In light of the Doctor Who proms ticket touting debacle, Michael Rushton explains how and why third party ticket resale happens.
In light of the Doctor Who proms ticket touting debacle, Michael Rushton explains how and why third party ticket resale happens.
The Observer reports that scalpers (or touts) are making a killing on tickets for the Proms:
"One unofficial online site is offering seats for the Doctor Who-themed Prom on 14 July for £500, compared with the official flat-rate price of £12. A ticket for the first night on 12 July is offered for £400, against an original value of £38.
It is not just fans of the Proms who will be disappointed this summer. Many events in the coming months have already sold out – including the Rolling Stones’ Hyde Park concert – with the only tickets available on websites fetching way above face value. Now campaigners are calling for the government to crack down on the touts.
Labour MP Sharon Hodgson, shadow minister for children and families, wants ticket-touting to be made illegal. “Families and music lovers are missing out on a British institution just so that a few individuals can make a fortune. The government needs to use the upcoming consumer rights bill to take action on touting and put the fans first.”
Mark-ups like this have always presented a bit of a puzzle. There are only so many seats available. Ms Hodgson is not quite right: some families and music lovers will miss out, but others will not, and the same number of people will attend the Proms whether or not there is ticket resale