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CAPTCHAs are over (in ticketing)

(behind.pretix.eu)
204 points pabs3 | 3 comments | 25 May 25 00:37 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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carlosjobim ◴[26 May 25 15:04 UTC] No.44098148[source]▶
I work professionally in ticketing with ticket sales system. The problem with scalpers is completely solved, and the only reason why scalpers can operate is because the artists and venues deliberately allow for it.

It's incredibly easy to remove scalpers:

Sell each ticket with a name attached, ask for ID at the door.

That's it. Whatever hacker argument against this you are thinking up right in this moment, it is just wrong.

"What if I don't know who I'm going to ask to go with me?" - Then buy your ticket once you've figured that out.

As for tickets that are so popular that servers can't handle the demand: Make a lottery and give people one day to sign up for the lottery.

replies(1): >>44101474 #
mixmastamyk ◴[26 May 25 20:42 UTC] No.44101474[source]▶
Implementing costs that not all parties want is tradeoff, not a solution.
replies(1): >>44101548 #
carlosjobim ◴[26 May 25 20:49 UTC] No.44101548[source]▶
What costs are you talking about?
replies(1): >>44102247 #
mixmastamyk ◴[26 May 25 22:26 UTC] No.44102247[source]▶
Loss of privacy, slowdown at the entrance, employee training on validation, not being able to hand a ticket to a friend later (you mentioned). Other things I’ve forgotten but others have mentioned on this page.

Scalpers have helped me out several times when I didn’t hear about an event until the last minute, so I don’t always think of them as an enemy to eliminate.

Patio11 has a piece on how, often, the optimum amount of fraud is not 0. Scalpers aren’t exactly that but informs the discussion.

replies(1): >>44102654 #
carlosjobim ◴[26 May 25 23:38 UTC] No.44102654[source]▶
Loss of privacy? That your name is on your ticket? Then don't go, or reach out to the organizers and let them know you are a person who needs special protection and they will accommodate you and your entourage.

Your name is on your bus card also, and your airline ticket, but I don't hear anybody complaining about loss of privacy for that.

Employee training on validation? They look at the ID and see if the name matches the name on the ticket. Anybody can do that without any training.

> Scalpers have helped me out several times when I didn’t hear about an event until the last minute, so I don’t always think of them as an enemy to eliminate.

They helped you by screwing over other people. You do not have higher value than any other person. Besides, organizers can save expensive last-minute tickets without needing scalpers.

replies(1): >>44103472 #
mixmastamyk ◴[27 May 25 02:34 UTC] No.44103472[source]▶
These are low-effort responses that don’t satisfy the issues.

I understand TM has a lot of power, but they do have to keep the average consumer on board.

replies(1): >>44106128 #
1. carlosjobim ◴[27 May 25 12:06 UTC] No.44106128[source]▶
And your comment is high effort? This is how real venues and real artists solve the problem of scalping and it works without a problem.
replies(1): >>44110548 #
2. mixmastamyk ◴[27 May 25 20:47 UTC] No.44110548[source]▶
Yes, you've solved your problem, not my problem. What about others?

> reason why scalpers can operate is because the artists and venues deliberately allow for it.

The problem isn't solved for a number of parties, from your own words. Despite working in the area, it doesn't feel like you've thought about it deeply. Or, maybe because you work in the area—cue Upton Sinclair quote.

replies(1): >>44116640 #
3. carlosjobim ◴[28 May 25 14:53 UTC] No.44116640[source]▶
And what's your problem, exactly? You want to buy tickets to give away before you've decided who to give them to? Sorry, you can't do that. There are other people who also want the tickets and know who they are inviting. You have to wait until you've decided who to invite and you can't "scalp" those tickets, because you are not worth more than any other paying customer.

In worst case, you've bought tickets and the person you invited can't come: You sell the ticket back to the venue for a refund.

This attitude reminds me of what happens al the time at hotel front desk: They're fully booked for a certain date and some people call and e-mail, asking the hotel to cancel other guests reservations to give them a room. Sorry, not going to happen. First come, first served.

And as I said in another comment, artists and venues can price and release their tickets in such a way that people who are willing to pay much more can get some last-minute tickets.