Tickets from a scalper?

[Penguinfan]

I can't believe I am even considering this, but I want to see the Penguins home opener bad enough to pay one of the crooks on Ebay for tickets.

Any of you guys ever buy tickets like this? Is it even legal? I see where ebay lists what the maximum bid is "legally allowed" to be, but that doesn't seem to stop people from bidding higher.

Right now I am considering shelling out $250 bucks for two seats in section friggn D, usually $50 tickets. :scared

Gotta be a site on the internet I can do better than that, any info?

 

[bsucards]

Unless you can get a good deal I would stay away from ebay, if you find a reputable seller and it beats other places than do it.

Check out Pittsburgh's Craiglist
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tix/

Or I have bought ticikets from a ticket broker before, they charge a little extra but at least I know that it is a legit ticket

 

[Penguinfan]

Thanks for that. I checked some on-line places like stubhub etc... and all of the sudden $250 seems like every day low price at Wal-Mart, WFT? $600 for seats on the glass?

 

[MadJack]

i've bought tix on ebay at least 25 times. only had a problem one time when a concert was cancelled but i finally got my refund.

many ravens/orioles/steeler/colts tix without a hitch.

 

[Davoso]

I buy and sell tickets on E-Bay and have never had a problem.

 

[Penguinfan]

Jack, Davaso

Do you generally have to pay way over face value when you go through EBAY? Apparently I way under estimated what these tickets were going to cost me.

For $250 I was hoping to sit in C or maybe B, not upper D, sheesh.

 

[MadJack]

Jack, Davaso

Do you generally have to pay way over face value when you go through EBAY?.

it depends on the event. i didn't look but i'll bet opening day colts/ravens tickets were quadruple. in a couple weeks they'll be half price :sadwave:

 

[Penguinfan]

in a couple weeks they'll be half price :sadwave:

:sadwave:

 

[rrc]

Also have bought tix on ebay numerous times. Without exception you'll get tix cheaper than a scalper.Never had a problem. gl

 

[dawgball]

I actually have had the opposite experience. I usually get a better price from a scalper if you haggle with them. Ebay is always more than I want to spend on Georgia tickets and more than I can get them for the day of the game.

This may also have a lot to do with that I have not tried to get better at buying tickets on ebay which I am sure is a skill that you can get better at.

I have a particular scalper that I use for tickets in Cincy when I used to be there for business. Also, one of my sales guys used to work as a scalper exclusively through ebay for concerts in Atlanta.

He would pay people to stand in line and max out his credit cards to the major events (Madonna, Billy Joel, the latest boy band), then start stagger-listing them on ebay. He was making pretty good coin flipping those tickets.

 

[Penguinfan]

I don't doubt people make good money at this, hell, if you bought a 20 game package from the Penguins and dumped the opening night tickets for 300 a piece you could pay for a good bit of your playoff seats that way.

Problem is the Penguins made up two 20 game packages with the games in each package predetermined, if you want the package that has the home opener you don't get an option for playoff tickets, the person who bought the other 20 game half does.

I can already see I am gonna end up paying 3x face value or more for these tickets and st alot farther up than I want to, but I really want to get to this game.

 

[danmurphy jr]

Best experience with scalpers. Give him the cash. tickey in hand. E-Bay is like getting bitten by a shark. Sometimes you don't die.
A scalper comes in 2 faces. Most common buy as many face values as he can afford and sells them high. Prices drop closer to game time. The other face is the season holder who for whatever reason doesn't want to go.
With Ebay, you risk identity theft or or related Email scams.
Good luck. You sound committed

 

[snoozer]

Penguinfan, I buy and sell a lot of tickets on ebay... Here is my best advice...

Not sure how it works in pittsburgh but in MI, you cannot sell higher than face value. Ebay doesn't verify what the face value is, that is why most of the time, you will see face value 199, 299, etc. so, if someone sells 2 tickets and they say the face value is $200, ebay will not let the auction go higher than $400. If they said face value was $500, that same auction could go up to $1000

If you are willing to do some watching, many people who do not often sell tickets will put the face value that is on the ticket, thus when the auction hits that level, the auction automatically ends. This is a good way to get tickets at a great price. Now, there are brokers and other people who specifically watch for these items, so they can buy them and turn them around, so you need to keep an eye open for new auctions. I got 2 tickets to the NBA finals at face value this way (center court lowerbowl)

Here are 2 other ways to get cheaper tickets.

1) Wait until it gets close to the game, tickets generally drop in price the day of, because people want to dump them.

2) look at auctions for 3 seats, or find 2 auctions with 1 seat (near each other). Most demand is for 2 or 4 seats, thus lowering the price on auctions for 3 seats. A lot of times, you will see an auction for 3 seats end at the same price for 2 seats. You can either sell the other ticket, or try to find someone else to go

You definitely want to stay away from people with any negative feedback... especially if it is dealing with tickets. Also, check their feedback to see if they have sold tickets before, you want to deal with someone that has a clue of what they are doing. If at all possible, you want to meet to exchange, this way you are not worrying about if the deal is legit. If you find someone that has a lot of positive feedback (over 50) and most of it is with tickets, you will generally be safe.

I can tell you negative feedback, when it comes to tickets, is not worth a few hundred bucks. I have a few hundred positive feedback. I can sell tickets in a section for more money than someone with the same seats with only a few feedback. It is not worth ruining the extra money in the long run for a couple of dollars.

 

[snoozer]

Also, if a deal looks to good to be true, it generally is. if you see seats on the glass for under cost, don't even waste your time.

If they seller wants to use any type of escrow account, they are a fraud.

Most people selling tickets will answer your questions via email. Ask them as many questions as you want... if they give you a hard time, it is not worth dealing with

 

[Penguinfan]

Not sure how it works in pittsburgh but in MI, you cannot sell higher than face value. Ebay doesn't verify what the face value is, that is why most of the time, you will see face value 199, 299, etc. so, if someone sells 2 tickets and they say the face value is $200, ebay will not let the auction go higher than $400.

This is something that has me puzzled, I see where EBAY puts a note on the auction that says bidding cannot go highrer than $200, yet the current bid is well over that, here's and example:

EBAY LINK

I owuld actually take those at the listed max of $175 considering what I have seen already.

 

[Mjolnir]

never had a problem on ebay

 

[snoozer]

Penguin, each state has rules about buying and selling tickets. It looks as if the Pennsylvania law prohibits people from Pennsylvania from buying or selling above face value (plus a few dollars - see below). Since the seller lives in outside of Pennsylvania (in this case canada), he is not restricted by selling these rules. People outside of pennsylvania that want to purchase these tickets are also not affected by these rules.

I know what you are saying right now.... that is stupid. I agree it is, but it is how ebay had to be setup in order to meet regulations.

My suggestion is to only look for auctions in Pennsylvania


Here is what ebay says about people in Penn selling tickets...

Pennsylvania restricts its residents (sellers) from receiving higher than face value (plus fees) plus the greater of 25% of the ticket price or $5.00 for tickets to events taking place in Pennsylvania.

Here is what ebay says about people outside of ebay selling tickets in Penn...

Because you do not live in the same state as the event, these tickets can be resold without restriction.
Here is what is say about buyers in Penn trying to buy tickets in Penn...

Pennsylvania restricts its residents from bidding higher than face value (plus fees) plus the greater of 25% of the ticket price or $5.00 for tickets to events taking place in Pennsylvania.

Here is what it says about buyers outside of Penn buying ticket for something in Penn...

Because you do not live in the same state as the event, these tickets can be bought without restriction.


Hope this helps a little

 

[Penguinfan]

Ok snoozer, thanks, I get it. Sucks, but I get it. I'm gonna go grab a jar of vasoline and try to get a couple tickets locked up.

 

[Agent 0659]

Mark, a VERY GOOD friend of mine has you set up with tickets if you want them. He can get you whatever you want. Email me your number and I will get it to him and he will call you. If you dont still it get it from Jack.

 

[Taximike]

I have bought numerous tickets on ebay, and never had a problem. However, only a few times have i trusted them to mail the tickets to me; whenever possible i pick the tickets up in person and pay cash. I've only bought Browns Cavs, and Indians Tix, almost always from season ticket holders who cannot attend that game, so they usually live within 35 miles of cleveland, making it more convenient for both of us to pay in person. I've bought everything from courtside tix, to bleacher seats, and always got a great deal........ but then again i scan the listings untill i find a great deal. As others have said, make sure the feedback is positive.