Scalpers aren’t really living off the hospitality of others, they’re taking advantage of illiquidity to create arbitrage and fuck over regular people consumers.
We shouldn’t act like the consumer isn’t a part of the problem. The scalper can scalp because the consumer will consume.
I’m not victim blaming, the scalpers need someone to sell to in order for there to be a profit. Yes Ticketmaster are scumbags, that doesn’t change the fact that there were plenty of consumers ready and ravenous for a chance to see their favorite artist live (artists making money from the scalpers buying from Ticketmaster, whether for themselves or their label).
Should consumer protections be put in place? Probably, but I think that’s more or less kicking the can down the road. People need to vote with their wallets, giving money to scalpers is effectively allowing Ticketmaster’s scheme to work. Yes, it is predatory. Yes, it is scummy. No, the consumer is not faultless — they are essential for the scheme to work.
Scalpers aren’t really living off the hospitality of others, they’re taking advantage of illiquidity to create arbitrage and fuck over regular people.
Doesn’t matter how they are taking advantage, they are still parasites.
We shouldn’t act like the consumer isn’t a part of the problem. The scalper can scalp because the consumer will consume.
So Ticketmaster did nothing wrong? Yea… no. Don’t victim blame. That’s also scum behavior.
I’m not victim blaming, the scalpers need someone to sell to in order for there to be a profit. Yes Ticketmaster are scumbags, that doesn’t change the fact that there were plenty of consumers ready and ravenous for a chance to see their favorite artist live (artists making money from the scalpers buying from Ticketmaster, whether for themselves or their label).
Should consumer protections be put in place? Probably, but I think that’s more or less kicking the can down the road. People need to vote with their wallets, giving money to scalpers is effectively allowing Ticketmaster’s scheme to work. Yes, it is predatory. Yes, it is scummy. No, the consumer is not faultless — they are essential for the scheme to work.