On scalping: solutions, and safety measures.

Nobody likes ticket scalpers.¹

So a question that often comes up is - why aren't there laws in place to, for example, restrict the profit margins for ticket resales? For example, in several Australian states, there is legislation prohibiting the resale of event tickets for more than 110% of their original value.²

Well, we could implement such laws. But I suggest that there are reasons why we haven't done so.

First, it's not clear how effective such legislation would be. Let's go back to the Australian example. Such laws have been in effect for years. But they haven't stopped scalpers from selling, for example, TaylorSwift concert tickets for over double their face value.³

Second and more fundamentally, implementing and enforcing laws requires finite time and resources to be expended. Should laws be passed to limit profit margins for ticket resales in particular, as opposed to other goods and services? Bear in mind that there are no prescribed profit margins for essential goods (like food and medicines), tuition lessons, or even HDB flats. Are event tickets so special as to warrant legislative intervention?

And if so, where do we draw the line - should laws also be passed to interfere in the prices of other popular but limited goods, like the newest iPhone, limited edition sneakers, or even Hello Kitty plushies bundled with fast food meals?

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Finally, some suggestions as to how to successfully attend concerts without being ripped off.

First, I don’t recommend dealing with anonymous strangers on the Internet. The risk of getting scammed is just too high. If you must buy a resale ticket, try to deal with someone you know, or someone who has been vouched for.⁴

Second, be smart and tactical about how you buy tickets. Don’t just wait for the general sale that's open to the public. Join fan clubs which grant pre-sale privileges. Take time off on the day that sales open, keep refreshing the webpage if you're having difficulty getting through, and keep trying throughout the day (tickets are often released in batches). Collaborate with other fans so that you're not the only person trying to make a purchase.

Third, support less-mainstream indie / local acts!