tickets from brokers/scalpers
- Thread starter Liesje
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
nurse chrissi
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
after reading the comments in this thread I went ahead and got GA's through Gold Coast Tickets - while expensive they were the cheapest GA's I found and the customer service was excellent. I placed the order on Sunday evening (spurred on by the Grammy's) and had tickets in hand (they are so pretty 
) by Tuesday
) by Tuesday
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
if i do end up buying from anyone other than a gracious fan, it will be goldcoasttickets.com, just because of all the positive feedback that i've read.
i just keep holding out, hoping that someone will come around with face value tickets to sell. but it looks like people are only trading tickets. i need a ticket in my hand soon, or i'm going to go nuts!
i just keep holding out, hoping that someone will come around with face value tickets to sell. but it looks like people are only trading tickets. i need a ticket in my hand soon, or i'm going to go nuts!
OP
OP
Liesje
Blue Crack Addict
Chizip said:
wait, I got a free post-it note pad
nurse chrissi
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
I got a magnet, post it notes and a map of Chicago
Buying tix on Ebay
Hi...looking for other experienced U2 fans who were forced to buy tickets on Ebay for words of wisdom. If a seller has 100% positive feedback, do you think its safe to buy tix, especially if they show pictures of the tix online?
isabelle_guns said:
Hi...looking for other experienced U2 fans who were forced to buy tickets on Ebay for words of wisdom. If a seller has 100% positive feedback, do you think its safe to buy tix, especially if they show pictures of the tix online?
I've bought lots of tickets to all kinds of different shows from Ebay, and sometimes they were fans with very little feedback, and the tickets were often expensive, and they all showed up within days, and everything was perfect. I've also sold on there when I have extra tickets or I can't go. There are beginning to be some U2 tickets that aren't being gouged on there, just fans selling ones they can't use. I always pay for Priority Mail or Express Mail because it gets to you quicker and imo safer. Before buying from a broker, check out their web site, and if they actually have a bricks and mortar store, although even if they don't doesn't mean they aren't legitimate, but the more established for years ones have been in business for years for a reason.
mrpoptop
The Fly
I think everyone needs to be careful from buying off ebay and people on the street. Last U2 tour, I purchased a fake from a scalper before the show in chicago. I got in, but a friend of mine was not as lucky. This is a big problem in chicago. It happen at the last Smashing Pumpkins show to. Here are 2 articales from last tour:
AP: You Too Could Be Swindled For U2 (5-16-2001)
You Too Could Be Swindled For U2
United Center Says It's Some Of Worst Counterfeitng They've
Seen
CHICAGO, 3:11 p.m. EDT May 15, 2001 (AP) -- It may seem too
good to be
true: front row seats for U2 in Chicago.
And it was. Hundreds of fans of the Irish pop band outside the
United Center
have been paying top dollar for tickets, only to be turned away
by security
guards who found they were fake.
United Center officials say that it's some of the worst
counterfeiting they've seen
for one event. If the trend continues Tuesday and Wednesday
night, scalpers will
have sold about 400 fake tickets for U2's four concerts.
Scalpers have been charging between $65 and $185 for the seats.
Or, they
would trade the fakes with people who wanted to upgrade their
real tickets.
United Center officials offered the conned concert goers a shot
at buying tickets
to the band's remaining concerts.
Chicago Tribune: Fake U2 tickets at United Center (5-15-2001)
Some rock fans pay price but miss show
Fake U2 tickets at United Center
By Robert K. Elder and Lola Smallwood
Tribune staff reporters
May 15, 2001
Andy Palmer thought he was getting away with something when he shortchanged
a ticket scalper $10 for three U2 tickets outside United Center Sunday
night.
It wasn't a bad deal, he figured. He and his friends were exchanging two $85
tickets and $60 cash for three tickets on the floor for U2's Sunday night
show. But when the deal went down, he gave the scalper $50 and the tickets.
When they got to the gate, however, one glance from a security officer and
their tickets were voided. They had been burned by counterfeiters.
As hundreds of fake U2 tickets circulated at the United Center over the
weekend, officials said it was the most rampant counterfeiting since Michael
Jordan played for the Bulls and a testament to the increasing quality of the
technology. The bogus tickets were priced from $60 to $180 each for general
admission floor seats. A real ticket cost $45.
If the trend continues, U2's four concerts -- shows continue on Tuesday and
Wednesday -- could see up to 400 fake tickets being sold by counterfeiters
and scalpers. By comparison, three years ago, when the Bulls were at their
peak, perhaps 150 tickets were confiscated for an entire 41-game season.
"I don't remember having as high a volume on any single night as we've had
on this event," said Jim Bare, director of ticket operations for the United
Center.
On Sunday night, security guards checked every general admission ticket,
testing suspect tickets by misting them with a spray bottle. If the water
disrupted the ink, the ticket was deemed a fake. Authentic tickets also have
a "safety layer." A slight tear in the ticket would reveal fine blue threads
inside the paper. "Initially we noticed that one of the tickets just felt a
little different, one of the ticket-takers noticed it was a little bit
thicker," said Bare. "But they are very good quality tickets, they were
outstanding in terms of color."
In the age of high-resolution color computer printers, the quality and
quantity of counterfeit tickets to concerts and sports events have escalated
dramatically. Like the U.S. government's stepped-up attempts to make
counterfeiting of currency more difficult, ticket vendors and venues are
fighting back with technology.
This fall the United Center plans to start using bar codes on tickets and
equip ticket-takers with scanners.
Risky business
Meanwhile, officials say potential buyers should think twice. "It's just a
very risky situation if you don't go to an authorized ticket seller. But
hopefully it's a lesson they learn, never to buy from anybody on the street
again," Bare said.
Police said Monday they haven't received any complaints about U2 concert
tickets.
Area detectives, could not recall the last time they were called to
investigate fake concert tickets at the United Center.
Police Detective Patrick Grande of the Monroe District, which includes the
United Center, said the business of fake tickets is fed by the high volume
of concerts and sporting events at the center, the variety of ticket designs
and the huge demand from the public.
"With the computers these days, people can almost replicate anything," said
Grande. "It's one of the things that you really can't educate people on
because each concert ticket is different from the next one. It's just a
matter of being aware of what's going on."
Those who bought bad tickets on Sunday, like Palmer and his friends, were
asked to wait outside for an announcement by a security officer. After an
hour, a United Center official offered the small crowd a chance to buy
tickets for U2 shows Tuesday or Wednesday.
Palmer wishes the United Center had handled the situation differently.
"They could have just told us: 'We're sorry, we're not responsible,' and let
us go," Palmer said, disgruntled by the long wait. "At the same time, it was
nice of them to sell us tickets. It really wasn't expected."
No return engagement
Palmer's friend David Heckman was less forgiving. He traveled four hours
from Iowa City, and he and his younger brother, John, could not return for a
later show.
"They were a lot more concerned with punishing us than solving the problem,"
said Heckman. "It would have been nice if there had been signs up saying
there had been problems with scalpers."
"Also it was just embarrassing, getting put in one big loser group," added
Palmer.
Rich Zasiebida, sales manager for Ticket Heaven, a licensed ticket brokerage
in Wheaton, said illegal sales cast a shadow over the entire industry.
"It's something that ruins the reputation of legal brokers who put a lot of
work into finding good tickets for clients," said Zasiebida, who has sold
more than 1,000 tickets for the U2 show, ranging in price from $125 to $650.
"We make calls, research and find those people who buy tickets but can't
make the shows. We do a lot to make sure the tickets are legitimate. And
when you have a show as big as U2, with a lot of demand, we know these
tickets are out there and it is a problem."
A detail of plainclothes traffic officers is assigned to patrol for scalpers
during big sporting events or concerts that draw thousands of fans,
according to police.
But few arrests are made, said Officer Scott Thomas, who has worked several
of the details.
"We can try to look for (counterfeiters), but it's very difficult to find
them because you don't know who's doing what," said Thomas. "We try to
prevent it from happening, but if people want these tickets, they are going
to find someone and buy them. But we advise people not to buy from people on
the street. Buy from brokers who are licensed to sell the tickets. That way,
you don't get burned."
A few laws govern unauthorized ticket sales. A city ban on the solicitation
of tickets makes it illegal to either sell or buy tickets within 2,000 feet
of the venue. Violators can be prosecuted and fined up to $200.
Under state law, unauthorized vendors selling tickets above face value can
be fined up to $5,000 per sale, said Sgt. Robert Cargie, a spokeman for the
Chicago Police Department.
Also under state law, counterfeiters selling tickets under $300 could face a
misdemeanor charge of theft by deception, which carries a maximum sentence
of up to one year in prison and a $500 fine. Sellers of fake tickets with a
value of more than $300 could face a felony count of theft by deception with
a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison, according to the Cook County
state's attorney's office.
Connie Buscemi, spokeswoman for the Chicago Office of Consumer Services,
said those who buy bad tickets can file complaints with the office under the
city's consumer fraud ordinance. Under the ordinance, convicted scalpers
could face up to $500 in fines per incident.
"The last time we heard complaints at the United Center was a few years ago
when the Bulls were in the playoffs," said Buscemi. "People had paid top
dollar to someone on the street who was actually selling tickets from last
year's playoff game
j
AP: You Too Could Be Swindled For U2 (5-16-2001)
You Too Could Be Swindled For U2
United Center Says It's Some Of Worst Counterfeitng They've
Seen
CHICAGO, 3:11 p.m. EDT May 15, 2001 (AP) -- It may seem too
good to be
true: front row seats for U2 in Chicago.
And it was. Hundreds of fans of the Irish pop band outside the
United Center
have been paying top dollar for tickets, only to be turned away
by security
guards who found they were fake.
United Center officials say that it's some of the worst
counterfeiting they've seen
for one event. If the trend continues Tuesday and Wednesday
night, scalpers will
have sold about 400 fake tickets for U2's four concerts.
Scalpers have been charging between $65 and $185 for the seats.
Or, they
would trade the fakes with people who wanted to upgrade their
real tickets.
United Center officials offered the conned concert goers a shot
at buying tickets
to the band's remaining concerts.
Chicago Tribune: Fake U2 tickets at United Center (5-15-2001)
Some rock fans pay price but miss show
Fake U2 tickets at United Center
By Robert K. Elder and Lola Smallwood
Tribune staff reporters
May 15, 2001
Andy Palmer thought he was getting away with something when he shortchanged
a ticket scalper $10 for three U2 tickets outside United Center Sunday
night.
It wasn't a bad deal, he figured. He and his friends were exchanging two $85
tickets and $60 cash for three tickets on the floor for U2's Sunday night
show. But when the deal went down, he gave the scalper $50 and the tickets.
When they got to the gate, however, one glance from a security officer and
their tickets were voided. They had been burned by counterfeiters.
As hundreds of fake U2 tickets circulated at the United Center over the
weekend, officials said it was the most rampant counterfeiting since Michael
Jordan played for the Bulls and a testament to the increasing quality of the
technology. The bogus tickets were priced from $60 to $180 each for general
admission floor seats. A real ticket cost $45.
If the trend continues, U2's four concerts -- shows continue on Tuesday and
Wednesday -- could see up to 400 fake tickets being sold by counterfeiters
and scalpers. By comparison, three years ago, when the Bulls were at their
peak, perhaps 150 tickets were confiscated for an entire 41-game season.
"I don't remember having as high a volume on any single night as we've had
on this event," said Jim Bare, director of ticket operations for the United
Center.
On Sunday night, security guards checked every general admission ticket,
testing suspect tickets by misting them with a spray bottle. If the water
disrupted the ink, the ticket was deemed a fake. Authentic tickets also have
a "safety layer." A slight tear in the ticket would reveal fine blue threads
inside the paper. "Initially we noticed that one of the tickets just felt a
little different, one of the ticket-takers noticed it was a little bit
thicker," said Bare. "But they are very good quality tickets, they were
outstanding in terms of color."
In the age of high-resolution color computer printers, the quality and
quantity of counterfeit tickets to concerts and sports events have escalated
dramatically. Like the U.S. government's stepped-up attempts to make
counterfeiting of currency more difficult, ticket vendors and venues are
fighting back with technology.
This fall the United Center plans to start using bar codes on tickets and
equip ticket-takers with scanners.
Risky business
Meanwhile, officials say potential buyers should think twice. "It's just a
very risky situation if you don't go to an authorized ticket seller. But
hopefully it's a lesson they learn, never to buy from anybody on the street
again," Bare said.
Police said Monday they haven't received any complaints about U2 concert
tickets.
Area detectives, could not recall the last time they were called to
investigate fake concert tickets at the United Center.
Police Detective Patrick Grande of the Monroe District, which includes the
United Center, said the business of fake tickets is fed by the high volume
of concerts and sporting events at the center, the variety of ticket designs
and the huge demand from the public.
"With the computers these days, people can almost replicate anything," said
Grande. "It's one of the things that you really can't educate people on
because each concert ticket is different from the next one. It's just a
matter of being aware of what's going on."
Those who bought bad tickets on Sunday, like Palmer and his friends, were
asked to wait outside for an announcement by a security officer. After an
hour, a United Center official offered the small crowd a chance to buy
tickets for U2 shows Tuesday or Wednesday.
Palmer wishes the United Center had handled the situation differently.
"They could have just told us: 'We're sorry, we're not responsible,' and let
us go," Palmer said, disgruntled by the long wait. "At the same time, it was
nice of them to sell us tickets. It really wasn't expected."
No return engagement
Palmer's friend David Heckman was less forgiving. He traveled four hours
from Iowa City, and he and his younger brother, John, could not return for a
later show.
"They were a lot more concerned with punishing us than solving the problem,"
said Heckman. "It would have been nice if there had been signs up saying
there had been problems with scalpers."
"Also it was just embarrassing, getting put in one big loser group," added
Palmer.
Rich Zasiebida, sales manager for Ticket Heaven, a licensed ticket brokerage
in Wheaton, said illegal sales cast a shadow over the entire industry.
"It's something that ruins the reputation of legal brokers who put a lot of
work into finding good tickets for clients," said Zasiebida, who has sold
more than 1,000 tickets for the U2 show, ranging in price from $125 to $650.
"We make calls, research and find those people who buy tickets but can't
make the shows. We do a lot to make sure the tickets are legitimate. And
when you have a show as big as U2, with a lot of demand, we know these
tickets are out there and it is a problem."
A detail of plainclothes traffic officers is assigned to patrol for scalpers
during big sporting events or concerts that draw thousands of fans,
according to police.
But few arrests are made, said Officer Scott Thomas, who has worked several
of the details.
"We can try to look for (counterfeiters), but it's very difficult to find
them because you don't know who's doing what," said Thomas. "We try to
prevent it from happening, but if people want these tickets, they are going
to find someone and buy them. But we advise people not to buy from people on
the street. Buy from brokers who are licensed to sell the tickets. That way,
you don't get burned."
A few laws govern unauthorized ticket sales. A city ban on the solicitation
of tickets makes it illegal to either sell or buy tickets within 2,000 feet
of the venue. Violators can be prosecuted and fined up to $200.
Under state law, unauthorized vendors selling tickets above face value can
be fined up to $5,000 per sale, said Sgt. Robert Cargie, a spokeman for the
Chicago Police Department.
Also under state law, counterfeiters selling tickets under $300 could face a
misdemeanor charge of theft by deception, which carries a maximum sentence
of up to one year in prison and a $500 fine. Sellers of fake tickets with a
value of more than $300 could face a felony count of theft by deception with
a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison, according to the Cook County
state's attorney's office.
Connie Buscemi, spokeswoman for the Chicago Office of Consumer Services,
said those who buy bad tickets can file complaints with the office under the
city's consumer fraud ordinance. Under the ordinance, convicted scalpers
could face up to $500 in fines per incident.
"The last time we heard complaints at the United Center was a few years ago
when the Bulls were in the playoffs," said Buscemi. "People had paid top
dollar to someone on the street who was actually selling tickets from last
year's playoff game
j
OP
OP
Liesje
Blue Crack Addict
jammin909 said:
$219? My Chicago GAs were about $170.
I got a GA for Chicago 3 from goldcoast, because they had the cheapest prices I could find (and they're a licensed broker). Very quick delivery...but all I got was the post-it pad. Well, I guess it's still better than the u2.com key chain I never got.
Wow, I'm glad I bought my ticket from goldcoast when I did because the prices just went up. I thought about waiting for them to come down, but when I saw the price move from $150 to $154...I went ahead and bought one. Now the price is $199.
WildHoneyAlways
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
boracay said:
I used tickestnow.com for the 3rd leg last tour. They used fed ex and I had the tickets within two days. No problems with them at all.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
has anyone used ticketsmyway.com? they're the cheapest i've found so far.
critter
The Fly
I was irritated by ticketsmyway.com. The price for 1 Boston GA was $290. I filled out all the credit info, and then found out there was a $45 service charge. Pretty sneaky! Why couldn't they give you the total price before you fill out everything!
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