Stop Ticket Scalpers NOW! My Simple Solution to Fix Ticketmaster & End Price Gouging
It’s infuriating, isn’t it? The endless battle against ticket scalping. How do we genuinely tackle this widespread issue? I’ve always felt there’s something inherently shady about acquiring something purely to resell it at double the price – or more – to someone who genuinely wants it. Whether we’re talking about Blue Jays tickets soaring to thousands for nosebleed seats, or even the frustrating phenomenon of scalped Pokémon cards that disappear from shelves, it all feels dirty. I’m just trying to get cards at an affordable price for my kids, and suddenly they’re all gone! It’s beyond annoying.
Sure, some argue it’s just capitalism at its finest: buying low, selling high. And if someone’s willing to pay the inflated price, that’s market value, right? But there’s still something undeniably crappy about it when genuine fans miss out. Politicians like Doug Ford talk a good game, decrying price gouging and promising solutions. Yet, past attempts, like limiting resale markups to 50% above face value, have been deemed ‘unenforceable’ – a point critics quickly raise. It makes you wonder if companies like Ticketmaster and StubHub are just giggling all the way to the bank, happily double-dipping on fees from both the initial sale and the lucrative resale market.
So, how do we actually stop scalpers and ensure fairness? My solution is simple: a mandatory registration and random lottery system for all ticket sales. Here’s how it would work: Everyone registers with their real name, address, and credit card. No bots, no thousands of credit cards. On the day tickets go on sale, you’re entered into a random lottery. If your name comes up, you have a set window – say, thirty minutes – to complete your purchase. If you pass or don’t respond, the opportunity moves to the next person on the lottery list. This system bypasses the frustration of digital queues and eliminates the unfair advantage of bots and professional scalpers armed with multiple accounts and credit cards.
To further combat bulk buying, a strict limit on tickets per credit card – perhaps two to four max – would be essential. I know a million people probably have ideas, but the current system persists because Ticketmaster benefits from the chaos. They sell the initial tickets, then they get a cut from the resale market. It’s double-dipping, and it’s shady as hell. It’s time to metaphorically punch Ticketmaster in the nuts and demand a fairer system for everyone.
What do you think of my random lottery idea? Do you have a better solution? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! I’m genuinely frustrated by this – maybe even more by the Pokémon cards than the sports tickets, but it’s the same type of annoyance.
View On: