TKTS= Too Kind To Scalpers

Been a while, but I figured I'd post here about something that happened to me today at TKTS. I was in the Times Square area with my sister after meeting some family for brunch. Brunch finished around 1, so we figured we'd head over to TKTS to see what was available for a matinee. When we arrived there, We were seeing what was available and saw that The Cher Show was available. We have wanted to see this show so, when someone asked what we were thinking of seeing and I honestly replied that we were thinking of seeing The Cher Show. All of a sudden, this guy runs up to us and shoved Cher Show tickets to our faces. I was very taken aback, as was my sister, and walked toward the window with this guy shouting in our faces. Eventually, with a woman and a guy holding a clipboard saying we should buy the tickets, we decided to walk away as that was a bit too much for us. I have been to TKTS plenty of times and have never witnessed this type of behavior. I was quite alarmed as well that no one really stepped in to stop this person from harassing us. I later saw a friend that I know used to work at TKTS and he asked me what the guy looked like. When given a description of him, he replied that that guy was a scalper. This knowledge bothers me incredibly. How is it TKTS would allow a scalper to harass two potential customers?? Heck, what are they doing right in front of the TKTS board anyways?? Something's rotten in the state of Duffy Square....

@Miles I saw no TKTS insignia on the guy holding the clipboard. It, in fact, was a blue jackwt. The woman wasn't holding a clipboard. She had a beanie, was rather short, with glasses and grey hair. Sucks that apparently nothing can be done.

They're always there. ALWAYS! I've never had issues with them, but there's usually plenty of TKTS employees around that they typically keep their distance.

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This is sort of an extension of the stage door issue, since you're trying to regulate what someone can legally do on a public sidewalk. Scalping isn't illegal. Neither is standing on the sidewalk outside of a show you may not have attended. Plus, if a panicked scalper is trying to sell you tickets to a show you want to see right before showtime, you may be getting a better deal than the TKTS booth...

Platypus said: "haterobics said: "Scalping may not be illegal, but harassment is. I would never, ever give my hard-earned money to someone who harasses me and makes a living of ripping people off, no matter how good the deal is."

Harrassment is never okay, but I will say I have gotten used to having on my “invisible protective armor” like a superpower when walking through NYC now, especially the Times Square area. I remember the first time I was in NYC for vacation, I got scammed into giving $5 to one of those guys (there were actually 2 of them) who thrust a CD into my hands then demanded payment. Tried to listen to the CD later. Didn’t make it past track one. Lol. Lesson learned. I have developed selective listening now. Works well with those kiosks workers at the mall too who want to give you a free skincare sample. Lol

I will say that if they’re giving you a legitimate deal on a legitimate ticket then they’re not taking advantage of you. But for me, there are too many unknown variables that pose obstacles to make me comfortable with such a purchase. Arguably, we were totally taken advantage of (with our full awareness and consent) when we bought our Hamilton tix through the Marriott Marquis ticket concierge. But it seemed like a legit vendor where we knew we were getting legitimate tickets. Same with Ticketmaster and Stubhub resale purchases. Although I know people have gotten burned, at least they have a recourse if the ticket proves to be bogus. 

 

Let's try to de-bundle a little:

1. As stated, public sidewalks and squares are, as the name suggests, public. 

2. Scalping is not against the law, unless there is some specific law that makes it so with a finite area. (New York has such a law, but it does not apply to Broadway theatres. (<1500 feet, >more than 5000 seats).

3. Harassment can be illegal, but mind the definition: "conduct or repeatedly commit acts which alarm or seriously annoy the victim and serve no legitimate purpose." 

4. The NYPD has not deputized TDF to enforce the law. 

5. All of these laws could be changed, and maybe should be, but there is nothing in what is described here that sounds actionable to me. 

To be clear, I would not (and would strongly advise against) buying tickets from someone on the street, under any circumstance. Risk>reward, even if it is Hamilton at face value.

They aren't scalpers, they are just people who work for the agency that's half a block back towards Central Park.

Why ISNT scalping illegal, do we know? Its basically cheating profits.

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Updated On: 12/24/18 at 12:24 AM

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Why ISNT scalping illegal, do we know? Its basically cheating profits."

Would you say the same about someone who sells a house for more than they paid for it? When you own something, you have a right to sell it for any price you and a buyer agree on, and no one is getting cheated. I don't think making money off of tickets you own should be illegal. 

Here in PA on the back of the tickets it says you can resell the ticket but not above face value. Once you go above face value of the ticket it becomes illegal and you can get arrested if caught. Not sure if it's that way in other states.

Anyway I'm like the other person that posted about selective hearing. A few months ago I had one of the guys shoving their CDs in my face and when I just kept walking he was like "what you don't like black people". I responded with "I love all people but not when they are shoving their CDs in my face" and kept on walking.

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Miles2Go2 said: "kdogg36 said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Why ISNT scalping illegal, do we know? Its basically cheating profits."

Would you say the same about someone who sells a house for more than they paid for it? When you own something, you have a right to sell it for any price you and a buyer agree on, and no one is getting cheated. I don't think making money off of tickets you own should be illegal."

That’s an interesting perspective and I’ll admit I’ve never thought about it that way before. I do think the process of buying up lots of tickets before lots of the general public can access them thus forcing them to pay exorbitant prices if they want to see the show. I googled scalpinglaws in NYC the other day and it does look like NYC has outlawed scalping bots and vendorsselling tickets that they don’t actually possess yet. I suppose it is a start, but as was seen with Springsteen it may not be enough. I do wonder what the law would say about a corporation buying up all the homes acrossthe country and then reselling them at exorbitant prices this creating limited supply and great demand."

 

Selling your tickets af or below face value isn’t illegal or considered scaling. Scalping is when you sell your ticket above face value. 

And what about all those Iron Men and Spider-Men and Minnie Mouse characters harassing folks for tips?  Do you complain to Disney and Marvel, etc, that they aren't doing anything about this?

It's NYC.  You have to be a little bit tough to get around, but just ignore folks you don't want to talk to.  DO NOT ENGAGE and you won't get harassed.