Ticket Scalper in Facebook Tennis Selling Free Tickets for $39+ What to Do?

[Deactivated] on 28/12/2021 - 22:53
Last edited 29/12/2021 - 09:23 by 1 other user

https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/674114
With the exception of the Austria vs Australia match all tickets are freely available? Should I report him for selling free tickets for 'cost' ($39+) or let it be in case he is actually paying for them? Is there a chance he is not scamming people for 'free tickets'?
I have been banned from his group when I posted the link alerting people to the free tickets without calling him out, making me think he is shady.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SydneyTennisCommunity/posts/…
Hi STC 🎾 … with the ATP Cup in Sydney fast approaching (starts this weekend and continues next week), I've got some tickets up for grabs (at cost – no more, no less).
Purchased during pre-sale for friends, peers and relatives who can no longer attend. They are superb seats.
If you'd like the link to view what I have available, please DM me and I’ll reply back with the Google sheets doc link.
They include matches to:
• Canada v USA
• Italy v Australia
• Greece v Argentina
• Canada v Great Britain
• Serbia v Spain
• Austria v Australia
Note: ticket transferring will be via email through Ticketmaster's Ticket Forwarding service: https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ticketforward
Cheers,
Ram

Poll Options

  • 80
    Report him to Tennis Australia
  • 0
    Report him to Facebook
  • 4
    Post in the group tickets are available for free (Already done)
  • 2
    Don't confront him, report him or call him out.
  • 0
    He probably got the tickets discounted and is selling for 'cost' above his cost price
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closed Comments

  • jjjaar on 28/12/2021 - 23:01
    +5

    Report to Ticketmaster.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/12/2021 - 23:05

      Good idea, added as an option!
      They only have a webform to contact right now online only so I will see if they want to do anything

  • bongom on 28/12/2021 - 23:35

    You could message the people replying to his Facebook post?

    • [Deactivated] on 28/12/2021 - 23:44

      I've been banned from his Group, can no longer see the post

      • bongom on 28/12/2021 - 23:53

        How long before I'm also banned after posting the link?

        • HairyChickens on 29/12/2021 - 00:10
          +1

          Think you've been banned haha. If everyone on OzB does the same thing one at a time he literally has to sit there and waste his time to ban every single one of us. Make new accounts too lmao

        • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 00:18

          About 5-10 minutes for me they have 3 admins, maybe wait till they sleep

  • lachhelix on 28/12/2021 - 23:36

    Could you just comment on the post with a link to the free tickets so people are aware? (if they're not already)

    • [Deactivated] on 28/12/2021 - 23:44

      I have, got kicked from the group and my post deleted in 5 mins

      • lachhelix on 29/12/2021 - 00:17

        Sounds like a pretty shit group - obvs the moderators are just as dodgy.
        Reminds me of OzAudi

  • [Deactivated] on 28/12/2021 - 23:51

    Looks like what he is doing is also illegal:
    "From 1 June 2018, New South Wales has new ticket reselling laws which are different from the rest of Australia. In New South Wales it is against the law to resell tickets above the original value plus 10 per cent."

  • HairyChickens on 28/12/2021 - 23:59
    +3

    Wonder if he's on OzBargain.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 00:02
      +1

      His post was made 18 hours ago, Surprise Surprise after Ozbargain post went up

  • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 00:20
    +8

    I have called Crimestoppers and made a report.
    They confirmed selling free tickets for $39 is indeed "definitely illegal" even if they are sold out

    • HairyChickens on 29/12/2021 - 00:25

      https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/338565/93273/someonese…

      All my free tickets were H1 or F1

      Hyperlinks aren't working for some reason

      • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 00:31
        +3

        He is talking nonsense, my free tickets were even D or K, also H1 or F1. Police will check if he actually paid $39 for these tickets or not, my money is on not.

        Call him out. I struggle to see also how he has 20+ tickets that his friends and family could not attend?

    • HairyChickens on 29/12/2021 - 00:35

      heh checkmate ;)

  • jv on 29/12/2021 - 00:36
    -1

    Should I report him for selling free tickets for 'cost' ($39+)

    Why, doesn't he have the tickets that he is selling?

    • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 00:41
      +1

      Yes but "From 1 June 2018, New South Wales has new ticket reselling laws which are different from the rest of Australia. In New South Wales it is against the law to resell tickets above the original value plus 10 per cent."

        • morse on 29/12/2021 - 01:37
          +8

          Most of society doesn’t like scalpers or scalping. It’s antisocial. The law is there to reinforce the standards that the community at large has agreed to live by.

          The tickets are also only ‘free’ as the event has been funded through other mechanisms sponsors, possibly government grants, competitors entry fees. Scalping these tickets is essentially stealing from those funders, who are giving them away to promote the sport and the sponsors brands.

          • jv on 29/12/2021 - 02:17
            -2

            @morse:

            It’s antisocial.

            Selling something that you own is antisocial ?

            • morse on 29/12/2021 - 02:28
              +2

              @jv: You don’t really ‘own’ a ticket in the same way you own a car. It’s a right to enter an event and is purchased with terms and conditions. In this case it’s free to be used to enter the event, not free to be used to profit. It’s antisocial to take something someone else has paid for (through funding and subsidising the event) to support the sport and community and use it for personal gain.

          • jv on 29/12/2021 - 02:19
            -2

            @morse:

            The law is there to reinforce the standards that the community at large has agreed to live by.

            So some things that you own can be sold for a profit, but not others?

            That is that the community standard?

            • morse on 29/12/2021 - 02:49
              +3

              @jv: Many events are subsided, often directly or indirectly through gov (tax payer funding), otherwise sponsors or the sport/artist themselves. Most musical artists don’t profit by going on tour, they do it for publicity and the joy of entertaining. Theatre companies and sporting organisation often get some sort of government funding eg infrastructure for stadiums, creative grants. ticket sales are partly to recoup costs and make continuing the events sustainable. For free events it’s a donation to the community from whoever is making that event happen. That’s why there are specific laws for selling tickets as opposed to other things.

              By your standards I could start scalping tickets to my local library ‘baby rhyme time’. The tickets are free but you have to register since covid and it books out almost as soon as tickets are released. So if I was unethical I could book it out and sell tickets for $10 based on your logic. But the community standard is that this the venue and the event is paid for by council to support parents and children. Basically no one would think this is an acceptable thing to do.

              Unfortunately laws have needed to be made because not everyone has behaved in a community minded way historically. Laws are often made to help society be ‘better’. In this case for the organisation hosting the event and the community.

              • RockyRaccoon on 29/12/2021 - 06:27
                +2

                @morse:

                Most musical artists don’t profit by going on tour, they do it for publicity and the joy of entertaining.

                Really? Where do you get these “facts” from?

                • morse on 29/12/2021 - 08:51
                  +1

                  @RockyRaccoon: Friends who are musicians and previous reading. Though from what I hear muso finance has changed vastly with streaming. ‘Don’t profit’ is probably a bit of a stretch, but certainly some make a loss. Some actually do it as their main form of income. Either way, the price of the ticket is for the venue and to pay the costs of putting on the show +- profits. Why should someone other than the artist, venue, promoter and authorised ticket seller etc profit and make the music inaccessible? Scalping is bad form, hence there are mechanisms to try and stop it.

              • jv on 29/12/2021 - 08:55
                -1

                @morse: That’s irrelevant.

                If you own something, you should be allowed to sell it to someone who wants to buy it.

                • morse on 29/12/2021 - 09:01
                  +1

                  @jv: It’s not irrelevant at all. Like I said before you don’t really ‘own’ a ticket, more so you’ve made a reservation for a service, the ticket is just confirmation of that. That’s why the terms at which you can change who uses the service are regulated and subject to the terms through which it was booked. And further there is sometimes legislation regarding certain types of tickets.

                  This will be an interesting thread to find out who all the scalpers are.

                  • jv on 29/12/2021 - 09:08

                    @morse:

                    Like I said before you don’t really ‘own’ a ticket

                    Yes you do.

                    • morse on 29/12/2021 - 09:17

                      @jv: So you’re okay with ticket scalping?

                      Is this something you do?

                      • jv on 29/12/2021 - 11:29

                        @morse:

                        So you’re okay with ticket scalping?

                        I'm fine with people selling stuff they own.

                        Are you suggesting they don't own these tickets?

                        • morse on 29/12/2021 - 12:25
                          +1

                          @jv: I’m no property law expert but I’d say they have purchased or booked (in the case of it being free) a service which has terms of what it entitles you to. The terms of most tickets don’t allow you to on sell them for personal profit, especially if they are free. That’s why tickets can be cancelled, or you can be turned away for being intoxicated. I don’t think ‘ownership’ is the right word for a ticket. I think if someone stole them and either sold them or used them the charge might even be fraud, not theft so yeah by how I understand it in laypersons terms, no they don’t own them, they have an agreement with the service provider.

                          • Crow K on 29/12/2021 - 12:42
                            +1

                            @morse: jv is just being a disingenuous sh-t. "But pray tell, who is to say what 'scalping' really is, indeed?". As though if morse were to agree with something he said, all of sudden the existing scalping laws would be annulled.

                            • morse on 29/12/2021 - 12:44

                              @Crow K: Haha - if only I had such power. You’re right though, I don’t know why I’m engaging.

                    • papachris on 29/12/2021 - 21:47
                      +1

                      @jv:

                      Like I said before you don’t really ‘own’ a ticket

                      Yes you do.

                      No, you don't. Tickets for an event are in effect a contract. You can argue that he owns the cardboard or paper the ticket is printed on, but that's it. It you break the terms of the contract enabled by the ticket, then the contract is in effect cancelled. Without reading the fine-print, I could still pretty much guarantee it says the tickets cannot be resold for more than what they were purchased for - ie. nothing.

                      Of course if he DID pay that price for them (as is apparently possible), then that's fine as long as the contract allows for third party re-sale. But that is certainly NOT a universal ticket contract term…

              • Eeples on 29/12/2021 - 09:00

                @morse: No. Most artists do profit by going on tour.

                Look it up.

                • morse on 29/12/2021 - 09:05

                  @Eeples: Good to know - my muso friends haven’t been touring lately so this was just based on what they said at the time. I do know in the past album and merch sales were really important. I suppose it’s different if it’s Pink or an up and coming artist. My point is scalping is unethical irrespective if the artist is profiting or not - seems the NSW gov agrees and has regulated it.

                • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 09:51

                  @Eeples: I think it depends how big they are, but most big artists do make money from touring and very little from streaming.

  • pharkurnell on 29/12/2021 - 00:38
    +3

    Its only tennis… who cares :P

    • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 00:42
      +1

      He is charging genuine fans for tickets he got for free, imagine it was a ticket you wanted you could have got for free.
      But you miss out because of scalpers

      • jv on 29/12/2021 - 00:43
        -1

        He is charging genuine fans for tickets he got for free

        On facebook, it says these are different seats to the ones that were given away. They are closer to the court.

        • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 09:21
          +1

          He's probably making that up

          HairyChickens

          All my free tickets were H1 or F1

          He is talking nonsense, my free tickets were even D or K, also H1 or F1. Police will check if he actually paid $39 for these tickets or not, my money is on not.

      • pharkurnell on 29/12/2021 - 00:52

        Sadly with TV stations paying so much for rights these days, its nearly always better to watch on TV now days. Specially for the prices some sports think they are worth…

  • jjsu on 29/12/2021 - 01:32

    I've been to the ATP Cup in Sydney for several years now. They always act as a couple of fun days out, and I have always bought my tickets direct (knowing that they will be personally worth it)

    Shame I couldn't make use of the original deal as I can't attend - but it genuinely sucks more knowing that someone is allegedly trying to make a quick buck off of free tickets.

    Props to you for trying to do your part by raising awareness to Ticketmaster and Crimestoppers. From what you've provided in this thread, it doesn't sound like they're up to any good..

    Edit: OP can't see the post - but it was edited to include extra details

  • AustriaBargain on 29/12/2021 - 02:43

    If you want to see the match and it's sold out, you should buy a ticket off them.

    • cheesecactus on 29/12/2021 - 03:18
      +2

      Still doesnt change the fact its against the law

  • EFC94 on 29/12/2021 - 09:07
    +2

    Playing devils advocate here, maybe he did actually pay for them a month or two ago before they were free?

    Do you have proof that he got them for free or are you just making the assumption he did?

    • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 09:27

      It's a good assumption, but he could have paid for them. It's quite unlikely as
      A) He is a tennis coach and would have first access to freebie link to get these tickets
      B) He is selling them at "cost" and not at loss despite the event being days away
      C) I got the same or better tickets for free
      D) He is a shady guy who charges $250 for posts in his Facebook Sydney Tennis Community who aren't his business
      E) Somebody else was scalping the free tickets for $29 last year, maybe gave him the idea
      F) How does he magically have 30+ tickets from 6+ events available because friends and family can't use them. When I book $1000+ of tickets I would check people can use them.

      • kerfuffle on 29/12/2021 - 09:34

        How does he magically have 30+ tickets from 6+ events available because friends and family can't use them.

        Not that hard at the rate NSW is going. People cancelling left, right and centre.

        • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 09:40
          -1

          I would be very unhappy at my friends and family if they left me in a position I have to resell $1000+ of tickets because they cancelled but that's me

          • kerfuffle on 29/12/2021 - 09:43

            @[Deactivated]: Well yeah, but we're in a pandemic where we just clocked up 11K cases in NSW alone today; can you blame them?

    • jjsu on 29/12/2021 - 09:28

      Fair point - I felt like I might’ve jumped the gun with my previous comment because the author did later edit the post to state that the tickets were not free, and that he had receipts to prove (have not seen them myself though)

      Could've easily been by coincidence?

      • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 09:32

        Yes, could have been coincidence, but if he has the receipts why not post them for everybody to see on his new facebook post?
        Doesn't add up

  • djones145 on 29/12/2021 - 09:30
    -1

    bikies

  • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 09:34

    Update, he got his sister/wife to come back him up
    Raisa Castillo
    Your post is extremely clear - these are not the freebie tickets. These are the ones you bought during pre-sale and you have proof of purchase.
    Raisa Castillo
    If you don’t want to sit closer to the action then get the free tickets ✌🏽

  • herecomestheoost on 29/12/2021 - 09:41
    +1

    Buy the tickets to save anyone else getting ripped off.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 09:52
      +1

      Man has a google sheet of tickets, I can't afford that many

  • b0rnwithabeard on 29/12/2021 - 10:29
    +1

    you’re using the word “assume” a lot in your post and replies. I’d probably work on make sure you know the truth before you start throwing accusations. Also, why we’re you banned from the Facebook group?

  • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 12:10
    -1

    Update: It seems he did pay $39 for at least the Australia vs Austria Tickets: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159787009132429&se…
    However, he is still being shady by deleting the post of free tickets for the same matches and banning me, and selling the same tickets I got for free for $39 + Charging people other than him to sell tickets/post in his group

  • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 12:57

    He is also banning other people pointing out same tickets were free
    Troy Patching
    Hey mate how much
    · Reply · Share · 4 h
    The comment that Troy Patching is replying to has been deleted.
    Troy Patching
    Meho Yooare thanks mate you have made my day
    · Reply · Share · 4 h
    The comment that Kylie Burkinshaw is replying to has been deleted.
    Kylie Burkinshaw
    Meho Yooare shame there aren't any sessions left

  • [Deactivated] on 29/12/2021 - 13:31

    Update: I'm giving away 2-3 tickets from the sessions I managed to book to Ozbargainers who missed out
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/674864

  • Puglife on 29/12/2021 - 14:18
    +1

    Why do you care so much…you literally started a post on another forum about something that really has no concern to you. I see somebody selling something that's free for money and I laugh and move on…
    Is this the definition of a "Karen"?
    Also, are you lots of fun at parties? 🎉🤔

  • jrvb42 on 29/12/2021 - 21:22
    -3

    If you don't want to buy them, maybe would mind your own business? The person is on selling for a profit. If the original ticket seller charged too little or failed to allocate tickets fairly, that's their bad.
    Seriously, should we report petrol stations, accommodation providers, airlines for selling scarce resources at inflated prices?
    Never understood the problem some people have (jealousy?) with so-called scalpers. Want the tickets? Pay up. Can't afford inflated prices? Life isn't fair.

  • b0rnwithabeard on 30/12/2021 - 13:15

    mate, this guy is living rent free in your head. I’m unsure why you’re so invested in this. Go outside and touch grass my dude

  • ModeratorRichardL on 30/12/2021 - 18:06

    Comments closed as per request from OP.

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