping? Don’t buy. So simple.

]]> By: dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-692462 dave Thu, 11 Jan 2007 03:05:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-692462 I tried all and a better one TicketLiquidator.com the fees are less than Stubhub.com and they are almost as big. At the end of the day I think eBay sold because TicketLiquidator.com charges much lower prices and StubHub was worried that their margin was erroding. I tried all and a better one TicketLiquidator.com the fees are less than Stubhub.com and they are almost as big. At the end of the day I think eBay sold because TicketLiquidator.com charges much lower prices and StubHub was worried that their margin was erroding.

]]> By: Duncan http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-692107 Duncan Thu, 11 Jan 2007 01:09:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-692107 To be honest I'm not sure what point you are trying to make here other than share the rumor (now confirmed) on the eBay acquisition...why exactly is scalping "dirty"? Sure, it's not something I've been involved with personally, but the whole scalping is bad meme that has spread across the better part of the Western World in the past 10-20 years has always had me beat. It's a free market, we buy and sell, even second hand or middle man sales are par for the corse. Do we condemn people who buy houses then resell them to others for a profit? And if a subsidiary market is created due to a lack of supply and too much demand, why are the scalpers the bad guys? surely the distortion of supply side economics by the event promoters themselves, complicated further by marketing that creates excessive demand is where the buck should stop if anyone is "dirty" or wrong in this business. To be honest I’m not sure what point you are trying to make here other than share the rumor (now confirmed) on the eBay acquisition…why exactly is scalping “dirty”? Sure, it’s not something I’ve been involved with personally, but the whole scalping is bad meme that has spread across the better part of the Western World in the past 10-20 years has always had me beat. It’s a free market, we buy and sell, even second hand or middle man sales are par for the corse. Do we condemn people who buy houses then resell them to others for a profit? And if a subsidiary market is created due to a lack of supply and too much demand, why are the scalpers the bad guys? surely the distortion of supply side economics by the event promoters themselves, complicated further by marketing that creates excessive demand is where the buck should stop if anyone is “dirty” or wrong in this business.

]]> By: TechCrunch Japanese アーカイブ » 中古チケット販売の暗黒社会におけるeBay http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-692002 TechCrunch Japanese アーカイブ » 中古チケット販売の暗黒社会におけるeBay Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:39:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-692002 [...] eBayに似た売り買い市場で、ここ数年業績が目覚しいのがStubHubである。噂によると昨年1年間で$400M（4億ドル）を超えるチケット取引を さばき、$10M（1千万ドル）の利益をあげた。eBayがStubHubを$300M（3億ドル）前後で買収交渉の最中らしい、という噂はしばらく前か らある。この話はBambi Franciscoが昨年10月に初めて報じ、今日はウォールストリートジャーナルもここ（閲覧は要購読）で追いかけた。それによると買収は早くて今週にも成立の可能性があるという。早速われわれもeBayの情報源に話を聞いてみたが昨年10月の噂は否定した彼らが、どうしたわけか今日はやけに言葉少なだ。 [原文へ ] ebay stubhub [...] [...] eBayに似た売り買い市場で、ここ数年業績が目覚しいのがStubHubである。噂によると昨年1年間で$400M（4億ドル）を超えるチケット取引を さばき、$10M（1千万ドル）の利益をあげた。eBayがStubHubを$300M（3億ドル）前後で買収交渉の最中らしい、という噂はしばらく前か らある。この話はBambi Franciscoが昨年10月に初めて報じ、今日はウォールストリートジャーナルもここ（閲覧は要購読）で追いかけた。それによると買収は早くて今週にも成立の可能性があるという。早速われわれもeBayの情報源に話を聞いてみたが昨年10月の噂は否定した彼らが、どうしたわけか今日はやけに言葉少なだ。 [原文へ ] ebay stubhub [...]

]]> By: stwf http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691979 stwf Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:32:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691979 An interesting note I remember Yankee fans who were selling their playoff tickets on StubHub had their season tickets revoked. It seems to be against the service contract. Not to mention it's illegal, at least in NY and most states you are not allowed to sell tickets above face value. I've always wondered how they got away with this. An interesting note I remember Yankee fans who were selling their playoff tickets on StubHub had their season tickets revoked. It seems to be against the service contract.
Not to mention it’s illegal, at least in NY and most states you are not allowed to sell tickets above face value. I’ve always wondered how they got away with this.

]]> By: Rocky Agrawal http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691971 Rocky Agrawal Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:32:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691971 To the seller, it doesn't matter so much the cut that StubHub takes, only what he nets. I had Redskins tickets to sell. The potential fees for various outlets: craigslist - free eBay - $28.71 StubHub - $225 I posted them on all three sites. The winner? StubHub. At the end of the day, I ended up with the most money in my pocket because StubHub made the best market for the tickets. For more: http://redesign.wordpress.com/2007/01/10/picking-the-right-ticket-marketplace-for-the-job/ To the seller, it doesn’t matter so much the cut that StubHub takes, only what he nets.

I had Redskins tickets to sell. The potential fees for various outlets:
craigslist - free
eBay - $28.71
StubHub - $225

I posted them on all three sites. The winner? StubHub. At the end of the day, I ended up with the most money in my pocket because StubHub made the best market for the tickets.

For more:
http://redesign.wordpress.com/.....r-the-job/

]]> By: Matt http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691928 Matt Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:22:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691928 Couple of comments as a baseball season ticket holder that sells about 75% of my tickets on eBay or StubHub: I am SHOCKED that StubHub only makes $10M on $400M in ticket sales. They are getting 25% of every transaction (15% from seller and 10% from buyer -or- maybe vice versa). The cut that they take seemed absolutely outrageous as a seller so I normally stuck with eBay. I wonder what impact eBay's ownership will have on the profitability of tickets. eBay actually attempts to enforce state laws on purchase price depending on the residency of the ticket seller, location of event and residency of the ticket buyer (luckily I live in an unregulated state!). Either they have to abandon the practice of trying to comply with state legislation in this area or they will hurt the financial results of StubHub by enforcing these policies. I always wondered how StubHub didn't have to comply...maybe there is some workaround or something... Couple of comments as a baseball season ticket holder that sells about 75% of my tickets on eBay or StubHub:

I am SHOCKED that StubHub only makes $10M on $400M in ticket sales. They are getting 25% of every transaction (15% from seller and 10% from buyer -or- maybe vice versa). The cut that they take seemed absolutely outrageous as a seller so I normally stuck with eBay.

I wonder what impact eBay’s ownership will have on the profitability of tickets. eBay actually attempts to enforce state laws on purchase price depending on the residency of the ticket seller, location of event and residency of the ticket buyer (luckily I live in an unregulated state!). Either they have to abandon the practice of trying to comply with state legislation in this area or they will hurt the financial results of StubHub by enforcing these policies. I always wondered how StubHub didn’t have to comply…maybe there is some workaround or something…

]]> By: It’s Official - eBay is Buying StubHub For $310 million http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691864 It’s Official - eBay is Buying StubHub For $310 million Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:10:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691864 [...] « Previous post [...] [...] « Previous post [...]

]]> By: Pud http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691860 Pud Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:10:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691860 Dunno much about the ticket business, other than being a StubHub customer. But once you've seen Motley Crue from the 5th row, there's no going back. Thank you StubHub! If this rumor is true, congrats. - pud Dunno much about the ticket business, other than being a StubHub customer. But once you’ve seen Motley Crue from the 5th row, there’s no going back.

Thank you StubHub! If this rumor is true, congrats.

- pud

]]> By: Michael Arrington http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691836 Michael Arrington Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:04:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691836 Josh - thanks for the pointer to the Wired article. Interesting read. Josh - thanks for the pointer to the Wired article. Interesting read.

]]> By: LL http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691827 LL Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:01:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691827 This is a done deal. This is a done deal.

]]> By: Mike Jr. http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691789 Mike Jr. Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:48:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691789 Stubhubs revenue is all margin, so another 100 million in ticket sales generates another 10m in profits. Not hard to see how they can get to 100 milllion in profits and then ebay pay 3 times earnings. I think a smart move. The bigger question is how is RazorGator doing? How did Stubhub beat them? Stubhubs revenue is all margin, so another 100 million in ticket sales generates another 10m in profits. Not hard to see how they can get to 100 milllion in profits and then ebay pay 3 times earnings. I think a smart move.

The bigger question is how is RazorGator doing? How did Stubhub beat them?

]]> By: tomorrow http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691772 tomorrow Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:44:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691772 they move $400 million in tickets and only generate $10M in profits!??? I agree w/ Anton, ebay is buying a big headache. they move $400 million in tickets and only generate $10M in profits!??? I agree w/ Anton, ebay is buying a big headache.

]]> By: Josh http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691745 Josh Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:32:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/10/ebays-place-in-the-dirty-world-of-ticket-scalping/#comment-691745 There was an article in WIRED last month (December issue) about the ticket brokering industry that was a fascinating read: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.12/scalper_pr.html There was an article in WIRED last month (December issue) about the ticket brokering industry that was a fascinating read: http://www.wired.com/wired/arc.....er_pr.html

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