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Internal emails reveal Ticketmaster helped scalpers jack up prices, FTC says

(arstechnica.com)
327 points dthread3 | 3 comments | 19 Sep 25 18:47 UTC | HN request time: 0.683s | source
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2OEH8eoCRo0 ◴[19 Sep 25 19:09 UTC] No.45305248[source]▶
There is no reason that event tickets couldn't be sold similarly to airline seats.
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OscarCunningham ◴[19 Sep 25 19:16 UTC] No.45305317[source]▶
The issue that spawned scalping and Ticketmaster is that musicians want to sell tickets under their market value. There's no analogous issue with airline pricing.
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1. hnuser123456 ◴[19 Sep 25 19:28 UTC] No.45305440[source]▶
The issue is that scalpers can buy a significant portion of tickets at initial pricing and artificially drive up demand when the event says they're "sold out". Plus, many events like to set low initial prices to try to get money flowing in earlier, and raise prices closer to the day of the event, which makes them a potential "investment" for people who have no plans to attend.
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2. SoftTalker ◴[19 Sep 25 19:39 UTC] No.45305584[source]▶
The demand is the demand. TM should just set the initial price higher. This will discourage scalpers because their return is lower and their risk is higher. Fans will get to see the concert if they are willing to pay. If they aren't, then the price is too high, or the tickets will go to other fans who value them more.
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3. hnuser123456 ◴[19 Sep 25 19:45 UTC] No.45305681[source]▶
But many concertgoers buy their tickets early specifically to get the discount. The discount over later pricing is a valid marketing tactic. Airlines also raise seat prices closer to the day of the flight to encourage people to buy earlier ahead of time.

If Ticketmaster enjoys such market dominance, they become responsible to prevent widespread misuse of their own platform, lest they become negligent. They are owned by livenation which is a public company.