Legality of selling tickets

Tim Robbins

Hi,
I was having an argument with someone as they were selling tickets for inflated prices.

My point was what they were doing was illegal. They claimed their was no law stipulating they couldn't sell the tickets for a higher price.

Anybody know what the law is on this?

Thanks

premierstone

I've seen Gardai confiscate tickets off touts outside grounds before so there must be some law specifically against it, I guess technically its trading without a licence

Tim Robbins

premierstone wrote: »

I've seen Gardai confiscate tickets off touts outside grounds before so there must be some law specifically against it, I guess technically its trading without a licence

Why don't the Gardai contact the sellers on ebay?

Thomas_S_Hunterson

I highly doubt it is illegal. Citizens of Ireland have a constitutional right to ownership of property and private trade in such.

The fact that a tout can charge over the odds is merely a reflection on the fact that the price set for the tickets is too low and leads to a situation where demand is dramatically greater than supply.

The only issue is, as mentioned above, trading publicly on the streets without a license, which is a bit of a gray area I believe.

Podge_irl

As mentioned, I don't think it is illegal. However, its quite often against the terms and conditions of the ticket, so it can invalidate the ticket.

daveirl

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Thomas_S_Hunterson

daveirl wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I have no problem with it either, where would be be if people couldn't sell things for more than they paid for them

Zzippy

Sean_K wrote: »

I have no problem with it either, where would be be if people couldn't sell things for more than they paid for them

Back in the USSR?

ScrubsfanChris

I think the ebay sellers charge what ever price is on the ticket plus what they like to call a holding charge or some sh*t like that, which is where they make most of the profit. So I'm not too sure if it is illegal or not.
As for the people that sell tickets outside of grounds, there tickets get taken off them because they don't have a license to sell something they didn't make or create themselves I think.
Makes you wonder about the people who sell hats and scarfs outside the grounds?

louthandproud

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

I think the ebay sellers charge what ever price is on the ticket plus what they like to call a holding charge or some sh*t like that, which is where they make most of the profit. So I'm not too sure if it is illegal or not.
As for the people that sell tickets outside of grounds, there tickets get taken off them because they don't have a license to sell something they didn't make or create themselves I think.
Makes you wonder about the people who sell hats and scarfs outside the grounds?

Hat and scarf sellers need permits, I have seen them being asked for these and moved on if not produced.

Hagar

premierstone wrote: »

I've seen Gardai confiscate tickets off touts outside grounds before so there must be some law specifically against it, I guess technically its trading without a licence

Did you ever wonder what happens to those tickets?

louthandproud

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

I think the ebay sellers charge what ever price is on the ticket plus what they like to call a holding charge or some sh*t like that, which is where they make most of the profit. So I'm not too sure if it is illegal or not.
As for the people that sell tickets outside of grounds, there tickets get taken off them because they don't have a license to sell something they didn't make or create themselves I think.
Makes you wonder about the people who sell hats and scarfs outside the grounds?

Hat and scarf sellers need permits, I have seen them being asked for these and moved on if not produced. Although I doubt they are all above board, and doubt they get checked very often.

Don't think there is anything illegal about selling a ticket above face value per say, but I think a tout would have fun trying to get a permit.

Its a Pity the self printing tickets aren't more in use as it would really undermine touts, as you'd have no way of verifying weather they were selling a ticket with a unique bar code, therefore no one in their right mind would buy one off of anyone they did not know personally.

ryanmatty

Apart for the need of a traders licence to sell on the street its not illegal to sell tickets. But when you buy the ticket from ticketmaster you enter into a contract for the ticket and apart of this contract is you can't sell on the ticket for more than face value. If you have bought a ticket for more than face value and your not happy well you just have to contact ticketmaster for them to investigate it. Now how good they are at that is another story.

I know the FAI include in their programmes on International match days a little slip that you can cut of the programme ifyou have bought tickets over face value. On this you put in the value you paid for ticket and the seat numbers and send it on to them. I have heard of a couple of people block booking being cancelled over this.

LimaBravo

Hagar wrote: »

Did you ever wonder what happens to those tickets?

A few years back I went to Dublin for an All Ireland hurling final with no ticket. Doin the usual mooching around asking everyone did they have any spares.
Came across a guard and I asked with a wry smile, 'Guard, dont suppose you have any tickets to spare no?' Imagine my amazement when he put his hand into his pocket and took out a shiny hogan stand ticket. 'There you are, my man' says he!
I put my hand in my pocket asking how much did I owe him. 'Nothing at all' says he 'Ive just confiscated it from a tout'.
I then asked could I give him the price of a pint for after work to which he replied 'Wouldnt dream of it buddy, now go on and enjoy the match!'

True story that made my day!!!

ScrubsfanChris

louthandproud wrote: »

Hat and scarf sellers need permits, I have seen them being asked for these and moved on if not produced.

That explains it. Thanks louthandproud

anonymous_joe

LimaBravo wrote: »

A few years back I went to Dublin for an All Ireland hurling final with no ticket. Doin the usual mooching around asking everyone did they have any spares.
Came across a guard and I asked with a wry smile, 'Guard, dont suppose you have any tickets to spare no?' Imagine my amazement when he put his hand into his pocket and took out a shiny hogan stand ticket. 'There you are, my man' says he!
I put my hand in my pocket asking how much did I owe him. 'Nothing at all' says he 'Ive just confiscated it from a tout'.
I then asked could I give him the price of a pint for after work to which he replied 'Wouldnt dream of it buddy, now go on and enjoy the match!'

True story that made my day!!!

Has happened to me too.

Was walking to a game recently in the RDS when a guard stopped my friend and me as we were walking towards the ticket van and asked if we had tickets. When we said no he said 'it's your lucky day' and handed us two.

Fairly legendary.

[Jackass]

:rolleyes:

The problem isn't "god bless the touts, where would we be without them?" the problem is that there are professional touts who buy up ticket allocation and then charge extorsionate prices to sell them back! Not as relevant in rugby as chanells are better protected, but I've no doubt many of the 6 Leinster tickets bought by fans ended up on ebay.

Some do it for a living and are dishonest, thieving scum bags and if they didn't exist only genuine fans would get tickets through the proper chanells and if you miss out, unlucky, but it may promote getting more involved in the sport and supporting by buying season tickets, joining clubs etc., so they are a cancer.

End of.

premierstone

Hagar wrote: »

Did you ever wonder what happens to those tickets?

Well the only reason I know they do it is I've got tickets before from Gardai who had seized tickets from touts at GAA matches

Hagar

In fairness it seems that several Gardaí seem to have been very decent to fans looking for tickets. I'd like to think that this was a widespread practice.

That said, the tickets are not theirs to dispense, at that point they are the property of the State.

Fighting Irish

supply and demand, the way it should be

dingbat

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Has happened to me too.

Was walking to a game recently in the RDS when a guard stopped my friend and me as we were walking towards the ticket van and asked if we had tickets. When we said no he said 'it's your lucky day' and handed us two.

Fairly legendary.

I've never sold a ticket to a tout and I never will. Always give a spare to a guard - they usually do the right thing by them.

anonymous_joe

dingbat wrote: »

I've never sold a ticket to a tout and I never will. Always give a spare to a guard - they usually do the right thing by them.

Yeah, the guards are pretty decent with tickets.

daveirl

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rom

Sean_K wrote: »

I have no problem with it either, where would be be if people couldn't sell things for more than they paid for them

adverts.ie ?:D

joey54

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Why don't the Gardai contact the sellers on ebay?

As far as I know a few years ago they did start investigating these and its still ongoing today/

Hagar wrote: »

Did you ever wonder what happens to those tickets?

I too have received tickets from a guard when I've turned up to a ground with no tickets. It was pretty sound of them!

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Yeah, the guards are pretty decent with tickets.

+1

super_furry

Hagar wrote: »

Did you ever wonder what happens to those tickets?

They usually give them away to genuine fans. Got a ticket for Ireland v Holland when McAteer scored the winner that way.

Edit - seems I'm not the only one.